## Overview

 Surrounded by the vast, open prairie and featuring expansive views of the Badlands, Cedar Pass Campground is a great base camp from which to explore Badlands National Park. Featuring 96 sites, this seasonal campground is open from late March through mid-October, and is conveniently located within easy walking distance of Cedar Pass Lodge & Restaurant and the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. 
## Recreation

 An evening program led by park rangers is held nightly at the Cedar Pass Amphitheater. This event runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, beginning each evening with a half-hour educational talk about the Badlands, covering a wide array of topics that change every evening. Once the educational part of the presentation finishes, the rangers begin a guided [night sky][1] viewing program. Interesting facts and features of our night sky will be explored and pointed out for you via laser, and telescopes are often provided to view star clusters, planets, and the Milky Way.The Amphitheater parking lot is conveniently located at the entrance to Cedar Pass Campground, in easy walking distance for most campers! For evening program start times, please see the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, Cedar Pass Lodge, or the host kiosk at the campground entrance.
## Natural Features

 Cedar Pass Campground is surrounded by prairie grasslands and Badlands buttes, or geologic formations. These formations contain sandstone, siltstone, mudstone, claystone, limestone, volcanic ash, and shale. The natural beauty of this landscape makes for stunning sunrises and sunsets, while low population density and minimal light pollution creates a beautiful night sky most evenings. 
## Contact Info

 This location is staffed. Please call (605) 910-9246 to speak with local staff. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Ben Reifel Vistor Center Cedar Pass Lodge Minuteman National Historic Site Prairie Homestead Wall Drug Mount Rushmore (1 hour, 45 mins) Custer State Park (1 hour, 45 mins) 

[1]: https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/night-sky-badl.htm

Cedar Pass Campground — Badlands National Park

The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Interior. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that South Dakota camping has to offer. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Interior, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.

Interior

The Best Camping Near Interior, South Dakota

Camping in the badlands area is a must!  There are so many hikes in the area that a couple days is necessary to soak up the greatness of the scenery!  We enjoyed our stay at Cedar Pass.  Nice sites with good amenities. 

different scenery

Most people doing the great American roadtrip think Rushmore is a must, and most people have barely heard of the badlands. I'm gonna let you in on a secret, Rushmore is not as amazing as you think it is. They're tiny and it's boring. A short drive away (in the across America timeframe) is the Badlands. And they're not overrated, they're underrated and amazing. Spend your time in this amazing American landscape (and pass up Rushmore). 

Skip Rushmore, do Badlands

This is an OK campsite. Our camp spot wasn't flat. There was water across from us. The worst thing was the outhouse. It stunk really bad and wouldn't think about returning there

Cedar pass

site: some more private/larger than others. great views.
amenities: clean facilities.
attractions: hiking trails near.
I will go camping here next time.


nice

The campgrounds here are definitely nothing special but are sufficient and worth staying at just to see the views in the park. Each site is very open and nearby to the neighboring site. You are provided with a picnic table and a shelter which works for setting up a hammock and staying out of the hot sun. You can also drive right up to the site but be prepared to have no privacy. They come around at night to check up on you and that was very nice to know things were taken care of. We made sure to drive down the road a little ways and get a good view for sunset. Stop in at the welcome center and they will help you out with directions. And make sure not to miss out on some serious night sky stargazing since there is no other light for a good distance you can see EVERYTHING!

Campground worth it for the views

Host were extremely friendly, beautiful view of the landscape and great campground.

Badlands

I stayed overnight on a cross country trip and our time was definitely memorable. The park offers vast 360 views of the canyons and rock formations. I remember feeling really small and very far removed from civilization and that was one of the coolest things about the park. After a full day of hiking we set up camp at the Cedar pass campground and watched the sunset and a lightning storm off in the distance. The campground has covered picnic tables to give you some shade from the sun and the bathrooms weren't too far either. Night came and we went into our tents but couldn't sleep long before we were woken up by the wind. We peaked our heads out and saw tents and canopies tipped over and blowing all over the place so we ended up going into the car that night. Turns out there was a tornado a few miles away from the park. The poles to my tent bent but I was just happy it didn't blow away! There was a large storm that night but it gets windy at night in general. Just a heads up! 

Windy!

We stayed at the Cedar Pass Campground in Badlands National Park the first weekend in March 2016. The weather was unseasonably warm, and the tourists were few. Most of this campground is closed during the "off-season", so we pulled our RV into a pull-through (really, a shoulder) site in the group camp area. During our stay there was only one other person camping, and he camped with a tent. There are pit toilets there, and this time of year they were fairly clean and well-maintained. The sites in the group area are spread apart well. Each area has a covered picnic table. There are no fire pits or grills here, as the fire danger remains high most of the year. Plan to bring a gas or charcoal grill of your own for cooking if you don't use an RV. On occasion we were able to pick up the Wi-Fi from the Cedar Pass Lodge, which is located nearby, but don't plan on campsite internet. This is a rustic campground. That said, water is available at the entrance, as well as a dump station, In addition, electric hook-ups and flush toilets are available in the summer season. This is one of only two campgrounds in this national park. and the other, Sage Creek Campground, is on the far west end of the park, remote, and very rustic (and also FREE). This campground is located within walking distance of the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. Reservations open in March for the summer season, and we recommend making them, as this campground is almost always full in season. Or, visit like we did, in the off-season, which can be much more temperate for weather.

View and Location Make this a Gem

My wife and I stayed here for 3 nights while were on a road trip up through the badlands and over to Devils Tower, WY.  We did a 10mi round trip day hike and couldn't have had more fun.  There was a ton of wildlife and the sunsets were amazing.  I only wish we would have a seen a rattlesnake on our hike. We stayed at the lodge, but am planning on going back and backpack for a few nights.  Loved it!

