Cottonwood Springs Campground

U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers, Hot Springs Office, P.O. Box 664, Hot Springs, South Dakota, United States
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Cottonwood Springs Lake view
Cottonwood Springs Lake
Cottonwood Springs
Aerial Cottonwood Springs Campground
Cottonwood Springs Wildlife

Featured amenities

Pet Friendly Pet Friendly
Playground Playground
View all amenities

About Cottonwood Springs Campground

Located just 5 mi 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.

Available sites

17 total sites
RV Sites 17 sites from $18 per night

Activities & Attractions

Nearby

Archery

Archery

Year-round
Boating

Boating

Spring Summer Fall
Fishing

Fishing

Year-round
Hunting

Hunting

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 closed

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Pet friendly Pet friendly
Playground Playground
On Site Services

On Site Services

  • Playground
Water Access

Water Access

  • Lake Access
Pets and Policies

Pets and Policies

  • Pet friendly
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

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

17 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 1, Loop: 1 RV
Pet Friendly · 56 × 11 ft · Back-in Site
$18
/ per night
🚐 10, Loop: 1 RV
Pet Friendly · 54 × 11 ft · Back-in Site
$18
/ per night
🚐 11, Loop: 1 RV
Pet Friendly · 60 × 11 ft · Back-in Site
$18
/ per night
🚐 12, Loop: 1 RV
Pet Friendly · 60 × 11 ft · Back-in Site
$18
/ per night
🚐 13, Loop: 1 RV
Pet Friendly · 56 × 11 ft · Back-in Site
$18
/ per night
🚐 14, Loop: 1 RV
Pet Friendly · 55 × 11 ft · Back-in Site
$18
/ per night
🚐 15, Loop: 1 RV
Pet Friendly · 55 × 11 ft · Back-in Site
$18
/ per night
🚐 16, Loop: 1 RV
Pet Friendly · 67 × 11 ft · Back-in Site
$18
/ per night
🚐 17, Loop: 1 RV
Pet Friendly · 55 × 11 ft · Back-in Site
$18
/ per night
🚐 18, Loop: 1 RV
Pet Friendly · 64 × 11 ft · Back-in Site
$18
/ per night
🚐 2, Loop: 1 RV
Pet Friendly · 47 × 11 ft · Back-in Site
$18
/ per night
🚐 4, Loop: 1 RV
Pet Friendly · 66 × 11 ft · Back-in Site
$18
/ per night
🚐 5, Loop: 1 RV
Pet Friendly · 48 × 11 ft · Back-in Site
$18
/ per night
🚐 6, Loop: 1 RV
Pet Friendly · 50 × 11 ft · Back-in Site
$18
/ per night
🚐 7, Loop: 1 RV
Pet Friendly · 38 × 11 ft · Back-in Site
$18
/ per night
🚐 8, Loop: 1 RV
Pet Friendly · 49 × 11 ft · Back-in Site
$18
/ per night
🚐 9, Loop: 1 RV
Pet Friendly · 50 × 11 ft · Back-in Site
$18
/ per night

Reviews

193 reviews

Summary

AI generated

Cottonwood Springs Campground offers an excellent location with friendly staff, and it provides a peaceful, quiet atmosphere with clean facilities. While there are no RV hookups and some sites may feel cramped, visitors appreciate the scenic lake nearby and the opportunity for outdoor activities. Overall, many guests express their desire to return, citing enjoyable experiences and helpful camp hosts.

