Cottonwood Group Site (ND)
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
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.
This reservation section is for reserving the group site at the Cottonwood Campground. Reservations for the group campsite go on sale March 1 for the camping season. If you are interested in reservations for an individual camp site at the Cottonwood Campground please see the Cottonwood Campground (ND) section. The group site serves as a great central camping area providing easy driving access to a varitey of locations and activities.
Toilets, drinking water and picnic tables are provided in the campground. The group site can accomodate 7-20 people. 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) goes on sale the first business day of March for the upcoming summer season.
Need to Know
Water may not be available by May 1 or continue through September 30, water access at the start and end of the season is weather dependent.
Mobile coverage, cellular, can be very limited at the group campsite. Stronger signals can be accessed nearby.
The picnic tables are a short walk from the parking pad.
The site fits sliders.
Vehicle (VR) Height over 13 feet (4m). Trees and branches in the campground may not accomidate vehicles of this height. Camping equipment my experience significant damage for which the National Park Service is not responsible.
Entrance Fee. The park collects a separate park entrance fee of $30 per vehicle. Visitors may pay the fee upon arrival or puchase in advance. The fee is valid for seven days. The park also honors Federal Interagency passes (e.g. Annual, Senior, Access, Every Kid in the Park, Golden Age, Military, etc. For more information visit the park's Fees & Passes web page.
Check-in & Check-out Time. Check-in/out time is 12:00 noon.
Maximum Stay. During the busy season of May 1 through October 31, campers may stay a maximum of 14 nights total in the Cottonwood Campground and a maximum of 30 days total in a calendar year. This includes the non-reservation, self-registration season of November through April.
Generators. generators hours are from 8:00a.m. to 8:00p.m. Generators must have an effective muffler.
No showers. There are no shower or laundry facilities located in the park.
Campfires. During hot and dry summer months, fire restrictions are common and campfires (including charcoal fires) may be prohibited.
Firewood. Firewood is not for sale in the park. The closest place to buy wood is in Medora, approximatly 5.5 miles (9km) away. Gathering of dead and downed firewood is allowed.
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.
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. 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.
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
DIRECTIONS
Enter the South Unit in Medora. Travel 5.5 miles on the scenic drive (East River Road). Cottonwood Campground is on the left.
