Are you planning a camping trip to Buffalo Gap with your dog? We've got you covered. Find the best information on pet-friendly campsites and dispersed camping near Buffalo Gap, including sites, reviews, and tips for getting the most out of your camping experience. Search nearby campgrounds that allow pets or find top-rated spots from other campers.
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.
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
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
$20 / 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.
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.
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..
For facility specific information, please call (605) 574-4402.
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.
This area seems to be pretty popular as it's close to Mount Rushmore and right off a main road but it's a nice, quiet area. Really enjoyed my stay here.
Road gets a bit rough once you get to the hill. Camp fires are not permitted.
Clean 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.
Quick easy check in. Helpful with a mini cabin when out tent got full if water in heavy blowing rain. We would definitely return.
Very nice host. Campsite extremely close to road with traffic noise. Worst smelling bathrooms I’ve come across and the smell drifted across the campsites.
I was able to drive to this spot easily in a car for a quick overnight stop. There is a section in the beginning that doesn't allow camping, but once you are farther back in it looks like there are several spots. No campfires. Verizon cellular worked there.
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.
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.
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.
We 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.
This Park is kept very clean. Laundry room and machines are organized and in great operating condition. Bathrooms and showers are cleaned very often. RV spots are level. HRV spot has a picnic bench water and electric. And there are also quite a few with sewer as well. One downfall is the highway and the train. It's not a very busy part of the highway and the train only comes by once or twice a day nothing at night. No train horns and the trains are quite short. The staff are very friendly. I was extremely pleased with the RV park and everything about it.
The sites are located about 2 miles from the main road at the top of the hill. It is a dusty gravel road in good condition. There are open areas and areas in the scattered pine trees. Great views. The traffic along the road is sparse. You don’t feel crowded but can see some other campers. Great area!
One-vehicle site, clean, right off the road. You'll pass several private homes getting here but none yiu can see from here. Decent Verizon. Large dry tree trunk piles next to site and across road. Plenty of sky. No shade on vehicle but trees to put a chair under for shade. Quiet. Horse and rider came up behind me in the morning and passed around me without even looking at me.
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!
Circular campground. Campsites are very close and narrow. If you are in an RV, levelers are a must. Clean bathrooms, but no showers. Potable water spigot at bathrooms. The lake is rather a large pond. No ATT service. Town of Hot Springs is only 12 minutes away. Nice little town. This campground makes for a great Basecamp.
However, there is a spot on outlaw ranch rd you see before outlaw ranch road the gps takes you to that is nice and enough back for more privacy. Others know of it too, and 2 more cars tried to pull in after dark. I turned on a light and they were cool about backing out. Sorry to be unable to be more specific, want to say this spot really nice.
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!
Pulled up at the Loves in Box Elder just after midnight. It was an easy, quiet night, but there were some sketchy people there in the morning
This lovely pine-filled campground is set off the main road just enough to keep away the road noise. Some of the sites will need a bit of leveling as it’s very hilly. The bathroom/shower building is older, but very well maintained and clean. Sites for Custer start booking a year in advance, so snag one early to experience all this wonderful park has to offer.
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
Cold Springs School Road by Beaver Creek is a picturesque location that offers a serene and scenic escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The winding road, surrounded by lush greenery and the gentle flow of Beaver Creek, creates a peaceful environment perfect for reflection or a leisurely drive. Whether you're exploring nature or working on your dissertation, having a quiet spot like this can be incredibly inspiring. For those needing assistance with their academic work, you can find professional help here to ensure success.
Not worth it at all! Our so called view of the faces was drowned out by the more immediate views of motels and the coming and going of people into and out of the rooms. Our site was right up against the so called creek also, understand dry weather but it is really more like a drainage swale. Not worth it all all, staff was not friendly and the disappointment of pulling into the RV area outshined any potential far away beauty of a face with some sunlight on it.
I value the work you put into sharing your knowledge slope run
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.
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.
50amps full hookups are for those who are long term. No shower house. Sites are pull through our 32 ft 5th wheel and 250 had plenty of space in the spot. But sites are close to each other. 30amp I noticed all had full hookups. Sites are level. The place is quite, right off hwy 16, and a great shot of the mountains. It’s a good place to stay if you aren’t spending time at your camp site but visiting around.
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Pretty area with several sites. Quite busy when we went but we did find a spot. No amenities but very quiet and easy to access. No bugs.
Camping near Buffalo Gap, South Dakota, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a peaceful retreat, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Buffalo Gap, South Dakota, has something for everyone, whether you're in a tent or an RV. Enjoy the great outdoors!
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 40 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.
