Cottonwood Campground: Your Guide to a Lakeside Camping Experience in Laketown, UT

Cottonwood Campground Introduce

Introduction / Overview

Located in the scenic Bear Lake region of Laketown, Utah, Cottonwood Campground offers a straightforward and accessible camping experience. As a designated campground, it provides fundamental amenities for those looking to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors without the extensive frills of a resort. Its location on N Bear Lake Blvd places it directly in the heart of the area's main attractions, making it an ideal base camp for a variety of activities. The campground is designed to be a functional space for campers, whether they are traveling by car, motorcycle, or with family.

Cottonwood Campground is characterized by its simple, no-nonsense approach to camping. It provides the essentials: a place to pitch a tent, access to running water, and public restrooms. While it operates as a state-run facility, which can sometimes lead to a more rigid set of rules, its core purpose is to provide a place for the public to enjoy the lakeside environment. For local Utah users, it represents a readily available option for a quick weekend getaway or a longer vacation focused on enjoying the water and surrounding landscape. It's a place where you pay a camping fee for a spot and basic services, making it a good fit for those who prioritize location over extensive luxury.

Location and Accessibility

Cottonwood Campground is situated at 1220, N Bear Lake Blvd, Laketown, UT 84038, USA, offering a prime location for easy access to the renowned Bear Lake. This address is a clear indicator of its close proximity to the water, a major selling point for visitors. The campground's location on the boulevard makes it simple to find and access, and it serves as a gateway to other local points of interest.

In terms of accessibility, the campground demonstrates a commitment to accommodating all visitors. It features a wheelchair-accessible parking lot, which is a key amenity for ensuring that individuals with mobility challenges can visit and enjoy the campground. The straightforward layout of the facility, though sometimes described as open, facilitates easy movement and navigation. While some campsites may be more open than others, the general accessibility from the main road and within the campground itself makes it a convenient choice for many.

Services Offered

Tent sites: The campground provides designated areas for pitching tents, catering to the traditional camping experience.
Public restroom: Guests have access to public restrooms, which are equipped with running water for basic hygiene needs.
Public shower: Public showers are available, a valuable service that allows campers to clean up after a day of activities on the lake or trails.
Running water: Access to running water is a fundamental service provided for the convenience of all campers.
On-site parking: The campground offers on-site parking, which allows guests to keep their vehicles close to their campsites, although this may come with an additional fee depending on the number of vehicles.
Camping fee: A fee is charged for camping, which is standard for maintaining the facilities and services.

Features / Highlights

Picnic tables: Many sites are equipped with picnic tables, providing a designated spot for campers to enjoy meals and socialize.
Restroom: The availability of restrooms is a key feature, ensuring that campers have access to necessary facilities.
Dogs allowed: Cottonwood Campground is a pet-friendly location, which means you can bring your dog along for the trip, a great benefit for pet owners.
Good for kids: The open areas and close proximity to the lake make the campground a suitable destination for families with children, who can easily access the sandy lakefront for play.
Wheelchair accessible parking lot: This feature highlights the campground's effort to be inclusive and accessible to a broader audience.

Contact Information

For inquiries or to make a reservation, you can contact Cottonwood Campground directly.

Address: 1220, N Bear Lake Blvd, Laketown, UT 84038, USA

Phone: (435) 946-3343

Mobile Phone: +1 435-946-3343

What is worth choosing

Choosing Cottonwood Campground is primarily about location and a straightforward approach to camping. For local Utah users, its position directly on Bear Lake is its biggest asset. The convenience of having lakefront camping available means you can step out of your tent and onto the beach, an experience that is hard to beat. This is especially appealing for families with children who want to spend their time swimming, playing in the sand, and enjoying water activities without a long commute from their campsite.

The campground offers essential amenities that are a significant step up from primitive camping. The presence of public restrooms, running water, and showers provides a level of comfort and convenience that makes a camping trip more manageable. This is particularly beneficial for families and those who are not accustomed to roughing it. The availability of picnic tables at the sites also simplifies meal preparation and dining.

While some visitors have noted issues with campsite privacy and general upkeep, the core value of Cottonwood Campground remains its prime location and basic but functional services. For those who prioritize being right on the water and don't mind a crowded or more open setting, it can be a great option. It’s important for campers to set their expectations based on the nature of the campground—it’s a state-run facility that serves as a high-traffic destination, especially during peak season. The dog-friendly policy is another major plus for many Utah residents who consider their pets part of the family. The wheelchair-accessible parking lot also underscores its value as an inclusive destination.

Ultimately, Cottonwood Campground is a choice for those who are looking for a no-frills, lakeside camping experience. It’s a place to focus on the beauty of Bear Lake and the fun of outdoor activities, with the basic necessities provided. While it may not offer the seclusion or spotless perfection of a private resort, its accessible location and fundamental services make it a viable option for a memorable, adventure-filled trip.

