We all love roasting marshmallows over a campfire—and you can often still do that while cabin camping in Buffalo Gap. Finding a cozy cabin in South Dakota has never been easier. You're sure to find the perfect cabin rental for your Buffalo Gap camping adventure.
Elk Mountain Campground, straddles the edge of a ponderosa pine forest and open prairie, offering unique opportunities to view the diverse flora and fauna of the southern Black Hills. These campsites are available in both forested and open environments. Campsites may be reserved all year through Recreation.gov. Reservations may be made 6 months in advance of your stay and same day reservations are available. NOTE: This is a cashless campground. Only credit cards will be accepted through Recreation.gov or the Recreation.gov mobile app.
Hiking at Wind Cave View rolling prairie vistas, ponderosa forests, and see wildlife in its natural environment. Wind Cave National Park has over 30 miles of hiking trails on the surface and provides visitors the opportunity to view pristine Black Hills scenery. Find out which trail is the best for you. Pet Friendly Hikes If you are traveling with a furry friend, Wind Cave has two pet friendly trails. The Prairie Vista trail leaves from the Visitor Center and the Elk Mountain Trail leaves from the amphitheater at the Elk Mountain Campground. Both trails are approximatly 1 mile in length. Become a Wind Cave Junior Ranger Kids of all ages can become a Wind Cave Junior Ranger. Complete the activity book, learn about the park, and take the pledge to earn a Junior Ranger badge.
Wind Cave National Park protects two very different worlds - one deep within the earth, the other a sunlit world of many resources. Bison, elk, and other wildlife roam the rolling prairie grasslands and forested hillsides of one of America's oldest national parks. Visit Wind Cave's Natural Entrance You can still see the largest natural opening into Wind Cave without going on a tour. This small hole is one of the only known natural entrances into the cave. Lakota oral tradition speaks of how the first bison and humans emerged from this deeply spiritual place.
This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (605) 745-4600.
$45 / night
Anyone who has camped at Sylvan Lake campground in South Dakota’s Custer State Park knows that Black Hills camping doesn’t get much better than this. Sylvan Lake Campground is one of eight designated campgrounds in Custer State Park, and one of the best public land destinations for camping in the Black Hills of southwest South Dakota. The region’s expanse of dense forests, rolling prairies and granite mountain peaks (the very same peaks that were used to form Mount Rushmore) offer photo-snapping tourists and laced-up explorers alike a chance to dive into the ecology of the American West. For campers looking for a comfortable and convenient basecamp for diving into the region’s scenery and activities, Sylvan Lake campground is the place to be for many reasons. First, the 40-site campground offers access to the popular swimming spot of Sylvan Lake, where campers might feel inclined to spend their entire stay on the rocky beach of this scenic body of water. There’s also access to multiple hiking trails, suitable for all skill levels, including a trail that takes you to the curious and beautiful Black Elk Peak, the highest summit-able point east of the Rocky Mountains. Both a family-friendly spot and a hardcore adventurer’s playground, Sylvan Lake is Black Hills camping for everyone.
Centrally located in the park along US Hyw 16A near the Visitor Center, Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center, Tatanka Barn, and State Game Lodge, the Game Lodge Campground offers a bit of everything. Grace Coolidge Creek flows through the campground into a swimming beach near the playground.
Open: April 1 - November 15 with full facilities (may change based on weather conditions) Open House Weekend - October 1 with cold water laundry November 16 - March 31 with comfort station closed, vault toilets and water hydrant available
Located south of the Visitor Center, near the junction of US Hwy 16A and Wildlife Loop Road
Staffed: Camp attendant and on-site campground host.
Sanitation & Water: Flush toilets and showers (2 facilities), dump station, drinking water, vault toilets
ADA & Accessibility: Camping Cabins GL 5 or Campsites (electric hookup) 3E and 26E
State Game Lodge is ¼ mile west of the campground. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, State Game Lodge served as the Summer White House for President Calvin Coolidge in 1927. Coolidge General Store is 1 mile west of the campground.
