The best camping in South Dakota

·

South Dakota's headline acts need little introduction. This sparsely populated state is home to the most visited national park in the Midwest—Badlands National Park—and one of the most iconic landmarks in the United States—Mount Rushmore. From the craggy peaks of the Black Hills to the vast backcountry of the Great Plains and the banks of the mighty Missouri River, outdoor adventures are easy to find in South Dakota. The main camping season runs from May through October, with midsummer temperatures peaking in the mid-80s, while winters are snowy, especially in the north.

94% (4.1K)

Top-rated campgrounds near South Dakota

6. Country Cabin

1 site · Lodging · Tea, SD
Beautiful yet very peaceful property with over four acres of land near wild water west, blue haven and wall lake. Six bedroom country cabin home has lots of room for gatherings inside with two fireplaces, outside has a wrap around deck also with three stall horse barn located on the property. Perfect for a family getaway or construction workers! We have farm animals on the property for your family to enjoy such as horses, goats, ducks and chickens. The space We have six rooms with two bathrooms. it can sleep up to fifteen people. we also have farm animals for your family to enjoy such as horses, goats ducks & chickens. Guest access Guests are welcome to explore and have a great time! Please be responsible around all the animals as they pay their own space as well and need their privacy! Please keep all gates closed, thank you! Other things to note Firewood is available free for our guests We have life size games available as well. Tetherball, Corn hole and life size Jenga along with Horse shoes & croquet
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$119
 / night

7. Black Hawk Creek RV Park & Cabins

100%
(15)
48 sites · RVs, Lodging · Rapid City, SD
Feel free to contact us directly, we are happy to work with you via text or phone call on the office cell phone: 605-787-0024 Year-round campground offering 110 NEW full hook-up sites and 9 fully furnished cozy cabins. We also offer Long Term options to qualified applicants. Conveniently located a few minutes from both Rapid City and I-90 you will feel like you are out in the country surrounded by all the beautiful views, nature and wildlife. (The office cell phone is 605-787-0024. Text 24/7. After hours calls for onsite and arriving guests) Interstate 90, Black Hills Harley Davidson, RV Supply stores, a horse boarding facility, and quick and convenient access to all of the treasures the Black Hills have to offer is conveniently near. Whether you are kicking your feet up for the weekend or base camping out of Black Hawk Creek RV Park and Cabins to explore the beautiful Black Hills, you will find our tranquil, quiet, and beautiful setting relaxing, convenient, and enjoyable. Additionally, If you are a full time RVer and in the market for professional RV Skirting we also host the #1 RV Skirting company in the nation, Custom Skirting. Unhitch and check out their No Snap, No Gap channel system and Therma-Slide slide out wraps over in the big barn near the entrance.
Pets
Campfires
Full hookups
from 
$59
 / night

8. The Retreat at Pointer’s Ridge

100%
(42)
1 site · Tent · Baltic, SD
The Retreat at Pointer’s Ridge is located on 21 acres along the Big Sioux River, a place of quiet and natural beauty intended to foster social interaction and creative pursuits between artists and community in SE South Dakota, 10 miles north of Sioux Falls. Property updates at The Retreat happen constantly; we get better and better! The 100′ x 40′ main hall is perfect for larger workshops, concerts, poetry readings, small theatrical productions, classes, and other social gatherings and rentals in April through November. The A-Frame is a unique space for recitals, presentations, meetings, or a sleeping space for up to 6 people. There is a Woodworking Shop; Artist Studio; screened-in outdoor patio; playground; huge bonfire pit; and room to camp or explore. The Retreat is a space to work in quiet solitude or to collaborate on creative projects with others. The setting is inspiring; possibilities for your stay are endless. Learn more about this land: This site is a sandy spot along the Big Sioux River on a ridge well above the water line. View out over the river to a farm on the opposite bank. Spend your time with wild turkeys, geese, and an occasional deer. Site is on the far edge of an artist retreat, but still private. Spend time hiking the river bank or gravel country roads, fish in the river, take part in any Retreat activities if available, photography opportunities, enjoy an evening campfire under the stars.
Pets
Campfires
Toilets
from 
$30
 / night

