OutReserve

Cottonwood Springs Campground

Cottonwood Springs Lake view
Cottonwood Springs
Cottonwood Springs Lake
Aerial Cottonwood Springs Campground
Cottonwood Springs Wildlife

Featured amenities

Pet Friendly
Pet Friendly

About Cottonwood Springs Campground

Located just 5 miles west of Hot Springs, SD is a hidden gem of a campground. Cottonwood Springs Campground is a quiet, peaceful campground tucked away in the southern part of the Black Hills of South Dakota. It offers beautiful scenic views within a short walk of each campsite.

Number of accommodations: 17

Campground Amenities

  • Pet Friendly
    Pet Friendly
  • Lake Access
    Lake Access

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 closed - Opens on May 15

Sites & Availability

17 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 1, Loop: 1
No Hookups
$18.00
/ per night
🚐 10, Loop: 1
No Hookups
$18.00
/ per night
🚐 11, Loop: 1
No Hookups
$18.00
/ per night
🚐 12, Loop: 1
No Hookups
$18.00
/ per night
🚐 13, Loop: 1
No Hookups
$18.00
/ per night
🚐 14, Loop: 1
No Hookups
$18.00
/ per night
🚐 15, Loop: 1
No Hookups
$18.00
/ per night
🚐 16, Loop: 1
No Hookups
$18.00
/ per night
🚐 17, Loop: 1
No Hookups
$18.00
/ per night
🚐 18, Loop: 1
No Hookups
$18.00
/ per night
🚐 2, Loop: 1
No Hookups
$18.00
/ per night
🚐 4, Loop: 1
No Hookups
$18.00
/ per night
🚐 5, Loop: 1
No Hookups
$18.00
/ per night
🚐 6, Loop: 1
No Hookups
$18.00
/ per night
🚐 7, Loop: 1
No Hookups
$18.00
/ per night
🚐 8, Loop: 1
No Hookups
$18.00
/ per night
🚐 9, Loop: 1
No Hookups
$18.00
/ per night

Reviews (95)

What Guests Are Saying

Cottonwood Springs Campground offers a peaceful and scenic location with friendly staff and well-maintained facilities. Guests appreciate the quiet atmosphere, cleanliness, and proximity to nature, including a nearby lake ideal for walking and fishing. While some campsites can feel cramped and lack shade, overall experiences are positive, highlighting the campground as a great base for exploring the area.

Review Summary

4.3
95 reviews
5
55.8%
53
4
27.4%
26
3
11.6%
11
2
4.2%
4
1
1.1%
1

Jody D

Verified

December 23, 2025 Stayed at: 2, Loop: 1

4

Excellent location and excellent, very friendly staff. Enough off the highway to keep noise down. Easy walk down to the lake. It was a little eerie that no one was there in early August. No RV hook-ups, but easy access to town of Hot Springs for supplies.

Patty M

Verified

December 23, 2025 Stayed at: 8, Loop: 1

2

Too many cows and cow pies. Bees alover.

Walter D. and Stephanie M

Verified

December 20, 2025 Stayed at: 2, Loop: 1

4

Nice quiet campground. Please don't cut down any more trees... we like the trees! Electric hookups would be a plus. Still enjoy boondicking here though.

Steve D

Verified

November 24, 2025 Stayed at: 11, Loop: 1

3

We liked that it was a small campground, 'tucked away in the woods,' so-to-speak. The bathroom facilities & trash facilities were decent. And it was fun having the dam & lake with a shaded picnic area & walking path just a little ways from the campground so we had a nice, scenic place to take our dogs for a walk every day. Had to drive there, but at least it wasn't too far from the campground. (Too bad there weren't camping spots in That particular area.) But we had a very difficult time Trying to navigate our 5th wheel camper and truck into our camping spot, with the other camping spots/campers close to ours. At least ours & (some of the) parking spots were at challenging angles. It took several tries to be able to finally get our camper & truck totally off the street & into our spot.

kurt s

Verified

September 10, 2025 Stayed at: 9, Loop: 1

4

Down a ways down the gravel road. Ranger showed up Farley quickly to check on us. Nice level clean camp sites spot. Very quiet at night.

leslie M

Verified

August 15, 2025 Stayed at: 1, Loop: 1

5

You'll love it! Peaceful and quiet.

