About Cottonwood (NE)
Number of accommodations: 74
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
On Site Services
- Playground
Water Access
- Lake Access
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
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Rates, 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 (1013)
What Guests Are Saying
Cottonwood Campground offers spacious, level sites with water and electricity, along with clean restrooms and hot showers. Campers appreciate the beautiful lake views, friendly hosts, and a peaceful atmosphere enhanced by bike trails. While some maintenance issues were noted, overall experiences are highly positive, with many campers expressing a desire to return.
What Guests Are Saying
Cottonwood Campground offers spacious, level sites with water and electricity, along with clean restrooms and hot showers. Campers appreciate the beautiful lake views, friendly hosts, and a peaceful atmosphere enhanced by bike trails. While some maintenance issues were noted, overall experiences are highly positive, with many campers expressing a desire to return.
Review Summary
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 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
steve s
VerifiedOctober 8, 2025 • Stayed at: 57P, Loop: SLOO
nice, quiet, and priced right nice campground host and friendly bath house cleaner
Carol M
VerifiedOctober 7, 2025 • Stayed at: 60P, Loop: SLOO
We love Cottonwood, just wish we were a little closer and you were opened a little later in the year. The campground is always very clean and well taken care of.
Carol M
VerifiedOctober 7, 2025 • Stayed at: 60P, Loop: SLOO
We love Cottonwood, just wish we were a little closer and you were opened a little later in the year. The campground is always very clean and well taken care of.
Nancy H
VerifiedOctober 6, 2025 • Stayed at: 74, Loop: SLOO
Everything was clean the bathrooms were nicely located, quiet campground, lots of shade and close to the water.
Nancy H
VerifiedOctober 6, 2025 • Stayed at: 74, Loop: SLOO
Everything was clean the bathrooms were nicely located, quiet campground, lots of shade and close to the water.
jeffrey s
VerifiedOctober 2, 2025 • Stayed at: 64P, Loop: SLOO
Beautiful park. Huge trees quiet calm lake. Serinity at its finest. Bob and Gloria make excellent hosts.
Location Cottonwood (NE)
Address:
U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers, Cottonwood Campground, 198 Toe Rd
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
Arrival & departure
Check in time
4PM
Check out time
2PM
- Campers must check in, with limits on guests, campsite types, vehicle parking, and pet regulations.
- Contact information for park staff is provided for inquiries.
Cancellation policy
- Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
- Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
- Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
- Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
- Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
- Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
- Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.
Fires & fuel
- Bringing firewood from outside the area is prohibited to protect local forests.
Safety & rules
- Boaters and anglers must clean, drain, and dry equipment to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
Nearby Campgrounds
Last updated: June 3, 2026