Cottonwood Campground (ND)

Great location, Very clean, helpful staff.

Campground was overall very nice. We were even greeted by bison the first night. However, the newer bathrooms were either locked or being renovated/built meaning we had to trek halfway across the campground to the only remainly pit toilet in the campground. No explanation, no heads up before you check out online, no discount for limited services. Other than that it’s a great spot with fairly private spots with many cottonwoods throughout the campground. Would definitely come back again.

Campground was overall very nice. We were even greeted by bison the first night. However, the newer bathrooms were either locked or being renovated/built meaning we had to trek halfway across the campground to the only remainly pit toilet in the campground. No explanation, no heads up before you check out online, no discount for limited services. Other than that it’s a great spot with fairly private spots with many cottonwoods throughout the campground. Would definitely come back again.

The campground was not prepared for campers on 5/12/2022 when we arrived. No water to fill our RV tank before we headed to our site. The only water spigot working had stripped threads so no hose would work. They only had one bathroom unlocked as well for tent campers. The rangers seamed unsure of what was going on at Cottonwood Campground. The setting was nice with sites along the river but don’t expect to have you Rv door facing the beautiful view. One way circle so any site on the river your Rv door will face the road. If you choose to go into the do not enter way you can set up facing the river. But when you leave you might create a tragic jam. Park of the loop park road is closed. I drove 2700 miles. I would give it a 6 out of 10.

The campsite had great views of the Little Missouri River. The campground’s south loop sites by the river seem to be very good for tent campers like us. The grounds were well kept and the bathrooms were clean. In early May the water was turned off but we just bought a bunch of gallons with us and it was fine. Also, part of the auto tour route was closed. Even so the weather was great and we saw a lot of wildlife, enjoyed all the hikes, and loved watching the sunset from one of the overlooks. A beautiful place worth visiting, especially in the spring.

The campground was not prepared for campers on 5/12/2022 when we arrived. No water to fill our RV tank before we headed to our site. The only water spigot working had stripped threads so no hose would work. They only had one bathroom unlocked as well for tent campers. The rangers seamed unsure of what was going on at Cottonwood Campground. The setting was nice with sites along the river but don’t expect to have you Rv door facing the beautiful view. One way circle so any site on the river your Rv door will face the road. If you choose to go into the do not enter way you can set up facing the river. But when you leave you might create a tragic jam. Park of the loop park road is closed. I drove 2700 miles. I would give it a 6 out of 10.

The campsite had great views of the Little Missouri River. The campground’s south loop sites by the river seem to be very good for tent campers like us. The grounds were well kept and the bathrooms were clean. In early May the water was turned off but we just bought a bunch of gallons with us and it was fine. Also, part of the auto tour route was closed. Even so the weather was great and we saw a lot of wildlife, enjoyed all the hikes, and loved watching the sunset from one of the overlooks. A beautiful place worth visiting, especially in the spring.

We had a wonderful time at Theodore Roosevelt NP and enjoyed our nights dry camping at Cottonwood Campground. Spacing of the campsites and the amount of privacy between sites varies widely throughout the campground, but generally I would say you are better off if you select a campsite that would be on the outside of the loop. I thought it odd that the layout of this campground has the modern restrooms deep in the interior section of the loops meaning you cannot access them without walking through campsites along the inside of the loop ... another good reason to pick a campsite along the outside of the loop. There are established trails that lead from the roadway to the restrooms, but those trails go right through other campsites and some within an arms reach of other camper's picnic tables, cars, tents, etc. As someone who still abides by the ancient campground etiquette rules passed down across the ages and instilled in me by my parents when I was just a child; I felt very awkward and rude walking these trails through occupied campsites to get to the bathrooms. Outside of the bathroom trail conundrum here at Cottonwood, we loved everything else. Beautiful night skies, ample wildlife, a small babbling stream nearby, and thousands of acres of spectacular national park lands. The scenic loop offers amazing, but was partially closed for construction while we visited. Having lived in North Dakota earlier in our lives, we knew there is a weather sweet spot for enjoying the state, and late Sep and early October delivered perfect weather for us. Much before that and it can be sweltering hot, and much after that it can be brutally cold. I also have to thank the staff at Roosevelt NP for adding Cottonwood Campground to RECREATION.gov. The website is easy to use, safe, secure and allows us to plan camping trips to beautiful locations over 1,000 miles from home with the peace of mind that we will have a place to stay. Thank you Roosevelt NP and RECREATION.gov!