Cottonwood Campground

3.88

25 reviews

Quick Facts

Price

$6/night

Booking

First-Come

Sites

25 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Not Allowed

Opens Bureau of Land Management (BLM) site

Get Directions

Quick Facts

Price

$6/night

Booking

First-Come

Sites

25 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Not Allowed

Opens Bureau of Land Management (BLM) site

Get Directions

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

Total Campsite Fees$6.00

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What Campers Say

3.88

Mixed Reviews

Based on 25 reviews

25 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."

Read all reviews

Fees & Passes at Cottonwood Campground

$6/night

Campsite fees

Standard Site

Basic tent/RV spot

$6/night

Prices verified December 10, 2025

Prices may vary by season and site type. Always confirm current rates on the official Bureau of Land Management (BLM) website.

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.

Spring (Mar-May)

Wildflowers bloom, mild temperatures, fewer crowds. Great for hiking and photography.

Best

Summer (Jun-Aug)

Peak season with warm days. Most facilities open. Reserve ahead.

Fall (Sep-Nov)

Beautiful fall colors, cooler temps, quieter campgrounds. Ideal for peaceful trips.

Winter (Dec-Feb)

Snow activities available. Some facilities may close. Check 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.

Weather and SeasonsThe 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.

ElevationYour adventure unfolds across an elevation range of 3,000 to 4,500 feet, where desert and mountain ecosystems blend into a unique transition zone. This sweet spot in altitude means you'll experience milder temperatures than the lower desert floors while still enjoying the characteristic landscape and vegetation of Southern California's backcountry.

Natural Features and SceneryThe campground sits in a grove of sturdy live oaks that provide welcome shade and a sense of timeless permanence in the desert landscape. Sandy trails beckon from the campground's edge, inviting hikers and equestrians to explore routes leading to Sombrero Peak's commanding views, the hidden corridors of Upper Bow Willow Canyon, and the expansive wilderness of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The terrain rises and falls between 3,000 and 4,500 feet, creating a diverse tapestry of microclimates and habitats where desert scrub meets oak woodland.

Geological RegionMcCain Valley Resource Conservation Area, southeastern San Diego County

Campsite details

Sites Size25 developed campsites

Total Campsites25 campsites

Recommended CampsitesHorses are permitted only in the east loop; visitors using horses should camp in that loop. All camping (except backpacking) must be in designated campsites. Campfire permits may be required—check with CAL FIRE.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Tents

Tents are not allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive are not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are not allowed

Site layout25 developed campsites with fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets. The campground includes at least an east loop where horses are permitted.

Open and Closed SeasonYear-round

Walk-in AvailabilityAll sites are available on a first come first served basis.

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.

Hiking

Trails (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

Winter temperatures range from the 50s (F) to below freezing with occasional snowfalls; thundershowers are common in July and August.

Campground rules

Pets are not allowed
A campfire permit may be required; contact the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for regulations.

Hazards

General hazardsThundershowers 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

°F

Dec 11

Thursday

Clear sky

Precipitation: 0%

Humidity: 16%

Wind: 8.2 mph

Clear sky

Weather History

Weather data powered by Open-Meteo

Detailed 7-Day Forecast

Reveal forecast

Good to know

Campground Map

Cottonwood Campground

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).

Reviews from booking and map sources

3.9

25 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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Based on 25 reviews