Cottonwood Campground is located in the southern unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The campground offers reservations, easy access within the park and gorgeous views.
Cottonwood Campground - Theodore Roosevelt National Park
The campground is located six miles from the entrance to the South Unit. The campground is open year-round. Half of the campgrounds are reservable.
If you plan on camping during the busy summer you will want to arrive early to get a spot.
Number of Sites: 72
Season: Year-round
Location in the park: South Unit inside the park, about 5 miles from Medora, ND.
Campsite Cost:
Senior/Access Camping Fee: 50% off, This discounted rate applies to sites occupied by a person with a valid Senior or Access Pass. (Note: this does not include Interagency, TRNP, or Military Annual Pass holders.)
Reservations:
Yes, Half the sites are by reservation at recreation.gov while all remaining sites are first-come, first-served.
Odd-numbered sites are reservable from May through September.
Sites may be reserved up to 6 months in advance but no less than 5 days before arrival.
Reservations can be made on Recreation.Gov
Latitude/Longitude: 46.9509° N, 103.5318° W
Elevation: 2,230 feet
Accessible Sites:
Pets Allowed: Dogs, cats, and other pets must be caged, on a leash (no longer than 6 feet) or otherwise under physical restraint at all times.
Check out our Theodore Roosevelt NP Camping Guide
Cottonwood Campground Reservations
Are campground Reservations Available? Yes
Phone Number? (877) 444-6777
10 am – 6:30 pm (Eastern Time Zone)
Online? Recreation.gov
How Far Ahead can you make a reservation? Sites may be reserved up to 6 months in advance but no less than 5 days before arrival.
First Come, First Served? Half of the campgrounds are first come first serve. You will want to arrive early to grab a site during the busy season.
Campground Amenities
Dump Station: No
Bear Boxes:
Flush Toilets: seasonal
Payphone: Yes
Firewood: No, you can purchase Firewood in Medora, North Dakota
Is wifi available? No
Is cellular Phone Service Available? No
Is camp host available on site?
Amenities at each campsite:
Each campsite has a picnic table, raised grill for campfires and for cooking with wood or charcoal, and a cleared, flat area for a tent.
Fire pit in the site? Yes
Picnic Table in the site? Yes
Bear Box in site/area?
Potable Water? Yes, seasonal
Laundry and Showers: Laundry and showers can be found in Medora, North Dakota
RV Camping at Cottonwood Campground
There are no electrical, water, or greywater hookups.
Max RV Length: 45 feet
Generators: Generator hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Generators must be equipped with an effective muffler.
Group Camping
Site: 025, Loop: North Loop
Reservations can be made on Recreation.gov
How to get to Cottonwood Campground
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 west of Bismarck, ND, and 27 miles east of the Montana state line.
Campground Regulations
The maximum number of people in a campsite: Occupancy of any one site is limited to 1 family or 6 persons and 2 vehicles. Walk-in tent sites are limited to 1 vehicle.
The number of cars per campsite: 2
Checkout time: 12:00 Noon
Quiet Hours: Quiet hours are from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Picnic areas are closed to the public around this time as well (9:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.).
The use of radios or audio devices in a manner that would disturb others is prohibited.
Campground Map
Additional Resources
Top things to do in Theodore Roosevelt National Park - All the things you don't want to miss during your visit to the park.
North Dakota National Parks - Check out all of the parks you can visit while in North Dakota.
National Park Bucket List - How many of these National Park bucket list items have you done.
Free National Park Checklist - Free printable National Park checklist so you can count how many parks you have visited.
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