Cottonwood Campground (ND)

View of Cottonwood Campground from the main park road.  There are buttes in the background with a large stand of cottonwoods and a field in between.
Cottonwood Preview Image shows a campsite with a picnic table framed by cottonwood trees and a bluff in the background
Leafy Cottonwood Trees

Sites & Rates

70 total sites · $20 avg/night

About Cottonwood Campground (ND)

For people visiting the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Cottonwood Campground is a great place to stay. Located five miles (8 km) from the entrance to the South Unit of the park, the campground is open year-round. To make a reservation for the group site please visit this the Cottonwood Group Site (ND ) page.

Number of accommodations: 70

Activities & Attractions

Nearby

Fishing

Fishing

Year-round
Hiking

Hiking

Year-round

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - Jul 11 to Sep 30

Campground Amenities

RV Utilities and Hookups

RV Utilities and Hookups

  • Dump station on site
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Potable Water
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

70 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 001, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 002, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 003, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 004, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 005, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 006, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 007, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 008, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 009, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 010, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 011, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 012, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 013, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 014, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 015, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 016, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 017, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 018, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 019, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 020, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 021, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 022, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 023, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 024, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 026, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 027, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 028, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 029, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 030, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 031, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 032, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 033, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 034, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 035, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 036, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 038, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 039, Loop: North Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 043, Loop: South Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 045, Loop: South Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 046, Loop: South Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 047, Loop: South Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 048, Loop: South Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 049, Loop: South Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 050, Loop: South Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 051, Loop: South Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 052, Loop: South Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 053, Loop: South Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 054, Loop: South Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
055, Loop: South Loop
6 guests · Pet Friendly
$20
/ per night
056, Loop: South Loop
6 guests · Pet Friendly
$20
/ per night
057, Loop: South Loop
6 guests · Pet Friendly
$20
/ per night
058, Loop: South Loop
6 guests · Pet Friendly
$20
/ per night
059, Loop: South Loop
6 guests · Pet Friendly
$20
/ per night
060, Loop: South Loop
6 guests · Pet Friendly
$20
/ per night
061, Loop: South Loop
6 guests · Pet Friendly
$20
/ per night
062, Loop: South Loop
6 guests · Pet Friendly
$20
/ per night
063, Loop: South Loop
6 guests · Pet Friendly
$20
/ per night
064, Loop: South Loop
6 guests · Pet Friendly
$20
/ per night
065, Loop: South Loop
6 guests · Pet Friendly
$20
/ per night
066, Loop: South Loop
6 guests · Pet Friendly
$20
/ per night
🚐 067, Loop: South Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 068, Loop: South Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 069, Loop: South Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 070, Loop: South Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 071, Loop: South Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 072, Loop: South Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 073, Loop: South Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 074, Loop: South Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 075, Loop: South Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night
🚐 076, Loop: South Loop
No Hookups
$20
/ per night

Reviews (2203)

What Guests Are Saying

Cottonwood Campground offers a beautiful and peaceful setting, with ample wildlife sightings, including bison and wild horses. The facilities are generally clean, with friendly staff and a convenient location for exploring Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Some reviews mention layout issues and occasional maintenance concerns, but overall, visitors highly recommend this campground for its scenic views and enjoyable atmosphere.

Review Summary

4.5
2203 reviews
5
67.0%
1476
4
22.5%
496
3
5.1%
113
2
2.6%
57
1
2.8%
61

George H

Verified

July 4, 2023 Stayed at: 057, Loop: South Loop

5

We loved cottonwood! The camp ranger was so helpful and thorough. The hiking and wildlife experience was the best! Great wildlife and less people!

George H

Verified

July 4, 2023 Stayed at: 057, Loop: South Loop

5

We loved cottonwood! The camp ranger was so helpful and thorough. The hiking and wildlife experience was the best! Great wildlife and less people!

Christopher F

Verified

July 1, 2023 Stayed at: 075, Loop: South Loop

5

Cottonwood is a beautiful National Park campground. Not all the sites are created equal, but there are many really nice RV sites.
The Camp Host at Cottonwood during our visit in June 2023 was the best we've ever experienced. A really nice, calm and extremely helpful camp host. He was great about helping us get a site on a night we didn't have a reservation - and we saw him help others the same way. A really great experience in this beautiful campground in a beautiful National Park.

Christopher F

Verified

July 1, 2023 Stayed at: 075, Loop: South Loop

5

Cottonwood is a beautiful National Park campground. Not all the sites are created equal, but there are many really nice RV sites.
The Camp Host at Cottonwood during our visit in June 2023 was the best we've ever experienced. A really nice, calm and extremely helpful camp host. He was great about helping us get a site on a night we didn't have a reservation - and we saw him help others the same way. A really great experience in this beautiful campground in a beautiful National Park.

Christopher F

Verified

July 1, 2023 Stayed at: 075, Loop: South Loop

5

Cottonwood is a beautiful National Park campground. Not all the sites are created equal, but there are many really nice RV sites.
The Camp Host at Cottonwood during our visit in June 2023 was the best we've ever experienced. A really nice, calm and extremely helpful camp host. He was great about helping us get a site on a night we didn't have a reservation - and we saw him help others the same way. A really great experience in this beautiful campground in a beautiful National Park.

Christopher F

Verified

July 1, 2023 Stayed at: 075, Loop: South Loop

5

Cottonwood is a beautiful National Park campground. Not all the sites are created equal, but there are many really nice RV sites.
The Camp Host at Cottonwood during our visit in June 2023 was the best we've ever experienced. A really nice, calm and extremely helpful camp host. He was great about helping us get a site on a night we didn't have a reservation - and we saw him help others the same way. A really great experience in this beautiful campground in a beautiful National Park.

Jeff R

Verified

June 29, 2023 Stayed at: 017, Loop: North Loop

3

As the lone campground in the South Unit of a major National Park I had very high expectations. Some were met, some not. First the positives:. Location is fantastic! Right on the scenic loop. In fact, I noticed buffalo droppings throughout the campsite- very cool! There was a trail to the prairie leading from my campsite that was scenic. The hosts were super-friendly and answered all my questions!

Now the bad:. The layout for the restrooms was probably the worst I have ever seen in ANY park! The campground is set-up in a one-way loop. There's sites on both the inside and outside of the loop. All the bathrooms are in the very middle. If you need to use the facilities and are located on the outside of the loop(like I was) you must find an empty site to walk thru to access the path from that site to the 'main' path in the middle connecting the 3 bathrooms. I walked the whole path and couldn't find an entrance/exit to the main path that didn't involve walking thru somebody's campsite! If you're in the inner loop you are golden as there's small paths going from every inner site to the main path.

One bathroom(of the 3) was under construction. Not open. The middle one was very clean and had flush toilets and running water. The last bathroom was the handicapped accessible restroom and it was just a pit toilet with sanitizer for washing hands. 3 stars.

Jeff R

Verified

June 29, 2023 Stayed at: 017, Loop: North Loop

3

As the lone campground in the South Unit of a major National Park I had very high expectations. Some were met, some not. First the positives:. Location is fantastic! Right on the scenic loop. In fact, I noticed buffalo droppings throughout the campsite- very cool! There was a trail to the prairie leading from my campsite that was scenic. The hosts were super-friendly and answered all my questions!

Now the bad:. The layout for the restrooms was probably the worst I have ever seen in ANY park! The campground is set-up in a one-way loop. There's sites on both the inside and outside of the loop. All the bathrooms are in the very middle. If you need to use the facilities and are located on the outside of the loop(like I was) you must find an empty site to walk thru to access the path from that site to the 'main' path in the middle connecting the 3 bathrooms. I walked the whole path and couldn't find an entrance/exit to the main path that didn't involve walking thru somebody's campsite! If you're in the inner loop you are golden as there's small paths going from every inner site to the main path.

One bathroom(of the 3) was under construction. Not open. The middle one was very clean and had flush toilets and running water. The last bathroom was the handicapped accessible restroom and it was just a pit toilet with sanitizer for washing hands. 3 stars.

Jeff R

Verified

June 29, 2023 Stayed at: 017, Loop: North Loop

3

As the lone campground in the South Unit of a major National Park I had very high expectations. Some were met, some not. First the positives:. Location is fantastic! Right on the scenic loop. In fact, I noticed buffalo droppings throughout the campsite- very cool! There was a trail to the prairie leading from my campsite that was scenic. The hosts were super-friendly and answered all my questions!

Now the bad:. The layout for the restrooms was probably the worst I have ever seen in ANY park! The campground is set-up in a one-way loop. There's sites on both the inside and outside of the loop. All the bathrooms are in the very middle. If you need to use the facilities and are located on the outside of the loop(like I was) you must find an empty site to walk thru to access the path from that site to the 'main' path in the middle connecting the 3 bathrooms. I walked the whole path and couldn't find an entrance/exit to the main path that didn't involve walking thru somebody's campsite! If you're in the inner loop you are golden as there's small paths going from every inner site to the main path.

One bathroom(of the 3) was under construction. Not open. The middle one was very clean and had flush toilets and running water. The last bathroom was the handicapped accessible restroom and it was just a pit toilet with sanitizer for washing hands. 3 stars.

Jeff R

Verified

June 29, 2023 Stayed at: 017, Loop: North Loop

3

As the lone campground in the South Unit of a major National Park I had very high expectations. Some were met, some not. First the positives:. Location is fantastic! Right on the scenic loop. In fact, I noticed buffalo droppings throughout the campsite- very cool! There was a trail to the prairie leading from my campsite that was scenic. The hosts were super-friendly and answered all my questions!

Now the bad:. The layout for the restrooms was probably the worst I have ever seen in ANY park! The campground is set-up in a one-way loop. There's sites on both the inside and outside of the loop. All the bathrooms are in the very middle. If you need to use the facilities and are located on the outside of the loop(like I was) you must find an empty site to walk thru to access the path from that site to the 'main' path in the middle connecting the 3 bathrooms. I walked the whole path and couldn't find an entrance/exit to the main path that didn't involve walking thru somebody's campsite! If you're in the inner loop you are golden as there's small paths going from every inner site to the main path.

One bathroom(of the 3) was under construction. Not open. The middle one was very clean and had flush toilets and running water. The last bathroom was the handicapped accessible restroom and it was just a pit toilet with sanitizer for washing hands. 3 stars.

Location Cottonwood Campground (ND)

Address:
315 2 Nd Ave
Medora, ND, 58645
United States

Highway access

Cottonwood Campground is accessible via Interstate 94, with exits 24 and 27 located in Medora, ND.

Latitude & Longitude: 46.95 / -103.532

Elevation: 690 feet

Nearby Campgrounds


Last updated: July 11, 2026

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