9. Cheyenne River Bottom

94%
(49)
4 sites · Tents, RVs · Wall, SD
This ranch is the home of children's book author Cowgirl Annie. This property is a working Ranch. Some of the campsites are in an abandoned gravel pit so you will be parking on a sandy gravel base. I like to let my guests decide where they want to park. I may have to move guests to a different site than the one they booked depending on what is happening on the ranch or the weather. There are cottonwood stands close by that you can hike through to the river. A wide variety of wildlife live in this area, so no telling what you may see or hear. You will have a big area to yourselves. I have tried to plan areas so you won't be disturbed by other campers. I do not groom hiking trails. You will be at one with nature. You may want to bring bug spray, sometimes the mosquitos and horseflies are bad. Wall Drug and the Badlands National Park are about a twenty-minute drive. Mount Rushmore is about an hour and 15 minutes.
Pets
Toilets
from 
$33
 / night

14. Battle Creek Camping Resort

98%
(23)
11 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Hermosa, SD
BCCR arrived in the late summer of 2023. We have RV sites and glamping options spread out over 80 acres, in the foothills of Hermosa, South Dakota. We are a family owned and operated glamp ground. We provide a unique experience for families, couples and solo travelers to unplug and unwind. We do not have Wi-Fi nor televisions at our campground. We are known for our stargazing friendly environment which is why we do not have street lights. We love to see kids outside riding their bikes and making lifelong friends with other guests. This has been one of the most rewarding compliments that we continue to receive. Each glamp site has a gas and wood fire pit. Families gather around the campfire at nights, roasting smores and telling stories. The laughter is pure joy and memories that will last a lifetime. The lodges, domes and tents that we have are fully furnished with linens, towels and a fully stocked coffee bar. Our most praised amenity is our bath house. This features private full restrooms with individual sinks, showers and toilets. We strive to provide a family friendly campground. Therefore, our quiet hours are from 10pm to 7am. No loud music or disruptions to other guests, of any kind, are allowed. At any time during your stay, you need assistance, please reach out by phone call, text or email. We thank you for choosing to stay with us and are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of your families memories. Check In: Check in time is 4:00-9:00pm MST. We are self-check in but it is very dark when the sun goes down and the phone service can be spotty. Please reach out asap if you know you may be arriving late so we can be prepared to assist if needed. Calls after 11pm, will go to voicemail and be returned the next day. Check Out: Please do not leave us, but if you must go, please check out by 11:00am MST.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
from 
$50
 / night

16. Uncle B's Produce Farm

100%
(1236)
12 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Monroe, SD
Awarded South Dakota's best Hip Camp 4 times. Uncle B's farm is a small 11 acre hobby farm with a large vegetable garden, chickens, peafowl, guinea fowl, turkeys, dogs, and cats. There is an old quarried stone railroad bridge and a few short walking trails around the pond. The pond is at the back of the property where I have 6 dry camp sites listed as Uncle B's farm for tents or self contained RV's. All sites have partial to full shade and most have mature trees that will work for a hammock or tensile tent. All of the campsites have a firepit, some with cooking grates and all sites have a picnic table. The "shower shack" is shared by all guests and has 2 separate 3/4 baths with all modern plumbing. There is also a basic outdoor kitchen with a few portable grills as well as a sink with modern plumbing. Available at Uncle B's RV Camper site I have 3 RV sites with water and 30 Amp electrical hookups. My "Ready Set Camp" listing is a dome tent set up and furnished with 4 cots, table, and lamp as well as a match ready fire. The Barn loft apartment is a studio apartment with a small galley kitchen and private bath. The Hippie Bus is new for the 2025 season and offers a trip back in time. Uncle B's farm has been voted Best Hip Camp to see in South Dakota for the 4th time and placed 2nd in the nation in 2022. Come see why...
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
from 
$29
 / night

South Dakota's headline acts need little introduction. This sparsely populated state is home to the most visited national park in the Midwest—Badlands National Park—and one of the most iconic landmarks in the United States—Mount Rushmore. From the craggy peaks of the Black Hills to the vast backcountry of the Great Plains and the banks of the mighty Missouri River, outdoor adventures are easy to find in South Dakota. The main camping season runs from May through October, with midsummer temperatures peaking in the mid-80s, while winters are snowy, especially in the north.