Favorite Site So Far...

Our family of four tent camped two nights in the Cedar Pass campground and the views are unbelievable! The sky is so open we watched a rainstorm pass by to the south of us, but never felt a drop. The campground can become crowded at times so try to choose a site on the outer edge of the grounds. Covered picnic tables were greatly appreciated since shade is sparse. Day hikes and evening ranger led programs are well worth your time. The kids also enjoyed making friends playing on the gigantic rocks outside of the amphitheater.  Campground and bathrooms were well maintained. A cool experience all around.

Good Camping in The Badlands

I would say that as far as campgrounds go, this one is probably nothing special, but the views and proximity to the Badlands make it special.  Amazing sunrises and sunsets.

Standard campground, great views

It's very open and very windy at the Cedar Pass Badlands campground.  It is just an open field with plenty of space for tents and campers.  It does have flush toilets but no showers.  The wind just whips through the campsites and there are NO trees.  They have constructed wooden  shelters over the picnic tables to allow you to have some protection from the sun and wind while you are eating, but make sure you have your tent staked out and guy lines set.  There are beautiful views of the Badlands and there is easy access to the roads that take you through the National Park.  If you make it in before five o'clock in the afternoon you can grab a hamburger at the lodge/diner next to the campground.

Cedar Pass Campground - Badlands, SD

The campgrounds are very nice. The Badlands are awesome though. To be honest, I spent a night at this campground and then decided to try my hand at backcountry camping out in the actual Badlands. The view is incredible. The park is extremely hot during the day. EXTREMELY HOT. The air is also extremely dry. Make sure you bring plenty of water regardless of what activities you plan on doing.

Anyway, back to the actual camping. Definitely come here. If you enjoy it, give the backcountry camping a shot as well. I have literally never experienced something as wild and wonderful as the Badlands at night. I stayed during the Perseid meteor shower. Seeing the Milky Way with the meteors passing by is something I will never forget. The night is brutally dark out there. It's both amazing and terrifying. 

Nice campgrounds

If you're planning a trip to this part of the country,  this is a must see!   Breathtaking! 

Better than Yellowstone

I've camped here multiple times and each visit have had a pleasant experience with the site locations and campground services. Sites are open (but lack of major vegetation in the area) but the picnic tables do offer a shaded awning and overall the views of the Badlands are gorgeous!

Nice Services, Beautiful Location

5 star views, minus 2 stars for the absolutely filthy bathrooms. Overflowing sanitary napkin boxes, overflowing trash, dead bugs and dirt EVERYWHERE! Forget about soap or toilet paper. Even after the "just cleaned" sign was out in the morning, it was evident only the trash had been removed from ONE bathroom- nothing else done whatsoever. I'm not one to leave a bad review but it was disgusting. The campsite itself was nice with a beautiful view and the location is close to several trail heads. At night the campground was quiet. So, if you're in a camper you have nothing to fear. If you're tenting it... Get your tetanus booster before going in the bathroom 

The bathrooms!

I visited the Cedar Pass campground in Badlands National Park with my brother. We arrived in the middle of the afternoon and got a good location on the side of the camp. The campground was packed by the time we finished setting up our tent.

The camp is completely open and there is basically no privacy between campsites. No trees. Nothing. It was really windy the day and night we were there. Since there is nothing blocking the wind in the open campground, make sure to secure your tent well if the weather is bad. 

Each campsite has a picnic table and a small thing covering it. There is also a bathroom with running water and flushing toilets. It's not the cleanest bathroom I've seen, but I wasn't completely afraid to use it either. It's a lot better than a pit.

One of my favorite things about the campground is the view you have near the front of the park. It's incredible. Especially in the morning as the sun is rising. I'm adding a star to my review from what I would rate it for this reason alone.

As far as the park is concerned, my favorite locations were Pinnacles Overlook, Ancient Hunters Overlook, Yellow Mounds Overlook, and Panorama Point. You can drive through the park in about half a day. If you have young kids, be careful in some of the spots. After seeing it again as an adult, I now know why my dad was so strict about leaving the car in some areas.

Great view from the campground!

The Badlands actually turned into a pretty cool place. I didn't think the National Park was going to be as nice and fun as it was. The open climbing policy is pretty cool for those adventurous enough to climb. There was a picnic bench with a sun/wind breaker overhead and to one side of the bench. There are flush toilets, running sink water, coin operated showers and there is pump drinking water. The sites are very open with no trees.  However at times it did get pretty windy so some of our things started to blow around (Including our tent at one point). Overall, I enjoyed this campground and would have no problem going back.

Nice campground, can get windy.

This campground is great for scenic views of the Badlands, if you don't mind the crowds. The campsites at the entrance have the best views with the least crowd. Definitely choose a site on the outer loop to avoid the busy inner area near the bath house. There's at least one little dive bar nearby where the locals hang. Hiking around the campground is fun, but dogs aren't allowed on the trails. 

Cedar Pass Badlands 

This is the kind of campground where you camp to get some great views around the national park. Don't expect a lot of trees or really spread out sites. But, the sites are flat and clean (important when in a tent) and the bathrooms/showers are well kept. It's worth getting up early to catch sunrise over the Badlands. 

Great campground for amazing views

This campground is very close to the National Park's visitors center and a small market. It offers visitors the usual amenities, picnic table with integrated sunshade and a place to set up the tent. No campfires here as the risk of wildfire can be high. The comfort stations, with flush toilet and sinks perform their duties admirably, as do the pay showers. 

