Cottonwood Campground (ND)

Great views, easy access to restroom. Level spot with shade.

Campground/camp site was in a good location. We were there during a campfire restriction so no wood or charcoal fires. So take a camping grill if you have one (tent camping). Lots of people stay just one night though and arrive after dark so if you are tent camping, their car lights can be a bit annoying. Enjoyed all of the hikes that we did; trail heads are a bit distant but worth it. To get to petrified forest, you have to drive on gravel roads, not particularly suitable for large campers. We did the entire 10 mi loop but if you only want to see petrified wood, the north forest is probably your best bet. Lots of wildlife in both South and North TRNP. Really appreciated the big bison bull that decided to take his late afternoon break in the campsite across from us!

We stayed on the pull through side, large sites well worth the price. I walked through the back in side and I’d only go there if nothing else is available. Don’t disregard the height restriction notice. There are low branches everywhere. Just because you think your rig will fit the site doesn’t mean you can get it through and around the trees and tight corners. I found nothing wrong with the water, the spigot is kind of hokey, if you want to run it through a filter, good luck with that.

This is a campground with walk-in tent sites close to the river. A bison walked up the riverbank just past the tents and over into the open field. At night there was a coyote chorus and owls, along with the sounds of truck traffic from I-94. Great campground.

Great clean bathrooms!!¡!!!! Water access! Great for how cheap it was!!!

We loved it and even had a visitor about 30 ft. away from our tent. A buffalo!!! what a treat.

Thank You.

Love our National Parks. Such a wonderful place to stay. Spectacular and well maintained. Will be back

Great campground. What a beautiful location. And bison wandering through in the late afternoon!!

This campground is terrific, the hosts are great. It’s in high demand, but the new “all reservation” system (rather than some sites left as FCFS) has made it less full, oddly. The penalty is so low for cancellation that it seems many people don’t cancel or modify their reservation leaving upwards of ten sites empty every night. Because the reservation isn’t modified, the hosts can’t fill the empty site. It would be helpful if there was a requirement to confirm the day before, and to call to let the campground know if you’ll be arriving after the first day. That way a failure to call would mean a surrender of the spot so it could be filled by someone else. It’s also disheartening that the private operator of recreation.gov is taking a cut of the fees so less money goes to the parks.

Liked the spacious campsites. Also liked the bison and wild horses near and in the campground!