Cottonwood Campground
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.
The group site has its own page: Cottonwood Group Site.
More like this: reservable in North Dakota · big rigs in North Dakota · pets allowed in North Dakota
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 58 |
| Walk-in | 12 |
| Host/management | 2 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 93 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
70 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | North Loop | Standard | Back-in | 38 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | No | |
| 002 | North Loop | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | No | |
| 003 | North Loop | Standard | 30 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | |||
| 004 | North Loop | Standard | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | No | |||
| 005 | North Loop | Standard | Pull-through | 45 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 006 | North Loop | Standard | Back-in | 26 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 1 | No | |
| 007 | North Loop | Standard | Pull-through | 65 | Gravel | 6 / 2 | |||
| 008 | North Loop | Standard | Pull-through | 40 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | No | |
| 009 | North Loop | Standard | Pull-through | 60 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | ||
| 010 | North Loop | Standard | 41 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | No |
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 | 68 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Accessibility | Site 005 is listed accessible |
Toilets, drinking water and picnic tables are provided at this facility. The site can accommodate tents, trailers and RVs. Sites can accommodate up to six people and two vehicles. 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) can accomodate 7-20 people and reservations are available the first business day of March for the upcoming summer season. Go to the Cottonwood Group Site (ND) to make reservations for the group site.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
The South Unit entrance is in Medora, ND. Medora is accessible via Interstate 94 Exits 24 and 27 in North Dakota. Please note exit 27 is a westbound exit only. Medora is 133 miles (214 km) west of Bismarck, ND and 27 miles (43 km) east of the Montana state line.
| Nearest town | Medora, North Dakota |
| Coordinates | 46.9500° N, 103.5322° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- To make a reservation for the group site please visit this the Cottonwood Group Site (ND ) page.
Explore
Video
Cottonwood Campground Tour/ Theodore Roosevelt National Park/South Unit
Trails nearby
- 3.6 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 4.3 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 4.3 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 · 1.5 mi
- De Mores Memorial ParkSite · Medora · 2.5 mi
- St. Mary's Catholic ChurchBuilding · Medora · 2.5 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 Campground?
Sites at Cottonwood Campground 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 Campground?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Cottonwood Campground have?
72 sites, including 58 standard sites without power and 12 walk-in sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Cottonwood Campground?
The longest site here provides 68 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 Campground?
There are no hookups or a dump station.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Cottonwood Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Cottonwood Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Cottonwood Campground?
Site 005 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 Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 4G LTE, and T-Mobile 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Cottonwood Campground?
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 is the nearest town to Cottonwood Campground?
Medora, North Dakota. The town of Medora has shopping, restaurants, amenities and the Medora Musical is located approximately five miles (8 km) to the south.
Source: Getting there
What if Cottonwood Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Cottonwood Group Site (0.2 mi), Roundup Group Horse Camp (4.1 mi), and Buffalo Gap Campground (6.7 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby
Which national park is Cottonwood Campground in?
Cottonwood Campground is a Theodore Roosevelt National Park campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.
Source: Theodore Roosevelt National Park