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Best Tent Camping near Camp Crook, SD

26 Reviews

Tent camping options near Camp Crook, South Dakota include several primitive sites across the Montana border in the Custer Gallatin National Forest. Lantis Spring Campground provides tent sites with basic amenities, including established fire rings, shaded picnic tables, and access to a spring for water filtering. Approximately 10 miles west of Camp Crook, Wickham Gulch Campground offers free tent camping with minimal facilities. Both locations provide drive-in access for tent campers seeking remote outdoor experiences in the rolling prairie landscape that characterizes this region along the Montana-South Dakota border.

Most tent sites in the Camp Crook area feature vault toilets but lack drinking water, requiring campers to bring adequate supplies or filter from natural sources. The gravel access roads to campgrounds like Lantis Spring are generally well-maintained and accessible without four-wheel drive vehicles. Ekalaka Park Campground, located about 25 miles northwest of Camp Crook, offers free tent camping with minimal maintenance following past forest fire damage. Summer temperatures can be extreme, with limited shade at some locations, making spring and fall ideal seasons for tent camping in this region. All sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservation systems in place.

The tent camping experience near Camp Crook provides opportunities for solitude and stargazing in this sparsely populated region. Lantis Spring Campground stands out for tent campers seeking more established sites with some amenities while maintaining a rustic atmosphere. Wildlife viewing opportunities include potential encounters with prairie species and occasional cattle that graze nearby. A visitor to Lantis Spring noted, "Great free campground with ample space for spreading out and several shaded picnic tables. Stayed here 4 nights in late June and only had 1 overnight camp neighbor." For campers seeking even more seclusion, the steep terrain at Ekalaka Park creates well-spaced, comfortable tent sites tucked among small forested areas that contrast with the surrounding prairie landscape.

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Best Tent Sites Near Camp Crook, South Dakota (4)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Camp Crook, SD

1 Photos of 4 Camp Crook Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Camp Crook, SD

26 Reviews of 4 Camp Crook Campgrounds

  • D
    Nov. 4, 2022

    Picnic Spring Campground

    A dream campsite that is free!

    I stayed there in mid-September for 2 nights. This is first come-first served. You can not reserve a site. With this in mind, I made the trip from Medora on a Tuesday morning and I arrived around noon. I gambled that the people who came in for the week-end would be gone and the ones who were coming for the next week-end would not be there for another day or two.

    The 10 sites are spacious: it’s hard to see any other campers from your site. There are no amenities here except for very clean pit toilets. No water, no electricity, no dump stations and no dumpsters for trash. Every site has a cooking style fire ring, picnic table and ample room to park more than one vehicle.

    But there is an abundance of solitude, beauty and a deer and elk. As they say in Texas . . . “The stars shine bright at night”.

  • S
    Jul. 1, 2025

    Lantis Spring Campground

    Beautiful and easy free camping

    Great free campground! No electric or water, but a spring nearby for filtering water, established fire rings, and a very clean pit toilet. There’s ample space for spreading out and several shaded picnic tables. There’s a few groves of trees for shade and hammocks and while my group managed to find spots that stayed shaded all day, some of the sites are very sunny. The roads in were gravel but well maintained, didn’t even have to put my vehicle into 4WD. I had 1 bar of cell service in the campground that came and went but strong service at the top of hill before entering the campground and at the nearby fire look out. Stayed here 4 nights in late June and only had 1 overnight camp neighbor and a couple of day-use neighbors. You may even have some cow neighbors if you’re lucky. Very beautiful scenery, would stay again :)

  • S
    Jul. 18, 2021

    North Shore Bowman Haley Lake

    Beautiful Campground, Campsites Need Repairs

    This COE campground is leased to Bowman Water Board, to reserve a campsite with electric, $15, is https:/bowmannd.com/plan- your- trip/camping/ Marina manager: 701-206-0161 Marina landline: 701-275-6316

    There is some question whether this COE Campground will honor America the Beautiful Senior Pass 50% discount since it's now leased to a private entity.

    Primitive sites are on a first-come basis, $5, are much prettier and more private!

    The electric campsites are not attractive, or level, and my first electric campsite #26, which was quite a distance beyond the marina, had a faulty electric, minimal Verizon signal and no privacy. I had to move to an electric campsite adjacent to the marina, not attractive either but had full Verizon signal strength. Also, the original campsite had a mercury vapor light that blinked non-stop ALL night long. As I understand, there is no water available near the campsite away from the marina.

    Although the campsites need repairs, the roads throughout the campground are in excellent condition. Most electric campsites have a picnic table, grill, fire ring or a burnt area where people have campfires directly on the ground. Note: campfires are certainly not warranted at this time, the grasses are extremely dry and it's windy, strong chance of wildfire.

    Don't count on swimming in Bowman Haley Lake, signs posted stating the water may contain blue green algae that can be harmful to humans and pets. (Actually, blue green algae has killed a number of pets causing them to experience convulsions and die quickly.) Blue green algae is easily seen along the shoreline. See pic.

