Cottonwood Group Site
For people visiting the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Cottonwood Campground is a great place to stay. Located five miles (8 km) from the entrance to the South Unit of the park, the campground is open year-round. This reservation section is for reserving the group site at the Cottonwood Campground. Reservations for the group campsite go on sale March 1 for the camping season. If you are interested in reservations for an individual camp site at the Cottonwood Campground please see the Cottonwood Campground (ND) section. The group site serves as a great central camping area providing easy driving access to a varitey of locations and activities.
This is the group site. Looking for the main campground? Cottonwood Campground, 72 sites, is next door.
More like this: reservable in North Dakota · big rigs in North Dakota · pets allowed in North Dakota · group sites in North Dakota
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Group sites | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 50 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood Group Site | Pull-through | 50 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 20 / 5 |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 45 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Fees | Group Site Rate - $60.00. One night in the Cottonwood Campground Group Site by groups of 7 to 20 people. By reservation only. Passholder discounts do not apply. Reservations can be made beginning March 1, at 8:00 a.m. Mountain Time, of the desired year. |
Toilets, drinking water and picnic tables are provided in the campground. The group site can accomodate 7-20 people. There are no hookups or a dump station. A water fill station is available for campers (through October 1 each year). All wheeled vehicles and trailers must remain on roadways or pads. The Group Site (site #25) goes on sale the first business day of March for the upcoming summer season.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
DIRECTIONS. Enter the South Unit in Medora. Travel 5.5 miles on the scenic drive (East River Road). Cottonwood Campground is on the left.
| Coordinates | 46.9526° N, 103.5297° W · Directions ↗ |
Explore
Video
Drive Thru Cottonwood Campground in Joshua Tree National Park
Trails nearby
- 3.8 miBuffalo Gap ↗18.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Dakota Prairie Grasslands begins about 4.1 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 4.1 miDakota Prairie Grasslands ↗National Grassland · Forest Service · 1,384,927 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Peaceful Valley RanchBuilding · Medora · 1.3 mi
- De Mores Memorial ParkSite · Medora · 2.6 mi
- St. Mary's Catholic ChurchBuilding · Medora · 2.7 mi
Natural features
The Little Missouri River is the central, unifying feature of this wild and broken land where, as a young man, Theodore Roosevelt ranched and hunted in the 1880s. The park is part of both the Northern Great Plains and the West, blending a rich natural beauty with diverse human history. The rugged topography, with its flora and fauna, also provides an opportunity to discover the badlands environment as Roosevelt once did. It is a place to experience a land and way of life that helped shape Theodore Roosevelt's attitudes and philosophy regarding conservation. Cottonwood trees surrounding the campsite turn golden in the fall. Although the campground is moderately forested, most of the campsites are in partial to full sun but visitors can cool off in the cold river when temperatures peak during summer.
Recreation
Hikers can access the estimated 70 miles (21 km) of trails within a short distance of the campground. Located immediately adjacent to the Little Missouri River and filled with Cottonwood trees bird watching in the campground can be a rewarding experience. Watch for Bison that can be seen traveling through the campground on their way to a stop at the river. Just a few miles from the campground is the Peaceful Valley Ranch. A former ranch from Theodore Roosevelt's time, the location also serves as one of the best sites in the park for outstanding night sky viewing.
Nearby
The town of Medora has shopping, restaurants, amenities and the Medora Musical is located approximately five miles (8 km) to the south. The Little Missouri National Grassland is the largest National Grassland in the nation at 1.03 million acres (416,826 ha). It is located in western North Dakota and is managed by the Medora Ranger District in Dickinson, ND and the McKenzie Ranger District in Watford City, ND. The National Grassland provides additional recreation opportunities in the area.
Guidebooks for Theodore Roosevelt National Park and camping across the country
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- 2017 Guide to the Wild Horses of Theodore Roosevelt National ParkNorth Dakota Badlands, 2016Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Cottonwood Group Site?
Sites at Cottonwood Group Site are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Cottonwood Group Site?
Group Site Rate - $60.00. One night in the Cottonwood Campground Group Site by groups of 7 to 20 people. By reservation only.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Cottonwood Group Site?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Cottonwood Group Site have?
1 site, including 1 group site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Cottonwood Group Site?
The longest site here provides 45 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Cottonwood Group Site?
There are no hookups or a dump station.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Cottonwood Group Site?
Yes, pets are allowed at Cottonwood Group Site. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Cottonwood Group Site?
Hikers can access the estimated 70 miles (21 km) of trails within a short distance of the campground. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Cottonwood Group Site is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Cottonwood Campground (0.2 mi), Roundup Group Horse Camp (3.9 mi), and Buffalo Gap Campground (6.8 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Cottonwood Group Site in?
Cottonwood Group Site is a Theodore Roosevelt National Park campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.
Source: Theodore Roosevelt National Park