Reservations and Check Ins


Do I need a reservation?

We encourage you to make a reservation as we tend to fill up quickly especially during Spring and Summer and again in the Fall for the University of Missouri football season. We often book several months in advance, however we do not require you to have a reservation in order for you to stay with us except for on special event weekends or during Spring and Summer Holiday weekends including Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day.

How far in advance can I make a reservation?

We recommend making a reservation at least 8 weeks prior to your arrival date and at least 16 weeks prior to special events such as graduation, football season dates, and holiday weekends. Our park is open year-round, so we are able to take reservations year round for all seasons and our system can hold a reservation up to 1 year in advance, so we encourage you to book early.

Does a reservation guarantee me a certain site?

A confirmed reservation guarantees you a site, but not a specific site or site number. While we wish that we were able to assign you a specific site, the nature of maintenance, stayovers, and other occurrences may prevent us from doing so. Reserving with a site lock fee to lock your site is an option - however, if maintenance requires us to move you for any reason, we will refund your site lock fee and we will move you to an open site due to any necessary maintenance work.

What time is Check In / Check Out?

Check In time is 1 PM CST. Check out time is 12 PM CST. Our check-in and check-out times are designed to ensure that all of our guests expectations are met upon arrival. Should you arrive prior to 1 PM CST, your site may not be ready and the guest from the previous night has paid for that site until 1 PM CST check out time and may still be in their site.

If you wish to stay longer, please check with the office to make sure your site is available and if we have an open site, we would be happy to extend your stay by adding an additional night(s).

Late Check Outs are not available Thursday thru Saturday during April thru October and any late check outs must be approved by Cottonwoods staff. Late Check Outs will incur a late check out fee of $10 until 4:59 PM. At 5 PM, you will be charged for an additional nights stay.

Can I Check In Early?

Check Out time is 12 PM CST. Our check-in and check-out times are designed to ensure that all of our guests expectations are met upon arrival. Should you arrive prior to Noon CST, your site may not be ready and the paying guest from the previous night may still be in that site. We are not able to move reservations around to accommodate early arrivals. Early arrivals are not available Thursday, Friday, or Saturdays and any early arrivals must verify that their site is open before arriving earlier than check in time at campground. We do not have a waiting area for you to wait, so if you arrive early without notifying us and confirming your site is open before check in time, we will have to ask you to leave until the previous guest checks out at Noon.

Can I Check Out Late?

Our check-in and check-out times are designed to ensure that all of our guests expectations are met upon arrival. Check out time is 12 PM CST on the day of your departure. If you wish to stay longer, please check with the office to make sure your site is available and if we have an open site, we would be happy to extend your stay by adding an additional night(s).

If you are not staying the entire evening, if we have a site available, you my pay for additional hours until 5 pm after which you will incur a full additional nights charge. The late check out fee for noon until 5 pm is $10, whether you stay for 1 hour over or 5 hours.

What are your office hours?

We are open year round and RV Sites are available for booking online 24/7. Our reservations office is staffed 10 AM – 7 PM CST April through October with a 1 hour closure for lunch. During November thru March, we reduce our office hours 10 AM to 6 PM CST. Our office is closed on Sundays during November through March.

We also observe July 4th and often close the office early so that our staff is able to enjoy the holiday with their families. We are closed on Thanksgiving and Black Friday and Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day, and sometimes the day after Christmas to allow our staff to spend the holiday with their families.

What should we do if we arrive after office hours?

If you arrive after hours, no worries! We wanted to make sure our guests were able to check in easily even after our office has closed for the day. To the left of the office door, you will find an After Hours Check-In Station with instructions, posted rates, reservation forms, envelopes, and a drop box slot. Please follow the posted directions to check in for the night. An emergency number is posted at this station, should you need assistance with anything.

If I want to make a reservation for a weekend that is full, do you keep a waiting list?

Yes! We are happy to add you to our waiting list if you are interested in a weekend that is currently full. If we have any cancellations or changes, we are happy to give you a call and offer any site openings to those on our waiting list first.

Cancellation and Refund Policies


What is your Cancellation/Refund Policy?

Payment in full is due at the time of booking.
Reservations are Non-Transferable. Refunds can only be refunded to original payment method.
New Reservation Date changes must be made at least 7 days in advance of any future reservations.


Cancellation Requests must be submitted by email to

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Processing and Reservation Fees are Non-Refundable.

If I Cancel... Do I Receive a Refund or a Credit?
More than 10 Days before Check In Day $10.00 Cancellation Fee then Refund
10 Days or Less Before My Stay First Night Stay
24 hours or Less Before My Stay
Or
1 Week Before Special Event Weekends (Roots, Blues, & BBQ, Monster Mash, Mizzou Graduation Weekend)
No Refund/No Credit – You will be charged for the full length of your reservation.

No Refunds or Credits given for:
No Calls, No Shows, Late Arrivals, Changes in Trip Routes or Dates resulting in "not being in the area again in the future", Unruly or Ejected Campers, Early Departures or unused days, outages, failure of equipment including car, trucks, or RV issues; necessary closures or upgrades of any park amenities, or discomforts of nature such as inclement weather, wet site conditions due to rain or snow, natural pests, or other naturally occurring conditions. Cancellations due to medical conditions or job loss are not exempt from this policy. Please be advised that the Park Management has no obligation to make special concessions for any guest or any situation under this policy.

Site Rules / RV Site Information


When is Quiet Time?

Quiet time is at 10 PM and lasts until 7 AM. During this time, we ask that noise be kept to a minimum so as not to disturb your neighbors. All minors under 18 years of age, must be at their site by dusk. The playground, basketball court, and pool close at dusk.

Can I have guests?

Yes, however all guests must stop at the office and check in as a safety measure. Any guests staying overnight, will need to pay the current overnight guest fee per night as well as any extra vehicle fees. We ask that no more than 6 people are at your site at any given time. Guests who are visiting someone in the park are not permitted to bring pets into the park.

How many people are allowed at a site?

Out of respect for all of our park guests, we ask that no more than 6 people are at your site at any given time.

Where should I park my extra vehicle? Do you have Trailer or Boat Parking?

If you are traveling with only one vehicle aside from your RV, you are welcome to park your car or truck at your site. If you have more than one vehicle, we ask that you park the additional vehicle in one of the open parking spots behind our building or behind the chain link fence. If you are driving a large truck, we ask that you do not park in a way that blocks our restrooms or laundry room doors. If you have a boat or a trailer, advance notice must be given and you may be required to purchase an additional site for the night in order to accommodate the extra space your boat or trailer may require. As our park is 25 years old, we do not have a lot of extra parking spaces so we may not be able to accommodate hauling trailers or boats. Please note that you have a trailer or boat when making a reservation.

Do you have RV Storage?

We do not offer RV Storage, however there are a couple nearby storage facilities who do. Contact Swilling Self Storage at (573) 999–1011. They are located at 8300 Interstate 70 Drive SE, Columbia, MO.

Do you have cabins or RVs for rent?

We do not have cabins or RVs for rent. We hope to have an RV option or two in the near future, however.

Is there a BBQ grill and picnic table at each site?

There is a picnic table at each site, however most guests bring their own BBQ grills when traveling so we do not provide BBQ grills. We do have a community firepit available at the pavilion as well as campground BBQ grills located at the tent camping area and at the pavilion that you are welcome to use. Please do not leave any trash behind when grilling or picnicking.

Each site is equipped with a picnic table. Please do not remove tables from other sites or areas of the park.

Are we allowed to use our golf cart?

We do allow use of your golf cart in our park, however we charge a $10 golf cart fee (includes electrical use) if you unload and use your golf cart in our park. If you are using your golf cart, please post your site number on the front and back of your golf cart, so that we know what site you are in at all times. We only allow adults age 18+ with a drivers license to operate golf carts in our park due to Insurance safety rules.

General Campground Information FAQs


Do you have good wifi?

