Cottonwood Group
Download the NPS app prior to visiting the park – trail maps and more! Cottonwood Group Campground is one of the best places in Joshua Tree National Park for stargazing and wildflower viewing. The group campground is part of the main Cottonwood Campground and has three sites that are by reservation only. It is one of three group campgrounds in the park and the only campground that lies in the southern section. To get the most out of your visit Plan Like a Park Ranger Travelers who enjoy warm, dry winters flock to Joshua Tree from October through May, when temperatures reach between 70 to 90-degrees during the day and drop to 40 to 60-degrees at night.
This is the group site. Looking for the main campground? Cottonwood Campground, 62 sites, is next door.
More like this: reservable in California · tent only in California · pets allowed in California · group sites in California · dark sky in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Group tent areas | 3 |
Site guide
3 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|
| G01 | Partial | 15 / 7 | Yes |
| G02 | Partial | 20 / 11 | Yes |
| G03 | Partial | 25 / 14 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Dark sky | Inside Joshua Tree National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park |
There are three group sites, each with a picnic shelter. There are no electrical hookups, and RVs and habitable trailers are prohibited. Drinking water and flush toilets are provided.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
The address below is not the physical address of the campground. To get to the campground, take Interstate 10 to the Mecca/Twentynine Palms exit and follow signs to Joshua Tree National Park. The exit is 25 miles east of Indio, California.
| Nearest town | Twentynine Palms, California |
| Coordinates | 33.7500° N, 115.8250° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation. Depending on when you cancel in relation to your arrival day, it may be considered a late cancellation (see below). Changing an Existing Reservation: When changes are made prior to the cut-off window: If a customer wants to switch dates that are entirely outside of the original reservation dates, there is a $10 change fee. There is no change fee if a customer extends or shortens a reservation, as long as the change includes dates from the original reservation. If they choose to depart early, they may forfeit the recreation fee for the day of departure. There is no change fee if the customer wants to switch sites that are the same price with the same reservation dates in the same facility. If a reservation is made that includes dates beyond the maximum booking window, that reservation cannot be changed until 18 days have passed from the original booking date.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 0.6 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Teserra Outdoors ↗ | 20.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Cottonwood Creek Campground - Tahoe National Forest, CA
Public land it sits in
Orocopia Mountains Wilderness begins about 7.5 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 7.5 miOrocopia Mountains Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Bureau of Land Management · 51,289 acres
- 9.2 miMecca Hills Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Bureau of Land Management · 26,356 acres
- 10.1 miJoshua Tree Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 595,364 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Natural features
The landscape around Cottonwood is that of the Colorado Desert, which encompasses the southern edge of the park and a large portion of Southern California. Rather than being surrounded by large rock formations and uniquely-shaped Joshua trees, like campgrounds in the northern section, this facility overlooks flat, open-desert shrubland. It is also further from towns or cities that would contribute light pollution. As a result, it offers wide, dark and uninterrupted views of the night sky that draw astronomers and amateur sky watchers alike. Cottonwood is at a lower elevation than other campgrounds within the park, so desert wildflowers begin to bloom earlier in the spring than in other locations. Flowering occurs anytime between the beginning of February to the end of March; timing varies depending on the amount of winter precipitation and the arrival of warm temperatures.
Recreation
Stargazing and wildflower viewing are among the most popular activities at this facility. Several hiking trails leave from the campground and several more trailheads are within a 1-2 hour drive.
Nearby
The General Patton Memorial Museum, a U.S. military history museum, is just over 12 miles away in the town of Chiriaco.
Guidebooks for Joshua Tree National Park
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Cottonwood Group?
Sites at Cottonwood Group are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Cottonwood Group?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Cottonwood Group?
A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation.
Source: Charges and cancellations
How many sites does Cottonwood Group have?
3 sites, including 3 group tent areas.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Cottonwood Group?
Cottonwood Group is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Cottonwood Group?
Drinking water and flush toilets are provided.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Cottonwood Group?
Yes, pets are allowed at Cottonwood Group. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Cottonwood Group?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Cottonwood Group good for stargazing?
Yes. Cottonwood Group sits inside Joshua Tree National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park.
Source: DarkSky International
What is there to do at Cottonwood Group?
Stargazing and wildflower viewing are among the most popular activities at this facility. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Cottonwood Group?
Twentynine Palms, California. The General Patton Memorial Museum, a U.S.
Source: Getting there
What if Cottonwood Group is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Cottonwood Campground (under 0.1 mi), Jumbo Rocks Campground (21.6 mi), and Sheep Pass Group (24.1 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby