A16
Joshua Tree National Park › California
› San Bernardino County
› Cottonwood Campground
› Campsite #A16
Campsite #A16 at Cottonwood Campground, Joshua Tree National Park, CA
$35
Campsite #A16
| Drive-In | 6 people |
| 30 ft | Back-In |
| 2 | poor |
3/1
Campsite #A16 Features: Drive-In access, Back-In parking, 30-foot driveway, Fire ring w/ Grill, Picnic Table, RV Site, Tent Site, Pets Allowed
Campsite Reviews (25)
5.0 out of 5
| 5 star | | 76% |
| 4 star | | 12% |
| 3 star | | 8% |
| 2 star | | 4% |
| 1 star | | 0% |
@ShunfangC2C4C0 · Camped on May 17, 2025 at Campsite #A16
Beautiful weather
@JohnH2789214 · Camped on Mar 30, 2025 at Campsite #A16
Cottonwood Campground is well maintained and has hiking trails directly from the campground. The wind can make it a trying experience for tents, our campsite neighbor had to take down their canopy, and eventually their tent, and decamp and leave early due to wind gusts of 30mph. Without the wind, it can be a very good experience.
No Service
@AtharvaK3981D5 · Camped on Feb 14, 2025 at Campsite #A16
clean campground and bathrooms. lovely experience at the amphitheater where we had a nice night chat with the ranger high recommend the 7pm chats!
No Service
@ColleenB1AB99B · Camped on Jan 21, 2025 at Campsite #A16
Loved the park and campsite except for the rules about dogs not allowed on any trails, we did walk our dog around the campsite and down to the trail head for the Cottonwood Spring and then one of us stood at the trailhead while the other waited at the parking area. We were here in mid January but if it was any warmer this would have been impossible. We were quite surprised by how many public areas in the US ban dogs. Our campsite was nice and spacious,had a fire ring and picnic table. The toilets were clean and everything was well kept.We took our dog to the south gate of the park so she could get a good long walk not having to stand on tarmac.
@BrigidQ1818998 · Camped on Dec 20, 2024 at Campsite #A16
I always enjoy staying at JOTR. Most of the hikes are in the northern part of the park, but then you can come back to Cottonwood and be out of the crowds. Its also very close to Hwy 10, so easy to break your trip.
No Service
@GreggB1741681 · Camped on Mar 13, 2023 at Campsite #A16
All sites are smaller than represented on Recreation.gov. Roads thru campground are tight. Campsites very closely spaced. Not enough room to put slides out and park a vehicle.non of this is mentioned on Recreation.gov until the day you are to arrive, then you get an email. Oh, no cell service so you get the email after you leave. This campground was designed for trailers less than 23 feet and tents.
No Service
@AshleyW8510592 · Camped on Feb 17, 2023 at Campsite #A16
Nice clean campground, bathroom close to all sites. Very well maintained.
@RobertH1222975 · Camped on Jan 27, 2023 at Campsite #A16
This campground is great for an overnight stop or a multi-day stay. The south side of the park is less travelled if you want to avoid the usual Joshua Tree crowds. The only down side to this campground is that its a long drive to most of the parks attractions.
No Service
@conniew4138447 · Camped on Jan 14, 2023 at Campsite #A16
Sites are quite small and a real squeeze to get into.
@JohnD1553494 · Camped on Dec 22, 2022 at Campsite #A16
Had a very nice stay over the Christmas Holiday. Sites are nice and well spaced out. The restrooms are kept up nicely and serviced on a regular basis. Both restrooms have cold running water. There are several water spigots placed around the campground and the water is good quality. Hiking trails that start at this campground are nice. For my 30' class C RV, I needed to use a couple of more leveling blocks than normal, but nothing outrageous. National Park staff at this location is very friendly and helpful.
No Service
@TammieB544D212 · Camped on Dec 2, 2022 at Campsite #A16
We were in site A16. There were a few flat spots for medium size or small tents. Fairly close to the bathroom, but not too close. the bathrooms were clean and well taken care of. Would definitely come back here.
No Service
@KramerHA25750A · Camped on Nov 15, 2022 at Campsite #A16
Minus the extreme wind event that happened, I totally enjoyed the setting. I was able to add a second night after driving towards freeway to get cell signal since all of the FCFS sites were taken. It was odd not having cell service.
No Service
@StevenG8234425 · Camped on Nov 13, 2022 at Campsite #A16
Very quiet, peaceful and clean, including the restroom. I loved it there and so did my family.
