About Cottonwood (NE)
Number of accommodations: 74
Campground Amenities
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Pet Friendly -
Potable Water -
Lake Access
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Sites & Availability
74 Sites Available
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Site Details
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74 Sites Available
No available sites
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Reviews (499)
What Guests Are Saying
Cottonwood Campground is frequently praised for its cleanliness, well-maintained facilities, and friendly hosts, making it a popular choice for campers. Visitors appreciate the peaceful environment, spacious campsites, and access to numerous bike trails. While some concerns were raised about management and maintenance issues, the overall experience is described as enjoyable, with many guests expressing a desire to return.
What Guests Are Saying
Cottonwood Campground is frequently praised for its cleanliness, well-maintained facilities, and friendly hosts, making it a popular choice for campers. Visitors appreciate the peaceful environment, spacious campsites, and access to numerous bike trails. While some concerns were raised about management and maintenance issues, the overall experience is described as enjoyable, with many guests expressing a desire to return.
Review Summary
Marie S
VerifiedOctober 22, 2025 • Stayed at: 23, Loop: NLOO
Nice clean restrooms and showers. Helpful camp hosts were nice to visit with.
Randy P
VerifiedOctober 21, 2025 • Stayed at: 25, Loop: NLOO
As always… Cottonwood Nebraska is very welcoming & peaceful. We enjoy our stay, every time we get a chance to reserve a site. Some pads need to be cleaned up as the fire pits are showing corrosion & rusting out. Many large rodent holes to fall in & sprain ankles on the way to the restrooms/shower houses or about the park. Bushes growing where tree stumps were removed. Borders or railroad ties are rotting & falling apart & very much need attention. Some low branches need trimming & removed as they conflict the with the roof/backing in our motorhome… a very concerning issue. Have had to bring to the attention of David (park manager) more than once, before he pays attention to the issue at hand. Seems a bit LAZY on most days! Hopefully, some park managers will listen. & get the message.
Bruce H
VerifiedOctober 20, 2025 • Stayed at: 59P, Loop: SLOO
Beautiful park, well maintained, managed and clean restrooms. Always a joy to stay there.
Steven G
VerifiedOctober 20, 2025 • Stayed at: 76, Loop: SLOO
Always have a good time to relax and on every visit getting to meet new people from all location. Also being able to leave your camp site without anyone or anything being disturbed, seems like everyone watches out for their neighbor.
Matthew B
VerifiedOctober 20, 2025 • Stayed at: 28, Loop: NLOO
Great campground. Very clean bathrooms.
trish b
VerifiedOctober 19, 2025 • Stayed at: 58, Loop: SLOO
The experience was great, nice clean, fun park…but the management host is terrible. I received 4 phone calls from host stating I needed to pack up when I was paid to be at site due to them not knowing how to do their job. You have to knock on their door to check in, there’s no meet n greet, just a bitter old lady that drives golf cart around that’s extremely rude. Rules and regulations are only enforced to certain people. Seen trucks and pontoons parked halfway on park road or fully in the grass, lots of atv’s not licensed driving around the park. Several campers parked longer than 2 weeks. It’s ok for the host to leave their truck and trailer parked longer than 24 hrs in a flood zone (a week +), but I received a citation when left camper up in parking lot 24 hrs to get serviced due to wheel bearing going out.
Tim S
VerifiedOctober 17, 2025 • Stayed at: 62P, Loop: SLOO
Great park with great views. The bathrooms are kept really clean. Will plan on biking on the trail next time.
Bret C
VerifiedOctober 16, 2025 • Stayed at: 57P, Loop: SLOO
Loved the widespaced campsites, especially number 57, then all the other lakeside spots. It has just the right amount of trees for shade without crowding. All nice, and lots of safe bike riding on all the Gavin's Point trails and side roads to the many other campgrounds in the Lewis and Clark area, and to Yankton. We were there the first week of October and it was in the low 80s, much warmer than expected. The Paddlefish snagging by the dam outlet was fun to watch also. There was only power at the site, but a very nice and huge RV dump and fill site on the southeast corner of Crest Road and Highway 52. There are 3 dumps and 3 fill spots, all widely spaced with maneuvering room. Not a speck of dirt or mess in sight. Highly recommend this spot if you want a relaxing stay by a nice lake that doesn't have too much gunk in it. The campground hosts are very friendly and helpful also. Many campsites had a big fire but I don't know if there was wood available at the campground.
steve s
VerifiedOctober 15, 2025 • Stayed at: 10P, Loop: NLOO
great place with nice hosts and cleaning staff
steve s
VerifiedOctober 8, 2025 • Stayed at: 57P, Loop: SLOO
nice, quiet, and priced right nice campground host and friendly bath house cleaner
Location Cottonwood (NE)
Address:
U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers
Yankton, SD, 57078
United States
From U.S. Hwy 81 in Yankton, South Dakota, drive four miles west on South Dakota Highway 52, then south on Dam Toe Road and follow signs.
Latitude & Longitude: 42.8586 / -97.4825
Elevation: 361 feet
Policies & Rules
| Category | About |
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| General |
Summary of Cottonwood Campground Rules and Policies:Check-In Time is 4:00 P.M. / Check-Out Time is 2:00 P.M.All campers must check-in and register with the campground host.A maximum of eight (8) people are allowed per campsite and daily occupancy is required. Each campsite is limited to a maximum of either: (a) One (1) wheeled camping unit and (2) two sleeping tents, OR (b) three (3) sleeping tents. Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) applies to all visitors to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lands and waters.All vehicles are restricted to designated roadways and parking areas only, off-road travel is prohibited.All vehicles must be parked on campsite pads or within designated parking areas only. All vehicles parked at campsites must have at least two wheels on the campsite pad, with a maximum of (2) two wheels permitted on grass. Vehicles may not be parked on or along roadways or in a manner that prohibits or restricts traffic flow. Quiet hours are 10:00 P.M. to 6:00 A.M. Fireworks are prohibited. All pets must be on a leash of 6 feet in length or less. Pet waste must be picked up and properly disposed of promptly. |
| General |
Firewood Alert: Don't Move Firewood! Due to the spread of invasive insects (such as Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)) firewood from outside the area is not permitted. Help protect your forests by purchasing near your camping destination and burning it on-site. Firewood is not available for sale on-site, however several local businesses sell firewood a short distance away, see the campground host or attendant for more information.
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| General |
Attention Boaters, Paddlers, and Anglers - Protect Your Waters!
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| General |
For questions or to contact park staff, please call: 402-667-2546 or email: gavinspoint.nwo@usace.army.mil. Reservations can not be made at this number. |