94% (4.1K)

Top-rated campgrounds near South Dakota

6. Country Cabin

1 site · Lodging · Tea, SD
Beautiful yet very peaceful property with over four acres of land near wild water west, blue haven and wall lake. Six bedroom country cabin home has lots of room for gatherings inside with two fireplaces, outside has a wrap around deck also with three stall horse barn located on the property. Perfect for a family getaway or construction workers! We have farm animals on the property for your family to enjoy such as horses, goats, ducks and chickens. The space We have six rooms with two bathrooms. it can sleep up to fifteen people. we also have farm animals for your family to enjoy such as horses, goats ducks & chickens. Guest access Guests are welcome to explore and have a great time! Please be responsible around all the animals as they pay their own space as well and need their privacy! Please keep all gates closed, thank you! Other things to note Firewood is available free for our guests We have life size games available as well. Tetherball, Corn hole and life size Jenga along with Horse shoes & croquet
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$119
 / night

7. Black Hawk Creek RV Park & Cabins

100%
(15)
48 sites · RVs, Lodging · Rapid City, SD
Feel free to contact us directly, we are happy to work with you via text or phone call on the office cell phone: 605-787-0024 Year-round campground offering 110 NEW full hook-up sites and 9 fully furnished cozy cabins. We also offer Long Term options to qualified applicants. Conveniently located a few minutes from both Rapid City and I-90 you will feel like you are out in the country surrounded by all the beautiful views, nature and wildlife. (The office cell phone is 605-787-0024. Text 24/7. After hours calls for onsite and arriving guests) Interstate 90, Black Hills Harley Davidson, RV Supply stores, a horse boarding facility, and quick and convenient access to all of the treasures the Black Hills have to offer is conveniently near. Whether you are kicking your feet up for the weekend or base camping out of Black Hawk Creek RV Park and Cabins to explore the beautiful Black Hills, you will find our tranquil, quiet, and beautiful setting relaxing, convenient, and enjoyable. Additionally, If you are a full time RVer and in the market for professional RV Skirting we also host the #1 RV Skirting company in the nation, Custom Skirting. Unhitch and check out their No Snap, No Gap channel system and Therma-Slide slide out wraps over in the big barn near the entrance.
Pets
Campfires
Full hookups
from 
$59
 / night

8. The Retreat at Pointer’s Ridge

100%
(42)
1 site · Tent · Baltic, SD
The Retreat at Pointer’s Ridge is located on 21 acres along the Big Sioux River, a place of quiet and natural beauty intended to foster social interaction and creative pursuits between artists and community in SE South Dakota, 10 miles north of Sioux Falls. Property updates at The Retreat happen constantly; we get better and better! The 100′ x 40′ main hall is perfect for larger workshops, concerts, poetry readings, small theatrical productions, classes, and other social gatherings and rentals in April through November. The A-Frame is a unique space for recitals, presentations, meetings, or a sleeping space for up to 6 people. There is a Woodworking Shop; Artist Studio; screened-in outdoor patio; playground; huge bonfire pit; and room to camp or explore. The Retreat is a space to work in quiet solitude or to collaborate on creative projects with others. The setting is inspiring; possibilities for your stay are endless. Learn more about this land: This site is a sandy spot along the Big Sioux River on a ridge well above the water line. View out over the river to a farm on the opposite bank. Spend your time with wild turkeys, geese, and an occasional deer. Site is on the far edge of an artist retreat, but still private. Spend time hiking the river bank or gravel country roads, fish in the river, take part in any Retreat activities if available, photography opportunities, enjoy an evening campfire under the stars.
Pets
Campfires
Toilets
from 
$30
 / night

9. Cheyenne River Bottom

94%
(49)
4 sites · Tents, RVs · Wall, SD
This ranch is the home of children's book author Cowgirl Annie. This property is a working Ranch. Some of the campsites are in an abandoned gravel pit so you will be parking on a sandy gravel base. I like to let my guests decide where they want to park. I may have to move guests to a different site than the one they booked depending on what is happening on the ranch or the weather. There are cottonwood stands close by that you can hike through to the river. A wide variety of wildlife live in this area, so no telling what you may see or hear. You will have a big area to yourselves. I have tried to plan areas so you won't be disturbed by other campers. I do not groom hiking trails. You will be at one with nature. You may want to bring bug spray, sometimes the mosquitos and horseflies are bad. Wall Drug and the Badlands National Park are about a twenty-minute drive. Mount Rushmore is about an hour and 15 minutes.
Pets
Toilets
from 
$33
 / night