Amenities: Full service restaurant, Buffalo Safari Jeep rides, lodging and resort cabins, gift shop, laundromat, fishing licenses, convenience store & gift shop, fuel
$26 - $55 / night
Camp under shady ponderosa pines in a quiet mountain setting. Hot Springs / Black Hills KOA is located at the southern end of the Black Hills, near Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park, the Mammoth Site, Evans Plunge, the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, Windcross Conservancy and the shops in historic downtown Hot Springs. Daily breakfasts are available to start your days off right (seasonal). All sites have picnic tables. Cabins have air-conditioning, ceiling fans, heaters, grills and porch swings. You'll also find free Wi-Fi and cable TV at all RV Sites. Enjoy the large heated pool, mini golf, basketball, volleyball, playground, community fire pit and recreation room.
Spokane Creek sits in a valley on 24 picturesque acres just 7 miles south of Keystone. Spokane Creek offers a wide variety of accommodations from creek side tent sites (with or without water & electricity) to level, grassy RV sites (full or partial hookup) to cabins featuring multiple levels of comfort, size and convenience.
Located on the scenic Norbeck Byway away from the areas busy highways yet just one mile North of the historic city of Custer as you enter the heart of the Black Hills. Your adventure begins the minute you leave our gates. Just minutes from Crazy Horse, Sylvan Lake, The Needles, Jewel Cave, and Custer State Park. Easy access to Mt. Rushmore, Deadwood, Sturgis, and all the Black Hills Area attractions. 100 unique sites situated in the tall, cool pines that make camping in the Black Hills an experience not soon forgotten. Sites range from full service to rustic and from private to group and family friendly, so that everyone can have the camping or RV experience they desire. All the amenities with the cozy feeling of camping in a National Forest campground.
Custer State Park has five scenic lakes, each peaceful places to relax and enjoy the reflection of large granite boulders, fresh scented pines, and brilliant blue skies on the water. Out of these five lakes, Stockade Lake is the park’s largest and offers the most amenities for campers, making it an ideal location to explore the Black Hills whether in a large RV or a solo tent. Stockade Lake is also the only lake in Custer State Park that allows for all types of boats, so whether you want to make a little wake or canoe to a quiet cove, you’ll enjoy this beautiful opportunity to be out on the water.
The roughly 2-mile Stockade Lake Trail is located close to the Stockade Lake South Campground. This loop climbs up through a pine forest and offers picturesque views of the lake, as well as the famous Cathedral Spires along Needles Highway. Campers also come to Stockade Lake for its swimming beach, playground, picnic areas, and close proximity to historic points of interest, such as the Gordon Stockade, the site of the first gold discovery in the Black Hills.
$15 - $35 / night
Guide
Stayed a night in early November. Didn’t see any notice that the bathroom we picked a spot near was closed for the season… that meant a really long cold walk to the pit toilet. Quite a few shady sites, a babbling brook nearby, a flock of turkeys wandering through most of the morning. While the campground was mostly empty, we had neighbors directly adjacent with at least two dead deer in the back of their pickup for more than 24 hours, with crows coming by for snacks… kinda gross.
Scout
Blue Bell Campground truly captures the essence of a classic camping experience, with its beautiful surroundings and well-maintained facilities. The campground offers easy access to scenic trails, wildlife viewing, and nearby attractions like Sylvan Lake and Needles Highway, making it perfect for both relaxation and adventure. Plus, amenities like clean restrooms, picnic tables, and fire pits add convenience without taking away from the rustic charm. Whether you're there to hike, uno online spot wildlife, or just unwind by the campfire, it’s a wonderful spot to connect with nature in Custer State Park.
Scout
Beautiful scenery with loads to do. The drive from Mt Rushmore to the campsite was incredible
play uno online there with my friends too.
Guide
Clean small campground. Probably really busy state park in summer months. End of loop only trails and wildlife behind us.
