Army Corps of Engineers · Marion Reservoir · Marion, KS

Cottonwood Point

Cottonwood Point is a spacious and shady campground located on the shores of Marion Reservoir. This Kansas getaway draws in thousands of visitors annually to enjoy the pristine lake shoreline and surrounding canopy of forest.

More like this: electric hookups in Kansas · full hookups in Kansas · reservable in Kansas · big rigs in Kansas · pets allowed in Kansas · group sites in Kansas

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
cottonwood expansion 1COTTONWOOD POINT old 1COTTONWOOD POINT old 2COTTONWOOD POINT old 3
Photos courtesy of USACE Park Ranger, USACE Ranger · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard with electric154
Standard, no hookups11
group standard electric2
group picnic area2
Host/management2
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 70 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

169 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
001CPOIElectricBack-in50GravelFull50 ampYes / –10 / 3Yes
002CPOIElectricBack-in40GravelFull50 ampYes / –8 / 2Yes
003CPOIElectricBack-in50GravelFull50 ampYes / –8 / 2Yes
004CPOIElectricBack-in50GravelFull50 ampYes / –10 / 3Yes
005CPOIElectricBack-in50GravelPartial50 ampYes / –10 / 3Yes
006CPOIElectricBack-in50GravelPartial50 ampYes / –8 / 2Yes
007CPOIElectricBack-in25GravelPartial30 amp5 / 1Yes
008CPOIElectricBack-in40GravelFull30 amp5 / 1Yes
009CPOIElectricBack-in60GravelPartial30 ampLakefront5 / 2Yes
010CPOIElectricBack-in25GravelPartial30 ampLakefront5 / 1Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 6:00 PM, checkout 4:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water, sewer
Max vehicle length70 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySites 094, PSA, PSB are listed accessible

The campground offers 164 individual sites, along with two group camping areas and two group day use picnic shelters. Campsites offer plenty of shade and include picnic areas with grills and tables. Electrical pedestals are either 50 or 30 amp. Every 50 amp pedestal has 50/30/20 outlets available. All 30 amp pedestals have 30/20 outlets available. The 20 amp outlets are typical residential 110 Volt wall outlets. Additionally you will find two boat ramps between sites 62 and 67.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Cottonwood Point30°40°50°60°70°80°90°January: 0.80 inches of precipitationFebruary: 1.21 inches of precipitationMarch: 2.15 inches of precipitationApril: 3.11 inches of precipitationMay: 5.20 inches of precipitationJune: 4.54 inches of precipitationJuly: 4.34 inches of precipitationAugust: 3.98 inches of precipitationSeptember: 3.50 inches of precipitationOctober: 2.55 inches of precipitationNovember: 1.38 inches of precipitationDecember: 1.18 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 31.1°F averageFebruary: 35.2°F averageMarch: 45.8°F averageApril: 55.8°F averageMay: 66.0°F averageJune: 76.2°F averageJuly: 81.2°F averageAugust: 79.4°F averageSeptember: 71.1°F averageOctober: 58.5°F averageNovember: 44.9°F averageDecember: 34.2°F average0 in2 in4 in6 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Marion Rsvr, 1 mile from the campground at 1,369 feet, station USC00145039 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 34 inches a year.

Getting there

From Marion, Kansas, take Highway 56 for about 4 miles. Turn north on Old Mill Road and continue almost three miles, then follow signs to the campground.

Nearest townMarion, Kansas
Coordinates38.3889° N, 97.0889° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗23.9 mi
RV sales & serviceFour Seasons RV ↗39.5 mi
Outdoor gearREI ↗45.8 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Cottonwood Campground Review: Stargazing Paradise in Joshua Tree NP

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

Completed in 1968, Marion Reservoir encompasses 6,200 acres of water surrounded by 6,000 acres of public lands. The surrounding expanse of forest provides visitors with endless recreational activities, set against the backdrop of the sparkling lake.

Recreation

Popular activities include camping, boating, fishing and hunting. Numerous hiking and biking trails snake through the forest around the lake, and the The Willow Walk Nature Trail is especially popular for wildlife enthusiasts. Campers are likely to spot white-tailed deer, pelicans, raccoons and various other waterfowl. Anglers will find an abundance of channel catfish, walleye, white bass and wipers, and a boat ramp is provided at the campground for convenient access to the lake.

Nearby

The nearby communities of Hillsboro and Marion offer additional tourist attractions. Both cities have a nationally recognized Art and Crafts show, as well as a variety of restaurants and shops.

Guidebooks for Kansas and camping across the country

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Kansas Trail Guide
    Jonathan M. Conard and Kristin M. Conard, 2015
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Frommer's Exploring America by RV
    Harry Basch and Shirley Slater, 2012
    Find 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 Point?

Sites at Cottonwood Point are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Cottonwood Point?

Check-in 6:00 PM, checkout 4:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Cottonwood Point have?

171 sites, including 154 standard sites with power, 11 standard sites without power, 2 group standard electric, and 2 group picnic area.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Cottonwood Point?

The longest site here provides 70 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

Does Cottonwood Point have hookups?

Yes, electric, water, and sewer hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Cottonwood Point?

Yes, pets are allowed at Cottonwood Point. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Cottonwood Point?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Cottonwood Point?

Sites 094, PSA, and PSB are 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 Point?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, 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 Point?

Popular activities include camping, boating, fishing and hunting. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Cottonwood Point?

Marion, Kansas. The nearby communities of Hillsboro and Marion offer additional tourist attractions.

Source: Getting there

What if Cottonwood Point is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Marion Cove (0.9 mi), Hillsboro Cove (1.9 mi), and French Creek (3.4 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby