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Camping near Wind Cave National Park

1,251 Reviews

With views of the Black Hills, open prairies, and pine forests, some of the best camping spots are in Wind Cave National Park. Near Hot Springs, SD, campers can stock up on camping supplies before pitching their tents. Campgrounds around the South Dakota park accommodate RV drivers, and also offer cabins and yurts as additional sleeping options. Backpack through the park watching birds perch calmly on the backs of bison. Elk and pronghorn antelopes also roam the prairies and forests. Campsites by the cave are a prime opportunity to discover the underground marvels that include the famous Wind Cave, and the subterranean chambers known as the Post Office and Elk’s Room.

Map showing campgrounds near Wind Cave National Park, South DakotaExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Wind Cave National Park (187)

    1. Elk Mountain Campground — Wind Cave National Park

    44 Reviews
    Pringle, SD
    0 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 745-4600

    $24 - $45 / night

    "This campground is located in Wind Cave National Park and hardly ever fills to capacity."

    "Kept our camper there while we did a night of backcountry camping in Wind Cave National Park and we really liked how private and quiet it was. We felt safe leaving the camper there overnight."

    2. Blue Bell Campground — Custer State Park

    35 Reviews
    Custer, SD
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 255-4515

    "Blue Bell Campground truly captures the essence of a classic camping experience, with its beautiful surroundings and well-maintained facilities."

    "This is closest to the southern entrance. We had bison herds South of us and North. We never managed to make it East where the long trail is, which seems to be known for wildlife."

    3. Stockade North Campground — Custer State Park

    28 Reviews
    Custer, SD
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 255-4515

    $30 / night

    "Beautiful area, awesome drive with scenery and WILDLIFE! I thought more about Teddy Roosevelt then Custer while here."

    "Also convenient to Wind Cave national park."

    4. Game Lodge Campground — Custer State Park

    27 Reviews
    Keystone, SD
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 255-4515

    $26 - $55 / night

    "This campground is open year round and is located in Custer State Park, in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Features cabin, camper, and tent sites."

    "The second morning we woke up to bison all along the fence next to the campground!"

    5. Sylvan Lake Campground — Custer State Park

    42 Reviews
    Custer, SD
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 255-4515

    "The area was beautiful with the Needles and the wildlife drives that were spectacular with buffalo , pronghorn ,and deer in your face."

    "This lake is beautiful, its one of my favorite places inside Custer state park. There are a ton of trails, all within easy walking distance. Make sure you pack plenty of water."

    6. Center Lake Campground — Custer State Park

    30 Reviews
    Keystone, SD
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 255-4515

    $20 / night

    "The lake is cool and quiet, tucked away in the center of Custer park. Several trails and tons of fishing spots. There are vaulted toilets and a shower house."

    "I planned my trip too late to stay at Sylvan Lake campground, but wanted to be near the Needles Highway since that was the reason this park was on my itinerary."

    7. North Pole Rd Dispersed Camping

    33 Reviews
    Custer, SD
    18 miles
    Website

    "This was a great spot despite the thunderstorm I got caught in and nearly destroyed my tent."

    "Chances are you’ll be a ways away from other campers. Great spots to get away from the crowded campgrounds."

    8. Fort Welikit Family Campground and RV Park

    24 Reviews
    Custer, SD
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 673-3600

    "5 miles from Sylvan Lake, minute to Custer, 30 minutes to Wind cave National Park. Full hookups, level site, good cell phone reception. Lots of space between sites for a private campground."

    "Campground Review:

    If you are looking for a family and pet friendly place to camp while visiting the Black Hills South Dakota area, look no further!!"

    9. Stockade South Campground — Custer State Park

    18 Reviews
    Custer, SD
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 710-2267

    $15 - $35 / night

    "It was probably my favorite campground on our whole South Dakota trip. The bathroom was really nice and clean, the sites were spacious and the campground had lots of mature trees."

    "This is the quietest campground in the entire Black Hills-- away from the highway, yet asphalt road leads to entrance. Near Stockade Lake- beach, fishing pier, boat launch."

    10. Bismarck Lake Campground

    19 Reviews
    Custer, SD
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 673-9300

    $30 / night

    "This National Forest campground is directly across the 2-lane "highway" from Custer State Park, a beautiful park with several campgrounds, vintage lodges and cabins, lovely small lakes and plenty of opportunities"

    "Right next to Lake bismark and very close to all the attractions in the black hills. Had Verizon phone service. Only about 15 min. Drive from the town of custer too."

