Cottonwood Springs Campground

I think people that say there’s Verizon coverage here are only needing to get a text out over a half hour period. It’s absolutely gorgeous here. You’re on top of a “black hill” viewing many others. Wish I could’ve stayed but I have to have access to Verizon or AT&T cellular data and there was ZERO. I even drove around to make sure it wasn’t just my spot. This spot was so beautiful though, it inspired me to order Starlink so idk y have to move to a more expensive campground with less view.
The gravel drive back is well graded. They were testing potable water and I never got a chance to talk to host about it. So if you’re there this summmer, you might fill your tank before arriving.

An absolutely beautiful spot back a bit of a gravel road but well maintained. You’re up high so views are spectacular. Well maintained, grass mowed, small playground. Only a few spots so very quiet. The potable water was not available when I was there so fill before you arrive. Although camp host has a well connected spigot but I never saw her out to ask. As for cell signal. I don’t know why they show Verizon availability. It’s zero. I have cell booster. I also have AT&T as backup. Both are zero. So disappointed that reviewers saying Verizon there bc I work FR and had to scramble and find new location to work.so which I could’ve stayed.

Quiet clean campground, small with only 17 sites but close to all the area sites: Wind Cave NP, Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park and the Mammoth Site. Recommend seeing visiting all of them. No showers or dump onsite but there is a free dump/water fill at the Hot Springs Municipal Bldg that is convenient. The only water spigot is on the front of the bathrooms so I recommend filling up before arrival. Sites are a little odd with picnic tables and fire rings located sometimes located behind site next door. Nice camp host there during the season. The sites don't offer a view of the reservoir and only way to access is driving down the hill but it is still a very pretty area.
We were there during Sturgis but this campground is far enough off the beaten path to offer peace and quiet. We were at the top of the hill so we had about 1 bar of Verizon coverage - not so much with folks at the bottom of the hill.
The 1 1/2 mile road in to the campground is gravel and was pretty washboardy when we arrived but they graded it while we were there so it was much better upon departure. The roads in the campground are paved.

Nice place. Roads in we're muddy but paved once in the facility. Road in the campground is only about 10 feet wide so watch how wide you swing. Sites 4 and 8 are very nice and sandwich number 6 very close. My generator pipe was aimed right at the guy in 4...sorry about that. But the facility is quiet and scenic. The picnic area is very nice as well. I didn't notice the water at the bathhouse. The only water I noticed was adjacent to the host site. May be mistaken about that. Unfortunately you still have to deal with people letting their dogs run off leash in the campground and they don't ever pick up after the animal.

Stayed for 3 nights for some down time and this was an optimum location. I arrived on a Monday and only 4/18 sites were occupied (including mine). Make reservation through recreation.gov and check availability. Rangers make frequent drive through. Based on site reservation postings, weekends are full. Road in is ok, begins as gravel and COE portion is paved, albeit a bit narrow in the campground. No hook ups, no dump. There are flush toilets and a spigot for water.
$10/night but I used my Sr Pass and was half price.
Oh, there is a little pond down the hill which is frequented by locals and music can be heard but they clear out by 10.

Another Corps of Engineers gem!
Easy access, no hookups but nice clean flush toilet bathrooms with an additional pit toilet, potable water faucet (located at the bathroom building) is available for filling water containers or RV fresh water tanks. No dump station, but a dump, station is across from the City Offices in Hot Springs which is easy to get in and out of, potable water is available there also, all for a $5 donation. Friendly host on site, nice open green space and small playground for kids.
Sites are fairly level, paved with gravel edging, picnic table and fire ring. Some sites are close together while others offer a bit more room. Lovely views!
We used our Golden Age passes to lower the $10 a night fee to $5.
Good Verizon cell/hot spot service, we had 4 bars of 4G/LTE.
We'd definitely stay here again!

We absolutely love this campground, we come 3 times a year and stay for 5-7 days each trip. The camp host is wonderful, the campground is quiet, you can hear wildlife easily in the evening,and see the stars clearly. we love having the restrooms and optional hot pot-able water for dish washing. some spots are close together, some are not,you just have to decide how close or far you want to be. many wild flowers are view able, several spots offer shade from the mature trees. The kids love the play ground equipment, even though its a little " old school", they also love riding bikes around the campground. Spots are paved and graveled which is great for us, no worries about trying to make the 33' bumper pull level due to rough terrain, your close to town for those trips to other lakes and or just to enjoy Hot Springs . park rangers and the sheriff frequent the campground and or lake at least once a day. Lake offers fishing, no sand for the kids to play in, and swimming is questionable due to it appearing to be pretty deep in areas.