Cottonwood Springs Campground
Cottonwood Springs Lake — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: HOT SPRINGS, SD, SD
Price: From $18 per night
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (95 reviews)
Season: Memorial Day through Labor Day
Located just 5 miles west of Hot Springs, SD is a hidden gem of a campground. Cottonwood Springs Campground is a quiet, peaceful campground tucked away in the southern part of the Black Hills of South Dakota. It offers beautiful scenic views within a short walk of each campsite.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups, Camp Host, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/cottonwood-springs-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Small, quiet campground 5 miles west of Hot Springs with 17 sites offering scenic Black Hills views and lake access. Google reviewers consistently praise the well-maintained facilities, spacious sites suitable for larger RVs, and peaceful setting.
Wildlife alert: Black-footed Ferret, American Bison, Black-tailed Prairie Dog, American Elk, Coyote, and various bird species including White-throated Swift and Blue Jay documented in the area.
Insider tips for Cottonwood Springs Campground: Book early — this is a popular federal campground with limited sites Cottonwood Springs Lake offers fishing for largemouth bass, rainbow trout, and panfish Plan for dump station run to Hot Springs town if needed
Skip Cottonwood Springs Campground if: You need RV hookups — campground has no hookups at most sites, suitable only for self-contained RVs. You visit outside Memorial Day through Labor Day — seasonal operations only.
Best time to visit Cottonwood Springs Campground: Memorial Day - Labor Day — Official operating season per verified data.
Nearby campgrounds: Cold Brook Campground (HOT SPRINGS, SD), Elk Mountain Campground (Hot Springs , SD), Comanche Park (Custer, SD), Bismark Lake (Custer, SD).
Cell Phone Coverage at Cottonwood Springs Campground
Cell signal at Cottonwood Springs Campground (HOT SPRINGS, SD): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
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.
Located just 5 miles west of Hot Springs, SD is a hidden gem of a campground. Cottonwood Springs Campground is a quiet, peaceful campground tucked away in the southern part of the Black Hills of South Dakota. It offers beautiful scenic views within a short walk of each campsite.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a popular federal campground with limited sites
Cottonwood Springs Lake offers fishing for largemouth bass, rainbow trout, and panfish
Plan for dump station run to Hot Springs town if needed
Official operating season per verified data
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Rapid City, SD take US-79 S, turn right onto US-18 W/US-385N, turn left onto US-18 BYP, turn left onto US-18W, take a right on County Road 17/Memorial Road, stay to the left as the road Y's staying on Couny Road 17 and then enter Cottonwood Springs by taking a right at the gate. From Chadron, NE take US-385 N, turn left onto US-18 W/US-385N, turn left onto US-18 BYP, turn left onto US-18W, take a right on County Road 17/Memorial Road, stay to the left as the road Y's staying on County Road
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Cottonwood Springs Lake fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Cottonwood Springs Lake before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Cottonwood Springs Campground cost per night?+
What season is Cottonwood Springs Campground open?+
Does Cottonwood Springs Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Cottonwood Springs Campground?+
How do I make reservations at Cottonwood Springs Campground?+
What is the cell service like at Cottonwood Springs Campground?+
What season is Cottonwood Springs Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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