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Recent Camping Photos near Wind Cave National Park

429 Photos of 187 Wind Cave National Park Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Wind Cave National Park

1251 Reviews of 187 Wind Cave National Park Campgrounds

  • Kara S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Dispersed Camping near Calumet Road

    Serene and peaceful

    Calm ur road itself is gravel but then you can diverge on one of the forest service roads. We went down a few of them until we found our spot. It had a fire ring and was fairly open for starlink access. Very quiet and peaceful. Found a few spots with no one near it for a bit.

  • Tom D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Stockade North Campground — Custer State Park

    Nice Wooded Sites Centrally Located

    We stayed here two nights because of the five stars. It does not have a dump station nor sewer and water sites. So I edited the amenities. In the future I will verify dump stations on the host site. Electric and some non-electric sites and with two campground spigots accessible from the road only. We arrived after 6 nights of boondocking and were disappointed with the inaccuracy of the amenities. Over all it is a nice campground with a good amount of room between most sites and quiet. Close to Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Jewel Cave, and Wind Cave. Plus some great drives.

  • James W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Elk Mountain Campground — Wind Cave National Park

    Better than Expected

    This is a small, but clean National Park Campground.  The sites were mowed, which was nice given the notice about the presence of prairie rattlers in the area. Our site was also small, and not particularly level (although better than some of the sites near us).  We had to pull into the site in the "wrong" direction so our van opened to the campsite rather than the road.  There was no dumping station either (pro tip - Hot Springs, the nearest town, has a free town dumping station and potable water station).  Wind Cave was a beautiful park and the tour and tour guide ranger were fantastic.  We saw more bison at Wind Cave than Yellowstone, Tetons, and Glacier combined.

  • cThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Blue Bell Campground — Custer State Park

    Blue Bell Campground

    This is a nice, reasonably priced campground for RVs, tents, and cabin rentals. Have various activities, a general store, lodge, and café. There are electrical hookups but no sewer or water hookups at each campsite. Dump station with potable water available. My wife and I enjoyed it and would stay again.

  • Joseph H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Rafter J Bar Ranch

    Peaceful Campground

    I really liked this campground. It was very clean and well maintained. I especially liked that they had a security vehicle that roved the area to ensure everyone was following the rules. Nothing ruins a good camping trip faster than rowdy loud neighbors. We had good overhead tree cover at our spot, a fire pit, and full service hookups.

  • Susan D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Whispering Pines Campground & Cabins

    Great for what we needed

    We just stayed at this campground for a couple of nights, but we hadn't had full hook ups for over a month. Kind of packed in here, but we needed a place to scout from, so this was perfect. Site are big enough to accommodate most Amy size rig. And they take packages here!

  • A
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Holy Smoke Resort

    Great option!

    We are loving it! There’s a little town right next to the campground, A LOT of helicopters flying overhead during the day. Mount Rushmore is very close. Full hookups, excellent wifi signal!

    The spaces are a little cramp for my liking but there are some more farther spots that you could choose.

    There’s no laundry mat in the camp but there’s one at the little town.

    We came for a few days only and we end up staying longer because there’s so much to do around here! And the weather is amazing!

  • Raqim B.
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Big Pine Campground

    Relaxing place

    Big Pine Campground is such a relaxing place to stay—tucked away in the pines but still close to everything in the Black Hills. The campsites are spacious and clean, and the bathrooms and showers are kept in great shape, which makes a big difference after a day of exploring. The staff are super friendly and make you feel like an old friend, which really adds to the experience. I loved sitting by the fire at night and even saw deer wandering right through the campground. If you want a quiet getaway with a cozy, welcoming vibe, Big Pine Campground is the perfect spot.

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Guide to Wind Cave National Park

Camping near Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota, offers a unique blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure. With several campgrounds in the area, you can find the perfect spot to set up camp and explore the stunning landscapes.