14. Battle Creek Camping Resort

98%
(23)
11 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Hermosa, SD
BCCR arrived in the late summer of 2023. We have RV sites and glamping options spread out over 80 acres, in the foothills of Hermosa, South Dakota. We are a family owned and operated glamp ground. We provide a unique experience for families, couples and solo travelers to unplug and unwind. We do not have Wi-Fi nor televisions at our campground. We are known for our stargazing friendly environment which is why we do not have street lights. We love to see kids outside riding their bikes and making lifelong friends with other guests. This has been one of the most rewarding compliments that we continue to receive. Each glamp site has a gas and wood fire pit. Families gather around the campfire at nights, roasting smores and telling stories. The laughter is pure joy and memories that will last a lifetime. The lodges, domes and tents that we have are fully furnished with linens, towels and a fully stocked coffee bar. Our most praised amenity is our bath house. This features private full restrooms with individual sinks, showers and toilets. We strive to provide a family friendly campground. Therefore, our quiet hours are from 10pm to 7am. No loud music or disruptions to other guests, of any kind, are allowed. At any time during your stay, you need assistance, please reach out by phone call, text or email. We thank you for choosing to stay with us and are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of your families memories. Check In: Check in time is 4:00-9:00pm MST. We are self-check in but it is very dark when the sun goes down and the phone service can be spotty. Please reach out asap if you know you may be arriving late so we can be prepared to assist if needed. Calls after 11pm, will go to voicemail and be returned the next day. Check Out: Please do not leave us, but if you must go, please check out by 11:00am MST.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
from 
$50
 / night

16. Uncle B's Produce Farm

100%
(1236)
12 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Monroe, SD
Awarded South Dakota's best Hip Camp 4 times. Uncle B's farm is a small 11 acre hobby farm with a large vegetable garden, chickens, peafowl, guinea fowl, turkeys, dogs, and cats. There is an old quarried stone railroad bridge and a few short walking trails around the pond. The pond is at the back of the property where I have 6 dry camp sites listed as Uncle B's farm for tents or self contained RV's. All sites have partial to full shade and most have mature trees that will work for a hammock or tensile tent. All of the campsites have a firepit, some with cooking grates and all sites have a picnic table. The "shower shack" is shared by all guests and has 2 separate 3/4 baths with all modern plumbing. There is also a basic outdoor kitchen with a few portable grills as well as a sink with modern plumbing. Available at Uncle B's RV Camper site I have 3 RV sites with water and 30 Amp electrical hookups. My "Ready Set Camp" listing is a dome tent set up and furnished with 4 cots, table, and lamp as well as a match ready fire. The Barn loft apartment is a studio apartment with a small galley kitchen and private bath. The Hippie Bus is new for the 2025 season and offers a trip back in time. Uncle B's farm has been voted Best Hip Camp to see in South Dakota for the 4th time and placed 2nd in the nation in 2022. Come see why...
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
from 
$29
 / night

Camper favorites in South Dakota

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

Public campgrounds in South Dakota

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

More campsites in South Dakota

Value Prop
Value Prop
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best camping in South Dakota guide

Where to go

Badlands and the Black Hills

Swathes of forested mountains blanket the southwestern corner of South Dakota, where a road trip to Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial is likely top of your to-do list. Just west of the four presidents, the Black Hills National Forest has 450 miles of hiking, biking, OHV, and horseback riding trails, plus 30 campgrounds, some with full hookups. To the east, hike beneath layer-cake cliffs and towering canyons in Badlands National Park, then camp out beneath the stars—backcountry camping is permitted throughout the park.

Great Lakes

The Missouri River flows through the heart of South Dakota, where you'll find the four man-made "great lakes"—Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Lake Francis Case, and Lewis and Clark Lake. Campgrounds and RV parks pepper the shores, and all four lakes are popular spots for walleye and smallmouth bass fishing. Bring your own boat, paddle the lakes on a kayak, or rent a jet ski.

Glacial Lakes

The sweeping prairies and glacial lakes of northeastern South Dakota are little-explored, but you’re never far from a lakeside campground. With its chain of eight glacial lakes, Oakwood Lakes State Park affords plenty of opportunities for swimming, paddling, and ice fishing, depending on the time of year. Further south, Lake Poinsett has a sandy beach, two camping areas, and lakefront cabins.

Southeast South Dakota

The state's southeast corner is a patchwork of lakes, rivers, and vineyards, interspersed with country towns. Set up camp at Lake Vermillion and hit the water to swim, canoe, or paddleboard; enjoy hiking or rock climbing around the unique pink quartzite cliffs of Palisades State Park; or go wine tasting in South Dakota wine country. A photo stop at Sioux Falls is a must for visitors to the namesake city, but for camping, head to the nearby Big Sioux Recreation Area, a scenic stopover along the Jay Heath Canoe & Kayak Trail.