Linda R

Verified

August 11, 2025 Stayed at: 12, Loop: 1

5

Campsite nice and trimmed, the bathrooms were spotless. Thank you

Kathy T

Verified

August 5, 2025 Stayed at: 9, Loop: 1

5

Very quiet and clean campground. We loved the pine trees and mountain feel. Lake within biking distance. Lots of fish. Camp host Marilyn was friendly. Rangers Kyle and KC we awesome. Loved South Dakota

Todd B

Verified

August 5, 2025 Stayed at: 1, Loop: 1

5

Peaceful, Safe, and Scenic Spot
A beautiful, quiet, and safe campground. There’s a flushing restroom with a tap nearby—good for general use, though not suitable for RV water fill-up or showers. Rangers and local police regularly patrol the area, which adds a sense of security. Behind the campground is a lovely lake, and birdwatchers will enjoy the many birds that frequent the area. A great place to relax and enjoy nature.

Carlos E

Verified

July 28, 2025 Stayed at: 7, Loop: 1

5

Camp host was awesome, facility was well-maintained.

Location Cottonwood Springs Campground

Address:
U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers
Hot Springs, SD, 57747
United States

Latitude & Longitude: 43.4393 / -103.573

Elevation: 1217 feet

Policies & Rules

Category About
General

Summary of Park Rules and Regulations:

All camping passes will be checked. Usable passes are as follows: America the Beautiful pass Senior annual, Senior Lifetime and Access Pass. Golden Age and Golden Access can also be used. Military and Annual Passes CAN NOT be used for a camping discount.
All public-use of Cottonwood Springs Lake & Dam Project is governed by Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) . Rules and Regulations are enforced by uniformed U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Park Rangers.
Maximum Camping Stay: Each person and camping unit is limited to 14-days in a 30-day period. 
All campsites are 100 percent reservable with a zero day booking This means you can check and reserve your campsite on the same day you are planning to camp. However, by that time all campsites might already be booked and not available.
Campsites are limited to either: (a) One (1) wheeled camping unit and one (1) small tent for dependents OR (b) Two (2) Tents per campsite. Camping is only permitted on designated campsites. 
All motor vehicles are restricted to designated roadways and parking areas only, off-road travel is prohibited.
Vehicles may only be parked in designated parking areas or on campsite pad, no parking along roadways or in a manner that restricts or prohibits traffic flow. Vehicles parked in campsites are restricted to two (2) wheels on gravel, two (2) on grass.
Fireworks are strictly prohibited. 
All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs/UTVs), golf carts and dirt bikes are prohibited, unless licensed and street legal. 
Pets are allowed, but must be on a leash no longer than six (6') in length within campground. All pet waste must be properly disposed of promptly. Pets may be off-leash within wildlife area. 
Quiet hours are from 10:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M.
All fires must be contained within designated fire rings or grills.
All visitors must properly dispose of all garbage in designated containers. Do not place garbage in fire rings or grills. 
Use of gasoline motors on Cottonwood Lake is strictly prohibited.
Archery hunting is permitted within designated areas during open seasons in accordance with South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks rules and regulations. 
Fishing, boating and hunting rules and regulations apply and are enforced by South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks .
In case of Emergency, Dial 9-1-1.
For more information, please contact the Corps of Engineers, Hot Springs Office at 605-745-5476.

General

Life Jackets Worn…Nobody Mourns, Wear your Life Jacket! The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) asks you to please play it safe while on, in, or near the water. USACE public recreation fatality statistics show that 88 percent were male, 89 percent were not wearing a life jacket, and 47 percent were swimming in areas not designated as a swimming area. Most people that drown would have survived if they had worn a life jacket. Life jackets come in many styles, sizes, and colors. Choose the right one that fits you properly and make sure to wear it correctly. There is a life jacket for every kind of water activity including swimming. For more information, please visit www.PleaseWearIt.com . 

General

Firewood Alert! Don't Move Firewood: Due to the spread of invasive insects, firewood from outside the area is not permitted. Help protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Visit DontMoveFirewood.org for further information.

General

Protect Your Waters! Attention Boaters, Paddlers and Anglers: Do your part to help stop the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) by remembering to always Clean, Drain, and Dry! Visit SDLeastWanted.com for more information. 

General

Be Weather Aware! Weather conditions can vary and can change rapidly year-round. Tune to local media or radio for weather alerts or visit the National Weather Service - Rapid City Office Website for up-to-date information. 

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