Cottonwood Campground Details

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Amenities
Picnic tables
Public restroom
Public shower
Restroom
Running water
Tent sites

Payments
Camping fee

Children
Good for kids

Parking
On-site parking

Pets
Dogs allowed

Cottonwood Campground Photos

Cottonwood Campground Location

Cottonwood Campground

Utah Rich County Laketown North Bear Lake Boulevard

1220, N Bear Lake Blvd, Laketown, UT 84038, USA

Cottonwood Campground Reviews

An average rating of ★3.2 from 33 user reviews.

beachparkingrestroomsvehiclewalkingpark rangerfeebugpicnic tablefire pit

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

Myself and my friend arrived on motorcycles late in the day only to be put in a site that looked absolutely nothing like the site advertised on the website. This site was the absolute worst paid campsite we had ever seen. It is an extension of the parking lot with a large green buzzing power transformer in the middle of it. The firepit was basically inside of a bush. The only view of this site was the group site beside and the parking lot. The site is an ADA site but that doesn't mean it has to look as unkept and terrible as it does. The website needs to be updated with actual pictures of the site or be removed from available sites to reserve."Camp Hosts" should be called "Camp Wardens" because of their campground police mentality. You can tell its a state run operation and not a private setup. The "Camp Wardens" have no understanding or concept of customer service whatsoever. Absolute worst experience on our 12 day motorcycle trip.Despite the poor campsite we had booked due to advertising inaccuracies, we were able to be moved to a slightly better site -thankfully. This mixup ended up costing us atleast an hour and we were running short on daylight. We drove our bikes to our site in efforts to offload our gear to get set up quickly before it was completely dark.One of "camp wardens" Camp Warden #1) quickly came over to tell us we were breaking the rules and needed to get our bikes into the parking lot. No apology or anything for the website inaccuracy and the grief it had cost us. Her approach was purely accusatory and mean. Just threatened to call the park ranger to issue us a citation for breaking the rules.We got setup and put our bikes in the parking lot as promised. Soon after, the park ranger AKA camp warden #2 (husband of camp warden #1) came over and treated us like misbehaved children. The guy absolutely lost his cool and yelled at us like the prison warden he is.The next day I went over to the camp wardens to express our dissapointment with our experience at the campground and how things could be improved. Again, camp warden #2 (husband) absolutely berrated me by doing nothing other than just yelling over anything I would say. An absolute complete a$$hole. I ended up just walking away while the yelling was still going on.Not only were the camp wardens absolutely terrible to deal with, the bathrooms were bug infested with mud all over the floor. A bit more attention to upkeep would do this state park Campground some improvement. Getting rid of the current camp host couple would make the best improvement though. Do yourself a favour and avoid staying at this campground. Beautiful lake but would definitely not recommend. Lots of other accommodation options available.Should also mention that we were charged an additional $10 for an extra vehicle despite being on two motorcycles that easily fit into one regular parking spot. Definitely a cash grab.Pictures attached of screen shots of advertised site CW04 (cottonwood Site# 4) and actual pictures of this dumpy site.
July 23 · Andrew Dawe
The campground is pretty minimal & although there are bathrooms and they are tidy and stocked, I doubt the toilets or anyting have actually been cleaned or disinfected as they were pretty dirty and definitely no extra cleanings due to covid. There are two showers in each bathroom but one was closed in the girls bathroom, so expect a line to take a shower. If you aren't camping right on the beach you are camping in an open area with tons of other people. The spots that are on the beach are convenient because you have lakefront camping, but people and children are constantly running through your campground to get to the beach. Definitely no privacy at this campground. The campground and especially the lakefront are so dirty. People leave their trash and things everywhere! Going for a walk was like going to the local dump, so sad. The water also has a lot of oil and gas in it, it doesn't seem like the local rental places do much to control polluting water. If all you're looking for is something on the water & you don't mind crowds then it's not bad.
August 23 · Jennifer Hutch
Would definitely recommend this campground! Stayed for 2 nights.- The bathrooms and showers are decently clean and have running water.- The staff are super chill and helpful.- The ground is sandy and flat, so setting up a tent is easy.- Each tent site is really close to its neighboors, so there isn't a lot of privacy, but we didn't have any problems with anyone who stayed by us.- You are right on the water, which was so fun. We loved being able to just hop right in, but there were SOO many bugs. We used Mosquito repellent every 2 hrs, had citronella candles, and a bug zapper lantern and still got eaten alive, so just be prepared for that.Other than that, it was an amazing stay!
July 16 · Ashlee Drennan
Great campground! Nice showers and bathrooms available. Our spot was very close walking distance to the water. From the car to the campground however that was a bit of a track and weaving through other campgrounds but worth it to be as close to the water as we were. Bear lake is absolutely beautiful we love coming up whether it’s camping or just spending a day on the water.
July 22 · jackie Shi
This is part of a Utah State park so you can only enter and exit via a reservation. A park ranger upon arrival will ask for your name and issue a parking pass (upto 2 cars, a $20 fee). The parking slot issued is an oversize one that accommodates 2 vehicles (we had 2 mini-vans in the slot). The bathrooms and showers are very nice, look to be very well kept and close to all the camping lots. The water level was very low so even having a lot right next to the water we were still 100 yards away from the shoreline. Each lot has a metal picnic table, fire pit, and space for two 12x12 tents (according to the website, our lot however we found it difficult to setup a 10x14 tent with the level ground available). The campground is setup so most of the lots are fairly spread-out but you will be fairly close to one other lot (the fire-pits were probably 15 feet to each-other). My biggest complaint was the ground between the camping lots and the parking lot was very rough. Lots of potholes from rock chucks and no paths to any campsite from the parking lot or bathroom so you are walking through brush to each site. If you get a lot next to the water the sunset is amazing to take in at night, some lots the view is covered by trees so you can’t get a direct view of the lake from your campsite. We stayed in lot #20 that had an unobstructed view of the lake.
June 07 · Tristan Rodeback