Photo: NPS Photo / Mark Meyers

← Theodore Roosevelt National Park · Camping

Cottonwood Campground

76 sites · $5–$60 · Reservations · RVs OK

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Reservations$5–$60 / night

Reserve a site ↗Booking and payment are handled by Recreation.gov.

🧭 Directions Apple Maps

76Sites

73Reservable

$5–$60Per night

YesRVs

12 tent only1 group12 walk-in / boat-in

Reservations

Beginning May 1, 2026 all sites are by reservation at recreation.gov Group site reservations begin each season on the first business day in March at 8:00 am MST. The park cannot take reservations - they must all be made through recreation.gov. Click RESERVATIONS below or call recreation.gov at 1 (877) 444-6777.

Fees

Standard Campsite - Summer Rate One night in a standard campsite, limited to 1 family or 6 people. Summer rates are in effect May through September.	$20.00
Standard Campsite - Summer Rate - Senior/Access Pass One night in a standard campsite, limited to 1 family or 6 people. Summer rates are in effect May through September. 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.)	$10.00
Standard Campsite - Winter Rate One night in a standard campsite, limited to 1 family or 6 people. Winter rates are in effect October through April.	$10.00
Standard Campsite - Winter Rate - Senior/Access Pass One night in a standard campsite, limited to 1 family or 6 people. Winter rates are in effect October through April. 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.)	$5.00
Group Site Rate One night in the Cottonwood Campground Group Site by groups of 7 to 20 people. By reservation only - see the Reservations section. Passholder discounts do not apply.	$60.00

Season & hours

Cottonwood Campground is open year-round. Check out time is noon. Check in any time (self-registration kiosk).

Amenities

Toilets · Flush Toilets - seasonal, Vault Toilets - year round
Showers · none
Drinking water · seasonal
Trash / recycling · year round
Laundry · none
Camp store · none
Firewood for sale · none
Ice for sale · none
Food storage lockers · none
Dump station · none
Amphitheater · seasonal
Camp host · seasonal
Cell reception · none
Internet · none

RVs, trailers & access

RVs	Allowed
Trailers	Allowed
RV notes	Maximum vehicle length among pull-through sites varies. Many sites are quite larger (over 50 feet). Back-in sites accommodate vehicles between 20 to 40 feet in length. Most of the RV and trailer sites are fairly level, which can be navigated by wheelchair users.
Roads	Paved Roads - All vehicles OK
Type	Developed Campground
Campfires	All fires must be contained in the provided grills (one at each site), or in a fully contained fire pan. Campfires and use of camp stoves may be restricted during times of high fire danger. Save our trees! Never transport firewood to the park from outside North Dakota. You could introduce harmful pests to the park.
Wheelchair	There are two paved pathways to accessible restrooms located in the north loop of the campground and one paved pathway leading to the amphitheater located in the south loop. Paved pathway to wheelchair accessible bathrooms and amphitheater.
ADA	There are two accessible campsites designated for wheelchair users, one is operated on a first-come first-served basis. Accessible routes along paved roadway, and paved pathways leading to amphitheater and accessible restrooms.
Cell	Depending on your cellular provider, you may have moderate to limited cell signal or none at all.
Also	Each camp site has a picnic table, raised grill for campfires and for cooking with wood or charcoal, and a cleared, flat area for a tent. Cottonwood Campground does not have a dump station. Commercial dump stations in Medora charge fees for use.

Getting there

Enter the South Unit in Medora. Travel 5.5 miles on the scenic drive (East River Road). Cottonwood Campground is on the left. Stop at the campground’s self-registration kiosk for information on how to claim a campsite. If you have already made a reservation, you may go directly to your site.

Contact

(701) 623-4466 · thro_fees_reservations@nps.gov

Other campgrounds in Theodore Roosevelt

Juniper50 sites · $5–$60 · Reservations · RVs OK Roundup Group Horse Camp1 sites · $70 · Reservations · RVs OK

About Cottonwood

Cottonwood Campground lies inside the park, about 5 miles from Medora, ND. It is the South Unit's only campground. Beginning May 1, 2026 all sites are by reservation at recreation.gov. Most sites are suitable for tents and RVs (no hookups). Cottonwood Campground fills to capacity each afternoon, mid-May through mid-September.

Photos

A campsite beneath cottonwood trees with an open field and buttes in the distance. — Primitive campsites offer opportunities to be immersed in nature. · NPS Photo

A curved gravel parking pad lined with boulders and an adjacent campsite and picnic table. — Sites in Cottonwood Campground range from full sun to full shade. · NPS Photo

A bison stands next to an RV and behind a sign reading Campground Host — No, he's not really your campground host. But bison do frequent the campground. Be sure to keep a safe distance. · NPS Photo

A campsite in an open, grassy area with buttes and fall leaves in the background. — Some sites receive full sun. · NPS Photo

A quiet campground setting with tents and picnic tables beneath spindly cottonwood trees. — Walk-to campsites in Cottonwood Campground · NPS photo

Campsites

Site-by-site details (sizes, hookups, shade) for this campground are coming soon.

Conditions at camp

🌤️ Forecast

Wed, Nov 11

Tonight

30°F

Areas Of Fog

Thu, Nov 12

Day

51°F

Areas Of Fog then Partly Sunny

Thu, Nov 12

Night

29°F

Partly Cloudy

Fri, Nov 13

Day

52°F

Mostly Sunny

Fri, Nov 13

Night

30°F

Mostly Cloudy

Sat, Nov 14

Day

52°F

Mostly Sunny

Sat, Nov 14

Night

31°F

Partly Cloudy

Sun, Nov 15

Day

55°F

Mostly Sunny

Source: National Weather Service (weather.gov)

🔥 Wildfires nearby

No active fire perimeters nearby. ✅

Source: National Interagency Fire Center (WFIGS)

🗓️ Typical weather

Summers are warm (highs 80 - 100 degrees) with occasional thunderstorms and lots of wind. Winter is very cold with night time temperatures dropping well below zero.

Rules

Check out time is noon. Check in any time.

Trails near camp

Campground information from the National Park Service. Confirm current status with the park before you go.