Looking for the ultimate pet-friendly camping experience near Buffalo Gap? Finding a place to camp in South Dakota with your dog is easier than ever. These scenic and easy-to-reach Buffalo Gap campsites are perfect for camping with dogs.
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
$20 / 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
The granite peaks and rolling plains are calling. The clear mountain waters are inviting and the open ranges are waiting to be discovered. Bring your family to Custer State Park and let yourself run wild.
Encompassing 71,000 acres in the Black Hills, Custer State Park is home to abundant wildlife and adventure; camping, hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, or relaxing, there’s something here for everyone.
Feeding and disturbing park wildlife are against park regulations. While the animals within the park are used by visitors and vehicles, they are still wild animals. Please remain in your vehicle or stay at least 100 yards from bison, elk, and other animals.
$30 / 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.
Located 10 miles south of Hill City, South Dakota, Horsethief Lake Campground is a delightful setting for visitors seeking recreation and relaxation in Black Hills National Forest. This campground is 2 miles from Mount Rushmore National Memorial and adjacent to Horsethief Lake. Sites are tucked into a forest of towering ponderosa and lodgepole pine.
Black Hills National Forest offers visitors a multitude of recreational opportunites throughout all seasons. Hiking, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and riding off-highway vehicles are popular in summer and early autumn. Winter landscapes are ideal for snowshoeing, skiing and snowmobiling. Hundreds of miles of trails and roads offer a variety of terrain for mountain bikers. Hikers and bikers can access the nearby George S. Mickelson Trail, which traverses over 100 miles through the heart of the Black Hills. The majority of the trail follows an abandoned railroad branch line and includes 4 tunnels, over 100 converted railroad bridges, and 15 established trailheads. The trail surface is packed gravel, traversing mountain, meadow, and forest terrain. The trail is named in honor of the former South Dakota governor who crusaded for the trail. For those seeking higher elevations, a day-long trek to the summit of nearby Black Elk Peak is worth the effort. Black Elk Peak is the highest natural point in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. Most of the summit is bare granite and offers expansive views of the surrounding area. An old stone tower at the top(Harney Lookout Tower), once used as a fire lookout, is still open to hikers.
Located in western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming, Black Hills National Forest encompasses nearly 1.25 million acres of rugged rock formations, canyons and gulches, open grassland parks, tumbling streams, deep blue lakes, and unique caves. Derived from the Lakota language, the words "Paha Sapa," meaning "hills that are black," honor the dark, pine-covered hills rising several thousand feet above the surrounding prairie. Wildlife in the area abounds. Bighorn sheep navigate mountainous terrain, while elk, deer and pronghorn gather in forests and prairies. Bald eagles, hawks, osprey, peregrine falcon, and hundreds of other bird species can be found in the forest, especially along streams, lakes and rivers.
For facility specific information, please call (605) 574-4402.
Explore Mount Rushmore National Memorial, host to almost 3 million visitors a year from across the country and around the world. Visitors may want to inquire about any Independence Day Celebrations taking place on the Mountain. Possible day trips include Custer State Park with its many Buffalo and other wildlife, Crazy Horse Monument and Wind Cave National Park as well as Jewel Cave which is the second longest cave in the world at 159.29 miles. It features sparkling calcite crystals and other rare formations, as well as some of the largest concentrations of passageways in the world..
No refunds will be given for weather related events.
$26 - $28 / night
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.
Guide
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. 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!
Guide
We came in one afternoon and there was hardly any sites available. It was beautiful tho!
Scout
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.
ScoutI loved this campground, perfect for day-by-day planning. Here’s a quick tip: book your first night online, then use the landline on-site to extend your stay without extra fees. It’s a remote spot with basic amenities—pit toilets, water spigots, and a nearby shower up by the lake. Read More
ScoutI loved this campground, especially for planning one day at a time. Quick tip: book online for your first night, and then use the on-site landline to extend as needed—no extra fees for adding nights this way. It’s a quiet, remote spot with basic amenities: pit toilets, water spigots, and a shower up the road by the lake. Read More
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.
Scout
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Guide
Clean small campground. Probably really busy state park in summer months. End of loop only trails and wildlife behind us.
Traveler
I found the place easily and the spots were well apart from each other. The weather was great camping in the pine trees, very quiet and cozy. Will definitely camp at again.