Based on guest feedback

4.3

Overall rating

Based on 193 reviews

Write a review
5 stars 56.5% (109)
4 stars 26.9% (52)
3 stars 11.4% (22)
2 stars 4.1% (8)
1 star 1.0% (2)

Showing 193 reviews

Verified Only
Sort by: Newest First
Newest First Oldest First

Sharon G

Verified

September 19, 2021 Stayed at: 17, Loop: 1

We stayed at Cottonwood Springs Campground for 4 days while visiting nearby sites. The campground is well kept and had a friendly host. There was a mix up on one night's reservation and she was quick to resolve it to the satisfaction of all parties. There are no hook ups at this campground but there were nice picnic tables and fire pits at each of the 17 sites. We felt safe and enjoyed our stay very much.
This campground is within easy driving distance of all the sites we came to see: Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument (we took the bus tour with Gary Ashley as our guide and it was one of the highlights of our trip), Devil's Tower, Badlands. We visited the Mammoth Site and were very surprised to find that it is an actual "dig" where artifacts are still being unearthed. Very interesting! Other sites that are nearby are Wind Cave and several other caves.
If you are into 4 wheeling or hiking, there are plenty of places to do this too.
We had a great time and enjoyed our "South Dakota" trip very much!

Helpful

Adrian A

Verified

September 17, 2021 Stayed at: 9, Loop: 1

Clean, well maintained and guests were all very quiet. Playground for kids, appreciated the piles of cut trees we could use for firewood. Camped there with our UTV, would definitely stay again.

Helpful

Adrian A

Verified

September 17, 2021 Stayed at: 9, Loop: 1

Clean, well maintained and guests were all very quiet. Playground for kids, appreciated the piles of cut trees we could use for firewood. Camped there with our UTV, would definitely stay again.

Helpful

Bill L

Verified

September 7, 2021 Stayed at: 9, Loop: 1

Quite campground a couple of miles from the highway. Clean sites and sturdy picnic table. Camp site #9 had a view of the river and bluffs. Tent pad site only large enough for a two-person tent, but flat and level.

Helpful

Bill L

Verified

September 7, 2021 Stayed at: 9, Loop: 1

Quite campground a couple of miles from the highway. Clean sites and sturdy picnic table. Camp site #9 had a view of the river and bluffs. Tent pad site only large enough for a two-person tent, but flat and level.

Helpful

Leon S

Verified

September 3, 2021 Stayed at: 6, Loop: 1

We like Cottonwood. Sites are pretty level. Private enough. Road through the campground is no wider than a golf cart path...take your time. Water faucet at the bathroom. The campground host was exceptional.

Helpful

Leon S

Verified

September 3, 2021 Stayed at: 6, Loop: 1

We like Cottonwood. Sites are pretty level. Private enough. Road through the campground is no wider than a golf cart path...take your time. Water faucet at the bathroom. The campground host was exceptional.

Helpful

Lisa C

Verified

September 1, 2021 Stayed at: 11, Loop: 1

Campground was well situated and our pull through was good. The hookups were appreciated even though we had a tiny teardrop. The restroom was quite away from our site.

Helpful

Lisa C

Verified

September 1, 2021 Stayed at: 11, Loop: 1

Campground was well situated and our pull through was good. The hookups were appreciated even though we had a tiny teardrop. The restroom was quite away from our site.

Helpful

Gail S

Verified

August 29, 2021 Stayed at: 14, Loop: 1

Very laid-back and quiet. It’s a little bit off the beaten path with a dirt road but otherwise it was very nice. It was about an hour from Mount Rushmore and Custer. If you’re in this area question national Park would be a must see.

Helpful

Location & Directions for Cottonwood Springs Campground

U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers, Hot Springs Office, P.O. Box 664, Hot Springs, SD 57747 United States

Elevation: 1,217 ft

Getting There

From Rapid City, SD take US-79 S, turn right onto US-18 W/US-385N, turn left onto US-18 BYP, turn left onto US-18W, take a right on County Road 17/Memorial Road, stay to the left as the road Y's staying on Couny Road 17 and then enter Cottonwood S...

Nearest town

Hot Springs, SD - 6.5 mi

About 12 min to downtown

Policies & Rules

General

  • 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.
  • 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 . 
  • 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.
  • 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. 
  • 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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Nearby destinations

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Hot Springs

5 mi away

City
Wind Cave National Park

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10 mi away

National park
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Last updated: October 24, 2026

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Explore Hot Springs, SD

Population: 3,548

Nearby city: Rapid City, SD

Approx. 48 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 3,451 ft

Learn more about Hot Springs

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