Our high speed wifi internet is fast enough to stream your favorite movies and shows, do work, upload photos and more, so you can stay connected and entertained while you're traveling. Whether you're streaming on your laptop, tablet, or phone, our dedicated wifi will keep up with your demands, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience.

Do you offer discounts?

Absolutely! We are proud to offer Military, Good Sam, AAA, FMCA, Escapees, and Missouri Farm Bureau Member Discounts of 10% off our nightly rate.

Are you Pet-Friendly?

We are absolutely pet-friendly! We love pets at Cottonwoods and one of our owner’s and many of our staff members will often carry treats around for our furry visitors, while we are working throughout the park. We always ask fur parent’s permission first of course! We encourage you to bring your pets if they are friendly and non-aggressive. All pets must be currently vaccinated however, due to insurance requirements. Pets must always be on a leash and you must clean up after your pet. We provide dog waste stations with complimentary doggie deposit bags for your convenience. Please note that failure to clean up after your pet will only result in one warning, before you are asked to leave without refund.

Do you offer yearly discounts?

We do not offer yearly discounts, however we do offer a monthly fee that is significantly discounted off of our nightly rate. For our current monthly rate, please contact our office or check our rates page.

Are you close to the Interstate?

We are located 4 miles north of Interstate 70 in Columbia, Missouri and less than 1 mile off of U.S. Highway 63 North.

Do you have a restaurant on site?

We do not have a restaurant on site, but we have lots of great nearby options such as COMO Smoke & Fire located one exit South of us. We also have several restaurants that deliver to our park. Gumby’s Pizza, Italian Village, Domino’s, Jimmy John’s, Wise Guy’s, as well as delivery services such as Mr. Delivery, Grub Hub, and Uber Eats. We also sell some fantastic local Shakepeare’s Pizza in our gift shop freezers (and ice cream), because who doesn’t need pizza, ice cream, and wine, right?

Do you have a gift shop and/or store?

Yes! Our office check in is located inside of our store/gift shop. We offer lots of convenience items for you while you are camping and traveling. Our store features Snacks, Grocery Items, Wine, Beer, Ice Cream, Pizza, Frozen Sandwiches, Personal Items, Medicines, RV Supplies, Camping Supplies, BBQ Supplies like Charcoal, Lighter Fluid, BBQ Sauce, Firewood, Ice, Pool Toys, Toys, T-Shirts, Gift Items, Decorative RV Décor, Greeting Cards, Travel Scrapbook Supplies, Cute Pet Items, and more!

Can I fly my drone in the park?

We ask that you do not fly your drone over any RVs or people in our park, as it can disturb your fellow guests and invade their privacy.

Can I wash my RV in the park?

We only allow bucket and sponge RV washing in our park. Please do not hose off your RV after soaping it. It often runs over to your neighbors site and makes a mess and we want all guests to feel comfortable and relaxed during their visit with us.

Are you hiring?

Right now, we are fully staffed, but we appreciate your interest! We’re pretty fond of our wonderful staff members, but if anything changes in the future, we will definitely let you know.

Do you Recycle?

We are happy to report that we are an Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) Plan It Green Friendly Park, which means the environment is very important to us. Check out our links to learn more about our green practices! We are always adding more and more green practices daily. We currently recycle cardboard and aluminum. If you have these items to recycle, please bring them to the office or the garage and thank you for helping us help the environment!

What is the Local Weather like throughout the year?

We are located in Columbia, Missouri and the weather throughout the year varies. During March – April our weather averages lows of 36 to highs of 70 degrees. Temperature Averages for May through August range from 56 degree lows to 95 degree highs. We enjoy warm, but mild September and Octobers with average lows in the 50s and highs in the 70s – 80s. Winter in Missouri can vary also. November through February lows average 23 degrees with highs up to 65 degrees. January and February tend to be the coldest months of the year, but as the locals will tell you – always check the weather. If you don’t like the current weather situation, just wait a few minutes! We enjoy a moderate amount of sunshine throughout the year. We do have thunderstorms, like any area, but they have been mild in the last few years. You may hear county wide tornado siren testing on the first Wednesday of the month, so do not be alarmed. Tornadoes in this area of Missouri are uncommon, but can happen every once in a while.

