Cottonwood Campground

🏞️ **Introduction / Overview: Camping on Historic Ground**

For South Dakotans and regional travelers, a camping trip to the **Lewis and Clark Lake** area is a summertime tradition. The **Cottonwood Campground**, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE), offers one of the best ways to experience the beauty and history of the Missouri River Valley near Yankton. Located just downstream of the Gavins Point Dam, this campground is much more than a place to park your RV; it's a meticulously maintained recreational hub built on the former historic channel of the Missouri River—the very path the Lewis and Clark expedition would have traveled.

The campground is renowned for its exceptionally clean facilities, welcoming atmosphere, and plentiful shade. Unlike some remote, primitive sites, Cottonwood is a modern, full-service facility designed for comfort and convenience. It features 77 all-electric campsites that are almost all reservable, making planning your South Dakota getaway easy. While the sites are described as "wide open" and spaced maybe 50 feet apart, they are set beneath huge Cottonwood trees that provide excellent, natural shade throughout the day.

Visitors consistently praise the quality and cleanliness, noting that the bathrooms were clean and the area is neatly kept. The proximity to the recreational opportunities of both Lake Yankton and the Missouri River makes Cottonwood Campground an outstanding choice for families, anglers, and history enthusiasts alike.

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📍 **Location and Accessibility: A Convenient River Valley Stop**

Cottonwood Campground is excellently located just a short drive from Yankton, South Dakota, even though the facility itself is technically located on the Nebraska side of the Missouri River (as part of the Lewis and Clark Lake area). The coordinates place it near Yankton, SD 57078, along the western shore of Lake Yankton, just downstream from the Gavins Point Dam.

**Accessibility:** The campground is easily accessed from Yankton via SD Highway 52 and the subsequent turn onto Toe Road. Its COE management ensures the main roads and campground loops are typically well-maintained. Its classification as a COE campground designed for travelers means that it is RV-friendly, with many paved sites and easy access for large rigs.

This prime location provides rapid access to the local amenities and attractions of Yankton, which visitors note is "pretty fun to explore too," while placing campers within steps of two major water bodies: the calmer Lake Yankton and the larger Lewis and Clark Lake. This dual access is a significant draw, offering quiet kayaking and excellent fishing on Lake Yankton, contrasted with the vast boating and sailing opportunities on Lewis and Clark Lake.

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🛠️ **Services Offered (Modern COE Standards)**

As a Corps of Engineers campground, Cottonwood maintains a high standard of services and facilities, making it a comfortable and reliable choice for both short stops and extended stays. Services available include:

• Campsites: 77 total campsites, all of which include electric hookups (power), and are reservable. Sites are paved and neatly kept.
• Utilities: Electric hookups are available at every site. Water hookups may be available at certain sites, but potable water is accessible within the campground.
• Restrooms & Showers: Two modern shower houses with flush toilets are available. Customer reviews specifically mention clean restrooms and hot water in the showers.
• RV Dump Station: An RV dump station is conveniently located nearby, just north of Cottonwood Campground off of Toe Road, making departure easy.
• Site Furnishings: Each site is equipped with essential outdoor furnishings, including a metal picnic table and a metal fire ring with a grate for cooking and campfires.
• Water Access: A dedicated boat ramp provides easy access to Lake Yankton. The nearby Training Dike Day-Use Area offers a popular swimming beach on Lake Yankton.
• Recreation Area: Access to the adjacent Day-Use Area which includes a reservable picnic shelter, accessible fishing dock, and disc golf course.

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✨ **Features / Highlights: Shade, Water, and History**

Cottonwood Campground’s unique blend of natural setting, location, and federal management creates a highly appealing set of features and highlights for South Dakota campers:

• Abundant Shade: The site is named for the surrounding huge Cottonwood trees that dominate the landscape, providing ample shade over the campsites—a critical comfort feature during the hot Plains summer.
• Lewis and Clark History: Camping here means staying in the floodplain of the former historic channel of the Missouri River, offering a tangible connection to the epic journey of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
• Dual Lake Access: The campground is perfectly situated between the massive Lewis and Clark Lake (known for sailing and power boating) and the calmer Lake Yankton (preferred for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing).
• Paved and Maintained Sites: Most sites feature paved parking pads that are level and well-kept, enhancing convenience and cleanliness, with grassy areas around the site that are kept mowed.
• Family Recreation: On-site amenities include a swing set play area (playground) and horseshoe pits, ensuring simple, classic outdoor activities for families.
• Minimal Bugs: A specific highlight noted by a late May visitor was the absence of bugs and no ticks, contributing to a more pleasant outdoor experience, especially early in the season.
• Federal Management Quality: Being a COE-operated campground ensures consistency in management, cleanliness, and availability of modern facilities like hot showers and clean flush toilets.

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📞 **Contact Information**

Cottonwood Campground is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) Gavins Point Project. Reservations are generally made through the federal system (Recreation.gov), but local information is available via the project office:

Address: VG78+5C, Yankton, SD 57078, USA (Located on Toe Road near the Gavins Point Dam)

Central Reservation Phone (Recreation.gov): (877) 444-6777 (This is the national booking line for COE sites)

Local COE Project Office Phone (Recommended for Conditions/Questions): (402) 667-2546 (For the Gavins Point Project area)

Note: Sites are reservable and should be booked in advance, especially during the peak summer months, due to the campground's popularity.

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🌟 **What is Worth Choosing: Reliability and Recreation**

Cottonwood Campground is worth choosing for the South Dakotan traveler who seeks the perfect blend of reliable, modern amenities and outstanding water-based recreation in a historically significant location. You choose Cottonwood because you want a paved, shaded site with electricity and a clean, hot shower waiting at the end of the day—comfort that larger RVs and families depend on.

The location is unbeatable, offering the choice between the serene fishing and paddling of Lake Yankton and the expansive boating and water sports available on Lewis and Clark Lake. The professionalism of the COE management ensures the campground is consistently clean and well-maintained, minimizing camping headaches. Finally, the ability to camp on the path of the Lewis and Clark Expedition adds a rich layer of regional history to your stay. For a comfortable, family-friendly, and activity-packed weekend getaway near Yankton, Cottonwood Campground is a highly recommended and highly reliable choice.