The layout of sites is tightly packed and somewhat cheerless, with few trees to provide shade. There is nothing particularly special about this campground, other than its location. It is little more than a place to sleep and make food; the real magic of the park is all around and should be explored on foot, on a bike, or from the windshield, rather than viewed from the picnic table within the campground. 

Reservations can be made at http://www.cedarpasslodge.com/campground/

Blah Campground in Brilliant Badlands

This campground is almost surreal. It is completely open so you can see the amazing classic Badlands formations from your tent. This means there’s also no privacy, but it’s worth giving up! Each site has a covered picnic table (as found at many desert/prairie NPS).

Yay: Close to hiking. Water provided.

﻿Nay: It’s hot, dry, and windy but that’s not the campground’s fault :)

Surprise: get up early for the sunrise!!! AND stay up late for stargazing!! Take a siesta to make up for that nature-focussed schedule haha.

Fantastic views 

Hiking

Panoramic views in every direction of this campground but very little privacy exists. No fire allowed to dry condition, but sun shade cover over picnic table was provided. Hot, pay showers available within walking distance of site. Great access to hiking, badlands car loop and wildlife of the park!

Amazing Views

Great campground for easy access to the park. Good way to beat the crowds. If it's warm bring something to protect from the sun.

Great spot

Did an overnight here on my way to the Black Hills National Forest. No privacy but it's the Badlands and there's no trees. The covered picnic table was great! The toilets and showers were clean and hot water(!). I was in site #2 which is pretty secluded based on the rest of the sites. Be prepared with food that doesn't need to be warmed up! I have a Coleman propane portable grill that wouldn't stay lit because of the wind. There's also a great little diner just up the road if you need it! Would highly recommend for a night or two!

Plus side: beautiful views of the Badlands 

First come, first serve campground with an open concept. On the way to the campground you see prairie dogs and bison at every turn. In front of where we placed our tent, there were prairie dog holes right in front of it. Sitting on chairs outside the tent, watching bison graze in the distance, and hearing coyotes howl in the background. It was a beautiful sunset, and an even more beautiful sunrise. I hope to go again some day!

THE VIEWS

As far as location, this campground gets 5+ stars. The campground is located in one of the 'valleys' and there are no trees, so you have an absolutely incredible view of the hills from every spot in the campground. Sunrises and sunsets are worth it alone, and the star viewing is great. I also loved hearing coyotes all night in the background (but you'll hear cow bells as well!). And while there are no trees in the campground, the NP did at least provide some shade - each picnic table has a hardcover awning, which is absolutely needed in late spring through early fall during the day.

In terms of amenities, I give this campground a 2 or 3 - the shower houses are some of the worst I've encountered in any campground. To start, the showers are not free (which is fine), but they are terrible. The water pressure is actually so high it's painful.. it felt like I was being hosed with a pressure washer, and it got literally everything I had in the shower stall soaking wet including my clothes and towel that were hanging up on the door. The water was also scalding hot, and there was no way to adjust the temperature. After a hot day of hiking and driving in the park, it was the last thing I wanted; I would have much preferred a cold shower (or at least an option to turn the temp down!). If those things weren't bad enough, the shower houses also have a vent fan that automatically turns on when someone enters the building (and stays on for ~20 minutes after the last person leaves), which sounds like a jet plane taking off and can be heard throughout the whole campground. So basically, you can forget about taking one at odd hours without disturbing everyone in the vicinity. They REALLY need to overhaul their whole shower facility.

Great location, mediocre facilities

The location is great, as this is in the national park.  The bath houses and shower house were kept clean and served our needs for the two nights we stayed, as tent campers.  Each site has a picnic table with wind screen (because it can get windy).  There is also a lodge (with groceries/ice/camping items/souvenir section) and restaurant) very closeby.  Be advised that you cannot have a fire and the sites have abslutely no privacy.  Certain sites also are horrible for tent campers if it rains.  Trailers remain on the side of the road, as they are blocked from pulling on or backing onto any site.  While we were there (5/2018) there was significant digging being done throughout the property that was poorly done with muddy walkways, etc.  It was apparent, between the condition of the maintenace and by the checkin service we experienced, that they don’t need to pay much attention to their customer service.  Location is why you would want to stay here.

Location, location, location

There is a shower house.

The Badlands provide a dramatic landscape during the day and one of the most incredible skyscpaes at night. We opted to sleep sans rainfly, and simply gaze at the stars.

Due to the landscape, the sites are not very private, however, they are also not very cramped (personal space is provided). There is a shower house--bring quarters (and be prepared to lose one or two quarters along the way). I searched for hours to determine if there were showers before reserving and had to wing it. There are showers. As of the summer of 2017, the doors to the bathroom slam, so I would advise light sleepers to select a site further from the main bathroom than closer. There are picnic tables at every site, and a shelter for shade which was very nice under the hot desert sun.

For those still wondering, did I mention that there are showers!

Great Views--There is a Shower House

Campground is awesome and unique in some ways, right on the prairie with great views of the rock formations in the Badlands. The openness that makes it so cool however leads to total exposure to the elements. Our site had some standing water around the covered picnic table. Additionally a nearby storm hit us with big time winds on our second night that broke one of our tents. Despite the weather troubles, we had a great time in the Badlands: great hiking and views. The Campstore nearby had all the basics and campground had good clean bathrooms and warm showers.No fires are allowed in the campground and the open layout and wind made using the camp stove a bit tricky to use so plan meals accordingly.

