Camping in South Dakota

Discover and book the best campgrounds, cabins, RV parks, and more.

Camping in South Dakota

Black Hills, Badlands, and presidential icons await intrepid campers.

Top-rated stays

Big Rig RV

175 sites · RVs30 acres · Sturgis, SDBig Rig RV Park Campground is one of the oldest campgrounds for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Big Rig RV Park Campground is located in Sturgis, South Dakota and we are open exclusively for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The campground is perched on top of a hill and has spectacular views of the Sturgis and the Black Hills area. We are just two miles from the legendary Sturgis Main Street with very easy access to I-90, Boulder Canyon, Vanocker Canyon, and other Black Hills attractions. We have a variety of lot campsites especially lots with spectacular views of the beautiful Black Hills. Our campsites feature full-service hook-ups including water, sewer, 30/50 amp electricity, and WIFI that actually works. Our campsites have a gravel surface and are nearly perfectly level with little or no blocking required. We have two campgrounds, the original North site launched in 2000, and the South site constructed in 2015. Both sites include a spotless men’s and women’s shower house.
from 
$46
 / night
Booked 2 times

Wickiup Village Cabins

20 sites · Lodging5 acres · Lead, SDWelcome to Wickiup Cabins where adventure or relaxation can go hand in hand.  We have what you are looking for.  Our rustic yet modernized cabins were built in 1937 and provided all the comforts of home.   Perhaps, a wedding destination, family reunion, small company retreat or a destination for relaxing while enjoying our mountain streams and quiet peaceful settings under our 80 foot spruce trees. It is here you can also come for hunting, ATV riding, rock climbing above and below us, mountain biking, fishing, riding the Mickelson Trail, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse or historic Lead Deadwood to name some of our Black Hills offerings. We are located central to the Northern Black Hills at the top of Spearfish Canyon 10 minutes west of Lead Deadwood on Highway 85.  Wickiup has the monopoly on Spearfish Creek.  Long gone are the cabin camps that once provided memories for children to older folks never to be forgotten.  Warm summer days of tubing, fishing, panning for those gold flakes or just skipping rocks.
from 
$145
 / night
100%
(2)

Horse Creek Resort

33 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents18 acres · Rapid City, SDtheHCresort.com Centrally-located on 18 acres between two of the Hills’ largest and most beautiful lakes, and less than 15 miles from Rapid City and Mount Rushmore, Horse Creek Resort is the perfect creekside oasis for your next adventure. The resort is located off Highway 385, the main thoroughfare through the Black Hills National Forest, yet is peacefully nestled in a quiet valley, completely surrounded by national forestland with a tranquil year-round creek meandering throughout the property. Rock outcroppings, hiking trails and offroad trails are within footsteps of every cabin. The serene space is an outdoor sanctuary centrally-located within 20 miles of Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, Needles Eye Tunnel / Highway, and Black Elk Peak. Your adventure will also take you near Hill City, Keystone, Custer, and Historic Deadwood. Drive a little further, and end up in Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Sturgis, or Devils Tower National Monument.
from 
$38
 / night
83%
(9)

Day's End Campground

279 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents27 acres · Sturgis, SDDays End Campground & RV Park is a Sturgis, South Dakota camping destination conveniently located just off Interstate I-90’s exit 30. Fulfill that "Bucket List" today by booking your inexpensive vacation getaway right here in Sturgis, South Dakota. The Black Hills area attractions are close by such as Mount Rushmore Park, Crazy Horse Monument, Spearfish Canyon, Terry Peak, Deadwood, Devils Tower, and The Badlands. You can experience some of the Best Motorcycle riding in the country, or just relax next to a beautiful Mountain stream and take in all the wonderful scenery of the Blackhills. Planning a family vacation? Bear Country, Custer State Park, Dinosaur Park, Storybook Island and Reptile Garden are all just a short drive away. The Blackhills of South Dakota offer lots of local events and festivals like "Kool Deadwood Nites", The Days of 76, The Annual Sturgis Mustang Rally, the Sturgis Camaro Rally, the Off-Road Rally races, indoor Bull-Riding at the Knuckle and Sturgis downtown Moto-Cross. For those of you that enjoy an endurance sport come and partake in the Tatanka Mountain Bike Race or the Black Hills 100. Spend your evening visiting downtown Sturgis with Music on Main. Every Year the City of Sturgis and Days End Campground gear up for the Legendary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August. Come and experience a Motorcycle Rally like none other. People from all over the world come here to ride Iron Mountain Road, Needles Highway, Spearfish Canyon, Boulder Canyon, Vanoker Canyon and so much more. Stop in at Aladdin, Stonehouse, and Bear Butte, or enjoy a short walk to Downtown Sturgis to see Main Street lined up with the most amazing motorcycles. Book now to experience the Ride of a Lifetime! Days End Campground is ready to accommodate your needs with Big Rig RV sites, Cabins, Glamping, or Tent Camping! Book your Next Blackhills Visit Today.
from 
$48
 / night
100%
(123)

