National Park Service · Theodore Roosevelt National Park · ND

Cottonwood Campground (ND)

View of Cottonwood Campground from the main park road.  There are buttes in the background with a large stand of cottonwoods and a field in between.Photo · NPS Photo
OpenStatus
ReservableAccess
72Sites
68 ftMax rig

The place

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. To make a reservation for the group site please visit this the Cottonwood Group Site (ND ) page. Recreation Hikers can access the estimated 70 miles (21 km) of trails within a short distance of the campground. Visit the Hiking and Trail Information page on the park website or stop at a Visitor Center for more details. Keep reading

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. Facilities 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. 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. Nearby Attractions 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.

The sites · 72

LoopSiteTypeMax rigElectricADA
North Loop001standard nonelectric38 ft
North Loop002standard nonelectric30 ft
North Loop003standard nonelectric28 ft
North Loop004standard nonelectric18 ft
North Loop005standard nonelectric45 ftyes
North Loop006standard nonelectric26 ft
North Loop007standard nonelectric65 ft
North Loop008standard nonelectric40 ft
North Loop009standard nonelectric60 ft
North Loop010standard nonelectric41 ft
North Loop011standard nonelectric25 ft
North Loop012standard nonelectric40 ft
North Loop013standard nonelectric35 ft
North Loop014standard nonelectric32 ft
North Loop015standard nonelectric35 ft
North Loop016standard nonelectric30 ft
North Loop017standard nonelectric55 ft
North Loop018standard nonelectric68 ft
North Loop019standard nonelectric35 ft
North Loop020standard nonelectric44 ft
North Loop021standard nonelectric48 ft
North Loop022standard nonelectric35 ft
North Loop023standard nonelectric50 ft
North Loop024standard nonelectric38 ft
North Loop025management45 ft
North Loop026standard nonelectric37 ft
North Loop027standard nonelectric45 ft
North Loop028standard nonelectric30 ft
North Loop029standard nonelectric46 ft
North Loop030standard nonelectric36 ft
North Loop031standard nonelectric60 ft
North Loop032standard nonelectric32 ft
North Loop033standard nonelectric30 ft
North Loop034standard nonelectric37 ft
North Loop035standard nonelectric65 ft
North Loop036standard nonelectric38 ft
North Loop038standard nonelectric38 ft
North Loop039standard nonelectric40 ft
South Loop043standard nonelectric55 ft
South Loop044management48 ft
South Loop045standard nonelectric25 ft
South Loop046standard nonelectric25 ft
South Loop047standard nonelectric25 ft
South Loop048standard nonelectric25 ft
South Loop049standard nonelectric25 ft
South Loop050standard nonelectric25 ft
South Loop051standard nonelectric25 ft
South Loop052standard nonelectric25 ft
South Loop053standard nonelectric25 ft
South Loop054standard nonelectric25 ft
South Loop055tent only nonelectric
South Loop056standard nonelectric10 ft
South Loop057tent only nonelectric
South Loop058standard nonelectric10 ft
South Loop059tent only nonelectric
South Loop060standard nonelectric12 ft
South Loop061tent only nonelectric8 ft
South Loop062standard nonelectric10 ft
South Loop063tent only nonelectric
South Loop064standard nonelectric15 ft

SHOWING 60 OF 72 SITES

Booking

183 daysBooking window before arrival

Recreation.gov default: most campsites can be booked six months prior to arrival date. Most campgrounds go on sale at 7am PT / 8am MT / 10am ET, but not always; check the facility Seasons and Fees tab. Some locations also offer shorter supplemental booking windows.

Book on recreation.gov

Your representative

This campground sits in ND-00. This member’s public-lands record →

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