Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Black Hills National Forest, SD has a lot to offer. Black Hills National Forest is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Black Hills National Forest camping trip.
"My Son and I stayed here while visiting Mount Rushmore and the surrounding area's other attractions. There's a lot of dispersed spots here but most spots don't have a fire ring that I could see."
"The road to get in was very rocky and steep! We decided to go out a different way and it was even worse then the way in. Luckily our promaster van was able to get us out safely."
"Black Hills can be hard to find cheap or free camping during busy season. Great free camp down a gravel/dirt road with cows on both sides and one in the road (it moved eventually)."
"We've been fulltiming since January and this was the first place we actually stayed the whole 14 day limit."
"Was easy to drive in. The road wasn’t too rough. Got there in the dark was able to find a spot, can be hard to see the turn off to the sites at night."
"The turn off from the highway is easy to find. Smaller trailers or overlanding setups are best here. It may not be so kind for getting trailers turned around."
"The location by the road has a pull-through and could fit a decent size camper. Get there early as it's taken most nights ."
"Nothing special, but the location is good ! Stayed at the first spot when you pull in because I didn’t want to take my sedan up either bumpy hills. Would recommend 4wd for any site other than 1"
"We were in a camper van and the road wasn’t bad, we didn’t need 4WD. There were a few other cars that went by that were camping too, but it was very quiet and peaceful other than that."
"Very close to Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Rapid City and Hill City. Lake Sheridan was a great place to go cool off. Very dispersed camping. Pack in Pack out. No cell service."
"Lots of trees and shade. We came in on a Friday evening and found a spot no problem. Close to Keystone, Mt Rushmore, and Crazy Horse."
"I was able to drive to this spot easily in a car for a quick overnight stop."
"Need a 4wd truck to get up the hill. Nice and flat when you get to the top. We stayed near the mine site sign and hunted for agate rocks. Cows were kinda loud in the evening before dark."
"Notes: Don't camp at the first sites you see driving further. There's better ones I assure you. Signs are posted everywhere, stating no campfires allowed."
"There are other dispersed camping sites along the way as well. This spot butts up right next to a cliff with the Boxelder Creek running below and gives good views of the Black Hills to the south."
"I spent my 14 days here. It is a bit noisy because of the trails used by off-road vehicles."
RangerThis spot is at the end of a forest road that runs west of Nemo, SD. There are other dispersed camping sites along the way as well. This spot butts up right next to a cliff with the Boxelder Creek running below and gives good views of the Black Hills to the south. No amenities at all here. A high clearance vehicle will most likely be needed to get back to this spot.
GuideMy Son and I stayed here while visiting Mount Rushmore and the surrounding area's other attractions. There's a lot of dispersed spots here but most spots don't have a fire ring that I could see. There's only a few spots that a high clearance vehicle might be required but most of the road can be explored without one.
This is a pack in and pack out site with no facilities; no running water, no bathrooms, nothing. Make sure you bring what you need with you.
Weather was great, very mild. Air was fresh and crisp.
We are planning on staying here again in the future because of it's close proximity to everything and my 6 year old loved it!
TravelerWell-kept road, several spots to park and camp. Some beautiful spots overlooking Deadwood. 5-10 minutes from town. We had a 4WD truck with rooftop tent. High clearance is not necessary for road.
ScoutWas easy to drive in. The road wasn’t too rough. Got there in the dark was able to find a spot, can be hard to see the turn off to the sites at night. Didn’t see many places I would want to pull a camper into but great for ground tents, rooftop tents and camper vans.
GuideWe were in a camper van and the road wasn’t bad, we didn’t need 4WD. There were a few other cars that went by that were camping too, but it was very quiet and peaceful other than that. There were a lot of places to pull off that were flat for a tent or camper, I’d definitely recommend!
LegendThere are a few dispersed camping spots along this road which also holds the trailhead for Mt. Roosevelt Friendship Tower. There was one pull through site that has no campfire signs and then two or three other spots. We seemed to be lucky and got the last open spot. We got here around 4 pm. The site we got was beautiful and had a lot of room for us to pitch a tent. Plenty of trees to go pee in but also an open spot where we could stargaze through the tent. There was some traffic on the road, more than you would think for such a windy gravel road. The first part of the road up until the trailhead had quite a bit of washboard which was a little scary on the sharp curves with steep drop offs. Enough Verizon cell service to text and make calls. Enough AT&T service to get WiFi on our SubaruLink. No water that we saw that we could use or filter. Had some people pull into our spot at different times not knowing it was taken. 9:30 pm was the last one.
GuideWe drove down this road and found a nice area to sleep for a night. The road to get in was very rocky and steep! We decided to go out a different way and it was even worse then the way in. Luckily our promaster van was able to get us out safely. I definitely recommend a high clearance vehicle for this road.
ScoutSeveral spots along the Bob Marshall camp road to pull off and camp. We went a bit more off the path by turning right, going up past a water treatment plant and parking near the end of the road. It was secluded and pretty. Lots of coyotes in the area. No camp fires when we were there due to dry conditions. The road after the turn off was in rough shape. I wouldn’t take a trailer up it, but we were in a large SUV and it was just fine. A great place to disperse camp in the state park. We stayed two nights.
TravelerDispersed Camping off the main road thru Custer State Park that is National Forest. Turn on the road that marks the Bob Marshall Camp. You pass a water treatment area and go thru the gate. It is open to vehicles in the summer and equestrian and hike in during the winter. Road is rough but was passable in our truck. We towed in a small teardrop but I wouldn't recommend a large rig. There are several areas to set up camp but pack in and pack out! No water sources spotted so bring enough in with you (didn't even see any water for filtering). Saw a preexisting stone fire pit from past campers too. Super quiet and near all the great things of Custer. We did experience biting flies. Coordinates: 43.7851324, -103.5041771
Dispersed camping near Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the freedom of camping without the constraints of traditional campgrounds. With a variety of locations to choose from, you can find the perfect spot to unwind and explore the stunning landscapes.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Black Hills National Forest is RD 356 Dispersed Site Black Hills National Forest with a 4.8-star rating from 26 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 34 dispersed camping locations near Black Hills National Forest, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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