Is it OK to park on the grass?

No, please do not park on the grass. Your experience with us is of utmost importance to us, which means we want to make sure your site is clean and nice looking when you check in. We want the same for the next guest as well and parking on the grass often kills the grass or ruts our sites. Please also do not drive across our grass or across our sites.

Why is parking limited?

Our park is 25 years old and was built when RVs were a little bit smaller than the beautiful Luxury Motorhomes we see so often. We can accommodate up to a 45 foot RV, however parking is limited around the park since back in the day you could fit several vehicles at a site with an RV.

Do you have cable?

Unfortunately, cable stops 500 feet from our park entrance and satellite options were an expensive cost that we didn’t want to pass on to our guests. We are happy to report that if you have an over the air antennae, you can get between 4 and 10 local channels including PBS, NBC, CBS, Fox, and ABC. A list of local channels is available on the back of the park guide you received during check in. If you are traveling with your own satellite, point your dish towards the Southern sky for the best reception.

Safety Policies


Can we shoot fireworks?

No. Fireworks are strictly prohibited in our park due to the dangers it poses to the guests and the campground due to propane and close proximity to other guests.

Can we dump grey water on the ground?

No. Grey water can often harbor bacteria from washing or cleaning and regulations restrict dumping it on the ground.

Can we bring our own firewood?

The Missouri Conservation Department by Missouri law prohibits campers from bringing their own firewood into our campground. However, we do offer bundles of firewood for sale in our store that we are happy to offer for your campfires.

Can we have campfires?

Yes, we allow campfires, but only in designated fire rings or fire pits. If you would like a fire pit, we have them available for $2.00 each per night. If using a fire pit, please place it over the gravel or concrete at your site only, as it will kill the grass underneath it.

I Hear Missouri gets Severe Thunderstorms and Tornadoes. Should I worry? Is it safe to visit during storm season?

Good question! We are happy to report that although our severe storm weather sometimes features thunderstorms, tornadoes are rare in our area anymore. Missouri has great advance warning systems and our park does have storm shelter areas for your safety.

Are you close to…


Columbia, Missouri?

We are located in Columbia, Missouri just north of the city. Less than 5 minutes from restaurants, shops, grocery stores, and gas stations and less than 10 minutes from three local hospitals and 3 local colleges including the University of Missouri.

Warms Springs Ranch Budweiser Clydesdales?

Warm Springs in just 20 minutes away from our park. We often have guests stay with us to visit Warm Springs and we love hearing your stories of your visit! It’s one of our most requested attractions. They do require reservations though, so if you are planning a visit there during your stay, be sure to make a reservation well in advance of your visit.

Atkins Baseball Field?

Atkins Field is located just a short 5 minute walk or a 1 minute drive up the hill from our park. It often hosts baseball tournaments and the Show Me State Games.

Show Me State Games Locations?

Most of the Show Me State Games events are located right here in Columbia. We often book up well in advance for these events, so if you are coming into Columbia for the games, please be sure to make an advance reservation to guarantee a site.

University of Missouri Football Games?

We are just 8.4 miles from Mizzou’s Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium, Home of the Missouri Tigers.

The Roots, Blues, and BBQ Festival?

We are located only 5.9 miles from Stephens Lake Park where the annual Roots, Blues, and BBQ festival is held each year.

Any State or National Parks?

We are just minutes from Finger Lakes State Park, Rockbridge Memorial State Park, Katy Trail State Parks as well as several trails and local parks such as Stephen’s Lake Park, Phillips Lake Park, Bonnie View Nature Area, Pinnacles Youth Park, Three Creeks Conservation Area, Shelter Gardens, and more.

Although we are not near any National Parks, we are on the route to several of them via I-70. Many of our wonderful guest travelers stay with us on their way to Rocky Mountain National Park, Badlands National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Glacier National Park.

