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Cottonwood (Ne)

Lewis and Clark Lake — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: YANKTON, NE, NE

Price: From $20 per night

Price range: $20–$22 per night

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (507 reviews)

Season: Year-round

Cottonwood Recreation Area is located just downstream of Gavins Point Dam and Lewis & Clark Lake along the western shore of Lake Yankton. The numerous outdoor recreational opportunities attract more than 2 million visitors annually to the Lewis & Clark Lake area, making it one of the most popular recreation destinations in the Upper Great Plains. Lewis & Clark Lake is 31,400-acres in size with more than 90 miles of shoreline is impounded by Gavins Point Dam, which was authorized by the Flood Con

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Showers, Dump Station, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Boat Launch

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/cottonwood-ne to be notified when sites open up.

Cottonwood Recreation Area is located on the 31,400-acre Lewis & Clark Lake with over 90 miles of shoreline and attracts more than 2 million visitors annually. Campers praise the clean bathrooms, large level paved sites, playground for kids, and quiet atmosphere.

Wildlife alert: Western Milksnake, Bullsnake, Common Snapping Turtle, American Avocet, Ross's Gull, Common Merganser, American Redstart, and Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel documented in the area.

Insider tips for Cottonwood (Ne): Book early—this is a federal campground with high demand due to 2 million annual visitors to the Lewis & Clark Lake area Electric hookups available on select sites only; most sites have no hookups Potable water and dump station available nearby

Skip Cottonwood (Ne) if: You need water or sewer hookups—only electric hookups on select sites. You prefer privacy—sites are spaced approximately 50 feet apart. You plan to visit during peak season without advance reservations.

Best time to visit Cottonwood (Ne): Year-round — Campground operates year-round, though known seasonal operations may affect availability..

Nearby campgrounds: Cottonwood (Ne) Day Use Shelter (Yankton, SD), Gavins Point Overlook Day Use Shelter (Yankton, NE), Nebraska Tailwaters (YANKTON, NE).

Cell Phone Coverage at Cottonwood (Ne)

Cell signal at Cottonwood (Ne) (YANKTON, NE): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

    Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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    CamperWatch›NE›Cottonwood (Ne)
    Cottonwood (Ne) — photo 1
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    Lewis and Clark Lake — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

    Cottonwood (Ne)

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    YANKTON, NE, NE★ 4.6 (507 reviews)From $20/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
    On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

    Cottonwood Recreation Area is located just downstream of Gavins Point Dam and Lewis & Clark Lake along the western shore of Lake Yankton. The numerous outdoor recreational opportunities attract more than 2 million visitors annually to the Lewis & Clark Lake area, making it one of the most popular recreation destinations in the Upper Great Plains. Lewis & Clark Lake is 31,400-acres in size with more than 90 miles of shoreline is impounded by Gavins Point Dam, which was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1944, commonly called the Pick-Sloan Plan.

    Best for:AnglersHikersBoatersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites:TentRV
    LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

    Verified facts

    RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
    Check-in2:00 PM
    Check-out12:00 PM
    SeasonYear-round
    Stay limit14 days
    Max RV125 ft
    Hookups77 electric sites
    ADA sites1 sites
    Pull-throughsAvailable
    PetsAllowed
    CampfiresAllowed
    Max/site6 people

    Amenities

    RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
    Essentials
    Fire RingsShowersFishing
    Recreation
    Picnic TablesDump StationBoat Launch
    Family & Pets
    Flush ToiletsElectric Hookups

    Straight talk

    CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

    Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

    Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
    Skip it if:✕ You need water or sewer hookups—only electric hookups on select sites✕ You prefer privacy—sites are spaced approximately 50 feet apart✕ You plan to visit during peak season without advance reservations

    Insider tips & when to go

    CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

    Book early

    this is a federal campground with high demand due to 2 million annual visitors to the Lewis & Clark Lake area

    Electric hookups available on select sites only; most sites have no hookups

    Potable water and dump station available nearby

    Best: Year-round

    Campground operates year-round, though known seasonal operations may affect availability.

    Things to do nearby

    RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

    Conditions today

    Live
    at campground coordinates

    Cell signal

    FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
    T-Mobile
    4G · 0%
    Verizon
    4G · 0%
    AT&T
    4G · 0%

    FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

    Wildlife nearby

    iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
    Alert: Western Milksnake, Bullsnake, Common Snapping Turtle, American Avocet, Ross's Gull, Common Merganser, American Redstart, and Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel documented in the area.

    Location

    Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
    Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
    402-667-2546. FOR RESERVATIONS, CALL 877-444-6777.· Lewis and Clark Lake
    Getting there →

    From U.S. Hwy 81 in Yankton, South Dakota, drive four miles west on South Dakota Highway 52, then south on Dam Toe Road and follow signs.

    Campground entrance

    Google Maps API

    Community

    #community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

    Pro tips

    • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Lewis and Clark Lake fills fast in peak season.
    • Check current road conditions at Lewis and Clark Lake before arrival — seasonal closures common.

    Frequently asked questions

    RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
    How much does Cottonwood (Ne) cost per night?+
    Cottonwood (Ne) costs $20–$22 per night. Hookup options: Electric hookups on select sites. No water/sewer.
    What season is Cottonwood (Ne) open?+
    Cottonwood (Ne) is open Year-round. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
    Does Cottonwood (Ne) have hookups?+
    Electric hookups on select sites. No water/sewer.
    What is the maximum RV length at Cottonwood (Ne)?+
    Cottonwood (Ne) can accommodate RVs up to 125 feet.
    How do I make reservations at Cottonwood (Ne)?+
    Cottonwood (Ne) is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
    What is the cell service like at Cottonwood (Ne)?+
    According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Cottonwood (Ne) is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
    What season is Cottonwood (Ne) open, and what are check-in times?+
    Cottonwood (Ne) is open Year-round. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

    Official resources

    Print Facility MapNebraska Game and Parks Commission NWS - Local Weather Conditions & ForecastRules and Regulations for US Army Corps of Engineers - Title 36 CFR
    Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
    ●Data sources on this page
    Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
    recreation.gov · RIDB API
    National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
    api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
    Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
    airquality.googleapis.com
    iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
    api.inaturalist.org
    Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
    pollen.googleapis.com
    FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
    broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
    Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
    api.sunrise-sunset.org
    Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
    maps.googleapis.com
    RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
    ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

    CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

    $20 /night★ 4.6 (507)
    SeasonYear-round
    Check-in2:00 PM
    Check-out12:00 PM
    Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
    Dates full? Get an availability alert
    FAQ
    How much does Cottonwood (Ne) cost per night?+
    What season is Cottonwood (Ne) open?+
    Does Cottonwood (Ne) have hookups?+
    All 7 questions →

    Nearby Campgrounds

    Cottonwood (Ne) Day Use Shelter

    Yankton, SD

    From $25/night

    Gavins Point Overlook Day Use Shelter

    Yankton, NE

    From $25/night

    Nebraska Tailwaters

    YANKTON, NE

    From $18/night

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