Cottonwood
Cottonwood Recreation Area is located just downstream of Gavins Point Dam and Lewis & Clark Lake along the western shore of Lake Yankton. The numerous outdoor recreational opportunities attract more than 2 million visitors annually to the Lewis & Clark Lake area, making it one of the most popular recreation destinations in the Upper Great Plains. Lewis & Clark Lake is 31,400-acres in size with more than 90 miles of shoreline is impounded by Gavins Point Dam, which was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1944, commonly called the Pick-Sloan Plan.
More like this: electric hookups in South Dakota · reservable in South Dakota · big rigs in South Dakota · pets allowed in South Dakota
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard with electric | 76 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 99 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
76 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03 | NLOO | Back-in | 69 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 8 / 10 | Yes | Prime | ||
| 05 | NLOO | Back-in | 57 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 8 / 10 | Yes | Standard | ||
| 07 | NLOO | Back-in | 66 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 8 / 10 | Yes | Prime | ||
| 11 | NLOO | Back-in | 71 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 8 / 10 | Yes | Prime | ||
| 12 | NLOO | Back-in | 64 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 8 / 10 | Yes | Prime | ||
| 13 | NLOO | Back-in | 46 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | 8 / 10 | Yes | Prime | ||
| 14 | NLOO | Back-in | 46 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | 8 / 10 | Yes | Prime | ||
| 15 | NLOO | Back-in | 32 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | 8 / 10 | Yes | Prime | ||
| 16 | NLOO | Back-in | 50 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | 8 / 10 | Yes | Prime | ||
| 17 | NLOO | Back-in | 50 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | 8 / 10 | Yes | Prime |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 4:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric |
| Max vehicle length | 125 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Camping reservations can be made at Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. |
| Accessibility | Site 63 is listed accessible |
All 77 campsites have electric hookups, and all sites are reservable. Two modern shower houses with flush toilets are available for campers. A playground, horseshoe pits and picnic shelter are available within the campground and the adjacent Day-Use Area has a large reservable picnic shelter, picnic area, accessible fishing dock, disc golf course and a boat ramp for access to Lake Yankton. Nearby Training Dike Day-Use Area has a popular swimming beach on Lake Yankton along with access to the Missouri River downstream of Gavins Point Dam. A RV dump station is located just north of Cottonwood Campground off of Toe Road.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
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.
| Nearest town | Yankton, South Dakota |
| Coordinates | 42.8586° N, 97.4825° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 1 mi |
| RV sales & service | I-29 RV, Marine & Outdoor ↗ | 54.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Cottonwood Campground Tour/ Theodore Roosevelt National Park/South Unit
Worth a stop
- The Lewis and Clark Visitor Center: Contains exhibits on the Missouri River and area history including the Lewis and Clark Expedition with stunning views of Lewis and Clark Lake along with the Missouri River. Please contact the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center at (402) 667-2546 for more information.
- The Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery and Aquarium
- Visit nearby Yankton, South Dakota - the historic capitol of the Dakota Territory.
- Located both upstream and downstream of Lewis and Clark Lake, visit the Missouri National Recreational River.
- 5 miMissouri National Recreational River Headquarters ↗Visitor center
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Bishop Marty RectoryBuilding · Yankton · 3.9 mi
- Dr. John Trierweiler HouseBuilding · Yankton · 4 mi
- Harold A. (H. A.) Doyle HouseBuilding · Yankton · 4.1 mi
Natural features
Cottonwood Recreation Area is located in the in the lush golden chalkstone-lined Missouri River Valley. Many visitors to the lake area prefer to stay at Cottonwood because of the calmer, quieter waters of Lake Yankton, a much smaller lake of approximately 250-acres in size - versus the much larger Lewis and Clark Lake upstream of the dam. Lake Yankton provides excellent habitat for a variety of waterfowl and other bird species. The area abounds with wildlife including Whitetail Deer, turkeys, and other game species. Bald Eagles and other birds of prey are spotted by visitors regularly due to the great fishing opportunities available year-round.
Recreation
Cottonwood Recreation Area is conveniently located between Lewis and Clark Lake and Lake Yankton. Lewis and Clark Lake is known for great boating, sailing, swimming and other water-based recreation activities. Lake Yankton is popular with families as a popular fishing spot along with the excellent kayaking, canoeing and paddling opportunities. Numerous paved, multi-use trails connect the area with the additional numerous recreation areas located along Lewis and Clark Lake, Lake Yankton and the Missouri River. Lewis and Clark Lake attracts more than 2 million visitors each year to its shores. Recreation opportunities around the lake include camping, fishing, hunting, hiking, boating, sailing, swimming, bird-watching, and photography. For the biking and hiking enthusiasts, three trails are available in the area. They include a paved trail that runs from Yankton to the Gavins Point area, a multi-use trail in the Gavins Point area and the Calumet Bluff hiking trail located near the visitor center. Wintertime activities include ice fishing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and sledding. Developed public parks and recreation areas surround the lake above and below Gavins Point Dam.
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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?
Sites at Cottonwood 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?
Camping reservations can be made at Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Cottonwood?
Check-in 4:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Cottonwood have?
77 sites, including 76 standard sites with power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Cottonwood?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Cottonwood have hookups?
Yes, electric hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Cottonwood?
Two modern shower houses with flush toilets are available for campers.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Cottonwood?
Yes, pets are allowed at Cottonwood. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Cottonwood?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Cottonwood?
Site 63 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Cottonwood?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Cottonwood?
Cottonwood Recreation Area is conveniently located between Lewis and Clark Lake and Lake Yankton. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation