Openings · last 7 days
20
Booking reality
Campsite Sniper detected 20 site openings here in the last 7 days
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-272299
When Cottonwood Campground (CA) reopens
Cottonwood Campground (CA)'s openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
71
Openings · last 90 days
72
Weekday pattern
Detected openings by day of week · 90dWednesday accounted for the largest share of the openings Campsite Sniper detected. 25 of 72 openings detected in the last 90 days occurred on a Wednesday (34.7%), with Thursday (15) and Friday (13) next in line.
Hour-of-day pattern
First detected by hour · local time · last 90 daysThe largest concentrations of detected openings were first detected during the 08:00 and 10:00 local-time hours. Those hours contained 27 of 72 detected openings (37.5%). Hours show when Campsite Sniper first detected each opening, in Pacific Time, not when the change was made upstream.
Lead-time profile
Days before stay date · percentilesHalf of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 25.5 days before the stay date; the middle 50% land 17.8–32.2 days out. Set an alert if you want Campsite Sniper to monitor future openings.
Highest-churn sites
Most openings · 90d| Site | Openings | Share of all openings |
|---|---|---|
| A11 | 12 | 16.7% |
| B12 | 9 | 12.5% |
| A26 | 5 | 6.9% |
| B31 | 5 | 6.9% |
| A02 | 4 | 5.6% |
Site A11 had the most detected openings in the last 90 days: 12. One free watch covers every site here.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027 · of 59 monitored sites
Of the 10,797 tracked site-nights (Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027): 8,753 open for online reservation · 2,044 reserved.
Where the open windows are
18.9% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 8,753 of 10,797 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18, 2026 – Mar 19, 2027Not open online18.9%
Open site-nights8,753 / 10,797
Reserved (of online inventory)2,044 / 10,797
Weekday openings5,536
Weekend openings3,217
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 5,536 fall on weekdays and 3,217 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Mar 2027January holds the most room. 1,680 of 1,829 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 59 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 12 | Open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 1 | Open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 14 | Open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 52 | Open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 52 | Open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 47 | Open |
| FRI Jan 1 | 48 | Open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night. Thanksgiving: no site is currently available for the complete three-night stay. individual Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights remain open. Christmas: 50 sites are available for the complete two-night stay. New Year: 46 sites are available for the complete two-night stay.
Best-availability sites
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| B30 | 167 |
| B10 | 166 |
| A26 | 164 |
| B08 | 163 |
| B14 | 163 |
The 5 sites with the most open site-nights in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateFri · Sep 18
Next open weekendFri · Sep 18
The next bookable night is Sep 18; the first open weekend starts Sep 18. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
8,753 open site-nights across 59 sites at Cottonwood Campground (CA), from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 718 2-night, 652 3-night, 233 7-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 18 at site A10.
RV length. Longest recorded site here is 48 ft. 50 sites take 25 ft, 30 sites take 35 ft, 23 sites take 40 ft.
All 59 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B30 | 20 ft | None | 167 | 96 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +155 more |
| B10 | 25 ft | None | 166 | 111 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +154 more |
| A26 | 25 ft | None | 164 | 106 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +152 more |
| B08 | 22 ft | None | 163 | 111 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +151 more |
| B14 | 20 ft | None | 163 | 111 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +151 more |
| A14 | 25 ft | None | 162 | 111 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +150 more |
| A21 | 40 ft | None | 162 | 112 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1 +150 more |
| A19 | 35 ft | None | 161 | 69 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +149 more |
| A18 | 25 ft | None | 160 | 61 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +148 more |
| A28 | 25 ft | None | 160 | 100 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +148 more |
| A30 | 22 ft | None | 160 | 76 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +148 more |
| B18 | 25 ft | None | 160 | 77 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 +148 more |
| B20 | 22 ft | None | 160 | 96 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +148 more |
| B05 | 45 ft | None | 159 | 95 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +147 more |
| B06 | 28 ft | None | 159 | 95 nights | Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 30, Oct 4, Oct 5 +147 more |
| B22 | 25 ft | None | 159 | 111 nights | Sep 18, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 +147 more |
| A24 | 28 ft | None | 158 | 104 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +146 more |
| A29 | 35 ft | None | 158 | 111 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +146 more |
| B01 | 42 ft | None | 158 | 96 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +146 more |
| B02 | 27 ft | None | 158 | 96 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +146 more |
| B04 | 28 ft | None | 158 | 78 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +146 more |
| B16 | 25 ft | None | 158 | 61 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +146 more |
| B24 | 22 ft | None | 158 | 56 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +146 more |
| A08 | 28 ft | None | 157 | 88 nights | Sep 18, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 +145 more |
| A20 | 26 ft | None | 157 | 71 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +145 more |
| B03 | 38 ft | None | 157 | 78 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +145 more |
| A04 | 30 ft | None | 156 | 102 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +144 more |
| A02 | 25 ft | None | 155 | 53 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +143 more |