Named Badlands for a reason

I have to say the campground was in a great location a beautiful drive down to it that got the whole family excited to be in the badlands! Our complaint (probably our fault for not doing more research) is that you don’t actually get a “campsite” you pull over on the side of the road (vehicles on both sides with a driving lane down the middle) and hook up to an electrical box. That Is it...it’s literally a parallel parking spot on the side of the road which left our door and awning (if we would have used it)  facing out into the middle of the road. At least they give you a table out in the grass. It just wasn’t what we expected. lf you want to spend a day in the badlands I’d crash at this site again but I wouldn’t make it my destination for an extended period of time.

Great location, not roughing it.

Nice campsite and warm showers. Amazing views of the badlands. 

It rained while we were there and some sites got flooded - we were lucky that we had a dry site. Will stay again.


Amazing backdrop

I loved this campground. Now it could easily have been because it was our first official, set up our tent site after 23hrs of driving. But honestly the views were beautiful.

Sites were nice and level for setting up our tents, the sites had a great covered picnic area. And even though we saw quite a few others camping out, it was quiet. We visited in Oct.

The bath houses were clean and well maintained and showers were sure nice to have.

We rolled in around 7pm so was already dark but waking to the morning sunrise was amazing.

It's called the Badlands for a reason

The Cedar Pass campground was a great pitstop for a cross-country road trip. The sites and facilities were clean and comfortable. The picnic tables had appreciated shade coverings, and the grass was perfect for tents. There was even an informative, minimally hokey Forest Ranger presentation at the amphitheater that night. My only critique is that the campground is not very secluded, and without any tree cover, the sites are not very private. It did make for a great view of the sunset, though.

Clean and comfy, not secluded

Great spot with a good view of the badlands formations. The campground is exposed which gives a great view of the sky at night. Regular ranger programs are a great way to end an evening.

Beautiful location

The campsites are open, without anything to provide privacy. The lack of privacy is worth it for the breathtaking scenery of the Badlands. Hiking here is enjoyable, specially if you go off the boardwalk paths a little. When I went in July the boardwalks were filled with people.

Stunning views!

always a gorgeous place to drive through on the way to Wall Drug!

beautiful all year round

We loved how close this campground was to everything, but the actual layout is odd because you don’t actually pull off anywhere. Its all one way streets and parallel parking on both sides of the road, which makes it really tight for big RVs. Unfortunately we were near a curve and someone hit the back of our car. Otherwise, we had no complaints. Just didn’t like the setup. 

Odd Layout

Tent camping in the Badlands is a one of a kind experience. The sites are basic, but the views are amazing. We stayed at tent site 81 and had unobstructed views. We read about the wind before going and those campers were not joking. A storm swept through with lightning like we’ve never seen before and the wind continued all night. Be prepared for the wind! Fires are not allowed due to the wind. Bathrooms were ok and they had a dishwashing station which was nice. Enjoy this unique campground!

Go for the Views!

Pretty basic camping if you are using a tent. Wide open prairie nestled around by rock formations; you see for miles to one direction; rock formations to another, just hundreds of yards away. And clear skies on moonless nights to view the galaxies and remind you of the insignificance that you hold in the universe. 

Shower house is cozy and be certain to bring quarters. At least you have water. And electricity at the shower house.

Gazed into the galaxy

You will have nice views of the Badlands from your campsite. A nice tent camping area for sure. You are in the open at this campground, not many trees grow here.

Great view 

I really enjoyed the campsite. It rained the night before and the site we had originally booked had a puddle of water(site55). They moved us so we had a better site on higher ground before we checked in.

The site had a picnic table with extra shade. 50 feet from the site were the bathroom, hot showers, dumpster, cleaning station and water station.

The lodge is down the street which was convenient. Be prepared for windy conditions. If you need more supplies they have it at the lodge/store which was open until 9pm. We bought extra stakes just in case.The diner there was open until 830 with great food.

The evening ranger talk was great. Ranger Brad was amazing. He was animated and made bats interesting (audience's pick). It really showed how much he enjoyed his work.

Con: Only downside no fire pit but with the winds, you probably don't want one anyways. No trees for hammock but you're in the grear

T plains so not many trees in sight anyways.

Great campsite

Really glad we decided to spend a night in the BL on our way to the black hills. it’s worth a night and Cedar Pass is the only option in the park. You camp here for the views around you--There’s not much to the cg itself. Windy! it had our pop-up rocking a bit even with all the windows open.

Be sure to get dinner at the restaurant--get the Sioux Taco on the special bread—-soooooo good! (looks big enough to share but once you taste it you won’t want to share!)

I love the Badlands for the amazing views and awesome hiking trails they have to offer. The Cedar Pass campground is a very nice and clean site to stay at. They have tent, group, RV and cabin sites plus there is a shelter covering a picnic table at every site, which is great because there is usually a ton of wind. Obviously, it is the Badlands so there aren’t any trees, so do not expect shade or much privacy from your neighbors.

Be aware that some of the sites will flood during rainy days so I would call ahead and see before you reserve if the weather is not going to be great. It can also get quite cool so just make sure you bring the sunscreen even in the cooler weather because the Sun will still get you. The facilities were pretty clean while I was here. There are showers and also a dish washing station that is very convenient. There is also a restaurant and store on site which is awesome if you need supplies or just some hot food and coffee.

Now the campsite is great but what makes this place golden is that it is in the Badlands National Park. They have some of the most amazing trails and you cannot beat the view of the night sky. You are miles away from city lights. I love bringing my telescope and walking a little ways from the campsite at night to set up. This is the perfect place for star gazing! The views at this place will want you wishing to come back for years to come!

Stars for Stars!

Great views, clean restrooms and showers, showers for a fee. Camping is on the roadside turnouts, and close together. If two larger units are on opposite sides of the road there is very little room to drive between them. Difficult to maneuver. We were there on September 25, with the campground about half full. I imagine that during peak season it would be really difficult to get around. 

Nice Enough, But...