Bear Den Cabins & Camp

8 sites · Lodging, Tents2 acres · Hermosa, SDBear Den is a small camp with 3 Glamping Tents, 2 cabins and shower house. Outdoor spaces for relaxing. We are located approximately 5 miles from Custer State Park, 11 miles from Keystone the Gateway to Mt. Rushmore in the beautiful southern Black Hills.Cabins have electricity, our tents do not have electricity. All sites including bring your own tent sites have access to the shower house and outdoor grilling areas.Pick a spot to pitch your own tent. We have 3 spots cleared and room for more. Hang your hammock in trees around the property. This option includes all access to the shower house and outdoor grilling areas!
from 
$20
 / night
92%
(6)

Horse Creek Resort RV Sites

10 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents18 acres · Rapid City, SDtheHCresort.com Centrally-located on 18 acres between two of the Hills’ largest and most beautiful lakes, and less than 15 miles from Rapid City and Mount Rushmore, Horse Creek Resort is the perfect creekside oasis for your next adventure. The resort is located off Highway 385, the main thoroughfare through the Black Hills National Forest, yet is peacefully nestled in a quiet valley, completely surrounded by national forestland with a tranquil year-round creek meandering throughout the property. Rock outcroppings, hiking trails and offroad trails are within footsteps of every cabin. The serene space is an outdoor sanctuary centrally-located within 20 miles of Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, Needles Eye Tunnel / Highway, and Black Elk Peak. Your adventure will also take you near Hill City, Keystone, Custer, and Historic Deadwood. Drive a little further, and end up in Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Sturgis, or Devils Tower National Monument.
from 
$35
 / night
88%
(8)

Lakota Youth Development

9 sites · Lodging, Tents10 acres · Herrick, SDOur 10 acre cultural campus in located in the Milks Camp Community of the Rosebud Reservation. Milks Camp is the first community of Sicangu Lakota people in the area which was founded before the current reservation. Our Lakota ancestors have lived off of this land for hundreds of year. We would love to share our history with you! We are excited share the rich history of our people along with sightings of wild life, water activities as we are close to both the Niobrara and Missouri rivers, and even cultural make and takes projects.
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$25
 / night
100%
(7)

Bare Bones Bivouac

5 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents32 acres · Hill View Heights, WY Enjoy big spaces and the ever changing sky! Set up camp at base of a hill spotted with pines. The morning light will greet you as the sun rises over a natural prairie. 32 acres for you to explore, or follow a 1.5 mile trail loop. No fires permitted. Free coffee in the morning at the Admin/Welcome Bldng!
from 
$35
 / night
83%
(6)

Mountain Shadow Campground

26 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents5 acres · Piedmont, SDLearn more about this land:Quiet campground located a few miles from Interstate 90 between exits 44 and 46. 15 minutes from Sturgis, SD. A great location for summer travelers who are looking for a simple spot to crash for a night. We are a historic and favorite location for Christian Motorcyclist Association members to stay during Sturgis bike week. Quiet hours 10pm-6am. Address: 10716 Mountain Shadow Road, Piedmont SD, 57769; Cell service varies, Verizon works well.
from 
$40
 / night
100%
(1)

Paulson RV Park

8 sites · RVs, Tents30 acres · Springfield, SDThere have been a lot of people who have come through this park in the 30+ years I have been apart of it. We would like you to be added!
from 
$25
 / night
100%
(503)

BK Produce Farm

11 sites · RVs, Tents11 acres · Monroe, SDAwarded South Dakota's best Hip Camp to see in 2023, 2021, and runner up in 2022. 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 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. The "shower shack" has 2 separate 3/4 baths with all modern plumbing and is shared by all guests. Available at Uncle B's RV Camper site I have 3 RV sites with water and 30 Amp electrical hookups. All of the campsites have a firepit, some with cooking grates and all sites have a picnic table. Uncle B's farm has been voted Best Hip Camp to see in South Dakota. Come see why...
from 
$29
 / night
100%
(23)

Crystal A.’s Land

4 sites · Lodging, RVs640 acres · Pukwana, SD
from 
$30
 / night

Camping trips for every style

Find your new favorite spot.

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All camping options

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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can camp for free in South Dakota. Dispersed camping is allowed in the national forests and grasslands in the state. The two primary areas for free camping are the Black Hills National Forest and the Buffalo Gap National Grassland. Keep in mind that these campsites are primitive and typically have no facilities, so be prepared to practice Leave No Trace principles and pack out all your trash.

Camping fees in South Dakota state parks vary depending on the type of campsite and amenities offered. On average, you can expect to pay the following for campsites:

  • Primitive or non-electric campsites: $15 to $18 per night
  • Electric campsites: $21 to $26 per night
  • Electric and water campsites: $25 to $30 per night
  • Electric, water, and sewer campsites: $29 to $34 per night
  • Cabins: $45 to $150 per night, depending on the type of cabin and amenities

Keep in mind that these prices are approximate and may vary by specific park or campsite. Some parks may also charge additional fees, such as entrance fees or vehicle permits. You can explore more about South Dakota state parks and their camping options on Hipcamp.

While you cannot camp just anywhere in South Dakota, there are numerous designated campgrounds and camping areas throughout the state where camping is allowed. These include state parks, national forests, and private campgrounds. Dispersed camping is allowed in some areas within national forests, such as the Black Hills National Forest, but you must follow specific rules and regulations. Always check with the managing agency or landowner for the area you plan to camp in to ensure you are following all guidelines and restrictions.

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