Cottonwood Campground

Star3.88
25 reviews
Cottonwood Campground

Quick Facts

4,321 ft

Price

$6/night

Booking

First-Come

Sites

25 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

Opens Bureau of Land Management (BLM) site

Official Website
Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

March 2026

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

March 2026
Cottonwood Campground
$6.00 - $6.00 / night
Campsite Fees
$6.00 per campsite fee is required for camping at all BLM campsites. All sites are available on a first come first served basis.
Standard Site Fee$6.00
Hookup Site Fee$0.00
Premium Site Fee$0.00
Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00
Group Site Fee$0.00
Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00

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What Campers Say

3.88

Mixed Reviews

Based on 25 reviews

29 Google reviews

Most mentioned

quietpeacefulcleanrestrooms

"Reviews are very mixed: many campers love Cottonwood Campground’s quiet, secluded setting, dark skies, and scenery, while others strongly dislike the lack of water, poor maintenance, and noise from nearby wind turbines. The campground is consistently described as remote, simple, and best suited for self-sufficient campers who don’t need hookups or amenities. Larger RVs and those expecting a developed, manicured campground tend to be disappointed, whereas tent campers and those seeking solitude are more positive."

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Campground Map

Cottonwood Campground

Cottonwood Campground

32.8002, -116.3383

Driving directionsFrom Interstate 8, take the Boulevard exit. Proceed south to the first stop sign. Turn left/east on Old Highway 80. After approximately 2 miles, turn left on McCain Valley Road. A sign with mileage information is located at the junction of McCain Valley Road and the road to Sacatone overlook.
Accessible from Interstate 8 via the Boulevard exit, then south to Old Highway 80 and McCain Valley Road (see driving directions).

Best Time to Camp at Cottonwood Campground

The McCain Valley landscape transforms with the seasons, each offering its own character. Winter brings cooler days in the 50s and crisp nights that can dip below freezing, occasionally dusting the oaks with snow. As the year turns, December through April ushers in most of the area's rainfall, painting the desert in unexpected greens. Summer arrives with warm days climbing from 60 to 95°F, punctuated by dramatic afternoon thundershowers in July and August that roll across the valley with spectacular lightning displays.

Summer(Jun-Aug)
2.5 / 5

Desert summers likely hot despite elevation; campground is simple and lacks water.

Fall(Sep-Nov)
3.5 / 5

Pleasant weather and good hiking conditions in fall; site remains quiet and scenic.

Best
Spring(Mar-May)
4.0 / 5

Spring wildflowers and mild temps make this a prime season for visits and photography.

Winter(Dec-Feb)
3.0 / 5

Cool days in the 50s, nights can dip below freezing; open year-round with crisp conditions.

Planning Tips
  • Operating Season: Year-round

About Cottonwood Campground

Nestled among ancient live oaks in the McCain Valley Resource Conservation Area, Cottonwood Campground offers 25 welcoming sites where desert adventurers can set up base camp year-round. From your campsite equipped with fire rings, tables, and vault toilets, you're positioned at the gateway to some of Southern California's most rewarding trails—routes that wind toward Sombrero Peak, meander through Upper Bow Willow Canyon, and connect to the vast wilderness of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Cottonwood Campground contains 25 developed campsites, is open year-round, and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Horses are permitted only in the east loop and no group camping sites are available.
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Amenities available

Fire rings
Picnic tables
Vault toilets

Activities you can enjoy

Cottonwood Campground serves as a trailhead for day hikes, overnight backpacking trips, and equestrian use. Trails from the campground lead to Sombrero Peak Area, Upper Bow Willow Canyon, and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park; OHV use is not permitted.
HikingTrails (including Pepperwood Trail and Sombrero Peak Trail) are rated moderate to strenuous, are sandy in composition, and connect to Sombrero Peak, Upper Bow Willow Canyon, and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Elevations in the area range from 3,000 to 4,500 feet.
Winter Activities
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Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsThundershowers common in July and August; occasional winter snowfalls and below-freezing temperatures. Temperature extremes (summer highs up to 95 °F and winter lows below freezing) are noted.

Weather at Cottonwood Campground

Reviews

3.9
25 reviews
Mixed Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Cottonwood Campground has mixed reviews, placing it in the bottom 85% of campgrounds based on reviews
Reviews are very mixed: many campers love Cottonwood Campground’s quiet, secluded setting, dark skies, and scenery, while others strongly dislike the lack of water, poor maintenance, and noise from nearby wind turbines. The campground is consistently described as remote, simple, and best suited for self-sufficient campers who don’t need hookups or amenities. Larger RVs and those expecting a developed, manicured campground tend to be disappointed, whereas tent campers and those seeking solitude are more positive.
Review Summaries
Based on 25 reviews

What Campers Love

Campers praise the campground’s seclusion, calm atmosphere, and natural beauty, including low light pollution, clean air, and wildflowers. Several note that it’s quiet and shady, with a cozy feel,...
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Based on 25 reviews

Common Concerns

Common issues include no running water at all (sometimes framed as a fire hazard or major inconvenience), overgrown vegetation/weeds, and poor general upkeep of the sites and roads. Multiple...
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Based on 25 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Reviewers repeatedly stress to bring all your own water (drinking and wash water) because there are no working spigots and no hookups. They recommend using BLM website directions instead of Google...
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Based on 25 reviews

Camper Quotes

"Cottonwood Campground is a long way(7-8 miles) down a rough dusty dirt road… If your looking for a secluded spot with low light pollution, Clean air, And beautiful scenery, This is the place." "Both...
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Based on 25 reviews

Accessibility Features

Access is via a long (7–8 miles), rough, dusty dirt road that can take about an hour in a larger motorhome, and internal campground roads are described as tight and washed out. One reviewer notes a...
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Based on 25 reviews

Pet-Friendly Features

One reviewer specifically notes that it’s “perfect for dogs and kids,” suggesting that the environment is generally pet-friendly with space for dogs to be outside, though no other pet-specific...
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Based on 25 reviews

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Last updated March 8, 2026
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