About Cottonwood Springs Campground
Number of accommodations: 17
Campground Amenities
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Pet Friendly
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Lake Access
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Sites & Availability
17 Sites Available
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Site Details
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17 Sites Available
No available sites
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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.
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
Stephen D
VerifiedJanuary 4, 2022 • Stayed at: 13, Loop: 1
Nice quiet campground. Near Hot Springs, Mammoth site and Evans Plunge and an easy drive to Custer State Park. Saw lots of Bison driving thru Wind Cave National Park.
Alexander E
VerifiedOctober 13, 2021 • Stayed at: 18, Loop: 1
Can't beat the price! Convenient location for exploring Wind Cave and Custer State Park as well as the local area.
Thomas S
VerifiedSeptember 21, 2021 • Stayed at: 18, Loop: 1
Very quite and beautiful location. It’s a perfect place to home base for all the exciting attractions in the area. The ranger was super helpful with suggestions of places to visit.
Sharon G
VerifiedSeptember 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!
Adrian A
VerifiedSeptember 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.
Bill L
VerifiedSeptember 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.
Leon S
VerifiedSeptember 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.
Lisa C
VerifiedSeptember 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.
Gail S
VerifiedAugust 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.
Brett C
VerifiedAugust 17, 2021 • Stayed at: 5, Loop: 1
Nice and quiet area very clean grounds and bathrooms.
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 |
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| 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.
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| 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. |