Guide
Great campsite nestled in the hills. Conveniently located near Crazy Horse monument (literally, you can see Crazy Horse from the campground; see attached photos), and less than 20 miles from Mount Rushmore. You can access Mickelson Bike Trail from the property. Also, has many hiking and walking trails for your use. Fresh artesian water. The water was delicious! We were tenting and the ground was perfect for setup. Echo Valley campground has the option for dry site, water site, electric site, or water and electric site, for all travelers whether tent, RV, or camper. Has a shower house with bathrooms, and washer/dryer setup. Washer/dryer were out of order when we were there. Shower house has antiquated controls. We think owner is working on updating everything because bathrooms had new sinks and toilets (at least the women’s did; men’s had new sinks). Assuming it was the owner who checked us in, on a Friday late afternoon. He was humorous, gregarious, and welcoming. Welcoming to pets. During our two night stay almost every other camper had pets. Our only complaint was we couldn’t have a fire because the whole area was on an extreme fire danger risk. Not the sites fault, but that was our only real complaint
On a final note: if you want to stay at a modern site, with all the amenities and distractions, Echo Valley is not for you. This campsite was serene, beautiful, peaceful. There was enough access to the local environment, you didn’t need to go see the local sites to remain engaged and entertained.
Legend
Elk Mnt -Wind Cave NP 10/24
(72 yr olds in 27’ trailer.)
Overall Rating: 4 for stopover convenience, setting, and exploring the NP
Price 2024: $ 6(the off season, no water price) w interagency pass
Security: no
Usage during visit: light - this cg is shutting down in a few days. Only 1 loop is now open.
Visual Privacy Between Adjacent Sites: no
Site Spacing: pull over sites in Loop B were 50+ feet apart.
Pad surface: gravel
Reservations: yes
Campground Noise: quiet
Outside Road Noise: none
Through Traffic in campground: none
Electric Hookup: no
Sewer Hookup: no
Dump Station: no
Potable Water Available: yes, but currently turned off
Bathroom: pit toilet is clean and open.
Showers: no
Pull Throughs: Some pullovers- in b loop have nice view of grassland rolling hills. However, not all will allow for a driver’s side slide. Our site, #15 did have room,barely.
Cell Service (AT&T): no bars.
Setting: attractive rolling grasslands and pine forest.
Recent Weather: highs in the 70s.
Solar: yes
Insects: none
Host: none this time of year.
Rig Size: some sites will probably allow for a 40’ or so trailer. Check carefully when reserving on rec dot gov.
Sites: 16, 20, 18, 15: I like these pull over sites, because they have a nice view of the rolling grasslands. However, in our site, number 15, we were able to barely get our slide out without it protruding over the campground road. Some of the other pullover sites in B loop offer less room for a safe slide out usage. Other loops have wider pullover sites for trailers with slide outs. I took pictures of some of these sites with their numbered posts.
Ranger
Definitely glamping. Awesome experience. Full amenities on site, even a little view of Mount Rushmore from the lobby’s deck.
GuideWas not sure driving in but old mate running the show was funny and friendly. Showers were interesting but all plumbing in US is weird and inconsistent about how you operate it. Laundry was out of action. I think this guy running the show is trying very hard, he’s too cheap ($45) so always chasing his tail. Real close to crazy horse so nothing really to complain about. Wish him the best.
RangerClean restrooms and shower buildings. Coin laundry on site. Several sites were shaded. Garbage, recycling and dump station on site. Playground for kids, fishing pond and walking path right from campground. Campground is within walking distance to the actual Game Lodge and the park visitor center. Sites are adequately spaced. Cell signal is good. Minimal road noise, depending on your site. There are cabins on site. A couple of vault toilets too. Deer roam the campground. Fence around the campground to keep the buffalo out. Convenient to Mt Rushmore, Needles Eye Tunnel and other Black Hills sites. Wildlife Loop road delivered on a giant herd of buffalo and other animals. Trout stream near the campground.
Scout
Quick easy check in. Helpful with a mini cabin when out tent got full if water in heavy blowing rain. We would definitely return.
Scout
Don't judge this place when you first drive up. The sites are quite level. The staff are very friendly. Sites get nice morning sun, but ample shade in the evening. The laundry room was very clean and up to date. It's very quiet. There is a nice Rainbow brand play set for the kids.
It's a convenient, central location for a lot of activities.
Traveler
We will be back. We stayed in a wooded lot up top in the park. The bathrooms were well maintained. We really enjoyed the location to all the area attractions.
We arrived on Labor Day and were very disappointed that the pool was closed. Despite what there website states the pool closes on Labor Day. Management did make it right by us though and we got to enjoy a local pool in close proximity.
All and all we will be back to the area and we will plan to stay here again.
Guide
Stayed for one night. The tent site was great came with shelter, table, grill, and power connection. Close to Bathrooms and Showers which were clean. Is close to road though still feels remote. Very peaceful and quite area.
