U.S. Forest Service · Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest · Montana

Cottonwood Campground

Cottonwood Campground is a relatively remote campground offering a nice relaxing campground that is ideal for the minimalistic or rustic adventurer. If you want to disconnect from the chaos and reconnect with nature, there is no cell service at this site so it is an excellent choice with 10 camping units, a maximum recommended trailer length of 28', and ADA vault toilet. There are no garbage services at this site, so please pack it in, pack it out!

Open nowBooking not publishedFrom $12 per nightTents only

More like this: first-come in Montana · tent only in Montana

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
FeesThere is a $12.00 per night fee for this campground.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusOpen
SeasonLate May
ForestBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
FeesThere is a $12.00 per night fee for this campground.
RulesForest-wide stay limit: Camping in an area, campsite, or developed campground is limited to 16 accumulated days within any 30 day period. The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest has a mandatory forest-wide Food Storage Order. Food Storage Requirements 2014 Food Storage Order

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Cottonwood Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 0.29 inches of precipitation, 8.2 inches of snowFebruary: 0.55 inches of precipitation, 7.5 inches of snowMarch: 0.58 inches of precipitation, 8.4 inches of snowApril: 1.28 inches of precipitation, 9.7 inches of snowMay: 2.37 inches of precipitation, 3.6 inches of snowJune: 2.97 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowJuly: 1.17 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 1.24 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.23 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowOctober: 1.29 inches of precipitation, 3.1 inches of snowNovember: 0.61 inches of precipitation, 8.0 inches of snowDecember: 0.48 inches of precipitation, 8.4 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 24.7°F averageFebruary: 25.9°F averageMarch: 34.0°F averageApril: 40.5°F averageMay: 48.7°F averageJune: 55.9°F averageJuly: 64.2°F averageAugust: 63.7°F averageSeptember: 54.2°F averageOctober: 42.8°F averageNovember: 31.4°F averageDecember: 23.6°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 in10 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Alder 17 S, 8 miles from the campground at 5,850 feet, station USC00240110 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 14 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 57 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Coordinates44.9715° N, 111.9655° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗36.9 mi
Outdoor gearGrizzly Outfitters ↗37.7 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Verde Valley RV Resort/ Thousand Trails Cottonwood / Campground Review

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Guidebooks for Montana

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping: Montana
    Vicky Soderberg and Ken Soderberg, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Moon Montana, Wyoming and Idaho Camping
    Becky Lomax, 2015
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Camping Montana
    Kenneth L. Graham, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to camp at Cottonwood Campground?

There is a $12.00 per night fee for this campground.

Source: Forest Service

Is Cottonwood Campground open right now?

Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season Late May.

Source: Forest Service status

Can I bring an RV to Cottonwood Campground?

Cottonwood Campground is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

What if Cottonwood Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Clover Meadows Dispersed Camping and Picnic Area (7.8 mi, first-come), Palisades Campground (15.1 mi, first-come), and West Fork Madison Campground (19.8 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby