Black Hills National Forest

The sort of camping that backpackers do is referred to as "Dispersed Camping" by the Forest Service. In the Black Hills, dispersed camping is allowed on most National Forest land except around developed reservoirs and campgrounds. Backpackers engaging in dispersed camping are not allowed to have campfires in the South Dakota Black Hills, but may construct them in areas of Wyoming.

Camping in general and dispersed camping are explained on this National Forest Camping page. A list of Forest Service Campgrounds provides opening dates and fees, and a Map of Forest Service Campgrounds provides the locations of those campgrounds. Many of the more popular campgrounds in the National Forest are managed by a consessionaire. Reservations for those campgrounds may be made through Forest Recreation Management with offices in Hill City, South Dakota. Additional information is available on a separate page for the Bear Lodge Mountains of Wyoming.

South Dakota State Parks

Dispersed camping is not allowed in South Dakota State Parks except in French Creek Natural Area where there is a fee for each camper, as explained in the preceding link. There are three parks in the Black Hills area administered by the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department. At the following links, information may be obtained on campgrounds at Custer State Park, Bear Butte State Park, and Angostura Recreation Area. Reservations are made at a webpage for State Parks Campgrounds.

Wyoming State Parks

Keyhole State Park explains camping at the one Wyoming State Park in the Black Hills area.

National Parks & Fort Meade Recreation Area

Dispersed camping may be allowed in areas of the Black Hills administered by the National Park Service. Generally no fee is involved, but a registration or permit is required. Because a considerable land area is involved in which bison may roam, for further information, we refer interested parties to camping information at Wind Cave National Park, Badlands National Park, and Devils Tower National Monument. One may need to contact those agencies for specific information. Further information may also be obtained through a web search for pages such as this Devils Tower Camping page. There is also a Devils Tower KOA near that monument.

Since Mount Rushmore National Memorial encompasses some primitive forest, it is conceivable that backpackers might find a camping spot within the boundaries of the Memorial. But much of the area around Mount Rushmore is strictly off limits to hikers, climbers, campers, or any other unauthorized visitor. That area is generally well posted as off limits. We do not recommend any plans to camp within Mount Rushmore boundaries.

However because near the Black Berry Trail and Old Baldy Mountain could be seen as favorable camping locations, we suggest any interested persons contact directly park officials at Mount Rushmore, if necessary. But more simple for all involved would probably be for backpackers to exit the boundaries of the Memorial and camp in the National Forest.

Fort Meade Recreation Area near Sturgis has six tent campsites at the Alkali Creek Trailhead and Picnic Grounds. Those campsites may be unavailable in August due to the Black Hills Motorcycle Classic. For more information, contact the Bureau of Land Management at the preceding link.

Commercial Campgrounds

Below and on Campgrounds Page 2 are listed the commercial campgrounds we have been able to glean from chambers of commerce websites linked on our homepage. Most entries have webpages and email addresses provided for more information. Or there may be brief descriptions at the chamber website for the relevant town under "accomodations."

Additionally, the Black Hills and Badlands Association has a search function for campgrounds by town or alphabetically for the entire Black Hills. Each listing includes a description, location, and contact information, via the Internet, if appropriate.

Custer Area Campgrounds

Beaver Lake Campground
12005 W. Hwy 16
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-2464 - 800-346-4383
http://www.beaverlakecampground.net/
beaverlake@gwtc.net

Big Pine Campground
12084 Big Pine Road
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-4054 - 800-235-3981
http://www.bigpinecampground.com/
bigpine@gwtc.net

Broken Arrow Horse Camp & Campground
25458 Flynn Creek Road
Custer, SD 57730
 605-673-2942
http://www.brokenarrowhorsecamp.com/
mailto:brokenarrowhorsecampground@yahoo.com

Country Charm Cabins & Corrals
11863 West Argyle Road
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-2686
http://www.countrycharmcabins-corrals.com/
ccccride@gwtc.net

Custer Crazy Horse Campground
1116 North 5th Street
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-2565 - or (reservations only ) 866-Kampers
http://www.rushmorecabins.com/
reservation@rushmorecabins.com

Custer Mt. Rushmore KOA
12021 US Hwy 16, RR1 Box 55 C
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-4304 - 800-KOA-5828
http://www.koa.com/ 
custermt@gwtc.net

Custer's Gulch RV Park
25112 Golden Valley Rd
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-4647 - 800-531-5923
http://www.custersgulch.com/
custersgulch@gwtc.net

