Best Campgrounds in South Dakota: 2026 Guide

South Dakota splits into two distinct camping worlds. The Black Hills in the southwest pack granite peaks, ponderosa pine forests, and mountain reservoirs into an island of alpine terrain rising from the Great Plains. East of the hills, Badlands National Park erodes into otherworldly spires and buttes where prairie camping means sunrise over formations that look more like Mars than the Midwest. Add the Missouri River corridor and you have a state that delivers far more camping variety than its flyover reputation suggests.

Why South Dakota Stands Out

The Black Hills National Forest wraps around Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial with over 1.2 million acres of forested campgrounds, many on mountain reservoirs like Pactola and Deerfield at 5,000+ feet. The density of things to see — Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Custer State Park — means you can camp in one spot and explore for a week. Badlands National Park offers a completely different experience: exposed, stark, and impossibly beautiful, especially at sunrise and under the Milky Way. The combination is unmatched for a single trip.

Top Campgrounds to Explore

Horsethief Lake Campground

Ten miles south of Hill City in the Black Hills National Forest, Horsethief Lake is a delightful setting near Mount Rushmore with forested sites, a scenic lake, and easy access to the area's top attractions.

Cedar Pass Campground

Surrounded by vast open prairie with expansive Badlands views near Interior, Cedar Pass is the premier base camp for exploring Badlands National Park — sunsets here are unforgettable.

Dutchman

In a shady ponderosa pine forest on the northeast edge of Deerfield Reservoir at 5,000 feet near Hill City. An ideal setting for fishing, paddling, and mountain relaxation.

Comanche Park

In an open ponderosa pine forest 6.5 miles west of Custer, offering recreation and relaxation in the southern Black Hills with easy access to Custer State Park.

Bismarck Lake

Set among aspen groves and ponderosa pine on the southeast edge of Bismarck Lake at 5,000 feet near Hill City — a peaceful retreat for those seeking quiet Black Hills camping.

Grizzly Creek Primitive

Beneath a canopy of oak and ponderosa pine on the banks of Grizzly Creek near Hill City, retaining much of its original CCC character — perfect for those wanting rustic, historic camping.

Cold Brook Campground

Less than a mile north of Hot Springs with Cold Brook Lake at its south end — a popular spot combining convenient town access with southern Black Hills scenery.

Cottonwood Recreation Area

Downstream of Gavins Point Dam on Lake Yankton near the Missouri River, offering outdoor recreation along the Lewis and Clark corridor in southeastern South Dakota.

Planning Tips

The Black Hills camping season runs May through September, with July and August being peak. Sturgis Rally in early August fills everything within 100 miles — book far ahead or avoid that week. Badlands camping is best in spring and fall; summer temperatures can exceed 100°F on the exposed prairie. The Black Hills are 20-30°F cooler than the surrounding plains. Mountain pine beetles have affected some forest areas; check current conditions. Wildlife is abundant — bison in Custer State Park, bighorn sheep in Badlands — keep safe distances.

Find More

Browse all South Dakota campgrounds on our South Dakota camping page, or explore the full campground directory to plan your next trip.