TravelerWe stayed here for 2 nights and had a great time. Everything is clean and the site we stayed at was located under trees with lots of distance to the next neighbors. On the site you can hear some of the traffic from the highway but that is still acceptable. We would always come back here again.
Traveler
This campground has recently been remodeled with all new pads, electric and water. Only a couple miles to the west entrance of Custer SP. 3.5 miles from Custer. Owner and staff all extremely nice and helpful. Nice camp store. Had a hot air balloon land in the field next to us one morning!
Scout
Nice campground with ample tree-lined spots for tents and RVs. Plenty of private shower/toilet rooms included with paid stay. On-premise general store and cafe. Most importantly: incredibly helpful, friendly staff to make your stay a memorable one!
Legend
Nice layout. FHU at $32 + tax is reasonable for area. 3 or 4 miles north of Custer SD
Laundry available Showers also - probably for tent sites
Fairly close to highway-but by sleep time there was not much activity
Did not use facilities. Did not use their WiFi nor deploy Starlink as Verizon coverage is excellent
Guide
Stayed 7-30-24
If you like KOAs, you will love this place. Big, super clean and nice, all you can eat pancakes for $3.50 and play grounds for the kids (big kids also)
If you don't like KOAs because you want to camp by a quiet lake back 20 miles back on a dirt road, that's great but you don't want to stay here.
Scout
Came in here last night and the water point in the sites are extremely low for campers and you’ll have issues hooking up your water purifier and other gadgets. The pool is dirty as well. We woke up this morning and we don’t have water at our campsite. The lady at the front desk said they hit a water main and unknown when it’ll come back online. We were in the middle of a shower and washing dishes so we can leave as we’re on a time schedule.
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TravelerFriendly reception and fair price for showers and restrooms, stay, and more. Easy in and out.
Guide
I feel lucky to have scooped up two nights last minute. The camp hosts were wonderful, the lake was beautiful, and the campers were quiet and respectful. I was blown away by the bathrooms and showers. They were spotless and dry…seriously I’ve never seen camp bath houses so clean! They had a big floor fan to keep the moisture down too. I highly recommend this campground! The camp host also told me of the spot across from me being open for the next night so I could move there and spend an extra night!
GuideGreat location for Custer and surrounding area and good value. Site was a little small with fire pit set on a bank so not ideal to sit around. Not a problem for us as we spent most of the time touring the area. Picnic table was rotten so we were unable to use it, again not a problem for us. We took a bike ride down into the valley, it is very beautiful.
Legend
Very nice KOA. Great staff. Nice sites under pine trees. Pool, cafe, and laundry facilities are well maintained. Will stay here again.
Scout
I recently had the pleasure of staying at the Custer Crazy Horse Campground and visiting the Cabin 13 Coffee Shop, and I must say, both experiences were exceptional. The Custer Crazy Horse Campground is a gem for anyone looking to enjoy the natural beauty of South Dakota. The campground is well-maintained, with clean facilities and spacious sites that cater to both RVs and tents. The serene environment and stunning views of the Black Hills made for a relaxing and memorable stay. The staff were incredibly friendly and papa's games accommodating, ensuring that all our needs were met. The location is perfect for exploring the nearby attractions, including the Crazy Horse Memorial and Custer State Park.
Guide
The Bearded Buffalo Resort is still under construction as of July 1, 2024 but let me tell you, it is in a GREAT location, it’s going to be amazing when finished (actually, it already is!) and the owners are just wonderful! We were taken care of from beginning to end of our stay. The campsite was in such a pretty setting - we were close to town but also felt like we could enjoy a little nature. We saw deer just behind the campground both days of our stay.
Located a short drive from Downtown Custer, easy drive to Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park and Sylvan Lake. Would absolutely stay here again!
Ranger
Friendly staff. Very clean bathrooms and showers. Sites well maintained. Lots of amenities. Only complaint are sites a little close.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Buffalo Gap, SD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Buffalo Gap, SD is Elk Mountain Campground — Wind Cave National Park with a 4.3-star rating from 41 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Buffalo Gap, SD?
TheDyrt.com has all 62 cabin camping locations near Buffalo Gap, SD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
