Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-10294670
When Cottonwood Group Site (ND) reopens
Cottonwood Group Site (ND)'s openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
1
Openings · last 90 days
1
Only 1 opening in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Sep 18 – Sep 30, 2026 · of 1 monitored site
Of the 13 tracked site-nights (Sep 18 – Sep 30, 2026): 7 open for online reservation · 6 reserved.
Where the open windows are
46.2% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 7 of 13 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Sep 30, 2026Not open online46.2%
Open site-nights7 / 13
Reserved (of online inventory)6 / 13
Weekday openings6
Weekend openings1
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 6 fall on weekdays and 1 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Sep 2026September holds the most room. 7 of 13 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 1 site| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Availability
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| Cottonwood Group Site | 7 |
This site currently has 7 site-nights available.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateMon · Sep 21
The next bookable night is Sep 21. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Stays and site detail
7 open site-nights across 1 site at Cottonwood Group Site (ND), from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 2 2-night, 2 3-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest Sep 21 at site Cottonwood Group Site.
RV length. Longest recorded site here is 50 ft. 1 site takes 25 ft, 1 site takes 35 ft, 1 site takes 40 ft.
All 1 site with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood Group Site | 50 ft | None | 7 | 4 nights | Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
About Cottonwood Group Site (ND)
Overview
For people visiting the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Cottonwood Campground is a great place to stay. Located five miles (8 km) from the entrance to the South Unit of the park, the campground is open year-round.
This reservation section is for reserving the group site at the Cottonwood Campground. Reservations for the group campsite go on sale March 1 for the camping season. If you are interested in reservations for an individual camp site at the Cottonwood Campground please see the Cottonwood Campground (ND) section. The group site serves as a great central camping area providing easy driving access to a varitey of locations and activities.
Recreation
Hikers can access the estimated 70 miles (21 km) of trails within a short distance of the campground. Visit the Hiking and Trail Information page on the park website or stop at a Visitor Center for more details. Located immediately adjacent to the Little Missouri River and filled with Cottonwood trees bird watching in the campground can be a rewarding experience. Watch for Bison that can be seen traveling through the campground on their way to a stop at the river. Just a few miles from the campground is the Peaceful Valley Ranch. A former ranch from Theodore Roosevelt's time, the location also serves as one of the best sites in the park for outstanding night sky viewing.
Facilities
Toilets, drinking water and picnic tables are provided in the campground. The group site can accomodate 7-20 people. There are no hookups or a dump station. A water fill station is available for campers (through October 1 each year). All wheeled vehicles and trailers must remain on roadways or pads. The Group Site (site #25) goes on sale the first business day of March for the upcoming summer season.
Natural Features
The Little Missouri River is the central, unifying feature of this wild and broken land where, as a young man, Theodore Roosevelt ranched and hunted in the 1880s. The park is part of both the Northern Great Plains and the West, blending a rich natural beauty with diverse human history. The rugged topography, with its flora and fauna, also provides an opportunity to discover the badlands environment as Roosevelt once did. It is a place to experience a land and way of life that helped shape Theodore Roosevelt's attitudes and philosophy regarding conservation. Cottonwood trees surrounding the campsite turn golden in the fall. Although the campground is moderately forested, most of the campsites are in partial to full sun but visitors can cool off in the cold river when temperatures peak during summer.
Nearby Attractions
The town of Medora has shopping, restaurants, amenities and the Medora Musical is located approximately five miles (8 km) to the south. The Little Missouri National Grassland is the largest National Grassland in the nation at 1.03 million acres (416,826 ha). It is located in western North Dakota and is managed by the Medora Ranger District in Dickinson, ND and the McKenzie Ranger District in Watford City, ND. The National Grassland provides additional recreation opportunities in the area.
1 monitored siteRVs up to 50 ftNo hookups1 shadedPets OKMax party 20
Getting there
DIRECTIONS Enter the South Unit in Medora. Travel 5.5 miles on the scenic drive (East River Road). Cottonwood Campground is on the left.
AmphitheaterBirdingCampingDay Use AreaHikingHistoric & Cultural SitePhotographyPicnickingScenic DriveStar GazingWildernessWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-10294670 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-10294670 · Cottonwood Group Site (ND)5 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Cottonwood Group Site (ND)?
Reservations for Cottonwood Group Site (ND) are made through Recreation.gov. 7 of 13 tracked site-nights are currently open (53.8%). Campsite Sniper has also detected 1 site opening here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 11:17 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Cottonwood Group Site (ND)?
Campsite Sniper detected 1 site-date opening here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Cottonwood Group Site (ND)?
2 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts Sep 21 at site Cottonwood Group Site. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Cottonwood Group Site (ND) fit a 35-foot RV?
1 of the 1 site that support RV analysis has a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 50 ft.
Which month has the most availability at Cottonwood Group Site (ND)?
September 2026, with 7 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 13.
When is the next open date at Cottonwood Group Site (ND)?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Mon, Sep 21. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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