Buffalo Gap National Grassland

Reviewed Jul. 31, 2024

Amazing views

What this spot has going for it is the amazing views. Stayed for 1 night and the wind was absolutely insane! Be prepared for that! We opted to car camp over pulling out the tent. Plenty of space to be spread out.

Month of VisitJuly

samuel C.

Reviewed Jul. 17, 2024

Peaceful

Tends to be a bit windy, but this is a beautiful place to stay. Lots of sites and they all have great views.

Month of VisitJuly

Caiti

Reviewed May. 28, 2023

Actually on other side of 240!

The coordinates are wrong on this posting and belong across the road. The view is beautiful from the wall, but be aware that the entire area is in a very active cattle field. This is probably fine for folks in campers/RVs but less desirable for those of us in tents. The cattle are not shy!

Month of VisitMay

PJ F.

Reviewed Sep. 2, 2022

Like being on another planet .

What else can I say that hasn’t already been said ? I’ll say it anyway, this place is fricking amazing!!! We’ve been to the Badlands a handful of times but haven’t experienced like this . We were traveling home from Montana to Minnesota & were looking for some dispersed camping along the way & hoped for a last hurrah before heading home. We liked everything we read here about this particular site & decided to seek it out. It’s very easy to find off of 1-90 in either direction but it’s a few miles off the road so there is no traffic noise at all. It’s very easy to find but we didn’t follow the directions given here on the Dyrt. As someone else here mentioned, it’s right outside the Pinnacle entry gate to Badlands National Park. Look for the directions to the Pinnacle entry & it will lead you right to your destination. You will see a few tv/cell ? towers & that’s where the roads leading in will be. It’s a loop & there are 2 ways in . The 1st road in is less rough but be aware that there are few steep grades & a few dips on gravel so be careful if you are towing a bigger rig. The other way in isn’t as steep but has many pot holes in the gravel road. We have a travel trailer & made it in just fine but we chatted up a few fellow campers that had some issues. Once your on the main / only road going thru the grounds, you’ll see sites along the rim of the Badlands that have areas cleared for you to set up camp, no matter what your equipment. If you cruise along the road you’re sure to find something to suit you. Camping on the rim offers pretty level spots , nice sized sites & AMAZING views !! Some even have little paths carved out leading a ways down into the rocks . Perfect for a closer look! You can also camp in a big field area across from the rim as well . We arrived on a Thursday morning to a handful of other campers but it filled up fast. I’m suspecting it was due to Labor Day. Even though it filled up , there was still plenty of space to be had & plenty of space between everyone. While there we came across a few antelope that just casually strolled about. One even sought refuge from the brutal heat under somebody’s 5th wheel! Speaking of the heat , it was about 100 degrees. While I normally hate to use a generator in a very quiet setting , we absolutely had to to run the AC or we would’ve melted. Especially for our dogs sake! If you do have to use a generator, don’t worry , many people were . The area still kept it’s quiet integrity. No there are not hook ups or anything like that but none of that mattered with how breathtaking it was . I’d rather be here any day than packed like sardines at some RV resort. If you still aren’t sure - just do it! You will not regret it! Waking up to a sunrise over the Badlands will make you forget your woes.

Month of VisitAugust

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Sigrid O.

Reviewed Jul. 8, 2022

“The Wall” in The Grasslands

We loved this spot in n our roof top tent. The farther to the left you go there are plenty of spots, we took a spot on a grassy bluff, not directly on the wall, but equally as spectacular.

Sitedispersed

Month of VisitJuly

Hannah S.

Reviewed Sep. 1, 2021

Best boondocking opportunity for your Badlands stay

Boondocking with no bathrooms/showers/water Located just outside Badlands National Park and Wall in Buffalo Gap Spots have no shade or electricity

Month of VisitAugust

(5) View All

Will E.

Reviewed Jul. 29, 2021

Wow

The view right.on the rim of the badlands. Just a few minutes from the np entrance. Wonderful views.
This is a gem in your boondocking travels. Great views. Windy. But wonderful. T mobile and att service

Sitedispersed

Month of VisitJuly

Laura R.

Reviewed Jul. 25, 2021

Awesome place to stay!

This place is so beautiful, you’ll feel like you’re on top of the world! There’s great breezes throughout the day & night so the lack of electric hook ups isn’t a big deal. We got here right around 4:00 on a Saturday in the end of July, and had no trouble finding a spot, but it did start filling up more after we arrived. It’s a ten minute drive to Wall and the Badlands.

Month of VisitJuly

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Will E.

Reviewed Jul. 18, 2021

WOW

This place is awesome we were camping right on the rim of the badlands. Great spot. Saw some coyotes at dusk both nights.

Sitedispersed

Month of VisitJuly

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Staci I.

Reviewed May. 3, 2021

Majestic Views!!!

My first dry camping experience and, this is where it's at! The access road is about 7 miles south of Wall, making it just far enough to be AWAY. It's been said by other reviewers, it is windy. It's so beautiful, and the wind is the just nature's way of reminding you to move on. Otherwise you'd never leave. I considered the magic hour for arrivals, most folks appear to use this area as a layover and not a destination, so there was a lot of turnover of sites each day. If you arrive mid-day and hang around you'll have your choice of sites as folks leave for the next phase of their journey. My closest neighbors were about 50 yards away....but be mindful sound does carry up there. Your music and generators will affect others.

Month of VisitApril

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Allyse

Reviewed May. 2, 2021

Stunning views and amazing spots

If you have never camped on top of a Mesa looking over stunning cliffs and rock formations I strongly recommend. This place is truly amazing.

Month of VisitMay

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Grant

Reviewed Oct. 2, 2020

Great Location

Dispersed Camping right outside the Badlands NP. No amenities but plenty of space and easy access. I saw large RVs and small cars camping there. Trail 7158 and 7170 right of of Rt 240 and close to the town of Wall.

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Jennie C.

Scout

Reviewed Aug. 1, 2020

Map is wrong

The map provided on this app wrong. where you want to end up is right outside of the pinnacles entrance for Badlands. Look that up on the map, and follow the road from this town of wall towards the pinnacles entrance and you will see it right there.

Month of VisitAugust

Julie J.

Reviewed Jul. 30, 2019

Fantastic and free

5.5 south of Wall SD On hwy 240. Take a right at the tv towers and drive in to the rim of the wall. Free disbursed camping a mile north of the entrance to the Badlands National Park. No facilities and a rough road in, but worthwhile.

Emily L.

Reviewed Apr. 30, 2019

Peaceful

Haven’t seen anyone else out here. It’s deafeningly quiet, except for the animals.

Katie B.

Scout

Reviewed Sep. 4, 2018

Beautiful View

This is a one of a kind campsite! It had the most beautiful view. Driving in we didn't think we would get a spot because there were already so many campers, but there were still so many spots left. It is a huge campsite! The only scary part was how windy it was because we were camping on a cliff, but there is parking further away from the cliff! There is a fence at the entrance that you have to open and close when entering. I would definitely stay here again!

Blake T.

Reviewed Aug. 17, 2018

spectacular

Dry camped at Buffalo Gap National Grassland just south of Wall South Dakota off of 240. Plenty of space with flat ground for tent or RV. Spectacular view and right by I90 for easy access. Would definitely stay here again.

Beatrice G.