If you are camping here, you came for the amazing views of the Badlands, and you have them from your campsite. It is a wide open campground with little to no shade except for the built in shade screen on your picnic table. Expect wind. We struggled a little to get our tent up at first due to the high winds that whip through the campground. There is little privacy due to the lack of trees and no fires are allowed. 
The visitor center is nearby and has all your last minute needs as well as a diner. There is also an amphitheater close where we caught a concert of new music inspired by national parks.  Bathrooms were average with pay showers. Whatever the campground is lacking in amenities is overshadowed by the scenery of the Badlands. 

Take in the scenery

Electric only sites. Not really sites as much as semi wide spots in road. Most of the loops are backwards so that your awning would hang over road. We pulled in backwards, after clearing it with the young woman at the gate, and let our slide hang out to the road. Very strange. It is wide open camping. There is a permanent wind break/shelter at each site with picnic table. Did I mention it is wide open? The hills around the park are simply amazing. The sunrise and sunsets are inspiring. There is hiking nearby and a beautiful park drive loop that should not be missed. We stayed two nights and the wind blew about 50mph both nights. It was about 103° during the day. Plan to hike in the mornings. The bathrooms are old and in need of renovation, but clean. The dump station is situated by another loop that has the same wide spot in the road sites. A guy in a huge 5th wheel was parked in such a way that we had to back back about 1/4 mile out of the dump station to get out. He was totally in the way and was on top of his coach not caring. Thankfully it was not a busy morning at the dump. There’s all kinds in state and national parks. We were there for the scenery and the hiking so the super sparse conditions were fine. 

Bare bones camping 

Campground is not one of my favorites... I enjoy more seclusion, some tree cover, and less of an RV parking lot feel BUT it's totally worth it to deal with these tiny details in order to experience the badlands!  The sites were grassy and level so having a tent wasn't an issue.  The bathrooms were fine and sites were clean so I cannot complain too much :) 

  

The area surrounding the campgrounds is what brought us here, no the accommodations.  The park is AMAZING! Such a unique park of the country- breathtaking sunsets and unique hikes.  I highly recommend finding a place each night to watch the sun go down!  Lots of wildlife around as well. 

  

\*Wall Drug isn't anything fancy, but it's worth it to check it off your list if you gotta make a trip into town.

worth it to stay in the park

Despite some not so positive reviews, we enjoyed our one-night stay at Cedar Pass. Yes, the campground layout is not well designed. Not really accommodating for large rigs but that was ok for us - our 17-foot camper van just fit in the gravel drive. I can understand why those with large rigs/trailers would not be happy. No shade but great views of the buttes, especially from sites on the outside of the loop. Bathrooms not the cleanest but not the worst. The picnic table was covered but the morning sun in site 5 was brutal and we ate inside our van. Easy walk to the store/restaurant(food not terrible and some vegetarian options). Also accessible to the amphitheater. Glad we made reservations; the campground was full on a Monday night in July. Definitely recommend the short but challenging Notch trail!

Amazing views!

Pros:  you are camping in badlands national park.  Night time star gazing program with the park during the summer. 

Cons:  sites are tightly packed together.  No trees.  No wind protection. Pay showers.  Showers not super clean.  Bathrooms and showers do not have counter space or other areas to place personal items. 

During our stay sustained winds collapsed our tent during the day. If you are tent camping,  using a tent designed to handle windy conditions would be recommended. 

Functional camp sites in badlands national park

For a National park campground run by a contractor we were very disappointed.  Our time at the campground was from Sept 10th to the 16th.  For the price you had to pay for the showers and if you showered before daylight the lights turned off mid shower so you showered in the dark.  The campgrounds really needs to be updated also.   Besides us we saw two other rigs get hung up on the short posts that surround the camping area.  The small roadside type camping/parking areas aren’t big enough for some rigs.  Many of the water fountains didn’t work either.  
Brkft at the lodge was a buffet and it was a joke, glad we checked before going.  Factory baking powder Biscuits, boil in a bag scrambled eggs, etc.  
for the National park it advertised that night sky’s viewing would be until the 14th of Sept, not!  Was told Labor Day weekend was it.  Same for fossil talk which had know one when we made our appearance at the prescribed time.   The campground was full every night and we saw lots of people everywhere we went.   
Pluses, the views and animals that we saw.   

Kind of a letdown

Great campsite, easy access within the park. Badlands rock formations directly outside tent window. 

Great understated site with iconic view of the Badlands 

What a great park and a wonderful campground :) Tent camped here for 4 nights and was pleased with the campground location, restrooms, and site. Nothing special for the site- just a level, open area to put the tent, but there was a nice picnic area.  Lots of little creatures scurrying around most of the time, so there's build in entertainment at the site! The park is beautiful- 5 days was not enough time to explore everything.  I liked camping here since it was close to many trails and gave me a better sense of the park and its wildlife. I would definitely camp here again on a trip to the Badlands.

stepping into another world

I've never stayed at a campground where you are right next to others with no trees. But the temporary neighbors were pleasant. And the 360 degree beauty made up for it. They were pretty quiet at dark with no annoying RV noises. 

What kept us up most of the night: the wind! It's no one's fault and there's nothing you can do. Just bring plenty of tent stakes. We kept waking up with our tent caving in by the force. They good news: the bugs were kept at bay and the wind cooled things down a bit. 

The bathrooms were clean. I didn't use the showers but they are there and run on coins. There is no hot water though which might be ok after a 90 degree hike. 

TIP: There are 3 sites that often flood so they don't reserve them until the day before to make sure they'll be dry. We got our site calling the day before when there was no vacancy for weeks leading up to it.

