A9
Joshua Tree National Park › California
› San Bernardino County
› Cottonwood (Twentynine Palms) Campground
› Campsite #A9
Campsite #A9 at Cottonwood (Twentynine Palms) Campground, Joshua Tree National Park, CA
$25
Campsite #A9
| Drive-In | 6 people |
| 42 ft | Parallel |
| 2 | fair |
5/29
5/30
Campsite #A9 Features: Drive-In access, Parallel parking, 42ft driveway, Picnic Table, RV Site, Trailer Site, Pets Allowed
Campsite Reviews (25)
3.0 out of 5
| 5 star | | 40% |
| 4 star | | 28% |
| 3 star | | 24% |
| 2 star | | 4% |
| 1 star | | 4% |
@MarkH6047851 · Camped on May 15, 2025 at Campsite #A9
Joshua Tree is an incredibly beautiful area. The scenery and environment never disappoint. I wish I could say the same about the campground at Cottonwood Springs. I know the Park Service is under-funded and under-staffed these days, so I feel like we have to cut them a large portion of slack, but the campsites had trash on the ground, the table at our site was installed on a slope that made it unusable, and park staff were nowhere to be found when we looked for them. There was a young couple who were having car trouble and needed assistance after hours. The visitor center was empty, the employee housing was empty, and the emergency phone at the visitor center was inoperable. We ended up driving them many miles out of the park where there was cell service, so they could call for a tow. Luckily, there was no medical emergency, I don't know how that would have turned out.
@JoeR4253294 · Camped on May 7, 2025 at Campsite #A9
Good NPS reprieve thats close to the freeway (12 minutes). Inside the circle spots are the best with water access, although takes a bit to get the rig level. Scenery average compared to deep in the forest. As a Tucsonan, it looks a lot like home. Easy booking and access for a large RV.
@CarlO350BB1CE5 · Camped on Feb 17, 2025 at Campsite #A9
Thank You
@ElizabethB5852 · Camped on Dec 30, 2024 at Campsite #A9
If you want a quieter campground at Joshua Tree this is the one to stay at. It's in the southern part of the park and away from most of the main attractions that people go to see. It has flush toilets, has water and the campsites are nicely spaced out. Easy to get in and out of from I-10. I would stay there again, but the drive from this site to say Jumbo Rocks or Skull rock it's a good 45 - 1 hour drive from this campsite.
@RandallW153816 · Camped on Dec 19, 2024 at Campsite #A9
Very clean and well laid out.
@StephenD346210 · Camped on Oct 20, 2024 at Campsite #A9
Cottonwood is a decent campground. Water, Trash, and Restrooms were all in good shape. Other campers were generally quiet and respectful of others. We chose Cottonwood for astronomy because it is farthest from city lights, and it was reasonably dark, though not like the open desert can be. But the campsites here, while functional are not picturesque like many of the other campgrounds in Joshua Tree NP. Mostly flat, mostly mesquite, like much of the surrounding desert. The main advantage is a clear Southern horizon for astronomers. Its also quite far from almost everything else in the Park.
@DamonS06EA91C2 · Camped on Aug 7, 2024 at Campsite #A9
Bathrooms needed to be cleaned
@LorenzHE109949 · Camped on Jul 29, 2024 at Campsite #A9
This might be one of the most beautiful campgrouds during our trip. I would especially recommend to take a bath in the river right next to the campground.
@DanielS7047089 · Camped on Mar 5, 2024 at Campsite #A9
Quiet, nice view at the campground, but the "pull thru" site was just a wide spot in the narrow camp road. We only put our slide out part way, same as others, and pulled it in at night. 27' 5th wheel. Also learned that in the main part of the park, the parking lots have very limited, if any, parking spots to accomodate trailer+tow vehicle. But, there's no where to drop the trailer for the day while you explore the park. So, on the day you are checking out, you can't really explore the park for the rest of the day.
@MichaelC616917 · Camped on Feb 17, 2024 at Campsite #A9
Cottonwood Campground is a great base for seeing Joshua Tree. Only about 7 miles in from the 10 Freeway with a visitors center at the turnoff. The sites are close but feel spacious and provide some separation from your neighbors. Water and a nice bathroom make it an easy camp experience. A fantastic loop trail of about 2.8 miles starts in the campground and drops you at the Cottonwood Springs trailhead which is just down the street a little from the campground. Even on a long weekend, it did not feel too busy as compared to other areas in the park.
@lindaj2736754 · Camped on Feb 14, 2024 at Campsite #A9
Basic, clean and level!
@AustinG9362622 · Camped on Jan 11, 2024 at Campsite #A9
The campsite was nice but with a few caveats. To start the worst part of this site and this site only that I noticed was the table, it's very lopsided and crooked making it very hard to cook on the table and very uncomfortable to sit at, I took a walk around and was checking out the other campsites and all the other tables where nice and level I recommend bringing an extra table to cook at and maybe some chairs. My next thing with this site was the overall setup, I car camp so the side pull-off parking spot wasn't a real issue but the campfire and table were far from one another making it kinda uncomfortable in the colder months since where you cook and eat is pretty far from the warmth of the fire. But besides that, the campground as a whole is nice your in a wide open area so the stars at night are plentiful and the hiking trail is very close which's a plus, the bathrooms here are flush type unlike the vault-style bathrooms in other campgrounds in the park so there's little to no stink with the added plus of a sink to wash your hands!
@StevenS1501716 · Camped on Jan 3, 2024 at Campsite #A9
Exactly what we expected. It's a wide-open space with no shade and can be windy. The bathrooms were basic but they were cleaned daily.Almost every site is spacious for tenters. RV'ers need to choose sites carefully as many sites have size limitations, or are parallel-parking sites with no room for slide-outs. Some RV'ers didn't respect the time restrictions on generators, and enforcement seemed lax. The best views from campsites are toward the east or south sides of the loops.The most scenic parts of the park are north of the campground by 20 minutes or more, so make sure you can travel that direction either on a spare day or on your way out.
@RuthWBB8B53EA0 · Camped on Nov 5, 2023 at Campsite #A9
I appreciated the night I spent in the campground, though I would have loved to get another night. I was definitely surprised at how filthy the restrooms were, but assumed it was because I was arriving on a Sunday evening and knew the park had been very busy the day before. Otherwise I was really happy with the site, campground and surrounding trails to explore.
@DianeO197 · Camped on Jan 6, 2022 at Campsite #A9
It was so beautiful and peaceful!
The staff were helpful and kind.
We can’t wait to return.
Wish it wasn’t so far away.
The staff were helpful and kind.
We can’t wait to return.
Wish it wasn’t so far away.
@MarjolijnF493 · Camped on Dec 2, 2021 at Campsite #A9
Walk to the Lost Palms Oasis, a must
@BenC220 · Camped on Nov 29, 2021 at Campsite #A9
Loved the open spaces, views and amenities.
@SarahW139 · Camped on Nov 19, 2021 at Campsite #A9
There were some really loud campers in the campground making noise before 7 AM which was annoying. Otherwise, it was a really great experience. There was water nearby and flushable toilets! Also the dump station is right by the campground and apparently it is the only one in the giant park! While it was far away from a lot of the sites we wanted to visit, it was a really great experience.
@RaymondS747 · Camped on Nov 15, 2021 at Campsite #A9
Campsite very unlevel and too small for an RV
@RuthW528 · Camped on Oct 5, 2021 at Campsite #A9
The campground was an adequate overnight stop on a long drive. No hookups at any site, but not far to water and restrooms.
@WilliamH150 · Camped on Sep 6, 2021 at Campsite #A9
Sorry, when I arrived, I really wasn't tired, so I decided to continue on.
@LynneT830 · Camped on May 24, 2021 at Campsite #A9
We camped at Cottonwood Campground in the third week of May and while the temperatures climbed, the campground was a bit higher altitude than some of the others in the park which kept the temps a bit lower. We were surprised at the distance necessary to tour the park from our campsite. Did not research that ahead of time. I might choose another location next time.
@PeterK914 · Camped on May 18, 2021 at Campsite #A9
Grounds are very clean and so are the bathrooms. Beautiful sites and trails.
@CarolynB573 · Camped on Apr 29, 2021 at Campsite #A9
This was my second time to stay at this campground. The spot was perfect. The view was inspirational. The facilities were minimal but adequate. The night was ruined though as my next door neighbors had an all-night, very loud party. Still, that aside I would stay here again.
@ShellyZ114 · Camped on Apr 22, 2021 at Campsite #A9
Wonderful campsite. Great location where you can hike a few trails. Nice and quiet.
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