Cottonwood Recreation Area
Cottonwood Recreation Area is an Army Corps of Engineers campground in Iowa. Hookups: no hookups.
- Type
- Army Corps of Engineers campground
- Location
- Iowa
- Coordinates
- 41.69056, -93.67472
- Hookups
- No hookups
- Activities
- Biking, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Wildlife Viewing
- Map
- Open in OpenStreetMap
- Phone
- 515-276-4656
Amenities
- Reservable sites
Only amenities a source confirms are listed; an amenity missing here is unknown, not absent.
About Cottonwood Recreation Area
Overview Cottonwood Recreation Area is a day-use facility located in the tailwater area below Saylorville Dam. The 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project stretches over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley. The lake provides a wide variety of recreational activities, including boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and hunting. Recreation Visitors come to Saylorville Lake for its great boating, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing and swimming opportunities. Anglers fish for walleye, wiper, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie and northern pike. The paved Neal Smith Trail winds 24 miles from Des Moines to Big Creek State Park and connects the campgrounds on the east side of the lake. It is designated as a National Recreation Trail and is used for biking, hiking, jogging, walking and in-line skating. Facilities The day-use area offers nine group picnic areas with water and electric hookups. Amenities include flush toilets, a volleyball court, playground and hiking trails. Natural Features Cottonwood covers a large open and flat lowland area bordering the east side of the Des Moines River. Wildlife is abundant throughout the project. White-tailed deer, turkeys, pheasants, waterfowl, and other small game animals roam the lands around the lake.
Cell coverage
No coverage data for this location yet.
Nearby RV services
- Dump station
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Water fill
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Propane
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Low clearances
- 10 bridges or tunnels at 14 ft or less within 10 mi
Other places to stay nearby
| Name | Type | Distance | Fee | Hookups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Shetler Picnic Area | Army Corps of Engineers campground | 0.5 mi | — | Water |
| Bob Shetler | RV park | 0.9 mi | — | — |
| Bob Shetler | RV park | 0.9 mi | — | — |
| Bob Shetler | RV park | 0.9 mi | — | — |
| Bob Shetler Recreation Area | Army Corps of Engineers campground | 0.9 mi | — | Full hookups |
| Cherry Glen Campground | Private campground | 2.7 mi | — | — |
Open Cottonwood Recreation Area in DryRig
Save it offline, check your rig's clearance on the drive in, and see what's nearby on the map.
Sources. Recreation.gov (RIDB). Updated June 2026. Facility facts only; DryRig does not publish ratings or reviews on this page.