I camped here 3/3/14 - 3/7/14 and have a 24' (overall) TT.
Overall - This is a nice campground. I usually stay at Jumbo Rocks with the family and friends, but since I was doing some exploring of the DTC/C-AMA camps and maneuver areas around here, I made this my base camp.
As is with most of the campgrounds in Joshua Tree, this is a pretty quiet one. No partying kids* no loud music, no outside lights and no generators running constantly (I own and use a generator). Everyone here is for the quiet, darkness and nature. This is a stargazers and rock climber’s paradise. Generator hours are 7-9a, 12noon-2p and 3-5p. Most people use solar. This camp is in the "low" desert, as opposed to all the others in the park which are in the "high" desert. This means that Cottonwood will be warmer year round than any of the others.
The campground is very clean, and they have flush toilets with handicap accessible stalls. No showers. There is a concrete picnic table and metal fire ring in each site. Make sure to bring your own firewood, because none is available within the park and scrounging for it is illegal. Dogs are not allowed on trails. There's no cell phone service or amateur radio access (on a handi-talkie). I
was able to receive KFI Los Angeles on my truck radio.
If you're looking for a campground where the kids can scramble over rocks, this isn't it. Go to Jumbo Rocks. There are some flat hiking trails from this area, but as of now they're closed. During busy times of the year (Spring Break), the campgrounds fill up pretty fast. People start rolling in on Thursdays, and by Friday night it's filled. There is BLM camping in the desert just prior to the southern entrance, but you might be camping next to Walter and Jesse....just kidding...I did see some expensive class A's out there. I just wouldn't leave my trailer there all day unattended, but that's me.
If hiking and taking in the beauty of Joshua Tree isn't enough for you during the day, the city of Indio is only 30 minutes away to the west. Some Indian casinos are also within a reasonable distance. Closer to the southern end of the park is the Gen. Patton Museum (link) at Chiriaco Summit. This is a must-see. Then there's the Chiriaco family store next to the museum where you can get snacks, etc. They also have a coffee and gift shop. You can purchase fuel or get an ice cream across the street at Chevron. Regular gas is presently .45 gal higher than what I paid for in Coachella. There are no services of any kind, other than a Post Office, at Desert Center.
Details - If you do choose to camp here, your best bet is to use the south entrance off of I-10, as it's only about 7 miles from the off-ramp. If you come in from any of the north entrances off of 62, it's a long and slow drive to Cottonwood (40 miles). Coming in from the south (at the turnoff to the campground), stop first at the NPS Visitor Center as you have to pay an entrance fee to the park, whether or not you choose to drive thru the park.
Once that's done, there is a fresh water fill and dump station on your left on the way to the campground. Supposedly there's a $5 fee to use it according to the NPS website, but I didn't see anyone or anywhere to pay, so I went ahead and filled my freshwater tank.
It's a small area, basically 2 vehicles at a time can fit in there, one on each side.
You might have to wait on the weekends.
On the left across from the Group Sites, pick up and fill out your camping payment form..$15/night. Arriving at the campground, the south loop is Loop "A" while the north loop is loop "B". For both loops, there's 31 sites per loop. Inside sites are even numbered while the outer sites are odd numbered. There ARE water spigots in the campground for rinsing, getting drinking water for tent campers, etc. In loop A they're between sites 4/8 and 10/18. Another spigot at site 7. Loop B, between 4/28 and 10/18, with another again at site 7. The Camp Host is in site 22A.
There's 2 types of sites. Back-in (even numbered) and "pull along" (odd numbered-a pullout in the road). I chose a back in so I could use my 3' slide-out. The campground was constructed before the use of slide-outs. I saw others in the pull along sites, and they could only extend their slide-outs about a foot because of the narrowness of the sites. Most sites are uneven, so you'll need some leveling blocks. There are large boulders marking the site boundaries, so you can't have your tires in the dirt.
Possible campsite negatives -
"A" loop...sites 11 and 13 share a trailhead entrance. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are close to the amphitheater parking (shows usually on weekends). 5 and 7 share the amphitheater path. 21 and 23 have a bathroom path between them.
"B" loop - 22 B is next to the path to the bathroom. 8 & 10 have vent pipes coming out of them. 11 and 13 share a hiking trailhead entrance.
As this is a "First come, first served" campground, you may not have many choices.
Bottom line... This is a great campground. I'll be coming back again. As of Wednesday, 3/5/14, I'm the only one in my loop....There's three more campers in loop A. Seems like most people are here for one night.
Joshua Tree Nat'l Park Camping
One last item...if you enter the park to camp during
THESE DAYS, you won't have to pay the $15 park entrance fee. Just remembered that happened to us one year by accident.
*I don't know how it is in this campground during the Coachella Music Festival because of its proximity to the I-10, but I suppose they have kids camping here during that time. We had some last year in Jumbo Rocks and a group of them did some bad things and were arrested. Others were quiet...gone for the day, came back, had dinner and went to bed.
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