Cottonwood Springs Campground
Army Corps Of Engineers
Write a Review Picnic Area Road Hot Springs, SD 57747 605-745-5476 Reservations: 877-444-6777 Official WebsiteGPS: 43.4393, -103.5725
Overview of Cottonwood Springs Campground
Last Price Paid: $9
Reported by Bob Ide on 7/16/2022
Longest RV Reported: 40 feet (Class A)
Reported by Leon on 5/28/2021
Number of Sites 17
Pad Type asphalt
Reservations yes
Open Seasonally May 15 - September 15
Elevation 3,969 ft / 1,209 m
Max Stay 14
Max Length 60 ft
Tent Camping Yes
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To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 605-745-5476
Reviews of Cottonwood Springs Campground 13 people have reviewed this location.
Cell Phone Coverage
Confirmed by 8 Users
Last reported 7/16/2022
Confirmed by 1 User
Last reported 7/16/2022
“A quiet campground”
Reviewed 7/16/2022
| Nightly rate: | $9 |
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| Days stayed: | 3 |
| Site Number: | 14 |
| RV Length: | 24' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
Was surprised how few campers stayed here during my three days which was most of the weekend in July. A well-maintained campground is usually the case with the US Army of Engrs. The reception was sporadic but improves during the evenings. There is a lake about a mile from the campground.
A well-maintained road into the campground
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AT&T 4G
Verizon 4G
Bob Ide would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Amazing view but no cell”
Reviewed 7/4/2022
| Days stayed: | 1 |
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| Site Number: | 5 |
| RV Length: | 22' (Truck Camper) |
Overall Rating
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 w... more
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.
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AT&T
Verizon
Melhar would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautiful but zero cell signal”
Reviewed 6/20/2022
| Days stayed: | 1 |
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| Site Number: | 5 |
| RV Length: | 22' (Truck Camper) |
Overall Rating
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... more
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.
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AT&T
Verizon
Melhar would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Quiet campground close to everything”
Reviewed 8/9/2021
| Nightly rate: | $10 |
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| Days stayed: | 5 |
| Site Number: | 5 |
| RV Length: | 27' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
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 wa... more
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.
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Verizon 4G
SpenceAir would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Still very nice”
Reviewed 6/5/2021
| Nightly rate: | $5 |
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| Days stayed: | 5 |
| Site Number: | 6 |
| RV Length: | 40' (Class A) |
Overall Rating
Wrote a review previously. Found the water on the front wall of the bathhouse. Usually a breeze blowing. Good thing since it got hot. Host is very nice. Very occasionally there is a single bar of AT&T.
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AT&T
Leon would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Pretty place”
Reviewed 5/28/2021
| Nightly rate: | $5 |
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| Days stayed: | 1 |
| Site Number: | 6 |
| RV Length: | 40' (Class A) |
Overall Rating
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... more
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.
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AT&T
Leon would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Peaceful rest location”
Reviewed 6/17/2020
| Nightly rate: | $5 |
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| Days stayed: | 3 |
| Site Number: | 10 |
Overall Rating
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 grave... more
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.
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Verizon 4G
FreeRoader would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Pretty much perfect”
Reviewed 9/14/2019
| Nightly rate: | $10 |
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| Days stayed: | 1 |
| Site Number: | 15 |
| RV Length: | 25' (Class C) |
Overall Rating
It's been said...this is a gem. Great views and paths behind sites 5, 6 & 8 to an overlook of the dam. Only real cell service was roaming from Colorado One.
Wandering Pulse would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Peaceful and clean”
Reviewed 7/3/2019
| Nightly rate: | $5 |
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| Days stayed: | 9 |
| Site Number: | 7 |
| RV Length: | 22' |
Overall Rating
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 ... more
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!
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Verizon 4G
blt would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Wonderful place!”
Reviewed 7/18/2018
| Nightly rate: | $10 |
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| Days stayed: | 6 |
| Site Number: | 2 |
Overall Rating
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 ... more
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.
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AT&T
Verizon 4G
TaraS would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
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Amenities
Hookups
- dry camping
Recreation
- boat ramp
- fishing
- horseshoes
- picnic area
- playground
- recreation trail
- water access
Site Amenities
- big rig
- fire ring
- picnic table
Facilities
- restrooms: flush
- trash
- water available
Pets
- pets
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