0
Pull-thru
NPSJoshua Tree National Park · California
Cottonwood Campground (CA)
Overview Download the NPS app prior to visiting the park – trail maps and more! Cottonwood Campground is one of the best places in Joshua Tree National Park for stargazing and wildflower viewing.
Sites6259 reservable
Elev.3,087ft
Comf.Jan-Dec9 months
Max rig48 ft
Electricnonesites
From San Diego3h03real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27
At 3,087 ft, Cottonwood Campground (CA) has a 9-month comfortable window (Jan-Dec). Winter nights average around 43°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. 62 sites total: 59 reservable and 3 first-come, first-served. Within about 4 miles: 2 named hiking routes, 1 peak.
The campground at a glance
01 · CHARACTER
Reads strongest on reservability and quiet. Softest on shade.
Six axes, each scored relative to every other federal campground in the region: quiet (miles to a major road), cool (elevation), roomy (average site spacing), shade, RV-fit (longest rig), and how reservable it is. All six come from data, nothing hand-tuned.
When to go
02 · CLIMATE
avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · May
Jan-Dec
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
95%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
Feb 14
Last spring frost; first fall frost Dec 17.
80°F
Average July low. Bring a fleece.
Getting there
03 · ACCESS
01
San Diego
137 mi
3h03
02
Los Angeles
182 mi
4h03
03
Fresno
396 mi
8h48
04
Sacramento
598 mi
13h17
05
San Francisco
601 mi
13h21
By drive time
Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 6.1 mi away.
Picking your site
04 · 62 SITES
Color byShow only
62 mapped sites · dot color = seclusion · click a dot for details. Basemap © OpenStreetMap.
0
Walk-in
0
50-amp
0
Accessible
0
Prime
62
Sites
★ The standout
Site B31
COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND (CA).
To neighbor
91 ft
Max rig
38 ft
Type
Standard
What's within four miles
05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER
Trails & Peaks
Named hiking routes
2
Trail segments
27
Peaks
1
Water & Access
To nearest major road
6.1 mi
Method
We synthesize public data layers: RIDB and Recreation.gov facility and site records, Open-Meteo climate normals, OpenStreetMap roads, trails, and water, OSRM drive times, and USGS elevation. We take no bookings, no ads, and no paid placements. Independence is the entire point.