Traveler
Lots of neat spots. The roads can be iffy. I would suggest scouting them first before dragging a trailer down them.
Traveler
Lots of cool spots if you can get to them. Once you leave the gravel the roads are hit and miss. You’re not taking a trailer down most of them if any.
Scout
Several 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.
Scout
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Traveler
Loved this area, saw many deer near sunset, very peaceful and quiet. Tent camping it was easy to find a site since we didn’t go too far, but if you have an big RV you might need to go further down the road. Otherwise very pretty especially with the creek right next to 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.
Traveler
Unable to reserve online for same night. Called and assured space available never asked name, etc. Luckily the spot was near back of campground with very short walk to stunning view. All sites gravel with picnic tables. Sites are close together but due to early Oct, they tried to park RVs every other space in middle of campground. Many long term residents around outsides of park. 2 small Dog runs in front; grass dog walking area in back. Next to Fort Hays, home of $0.99 cowboy pancake breakfast and Dances with Wolves film set. Convenient as Mt Rushmore is only 20 miles & 36 miles to Crazy Horse Memorial. Extremely clean toilet and bath house!!
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.
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.
Scout
This is a nice campground very close to Custer State Park and Wind Cave National Park. The hosts are accommodating and friendly. The sites are basic with full hookups and will fit any size rig, they have clean water and perfect power. The location is less windy than most parks in the area and even though it's next to the highway we haven't heard any vehicle noise. Just a few blocks to beautiful downtown Custer. We had a fantastic stay and know you will too.
GuideAbout 8-10 spots along the road, all flat and plenty of space for whatever you’re camping with. Chances are you’ll be a ways away from other campers. Great spots to get away from the crowded campgrounds.
TravelerThe road in was fairly easy to find and smooth. I drove all the way to the end of the road to check out the sites and turned around and went back to the one I liked the best. There was only one other camper set up down along the stream and the couple there looked comfortable. I chose a nice level turn out that I could drive my pickup and ATV trailer into and was able to drive through the spot so I didn't have to back in or out. It was a very pretty site next to the road and big enough for my 30' rig. It was level enough that it only took one block under one wheel of the ATV trailer I had my roof top tent mounted on. Traffic was light and only about half a dozen vehicles passed my site the evening I was there. No problem with dust from the traffic. There were signs that cattle were in the area but I didn't see any. Probably not a place you would want to spend a lot of time staying at unless you planned to use it as a base for hitting all the tourist spots around Deadwood and Keystone. The main problem is the sites are nearly all too small for more than one camper so if you are traveling with other campers you won't be able to park close together. The sites are fairly far apart, more suitable for lone campers looking for a spot to rest for a night or two. No amenities and cell service was hit or miss but the price was right (free). I would definitely stay here again if I was passing through the area.
ScoutThe NerdWallet Community is a platform for financial advice and tips, much like the CarXStreet Drive Mod APK community where players share strategies for racing and car customization. Both communities offer valuable insights, whether you're optimizing your budget or enhancing your car's performance, helping members achieve their financial or gaming goals.
ScoutThe NerdWallet Community is a platform for financial advice and tips, much like the CarXStreet Drive Mod APK community where players share strategies for racing and car customization. Both communities offer valuable insights, whether you're optimizing your budget or enhancing your car's performance, helping members achieve their financial or gaming goals.
GuideCamping area near Mount Rushmore. I was able to find a camping area without a problem. The road does have some bumps in it but overall you do not need a four-wheel drive. The spot I camped at I was able to have decent Verizon signal however the area is a bit spotty for Verizon. The area seems to not allow for campfires. Trails nearby. One Trail is gated off and seems to mainly be a horse trail. Some of the camping spots seem to support larger vehicles. Also had a good view.
Scout
We stayed in the belle cabin. Perfect place for my wife and I to enjoy our anniversary. Quiet and exactly what we wanted. The owners are extremely accommodating and nice. We Will definitely be back!
If you're looking for a pet-friendly camping experience near Buffalo Gap, South Dakota, there are several great options that welcome your furry friends. Enjoy the beautiful landscapes while ensuring your pets have a comfortable stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Buffalo Gap, SD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Buffalo Gap, SD is Elk Mountain Campground — Wind Cave National Park with a 4.3-star rating from 42 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Buffalo Gap, SD?
TheDyrt.com has all 129 dog-friendly camping locations near Buffalo Gap, SD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