    Oh, and the flies and mosquitoes!!

    Beware, if you are traveling with pets, there are small cactus throughout the grasslands and ticks.

    Beyond the marina is a dump site with non-potable water to rinse tanks, a fresh potable water faucet to refill freshwater tanks, and a bathhouse with a flush toilet and a shower. The Marina has a Sunday brunch from 9 - 11:00 a.m. and serves breakfast and lunch the other days, plus beer and wine.

    My initial reaction to the campground was negative due to electrical problems. However, I have since changed my mind, the surrounding areas are quite beautiful. Also, I had 4G/LTE 5 bars but that depends on where you are in the campground.

  • Daphne D.
    Jun. 10, 2022

    Medicine Rocks State Park Campground

    Quiet, mysterious place!

    Beautiful park off the beaten path. The rocks are fascinating, the sites are shaded and quiet. Very few services, so bring your own firewood and water (there's a pump near the entrance, but it's tricky). No electric at most of the campsites. The pit toilets were clean and well maintained, and there is a camp host on duty (although he kept to himself unless we needed him). We were hoping for good stargazing, but it was too cloudy--the night sky is very dark, though, so I'm sure it would be breathtaking on a clear night.

  • Chad T.
    Jun. 30, 2025

    Picnic Spring Campground

    A Hidden Gem!!!!

    My son and I were antelope hunting near here last September and found this campground. We were not able to stay because we had a dog that needed to stay in the camper which required full hookup. For that we went in to Buffalo South Dakota and stayed at the campground there. I knew I'd make it back someday and we were on our way home from the Black hills to Sidney Montana and I remembered this place as we were passing by. We came up here with high expectations and all of our expectations were Met. Quiet, beautiful sunset. Plenty of room firewood at every site. Good internet service phone service on Verizon and T-Mobile and AT&T. This place is a grand slam for anybody that wants a great place to stay for free. Thank you USDA for all the hard work.

  • m
    Jul. 14, 2024

    Medicine Rocks State Park Campground

    Couple of nights under the stars

    We spent a couple of nights in our 22’ trailer over July 4th weekend. We were very lucky to find one site left. Very basic sites and a little uneven so you will want blocks to level up. There is water at the gate but it’s a hand pump with no way of attaching a hose to fill a camper so I would bring water. Lovely spot if you want peace and tranquility, that sky at night is something else!

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 5, 2024

    Picnic Spring Campground

    Lovely and peaceful

    Free campground in SD, not WY. Most sites are well separated. Most have picnic tables. Came over 4th of July and there were only 5 other campers when I left. Several piles of wood available for firewood (resulted from clearing trees); you will need to split it, however. Sites has been mowed for fire mitigation which also resulted in nice "lawns". I stayed in 1st on the right. It was more exposed to wind and rain, but I preferred the layout. Other sites are more protected.

  • James D.
    Sep. 29, 2016

    Medicine Rocks State Park Campground

    It was an alright place but just didn't do it for me

    Had originally planned on staying here for a few nights but decided to head elsewhere after the first night. That was purely a personal choice and not because of any of the parks offerings. The coolest thing is seeing carvings in the rock that are said to date back several hundred years. That alone was worth the stop. Other than that it was just another campsite to me. They have fire pits for the sites, dogs are allowed which is a big plus for me, vault toilets and even a picnic area. You have access to water also, but be prepared, this is a pack in - pack out place. Don't get me wrong it is a decent place and there is a lot of wildlife, but for whatever reason I just didn't get into it. Maybe if I had stayed as planned and hit the trails I would have reviewed differently.

  • UnnamedAdventures The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 21, 2019

    Picnic Spring Campground

    Excellently maintained campground and great for boon-docking

    This is one of the best National Forest campgrounds that we have been to. All of the 8 sites are very spread out and unique on their own. There is an abundance of wild life along with some great bluff views. The campground is very well maintained and well cared for. There are 2 vault toilets and now other extra amenities near the campsites. There is a water supply you can use but the water must be treated. You can stay a max of 14 days. We highly recommend this campground!

    Check out our blog at www.unnamedadventures.com and follow our journey on Facebook and Instagram or on our YouTube Channel at Unnamed Adventures. 

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Guide to Camp Crook

Tent camping near Camp Crook, South Dakota, offers a chance to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the tranquility of the great outdoors. With several campgrounds in the area, you'll find a variety of options to suit your camping style.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • At Wickham Gulch Campground, you can enjoy a free camping experience with basic facilities like toilets, making it a great spot for those looking to escape into nature.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • The secluded setting of Ekalaka Park Campground provides a perfect backdrop for hiking and exploring the surrounding forested areas, ideal for outdoor enthusiasts.

Tent campers should check out Macnab Pond

  • Macnab Pond offers a peaceful environment for fishing and enjoying the serene waters, making it a hidden gem for those seeking a quiet retreat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Camp Crook, SD?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Camp Crook, SD is Lantis Spring Campground with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Camp Crook, SD?

TheDyrt.com has all 4 tent camping locations near Camp Crook, SD, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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