Best Dispersed Camping near Badlands National Park, SD

We enjoyed two nights at the Badlands Boondocking Area. We stayed at the northernmost area of the camping and enjoyed the view down the entirety of the wall. The winds can get really high so don’t park too close to the edge. This was a great location for visiting Badlands National Park and going to Wall Drug.

This is a great dispersed site right next to The Badlands National Park. In October, there were only about 20 campers at most (lots of available space). The views from here are amazing, as well as sunrise and sunset. It can get quite windy. Very quiet!

The views are beautiful and the area is quiet and secluded, overall would be a great boondocking location if you have an RV. For a rooftop tent camper like myself, it is extremely exposed and windy. No shade whatsoever.

Fantastic views No facilities but worth checking it out for a night while in Badlands Unlimited space Sage Creek also free camping with 22 sites No big RVs We travel in a Ford Transit 19

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.

Free! Best views in Bad Lands NP! Free! Great cell signal! Oh, it’s free, too! Best spot I’ve stayed in the past week, no bad spots to be found! A must-do place to boondock if you are passing thru!

Free camping right by Pinnacle entrance of the Badlands...cant beat free! It is hot up there in the middle of summer though a breeze comes through ..we were in the 80s, so I can't imagine what it will be like when it gets to 100 degrees. Regardless, I recommend this spot if you like free and want a lovely view of the badlands.

There were a lot of RVs campers and people in tents, but still tons of spots to choose from!!!

We were on “The Wall” dispersed camping near the tall antennas south of Wall, SD, just off Hwy 240. Plenty of room for everyone. No services, no cost. Gorgeous scenery.

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.

This beautiful place overlooks the badlands. We entered on the second road right by the cell tower. We heard that turning left at the wall was a smoother route. Even though the place was full we kept going and found plenty of spots to camp. We choose one opposite the edge but it was too small and angled for someone to camp there. This gave us a perfect spot to set up our chairs and enjoy the view. This is dispersed camping so there are no services. Pack in/pack out is important. This also means that folks have dogs off leash but they were respectful of keeping their dogs away from our reactive dog. This is a beautiful, free gem of a place to stay at.

This is one of the coolest places I've camped, easily! There are plenty of spots right along the top of the "wall" that offer views of the land and sunrises that can't be beat. There's a huge cell tower there so service is actually great. Located right outside Badlands National Park and free of charge, this is place is beyond cool. Keep an eye on the weather if you're in a tent or a tall rig though, wind storms can roll in quickly and are incredibly strong (see the cool part about camping on a cliff turn into a potential disaster) so just stay aware. 100% worth it. Also, no toilets so prep for that :).

As others have said in so many words, Wow!!  If the stark beauty of this place doesn’t blow you away, the wind might! The sheer force of it was humbling. 

This is a dispersed camping site located on a ledge overlooking the Badlands. This configuration makes for some serious winds which are evidenced in the rock that’s been sculpted in the area. 

The location is about 6 miles south of Wall, SD, but make sure to get the GPS coordinates.  The drive into the dispersed camping area is on a gravel service road which was doable for my 24’ class C (see video), but I took it very slowly because there are rutted areas. This spot is convenient to lots of attractions in the area. Many folks with toads would safely leave their RV’s during the day to go and sightsee. 

My favorite memories:  the hiking and star gazing! 

My not so favorite memory: while stargazing in flip flops something bit my big toe and drew blood. It was the screech heard round SD! NOTE: Wear closed toed shoes and don’t park too close to the edge.

The only negative I have to say is it does get really crowded (the reason for 4 stars)!!! They views are amazing, it is quiet. Close to the Badlands National Park and of course Wall Drug

This was an our first time dispersed camping so we weren’t sure exactly what to expect. There were lots of campers (probably 20 other cars), but the views are unmatched. Waking up at dawn and watching the sunrise over the Badlands is breathtaking! Really easy access. We saw people with all size trailers parked. Lots of space to spread out. Not much for privacy, but with views like that, who cares!

Nothing beats the experience of boondocking at the wall. Waking up to this view is a must.

Great place to spend the night, right outside the north entrance to to badlands national park. Ton of Ridgeline spots for RV/van camping, not so many even spots. It was too windy for my RTT on the ridge, ended up spending the night in the basin.

This is a dispersed camping location. The only ameneties are what you bring. The view is great. Any size RV can make it down the dirt road. Most every camp location will require the RV to be leveled. Arrive in early afternoon so you can select your most desirable location. Easiest directions to area is to go south on 240 off of I90 at Wall, SD. Drive for approximately 7 mi and look to the east. You will see the RVs on the rim.

Right outside Badlands National Park (maybe the most underrated National Park in the country) and perched on the edge of a cliff, this place is surreal. The views are incredible. This wind is ferocious and mostly constant, but it's worth it. We were serenaded to sleep by coyotes.

The road in is a little sketchy but 4wd probably isn't required. Low clearance vehicles may have problems but with some guts you can probably make it.

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