Can't be the beauty - but the wind will beat you

This was our last stop on a 3 day SD camping trip. We were able to find a spot at the end of the day (thank god) and set up camp. The camping is very out in the open, so don’t expect privacy of any sort. But the surrounding area is nice and it’s very close proximity to the park itself. We loved playing in the park and exploring the rocks and dunes etc. 
Would prefer to feel a little more secluded from all the other campers, but the facilities were nice and it was a good experience overall. 

Another cool spot 

This was a nice campground for just staying the night. It was awfully packed. The sites are on the side of the road which is not traditional. The sites are not level. Not a lot of room on the road through the campground.

Very windy. When we stayed the night we had a severe thunderstorm blow through which was awesome and a little unsettling. Keep an eye on the weather since the storms in this area can pack a punch.

Checkout is at 11 a.m. You can park your camper at the visitor center if you want to do some sightseeing without having to worry about getting checked out in time.

Roads to the campground are rough at times.

Be aware you will have to purchase a park permit if you’re wanting to stay at this campground.


Nice Overnight Spot in the Badlands

From night sky’s covered in stars to beautiful Mountain View’s! At camp you will get a taste of everything. Clean bathrooms, wash stations and great customer service! 

Epic views!

Clean and up to date restrooms and showers. There are electrical sites. We prefer more primitive sites but this was a pretty decent campground. We enjoyed watching a storm roll through in the distance and you just cant beat cooking food with a view like this!

Nice view of the southern Badlands entrance

This campsite was a perfect place to stay for a night - easy access to amazing hiking trails and the campsite was clean and quiet. I do wish they had a better check in process for people coming in later in the day. We got to the campground after close and found an empty non-electric site based off of the allotted sites posted at the entrance. The next day there was still no clear way to make a payment, so we just left our payment in the Dropbox (we are hoping we did it right). Overall, great experience. 


Great view! 

Wide open spaces, however this allows for some Major wind at times. Spike down those tents!  
No shade, lol, no trees, but a lot of dirt/sand. The view is great, day or night. 
Well maintained area and awesome staff. 
Hiking through the area, take your camera and water. 

SCENERY !!

Located within Badlands National Park, this campground couldn’t be more conveniently located to nearby hiking trails and all the Badlands has to offer. There is a visitors center with a small store in walking distance. Our site was essentially along a road, so privacy is limited, but you get your own awning and picnic table. The bathrooms weren’t heated and it was about 5 degrees which made our showers uncomfortable. The showers require quarters, but there is a no change machine. Use the vending machine to make change instead. 

Tent camping is allowed all year, but most guests were staying in RV’s. 

Cedar Pass Campground, SD

I gave this five stars because it's one of the only campgrounds within the National Park boundaries and it has really amazing views! There isn't much privacy, as it is flat with no trees, but you have a picnic table with a canopy at each site. The campground is a little rugged but has flush toilets and showers (used quarters). It was very close to the NP visitor center and is VERY WINDY! Make sure to secure your tent and belongings down really good or you will see them flying across the desert.

No electric, but that’s ok! Also, I recommend filling your freshwater tank at the RV station before unhitching. Cedar Pass was everything we hoped it would be and then some. Spectacular star gazing opportunities at night and easy access to the beautiful trails at Badlands. We definitely would come back to this place in a heartbeat.

Stunning!

Everyone should experience the Badlands once!  The campground is very simple.  No fires and very windy.  Our experience was so nice, everyone was nice and welcoming.  An assortment of all type of campers and tents.  Bathrooms &amp; showers are a 3 star. Some sites are on slopes.  But overall a great experience!  

We were there in May with cold nights and hot days.  

Simple campground with big views 

The campground itself is a loop of road pull offs no trees or separation from other sites but the views were outstanding.  With our America the Beautiful Lifetime Senior Pass got us half off for our site, so it was worth camping there, but I am not sure I would pay full price for a dry camping site. Showers and bathrooms were clean and very nice.  It was quiet at night

Badlands Appropriate

This campground was very nice!  It was quite larger than I expected and with it being next to the visitors center/entrance, I am glad they do not charge more!  Each site had a picnic table and most with a little shelter over it.  There are rest rooms and trash bins.  While there is barely any bushes/trees to separate you from neighbors, there is still some space but be prepared to hear the noises around you.  It's about a mile from the big parking lot with the established trails that Badlands NP has.  I had  bars of LTE via AT&amp;T here.

Very nice!

After reading the reviews we were a little nervous about staying here, but now that we’ve stayed and explored the park…this CG can’t be beat. 

The CG proximity to all the trails, scenic drives and viewpoints is key. 

We arrived on a Saturday and departed on Tuesday. A majority of the RV’s and tent sites turned over daily while we were here.

This CG has awesome views of the Badlands, but we would recommend getting a site on the outer ring. We were at site 20. 

The CG is bigger than it looks. The rear loop is the larger of the two. We had an electric site although I believe a majority are non-electric. 

You can buy ice at the lodge which is within a short walk or drive. There’s a nice sidewalk connecting the CG, lodge and visitor’s center. 

The showers are coin operated and we had hot water each night. The shower house wasn’t the best we’ve ever seen, but we’ve definitely seen worse. My only complaint would be the lack of hooks or space in the shower house to keep your belongings dry. 

It’s definitely windy here. We never even attempted to deploy our awning. I could see the wind making tent life here difficult. It’s a steady breeze or wind all day for the most part. Each site has a covered area with a picnic table. If you’re utilizing the shade of your covered area, the wind/breeze feels amazing. 

This definitely isn’t your traditional CG layout, but we enjoyed our stay. I assume if you’re staying at this CG, you’re more than likely adventuring all day in the National Park and you chose this CG for a convenient place to sleep.

