Cottonwood Springs Campground, Hot Springs, SD

Cottonwood Springs Campground in Fall River county is located 1 hr 7 min southwest of Rapid City, SD with an elevation of 3,992 feet. There are a total of 17 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid September. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 38 and 67 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. There is a fee of $18.00 per night. Some amenities include playground, boat ramp, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
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Campsite Reviews (63)

4.2 out of 5

5 star
51%
4 star
29%
3 star
13%
2 star
3%
1 star
3%
@DarrenWC169317 · Camped on Sep 7, 2024 at Campsite #11
Nice campground but my neighbors and i were right on top of each other...felt a little uncomfortable. Site was clean and manicured. Campground sits on a plateau above the lake but views are obstructed by trees and forest growth. I suggest taking the main road down to the lake as there is some wide open space for picnics and the lake has nice scenery.
@ChrisL4253532 · Camped on Aug 30, 2024 at Campsite #5
Great campground, hoping to return. Kids loved the playground. Our site had enough privacy. Highly recommend.
@LisaA1883621 · Camped on Aug 23, 2024 at Campsite #11
This was our second stay in 3 years at the same camp site. Aside from zero shade and windy conditions, the site was clean, close to the restrooms which were also clean, and it was quiet throughout the campground. We had to cut our trip short but well visit again in the future.
@WILLIAMM503355 · Camped on Jul 2, 2024 at Campsite #5
Beautiful site, helpful host and super clean and quiet.
@WilliamB132333 · Camped on Jun 28, 2024 at Campsite #8
Nice open setting. Bathrooms clean. Host had bird feeders.
@LawrenceE25324 · Camped on Jun 22, 2024 at Campsite #10
Good for trailers, not so much for tents
@StephenS245469 · Camped on Aug 25, 2023 at Campsite #14
Excellent campground for a few days of overnight stay!
@MargaretS19398 · Camped on Aug 21, 2023 at Campsite #16
Cottonwood Springs is always excellent. Restrooms are spotless and the host is a genuinely nice and laid-back person. It's a great place even when it's (often) 100
@ColinCE7340422 · Camped on Aug 11, 2023 at Campsite #13
Very nice/quite campground. Spots were fairly level for my rv with not much adjustments. Nice playground for the children and clean bathroom onsite. Close to Hot Springs and south entrance to WindCave National Park. Really enjoyed our stay.
@RobertR8191303 · Camped on Jul 3, 2023 at Campsite #5
Nice and quiet. Camp host was very nice. Great experience!
@MelissaK867058 · Camped on Jun 29, 2023 at Campsite #6
This campground is really not tent friendly. We reserved a spot without really knowing what it looked like. We looked at the one picture that was posted but we figured it would have a spot foe the tent and wouldn't be just the driveway. Our firepit was between our driveway and our neighbors. The site next to us had a grassy spot, large in fact and we took a corner of that. It was empty all day but then people came in after 9 pm, loud until 10 pm when they started up a generator. No one enforced the quiet hours the first night and it was a long night. Bathrooms were clean, well stocked. No dumpsters, which we found odd. Flush toilets but no where to throw your trash. Probably won't return. I think we can do better. Our free site the nights precious was way nicer and quieter.
@DougB4102589 · Camped on Jun 20, 2023 at Campsite #10
I would definitely come back again! Enjoy hot spring and watch two amazing storms pass by. Beautiful skies and this is a great spot! Close to rapid city and super peaceful/quiet. Do have drive to hot spring but very close and have tons areas to have picnic or fireplace’s. Plus really cool valley. It’s open to public so you’ll see local cops and fishermen. Seem to me like place that people come to get a break, good vibes. Quite and respectfully
@HowardP1457081 · Camped on Jun 20, 2023 at Campsite #8
Very nice small campground.
@PaulH7895659 · Camped on May 28, 2023 at Campsite #17
Basic but nice campground. Beautiful and quiet area. Not a ton of shade so plan for that. Kyle the ranger is a great guy. Very helpful!
@CharlesC950415 · Camped on May 26, 2023 at Campsite #15
Very clean and quit. Pads are level and deep.
@AliceI7884412 · Camped on Sep 5, 2022 at Campsite #1
This campground is an an amazing , well cleaned, great sites campground. It has bathrooms with running water sinks and toilets that sits sit in the middle of the sites. Would not recommend going in90 degree plus heat which was when we were there since there are not many trees to block hot sun. Camp host could have been a little more lenient on generators during this hot time. We had gotten back about 9:30 pm at night after going to Crazy Horse light show and have a dog and an elderly parent traveling with us and turned on the generator to cool our trailer which was 100 degrees inside and at 10:15 pm she came over and said “No generator after 10:00 .” It was only her and one other camper in the park at that time. I am all for the rules but there could have been an exception for this on such hot days and with our circumstance of a dog and another elderly person. Overall the campground is really nice just not in hot weather and the lake we had to ourselves to go kayaking and take the dogs swimming and that is just a short drive around the corner.
@DanielleP30464 · Camped on Aug 31, 2022 at Campsite #10
Beautiful campsite in an unexpected place. Lots of trees and felt in the woods. Bathrooms were exceptionally clean. Some guests arrived around midnight and were kind of loud. Not long, as I'm guessing maybe the Camp Hosts asked them to quiet down? Not sure, but glad they reduced noise. There was no firewood to purchase so we collected. Would have been good to have an axe. Would definitely return.
@KyleG6724629 · Camped on Aug 26, 2022 at Campsite #9
It has very nice spots and then it is quiet here so you dont have to worry about that sort of thing. Stayed a few times now and it is really nice.
@HelenM7389753 · Camped on Aug 22, 2022 at Campsite #2
Well maintained dirt road with just a little washboard. Quiet and pleasant campground. Would definitely stay again
@ThomasH6812009 · Camped on Aug 22, 2022 at Campsite #15
Great little campground with exceptional views, flat level pads, and clean restrooms. We spent 2 nights here returning from WY and we both were impressed with the site. The top sites for views and privacy I think are 15,16,and 17. We stayed on a Monday and Tuesday night and had the park to ourselves - very quiet but it looks like it fills up quite a bit every weekend.
@MiriamJ1791198 · Camped on Aug 18, 2022 at Campsite #8
Campground is well-maintained. Bathrooms are clean, playground is fun, and proximity to town is nice. We love it here!
@JackN1836164 · Camped on Jul 29, 2022 at Campsite #18
Well kept campground. Only downside is that one group was loud late into the night.
@JensL3263384 · Camped on Jul 29, 2022 at Campsite #7
This campground is an awesome central place to spend time exploring the Black Hills area. Other campers and the employees were courteous and friendly. Definitely would return.
@RobertC4745893 · Camped on Jun 22, 2022 at Campsite #4
HORRIBLE road to get there and then no hook ups. We got water from the bathroom spigot but no electric hookup. We were allowed to use the generator but had to shut it off at 10 pm.
@ThomasS125 · Camped on Sep 11, 2021 at Campsite #18
Very quite and beautiful location. It’s a perfect place to home base for all the exciting attractions in the area. The ranger was super helpful with suggestions of places to visit.

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