Top Tent Camping Locations in South Dakota

🌲 Top 10 Tent Camping Spots in South Dakota

1. Sage Creek Campground (Badlands NP)Free, first‑come‑first‑served, primitive sites near dramatic Badlands formations. Expect roaming bison and starlit skies—vault toilets only, bring your own water.

2. Pactola Reservoir Campground Located just outside Rapid City in the Black Hills. It has 83 reservable sites, potable water, showers, marina access, and hiking on the Osprey Trail.

3. Grizzly Bear Campground (Black Hills NF)Tent-only, primitive creekside sites off Iron Mountain Road near Mount Rushmore. Clean vault toilets, serene forest setting.

4. Sylvan Lake Campground (Custer State Park)Well‑maintained tent-friendly sites near Sylvan Lake. Offers flushing toilets, showers, shoreline hiking & kayaking.

5. Roubaix Lake Campground

   Heart of Black Hills NF, tent and group sites, potable water, vault toilets and great trout fishing/swimming.

6. Blue Bell Campground (Custer SP)Among pine trees, shared restrooms with showers. Close to wildlife viewing on Wilderness Loop Road.

7. Bear Mountain Hill Top Dispersed summit camping in the Black Hills with sweeping views, elk sightings, and a historic fire tower—all for free.

8. Hanna Campground (Black Hills NF)Primitive 13‑site campground in oak and pine forest. Outhouses only, very quiet and tucked-away.

9. Lake Vermillion Recreation Area Lakeside camping with electric tent sites, water access, and hiking trails—approx. 90 sites total.

10. Bear Butte State Park Non-electric lakeside tent camping near the sacred Bear Butte mound. Quiet, spiritual, with access to summit trails