What to do:

  • Hiking: There are numerous trails around the campgrounds. For example, at Elk Mountain Campground — Wind Cave National Park, one reviewer mentioned, "The trails were right off the campground...smaller than some parks but great!!"
  • Wildlife Watching: The area is home to diverse wildlife. A camper at Game Lodge Campground — Custer State Park noted, "We didn’t see Buffalo, but neighbors said they were right next to the campground the morning before."
  • Fishing: Many campgrounds are near lakes and rivers. A visitor at Pactola Reservoir Campground shared, "The reservoir is huge, and many consider it to be one of the best fishing 'holes' in the state."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. One reviewer at Stockade North Campground — Custer State Park said, "The restrooms...are all extremely clean and nice, and the showers were the best I've ever used at a campground."
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer roomy sites. A camper at Sheridan Lake South Shore Campground mentioned, "The camp sites were very spread out and decently flat for tent camping."
  • Friendly Hosts: Campground hosts often go above and beyond. A visitor at Horsethief Lake Campground noted, "The attendant was very friendly and helpful."

What you should know:

  • Crowded Campgrounds: Some campgrounds can get busy, especially during peak season. A reviewer at Sylvan Lake Campground — Custer State Park said, "It’s busy and loud here...lots of folks coming and going."
  • Limited Cell Service: Be prepared for spotty cell reception. A camper at Elk Mountain Campground mentioned, "I got no cell reception here between Xfinity, Verizon, and T-Mobile."
  • Reservations Recommended: Many sites book up quickly. A visitor at Blue Bell Campground — Custer State Park advised, "Reservations for this campground open at 6AM mountain time."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Activities for Kids: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds. A camper at Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch mentioned, "Playgrounds for the kids (big kids also)."
  • Plan for Meals: Some campgrounds have dining options nearby. A visitor at Game Lodge Campground noted, "There is a restaurant during tourist season."
  • Safety Precautions: Always check the weather and prepare for storms. A camper at Elk Mountain Campground appreciated the camp hosts who warned them about an incoming storm.

Tips from RVers:

  • Space for Big Rigs: Many campgrounds are big rig friendly. A reviewer at Pactola Reservoir Campground mentioned, "Lots of space and great place to camp near the beautiful Pactola lake."
  • Electric Hookups: Check for sites with electric hookups if needed. A camper at Blue Bell Campground noted, "Great campground, clean bath house and level sites."
  • Dump Stations: Look for campgrounds with dump stations. A visitor at Stockade North Campground mentioned, "There are two dump station locations."

Camping near Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota, is a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors. With a little planning and the right campground, you can have a memorable experience in this beautiful area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the campgrounds located in Wind Cave National Park?

Elk Mountain Campground is the primary campground within Wind Cave National Park, situated just one mile from the visitor's center. This centrally located campground provides convenient access to the park's main attractions, including cave tours and hiking trails. The campground sits at the edge of a mixed-grass prairie with nearby forest, offering scenic views of the surrounding landscape. For those seeking more remote options, the park also permits backcountry camping in designated wilderness areas with proper permits. The central location of Elk Mountain Campground makes it an ideal base for exploring the entire park, with hiking paths nearby that lead to elevated viewpoints overlooking the expansive terrain.

What camping options are available near Wind Cave National Park?

Wind Cave National Park offers diverse camping options both within and around the park. For RV enthusiasts, Fort Welikit Family Campground and RV Park provides full hookups with level sites just 30 minutes from Wind Cave. Custers Last Chance RV Park and Campground is another excellent option close to both Wind Cave and Custer State Park, offering full hookups for any size rig and protection from the area's notorious winds. Additional options include campgrounds within Custer State Park like Sylvan Lake and Blue Bell, which put you within easy reach of regional attractions including Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. For budget travelers, dispersed camping options exist on forest roads surrounding the park, though these typically offer minimal to no amenities.

What amenities are provided at Wind Cave National Park campgrounds?

Elk Mountain Campground offers basic but functional amenities. During peak season (when water is turned on), the fee is $18 per night, dropping to $9 during the off-season. The campground features sites suitable for both tents and RVs, with water available at RV sites during the main season. Restroom facilities include pit toilets during the off-season, with more complete facilities available during peak times. The campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis and rarely fills to capacity, making it a reliable option without reservations. For those seeking more amenities, nearby Sheridan Lake South Shore Campground offers over 90 sites along a reservoir with more developed facilities, all within an hour's drive of Wind Cave and other Black Hills attractions.

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