No Service
@KarenT7749653 · Camped on Nov 7, 2022 at Campsite #A16
Great campground. Well spaced campsites. Quiet. Clean bathrooms with flush toilets and sinks. Fresh water. Easy access to hiking trails.
No Service
@AmyM7630349 · Camped on Jun 29, 2022 at Campsite #A16
Just as expected. The website description was accurate. Easy to find, plenty of space, beautiful view of the stars.
@AnanthGF1A6CCB · Camped on May 28, 2022 at Campsite #A16
Great Camp. Toilets and Views around are the best. They don't have the standing grill and the Circular grill pit maybe a little deep to get the heat to grill. Make sure you light the firewood at a height. It does get a little noisy sometimes with big groups of campers. Perfect for families and chill parties.Overall clean and lively.
No Service
@ERICP174274122 · Camped on Mar 31, 2022 at Campsite #A16
Clean, good campsite and bathrooms, good water, nice, quiet fellow campers, few or no bugs. There appeared to be a good size park administration housing and office compound nearby (ranger and naturalist staff).This campsite was probably more easily available for reservations because it is pretty distant from the main part of the park that is more popular to the north. All of the campsites were occupied by evening, but there wasn't an overcrowded feeling. We selected a combo camper van and tent site for two vehicles, which was excellent for our needs.This campground is located in the southwest part of the park, which is in Colorado "low" desert ecosystem. The scenery is vast and typically surreal. The transition to the Mojave "high" desert to the north is ecologically interesting and includes the Cholla Garden site and roadside Ocotillo patch. We were lucky to see in the Ocotillos in bloom. The Cottonwood Wash hiking trail was good.We had nice, moonless, night sky views of many stars.
Major Issues
@EmilyP4531880 · Camped on Mar 19, 2022 at Campsite #A16
Cottonwood is a loooooong drive from most of the parts of the park people want to visit, and is correspondingly less popular. If it wasn't competing with Jumbo Rocks and the other "main" campgrounds at Joshua Tree, it would be a five-star desert campground, as it is very pretty in its own way, with lots of neat spiky plants and beautiful night skies. Super informative ranger program at the camp amphitheater about local plants and their uses delivered by a very funny guy.
No Service
@AdelinaA302 · Camped on Jan 23, 2022 at Campsite #A16
a beautiful night sky after an informative Ranger talk about Golden Eagles
@MariaK4767948 · Camped on Jan 19, 2022 at Campsite #A16
We loved our 4 day stay at the campground. Was a little bit too windy for tent campers, but we were in a 28 foot RV which was awesome (we are full-time RVers)! Would definitely stay here again! Had no hookups, generator use is allowed at certain time periods of the day. Views are great. Peace and quiet. Fire pits are big. You won't see Joshua Trees in the southern part of JTNP, they are all in the northern part with the interesting, rounded rock formations. This location is relatively close and less crowded.
No Service
@SusanI7041FE26 · Camped on Jan 6, 2022 at Campsite #A16
Clean facilitys, quiet neighbors beautiful stars
No Service
No Service
@SusanI862 · Camped on Jan 6, 2022 at Campsite #A16
Clean facility’s, quiet neighbor’s beautiful stars
No Service
@KarenL718 · Camped on Dec 25, 2021 at Campsite #A16
Cottonwood Campground was a beautiful Christmas setting! The campsites are well situated, clean, with picnic tables and fire rings surrounded by the natural landscape. Hiking trails were well marked. The sunset was amazing!! Star gazing after nightfall was breathtaking! The variety of desert flora and rock formations are a photographers dream. Of course, the Joshua Trees were a highlight. The staff at the welcome center were courteous, knowledgeable, and helpful! We cannot wait to return during the spring or fall to explore more of this wonderful national park.
No Service
@IanS960 · Camped on Dec 22, 2021 at Campsite #A16
Site was quiet and clean. It's a bit of a drive (~45 min) from a lot of the more popular Joshua Tree activities to the north. There are several trails nearby and some 4x4 roads just north.
No Service
@AngelaS449 · Camped on May 1, 2021 at Campsite #A16
The campground was a little loud, but clean and the site was decent. Zero service in campground. Also, I had arrived and placed a few things at my spot to show I was there, then went back into the park. When I got back to my spot later some college aged looking kids had decided to take my spot ("isn't this first come first served?") despite all the signs about reservations required and my stuff being there... luckily they moved after I asked them to.
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