Double L Horse Camp
25339 McCurran Ranch Rd
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-2558
http://www.doublelbb.com/
mailto:dblebb@gwtc.net

Echo Valley Park
Rt. 2 Box 202J
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-3368
http://www.echovalleypark.com/
woerth@gwtc.net

Flintstone Campground
Hwy US 16 and 386, PO Box 649
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-4664
http://www.flintstonesbedrockcity.com/
flintstn@rapidnet.com  

Fort Welikit Family Campground
24992 Sylvan Lake Rd
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-3600 - 888-946-2267
Fax 605-673-3699
http://www.fortwelikit.com/
gocamp@blackhillsrv.com

French Creek RV Park
144 S 4th St, Custer, SD 57730
605-673-3727
http://www.frenchcreekrvparkandcampground.com/ 
information@frenchcreekrvcamp.com

Glencoe CampResort
20555 Glencoe Dr., Sturgis, SD 57785
605-347-4712 or 1-800-272-4712
http://www.glencoecamp.com/
campinfo@glencoecamp.com

Horse Thief Campground & Resort
PO Box 307, Hill City, SD 57745
605-574-2668 - 800-657-5802
http://www.horsethief.com/
camp@horsethief.com

Roost Resort
HC 83 Box 120, Custer, SD 57730
605-673-2326 - 800-294-4603
www.blackhills.com/roost  

Spokane Creek Cabins & Camp
24631 Iron Mountain Rd
Keystone, SD 57751
605-666-4069 - 800-261-9331
http://www.spokanecreekresort.com/
information@spokanecreekresort.com

TC Ranch Horse Camp
25749 Horse Camp Rd
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-3249 - 888-827-2624

Hill City Area Campgrounds

Black Hill Fellowship Camp
23692 Newton Fork Road, PO Box 400
Hill City, SD 57745
605-574-2394 • 800-255-4455
Email Us
www.blackhill.com

Crooked Creek Campground
Hwy 16/385 South
Hill City, SD 57745
605-574-2418 • 800-252-8486
Email Us
.http://www.crookedcreeksd.com/

Deerfield Lake Resort
11324 Gillette Priaire Rd
Hill City, SD 57745
605-574-2636 • fax 605-574-4891
email us
http://www.deerfieldlakeresort.com/

Forest Service Recreation Management
PO Box 1168, 111 Elm Street
Hill City, SD 57745
605-574-4402
Email Us
Concession operator under Special Use Permit to care for and maintain Black Hills National Forest recreation areas and facilities.
http://www.forestrecreationmanagement.com/

Hart Ranch
23756 Arena Drive
Hill City, SD 57702
605-399-2582 • 800-605-4278
http://www.heartranchresort.com/

Horse Thief RV Camp & Resort
Hwy 87 South
Hill City, SD 57745
605-574-2668 • 800-657-5802
Email Us
www.horsethief.com

Mt. Rushmore KOA
PO Box 295, 12620 Hwy 244
Hill City, SD
605-574-2525 • 800-562-8503
Email Us
http://www.palmergulch.com/

Three Forks Campground
23821 Hwy 385 North
Hill City, SD 57745
605-574-4546
threeforkscampground@aol.com

Whisper Pines Campground
22700 Silver City Road
Rapid City, SD 57702
605-341-3667

Keystone Area Campgrounds

BATTLE CREEK CAMPGROUND
P.O. Box 437
Keystone, SD 57751
Phone: (605) 666-4557
E-mail: battlcreek@aol.com
http://www.battlecreekcampground.com/

KEMPS KAMP
1022 Old Hill City Road
Keystone, SD 57751
Phone: 1-888-466-6282 or (605) 666-4654
http://www.kempskamp.com/

HILLSIDE COUNTRY CABINS
13315 S Hwy. 16
Rapid City, SD 57701
Phone: (605) 342-4121
http://www.hillsidecountrycabins.com/

GLENCOE CAMP RESORT
20555 Glencoe Drive
Sturgis, SD 57785
Phone: (605) 347-4712 or 1-800-272-4712
http://www.glencoecamp.com/ • campinfo@glencoecamp.com

MT. RUSHMORE KOA/PALMER GULCH RESORT
P.O. Box 295
Hill City, SD 57745
Phone: 1-800-562-8503 or (605) 574-2525
www.palmergulch.com

SPOKANE CREEK RESORT
PO Box 927, 24631 Iron Mountain Road
Keystone, SD 57751
Phone: 1-800-261-9331 • (605) 666-4609
http://www.keystonechamber.com/www.spokanecreekresort.com