Great views. Convenient location 

Open campground with no shade except for the wooden structures over picnic tables. You are right in the middle of the rock formations with excellent views. The bathrooms were well-maintained with pay showers. The only drawback is that for pop up campers your site is a small, narrow, pull off of the campground road. We, in our very small pop-up, barely fit. However, there was a large grassy area next to our picnic table. Also, in summer, the sunrise is at 4:15 AM :-)￼

Very open with views of rock formations!

Some sites have more space than others. We were in site 5 and there was great space separating us from the adjacent sites. Others seemed very close to each other. Shade structures over picnic tables are helpful. No fire rings, but summer temps in the 90’s meant we didn’t miss them. 

Little privacy, but nice overall

When we arrived at the check-in, we were told that our booked site (#93) would not fit our 26 ft RV. We had made reservations over the website months in advance (not seeing any restrictions as far as vehicle size goes). Apparently they had 7 RVs the day before with the same issue. The guy at the check-in offered us a group site as our last resort (as the campground was fully booked otherwise). We were charged an extra $20.00 for this site. 

Besides the fact that the group site was right next to the dump station, with all the rigs driving by after dumping, there was not more width to the pull-through area than where our original campsite was. In fact it was very tight with the constant dump site traffic!

The website does obviously not indicate clearly which sites are suitable to them for RVs and which aren't. Looking at the website again after our visit, they probably don't want RVs on sites saying "grass and dirt". Even though I don't really see a difference in what they ended up putting us in. We kind of had the feeling, that they were looking to make some extra money...

Other than that, the campground was ok

Booked site too small upon arrival

Good campground with good restrooms. We were at spot 51 with no water or electricity. Close by a lot of trails and souvenir shop 

Nice campground 

Great location in the amazing Badlands National Park.  No hookups but pleanty of water spigots.  Clean bathrooms and pay showers.  No shade or privacy but great views of the surrounding park.

Excellent for Exploring Badlands NP

Nice campground close to visitor center, scenic drive and popular hiking.  We tow a popup and we're excited to get an electric site for A/C in 100 deg early June heat.  The hookup was weird so if we parked at the hookup our door and camp stove were in the street where cars drive.  So we parked the wrong way and ran electric under. It wasn't bad, just weird. Also, the night sky program at the park right near campground entrance was excellent!  

Weird set-up for popup.

My first time to camp inside of a National Park. The views at Cedar Pass cannot be beat!! We only had one night here because that's all I could find available. The location of the campground to the visitors center and cafe was great! The cafe runs like a well oiled machine, so even if they are busy, the food comes out quickly. I got the Fry Bread taco to-go and enjoyed it at camp. 

  

The downside: The layout of the campground was odd. Basically you camp in the street. The roads are marked as one way, so when we opened our door, we were walking out into the street. We probably could have turned around, but we just went with it. The bathroom situation was less than desirable. The sink only works when you push the handle down (no rubbing hands together under water) and every single hand dryer in both the mens and womens was broken. The shower house is a separate building from the toilets. The womens side did not have working lights, so you either had to shower in the day time or use a flash light to shower. The showers are also pay showers, so make sure you bring your quarters. I put extra money in mine to make sure I had enough time, but it still ended early on me. Also, you cannot adjust the pressure. Mine was so hard that I felt like I was being sand blasted! Because I had to put extra quarters in, it gave me more time than I needed to finish rinsing my hair. You can't turn it off, so I had to just stand there for several minutes for the water to stop so that I could dry off. The curtains barely cover the opening. Overall, it was a horrible shower, but I guess better than no shower at all!

  

Would I return here? In a heartbeat! Any negative disappears when you see the view!

Amazing views, weird layout

Good proximity to visitors center, a cafe, store, amphitheater and many drivable views. Also quick 2 miles out of the park to the small town of Interior for gas,  etc.

Toilets were clean enough for a campsite,  but PAY showers were less clean (reasonably priced for pay shower and water was hot and pressure great...I just never wanted myself or any of my belongings to touch the nasty shower curtain and you want to keep those flip flops on). 

Weird layout for those with pop outs into the street as this is not a pull in place. You just parallel park on the street in a small aside like a bus stop. Many RVers had chairs in the street when their vehicle provided shade that direction. We tent camped and it seemed much more fitting for that.

That being said, the views are amazing from the camp. The night program at the amphitheater was so entertaining that we went twice!  We saw buffalo, deer, mountain goats and big horn sheep while hiking or driving. There is no shade anywhere in the park unless you time the sun and some rocks in early morning or late afternoon. They do have partial covers for the picnic tables positioned in a way that blocks noon to evening sun. Also, the sturdy wood/metal covers had many hammocks hung on them- good way to relax in the afternoon heat.

We stayed 3 nights and it was enough time to drive all scenic roads, see all vistas, go to Wall Drug, and day hike all designated trails in park (backpacking you follow game trails or dried creeks and need no permit or reservation).

Convenient location, better for tent camping

The campsites are located to the left or right of the road. You parallel park on the road next to your campsite. We had a small trailer and a tent. There are covered picnic tables at each site. Did not use pay shower but bathrooms were clean. 


Adequate for safe overnight rest and launching point to see this part of Badlands. 

Nice campsites.  in open area of the Badlands National Park

Desert Camping

Nice campground. Lots of water spigots, but some did not work. Sites are a bit close together, but there are shelters over the picnic tables.
Had a beautiful sunrise and sunset. Full moon so not much stargazing. At sunrise, I had to choose between watching the sun and watching 3 deer next to my site.


