Forum Discussion

mockturtle's avatar
mockturtle
Explorer II
Feb 20, 2015

Joshua Tree NP & RV size

I stayed at JTNP yesterday and watched (and heard) a lot of large RVs trying desperately to fit into too-small camp sites. It wasn't pretty! At Cottonwood, there are very short back-ins on one side of the loop and longer, but very narrow, pull-outs (not pull-throughs) on the opposite side. I was in a back in. A fifth wheel with two driver's side slide-outs parked across from me. This morning as I left, I could just barely squeeze my way out of my site. This park is not really suitable for large rigs. Unless your rig is very short or very narrow with no slides, don't go there. JMHO, of course! :D
  • tpi's avatar
    tpi
    Explorer
    Feb 23, 2015
    Great spot but glad to have 24'. Enjoyed the mix of campers-from all over the world and all kind of equipment. Fun place. I didn't have a whiff of Verizon service.

    Larger rigs should have this place well planned before entering- in general not set up with the RV in mind.
  • Community Alumni's avatar
    Community Alumni
    Feb 21, 2015
    I was talking about the boulders/large rocks used to delineate the RV parking space, not natural boulders. :R

    I have seen several sites in the park where there was plenty of natural space to accommodate larger RVs and boulders/large rocks were used to severely limit the RV site.
  • CVD's avatar
    CVD
    Explorer
    Feb 21, 2015
    Yes - rather thoughtless of those planners not moving the rocks:R

    Jumbo Rocks CG has several spots for larger RV's. No reservations there. You have a good chance of getting one of those spots mid week; iffy on weekends. Indian Cove also has some sites for 30 - 35' rigs, but they are usually reserved.
  • Community Alumni's avatar
    Community Alumni
    Feb 21, 2015
    I don't see why the park can't move some of the boulders used to designate the RV sites and make the sites bigger. I truly think that many of the park planners hate RVs and wish everyone pitched at tent.
  • 1971duster340's avatar
    1971duster340
    Explorer
    Feb 21, 2015
    I left some paint on one of the boulders that define a pullout. Finally found a spot almost long enough, but worked. I didn't leave the slide extended on the road side. That event made me ask future campgrounds if they can accommodate 45' MH.
  • kknowlton's avatar
    kknowlton
    Explorer II
    Feb 20, 2015
    I'm not surprised. We camped there many, many years ago when we lived in SoCal - in a tent. :)
  • Desert_Captain's avatar
    Desert_Captain
    Explorer III
    Feb 20, 2015
    We recently spent two nights in Joshua Tree. The first at Indian Cove and while the rocky scenery was spectacular the sites are mostly tent size. There were a few larger sites down in the lower (less scenic), section but as you can see our site (#95), was very tight. Our 24' C fit, but just barely as the access road is about 2' in front of the coach.



    We spent the next night at Black rock and while the access roads and most of the sites are pretty tight there are some larger sites, even a few pull throughs.

    :C
  • rv2go's avatar
    rv2go
    Explorer II
    Feb 20, 2015
    It has been a few years since I have stayed at Cottonwood. That was with a friend and we both had 32' MH's without slides. Don't remember any problems.

    Now, My preferred CG, is Jumbo Rocks. No problems there either. I see a lot of big rigs there.

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