| A12 | 20 ft | None | 154 | 97 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +142 more |
| B07 | 40 ft | None | 153 | 92 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 +141 more |
| B11 | 40 ft | None | 153 | 62 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +141 more |
| A16 | 30 ft | None | 152 | 58 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1 +140 more |
| A31 | 40 ft | None | 152 | 79 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +140 more |
| B28 | 22 ft | None | 152 | 53 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +140 more |
| A27 | 40 ft | None | 151 | 74 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +139 more |
| B09 | 48 ft | None | 150 | 50 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +138 more |
| A01 | 45 ft | None | 149 | 52 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 +137 more |
| A03 | 40 ft | None | 147 | 96 nights | Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Oct 4 +135 more |
| A06 | 26 ft | None | 147 | 96 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1 +135 more |
| A23 | 45 ft | None | 147 | 61 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 4, Oct 5 +135 more |
| A17 | 42 ft | None | 146 | 69 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 +134 more |
| B26 | 28 ft | None | 146 | 26 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +134 more |
| A10 | 28 ft | None | 143 | 30 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +131 more |
| A25 | 42 ft | None | 143 | 24 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +131 more |
| B12 | 20 ft | None | 141 | 31 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +129 more |
| A07 | 35 ft | None | 139 | 46 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 +127 more |
| A15 | 35 ft | None | 137 | 62 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4 +125 more |
| B17 | 40 ft | None | 137 | 22 nights | Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1 +125 more |
| B23 | 42 ft | None | 137 | 40 nights | Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1 +125 more |
| A05 | 40 ft | None | 132 | 33 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 +120 more |
| B13 | 40 ft | None | 131 | 57 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1 +119 more |
| A11 | 40 ft | None | 128 | 33 nights | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4 +116 more |
| B25 | 40 ft | None | 126 | 30 nights | Sep 18, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 5 +114 more |
| A09 | 42 ft | None | 123 | 29 nights | Sep 18, Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 5 +111 more |
| B29 | 44 ft | None | 122 | 24 nights | Sep 18, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5 +110 more |
| B27 | 45 ft | None | 116 | 26 nights | Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 25, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4 +104 more |
| B19 | 43 ft | None | 111 | 13 nights | Sep 19, Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 +99 more |
| B31 | 38 ft | None | 108 | 25 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Oct 6, Oct 8, Oct 19 +96 more |
| B15 | 38 ft | None | 107 | 21 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 8, Oct 14, Oct 15 +95 more |
About 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. Easy access from Interstate 10, makes it a popular stopover for travelers. To get the most out of your visit Plan Like a Park Ranger
Visitors 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. Summer is the park's off-season due to the uncomfortably high desert heat; however, reservations are required year-round. Cottonwood Campground is at an elevation of 3,000 ft. and has little shade from vegetation.
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 one to two hour drive.
Facilities
There are 62 sites, each with a fire ring and picnic table. There are no electrical hookups. Drinking water and flush toilets are provided.
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.
Nearby Attractions
The General Patton Memorial Museum, a U.S. military history museum, is just over 12 miles away in the town of Chiriaco.
59 monitored sitesRVs up to 48 ftNo hookupsPets OKFire pitsMax party 6
Getting there
The park headquarters address is not the physical address of the campground. To get to the campground, take Interstate 10 to the I-10 exit 168 Mecca/Twentynine Palms exit and follow signs to Joshua Tree National Park. The exit is 25 miles east of Indio, California.
74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277760-367-5554
CampingDay Use AreaHikingInterpretive ProgramsWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-272299 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-272299 · Cottonwood Campground (CA) · Twentynine Palms CA12 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Cottonwood Campground (CA)?
Reservations for Cottonwood Campground (CA) are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 8,753 of 10,797 tracked site-nights are open (81.1%), though availability can change. Campsite Sniper has also detected 72 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Cottonwood Campground (CA)?
Campsite Sniper detected 20 site-date openings at Cottonwood Campground (CA) in the last 7 days, 71 over 30 days and 72 over the last 90.
Which day of the week had the most detected openings at Cottonwood Campground (CA)?
Wednesday accounted for the largest share of the openings Campsite Sniper detected in the last 90 days: 25 of 72 (34.7%). Days reflect when Campsite Sniper first detected each opening, not when the change occurred upstream.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Cottonwood Campground (CA)?
652 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 18 at site A10. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Cottonwood Campground (CA) fit a 35-foot RV?
30 of the 59 sites that support RV analysis have a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 48 ft.
Which month has the most availability at Cottonwood Campground (CA)?
January 2027, with 1,680 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 1,829.
How far ahead of a stay do openings appear at Cottonwood Campground (CA)?
Half of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 25.5 days before the stay date; the middle 50% landed 17.8-32.2 days out. Campsite Sniper can monitor future changes for dates you select.
When is the next open date at Cottonwood Campground (CA)?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Fri, Sep 18 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 18. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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