Fall sunset and sunrise

The campground is strange for RVs and Trailers the sites are all bump outs, not full pull through.  Neither of the baths had working blow dryers for hands.  The  dump station flush his was taped in several spots and had the threaded male end coupler yanked off and laying on the ground making it useless for tank flush.  Clearly the concessionaire isn’t doing needed maintenance.

Flies are out of control as the garbage areas are filthy around the dumpsters. 

Cut our stay short a day to move in.
I wouldn’t camp here again. 

Needs maintenance 

Relatively private site as most sites are behind you. Beautiful view of prairie ans badlands in the distance. Picnic table shelter is positioned so you have shade in the afternoon. Shelter doubled up as a great place to hang our hammocks. Careful it can get very windy here!

Amazing views 

It's all about location. This campground is right in the badlands, has beautiful views all around, and is easy to get in and out of. It was nice being able to pull in with our motorhome and vehicle in tow, hook up (no sewer), and settle in.

Best campground for visiting the Badlands

I had a great experience. I showed up kind of late on a Wednesday night. Wow what I view I woke up too and the campgrounds were full so Im glad I called ahead. Deer were roaming around in the campground right next to my tent. I could hear coyotes howling in the distance and the stars were amazing(Seen 2 shooting stars). The shower and bathroom facility was really clean.  Overall it was a great experience and Badlands is a beautiful place.

Great Site with a View

Absolutely stunning location to set up camp, I’d recommend at least 2 nights. 

Views

Badlands National Park is a breathtaking treasure, and this site is smart enough to know that. 

Built on an open plain, it offers a 360° view of the rocky hills, arranged so that nothing spoils that. 

The site itself is simple: shaded picnic tables at each site, but no campfires (propane fires allowed while cooking). 

There are toilet buildings with plumbing and showers, and a sink for washing dishes. However, when I was there, the water faucets for drinking wither didn’t work or provided only drips. 

There’s a soda machine on site, and the gift shop/restaurant is 1/2 mile down the road. 

The campground that knows to get out of the way

Federal campground Sites are adequately spaced with paved pull out rv parking, mostly, but not all level. 

Convenient and easy

One of my favorite places to camp. I always roll in kind of late tho coming from Nebraska on my way to Deadwood area. Facilities are always clean, the stars are always beautiful and the yotes are always howling. I’m definitely going to be back.

Absolutely love this spot

We had our travel trailer in a dry site. Camper parking is just along the road which can be tight here and there. Ours had a lot of space for parking. Great views.

Typical National Park campground with a view at every site.

Basic windblock and picnic table. Great for hammocks. Alot better views than the "free" campground.

Nice facilities 

Nice Campground within Badlands NP. Was nice and quiet , loved the covered picnic table it was 104 the day we stayed do much appreciated shade. The bathrooms were ok , you have to pay for shower think it was 75cents for 5 minutes. Would stay again for its convenience within the park. 

Very Nice Campground 

You will have beautiful sunrise and sunset. If summer you will get up early to see as it is too hot to be out hike during the day. There is no shade except for the picnic table cover. Bathrooms are clean. It is a pay shower and one temperature for the water. Bring lots of water you will drink it. Great programs provided by the park at night at amphitheater. 

Beautiful sunrise

Everything about this campground is perfect. There are showers, water, bathrooms closeby, considerate neighbors (we lucked out) and minimal to no noise from the road. Showers cost quarters, but it’s still super cheap. Not to mention, there’s wildlife if you’re quiet enough!

BOOK 👏 IT 👏 NOW

Much if the campground is dry camping.  There are some with electric, but we did not have one of those.  We were fortunate to have overcast weather so it wasn’t too hot so didn’t even need the generator.  The landscape is amazing and we enjoyed a trip through the park stopping at various overlooks.  We were fortunate to be placed in the group section, site 1, but there were no other campers in this area!  SO quiet!!

Beautiful Spot

The people here were very easy to get along with and the campsite was clean and quiet even though it was completely full. 

Great place to camp well viewing the Badlands

Very windy but if you’re inside a hard vehicle it’s not too bad. Flushing toilets and water available. Nice to walk around in and amazing views at sunset. 

Windy

Very scenic, located in the Badlands NP.  Close to the visitor center and many trails.  The convenience of being within the park is great but the sites are small and in close proximity of your neighbors.  Paid showers, restrooms can get rather untidy because of the crowds.



Cedar Pass Campground 

Easy access to sites on two main loops. Bathroom &amp; bathhouse are standard NP. Cedar grove lodge has a shop &amp; cafe a short walk away. We had a great time here. 

Great views

The Badlands is a site to behold with its unique hills. Its full of history too of the western outlaws and modern  history with an actual Minuteman missile site right next door. 

There is nothing special about the camp sites. There is 30/50 amps at most RV sites but no water. The potable water and dump is available at the entrance to the campsite.  The park cost $30+ to get in and at least $42 per night to camp. Showers will cost you too.  It was very early season and there was little else to do.  Park service  personnel were very helpful and friendly. Don’t come hear before May 

Nature odditty at it’s best

We were here in April and they were in the middle of transiting from dry to wet, as far as running water. The sign said no water, but there was water! Flush toilets all clean. Only the small loop was open. It was super windy, I don't know how the tent campers managed! Some sites are pull in of varying depths, others have the slightest widening of the road to pull onto.

Caught in transition

We reserved a campsite with electric two months prior to our visit. We arrived about 5:00 pm and were greeted by the camp host informing us that there were no sites available as they had overbooked. We were told that we could get a refund at the park lodge. The lodge told us that the overbooking has been a problem ever since Aramark bought out the prior park concessionaire. Apparently 50 electric sites are offered online for booking even though only 5 actually exist.

Photos of Cedar Pass Campground — Badlands National Park

Real photos from real campers