Where is the…


Nearest Highway

U.S. Highway 63 is located right up the hill from the park. Interstate 70 is 4 miles south of Cottonwoods off of Highway 63.

Nearest Grocery Store

There are several nearby grocery stores. The nearest grocery store is Mosers is located 1.9 miles from our park. Take Oakland Gravel Road to the left until you get to the first road on you right – Brown School Road. Follow Brown School road until you reach a stop light. At that stop light turn right. Moser’s will be on you right hand side. Gerbes on Paris Road and Hyvee on Conley Road are also nearby.

Nearest Gas Station

Quiktrip Gas Station is a large gas station that is located 3.7 miles south of Cottonwoods at the corner of Highway 63 and Clark Lane. Quiktrip’s address is 3211 Clark Lane, Columbia, MO 65202.

Nearest Camping World

Columbia has its own Camping World located at Exit 133 on I-70. It is 8.8 miles from our campground. Their GPS Address is 8877 Interstate 70 Drive NE, Columbia, MO 65201.

Nearest Walmart

Walmart Supercenter is located 4.5 miles from our campground at 415 Conley Road, Columbia, Missouri 65201.

Nearest Churches

Friendship Baptist Church is located 0.5 miles away at 1707 Smiley Lane, Columbia, MO.
Faith Baptist Church is located 1.1 miles away at 3909 Brown Station Road, Columbia, MO.
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church is located 0.5 miles away at 4505 N Oakland Gravel Road, Columbia, MO.
Oakland Christian Church is located 2.1 miles away at 2929 E Oakland Church Road, Columbia, MO.

Nearest Hospitals

Women’s & Children’s Hospital is located 3.2 miles away at 404 N Keene Street, Columbia, MO.
Boone Hospital is 3.6 miles south located at 1600 E Broadway, Columbia, MO.
University of Missouri Hospital is 5 miles south of the park at 1 Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO.

Nearest Veterinarian

My Zoo Animal Hospital is 0.7 miles from the campground at 1600 E Boone Industrial Blvd, Columbia, MO.
Horton Animal Hospital – North East is 1.8 miles from away at 2608 Paris Road, Columbia, MO.
University of Missouri Animal Hospital is 4.2 miles away located at 900 E Campus Drive, Columbia, MO.

Nearest Airport

Columbia Regional Airport is the nearest airport located 13.7 miles south on Highway 63 at 11300 South Airport Drive, Columbia, MO.

Nearest Restaurants

COMO Smoke & Fire is just 2.6 miles away and located on the next exit to the South on Highway 63. Their GPS address is 4600 Paris Road, #102, Columbia, MO.
La Siesta North is just 2.8 miles away located at 3890 Rangeline Street, #115, Columbia, MO.
Houlihan’s is 5.4 miles away located at 2541 Broadway Bluffs, Columbia, MO.

Nearest Shopping Options

Bass Pro Shops is located just 3.3 miles away at 3101 Bass Pro Drive, Columbia, MO.
Broadway Shops is 5.2 miles away located at 2703 E Broadway, Columbia, MO.
The District Shopping Downtown is 4.7 miles away and can be found near 11 S. 10th Street, Columbia, MO.

How far are you from…


The Katy Trail State Park

The Katy Trail State Park is located 19.4 miles away at 103 Missouri-Kansas-Texas Trail, Rocheport, MO.

Route 66

Route 66 is 118 miles away in Lebanon, Missouri and paralleling Interstate 44 across the state.

Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri is 125 miles away located on I-70 heading West bound.

St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis is located 125 miles or 1 hour and 58 minutes from Columbia via I-70.

Branson, Missouri

Branson is located 201.8 miles or 3 hours and 18 minutes away via I-70 and U.S. Highway 65 South.

Cottonwoods RV Park

5170 N. Oakland Gravel Rd
Columbia, MO 65202

Latitude: 39.00736 Longitude: -92.30191

(573) 474-2747

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Open All Year

Good Sam Rated 10 10 10
Moussouri ARVC Go Camping America
AAA Good Sam Park