Best Campgrounds near Hermosa, SD

Camping near Hermosa, South Dakota sits at the gateway to the Black Hills region, providing access to both developed campgrounds and primitive sites. The area includes Heartland RV Park and Cabins in Hermosa, which operates year-round, while nearby Custer State Park offers multiple campgrounds including Blue Bell, Center Lake, and Game Lodge. Black Hills National Forest surrounds the region with both established campgrounds and dispersed camping opportunities. Mount Rushmore, approximately 30 miles northwest, anchors the tourist corridor with additional camping options like Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch. As one camper noted, "Wildlife are abundant, especially buffalo and deer that roam directly next to the campsite" at Game Lodge Campground.

Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from late April through September or October, with limited year-round options. Summer temperatures typically range from 50-85°F, while thunderstorms can develop quickly, particularly in afternoons. According to reviews, "South Dakota is notorious for fast changing weather," making proper preparation essential. Cell service varies significantly throughout the Black Hills, with better coverage near towns and highways. Fire restrictions are common during dry summer months, especially in dispersed camping areas. Reservations are strongly recommended during peak season (June-August) and essential during the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in early August when campgrounds throughout the region fill to capacity.

The camping experience varies widely based on location. RV parks and private campgrounds like Heartland offer full hookups, showers, and amenities including camp stores and WiFi. State park campgrounds provide a more natural setting with basic facilities while still offering access to attractions. One visitor to Heartland RV Park mentioned, "They have a camp store, live music on Sunday, and a cafe that offers pizza and wings for dinner," though noted "there is no shade and it's right on the interstate." Dispersed camping in Black Hills National Forest requires self-sufficiency but rewards with greater solitude and often no fees. Most campgrounds in the region serve as convenient basecamps for exploring Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Wind Cave National Park, and Badlands National Park.

Best Camping Sites Near Hermosa, South Dakota (254)

    1. Center Lake Campground — Custer State Park

    30 Reviews
    Keystone, SD
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 255-4515

    $20 / night

    "The lake is cool and quiet, tucked away in the center of Custer park. Several trails and tons of fishing spots. There are vaulted toilets and a shower house."

    "I planned my trip too late to stay at Sylvan Lake campground, but wanted to be near the Needles Highway since that was the reason this park was on my itinerary."

    2. Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch

    55 Reviews
    Hill City, SD
    18 miles
    Website

    "Make the most of your South Dakota vacation by spending it camping. My group tented and had a great time."

    "The location is amazing and so beautiful. There are tons of amenities and fun activities. The staff are very nice and very helpful."

    3. Game Lodge Campground — Custer State Park

    27 Reviews
    Keystone, SD
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 255-4515

    $26 - $55 / night

    "This campground is open year round and is located in Custer State Park, in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Features cabin, camper, and tent sites."

    "The second morning we woke up to bison all along the fence next to the campground!"

    4. Spokane Creek Cabins & Campground

    22 Reviews
    Keystone, SD
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 261-9331

    "FYI- We had to get here via trucker route due to the size of our RV, we couldn't fit through some of the rock tunnels on the winding roads in South Dakota."

    "Very nice park tucked away on Iron Mountain. Big Rigs BEWARE do not take 16A!!! Luckily there are a few ways to get to the park, most are tight roads, but do-able."

    5. Horsethief Lake Campground

    31 Reviews
    Keystone, SD
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 673-9200

    $30 / night

    "If you're touring the Black Hills, and hitting all of the outdoor attractions, Horsethief Lake is perfectly placed to access it all."

    "We spent one night in one of the walk-in sites here. We were able to find an open site at 10 am with no reservation, although the drive-up sites looked all full."

    6. Sylvan Lake Campground — Custer State Park

    42 Reviews
    Custer, SD
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 255-4515

    "This lake is beautiful, its one of my favorite places inside Custer state park. There are a ton of trails, all within easy walking distance. Make sure you pack plenty of water."

    "We had one of the spots that was more out in the open and close to our neighbors, but the sites on the outside of the middle loop were much more private."

    7. Blue Bell Campground — Custer State Park

    35 Reviews
    Custer, SD
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 255-4515

    "Blue Bell Campground truly captures the essence of a classic camping experience, with its beautiful surroundings and well-maintained facilities."

    "This is closest to the southern entrance. We had bison herds South of us and North. We never managed to make it East where the long trail is, which seems to be known for wildlife."

    8. Heartland RV Park And Cabins

    13 Reviews
    Hermosa, SD
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (605) 255-5460

    "We are traveling through South Dakota and a storm was brewing. We decided to camp here instead of dry camping so that we would have hookups incase we couldn't open the windows."

    "Not far from Rapid City but close to all the attractions in South Dakota. The heated pool was NOT heated and the hot tub was NOT hot. That is why I gave the CG four stars."

    9. RD 356 Dispersed Site Black Hills National Forest

    33 Reviews
    Hill City, SD
    17 miles
    Website

    "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."

    "Camping 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."

    10. Sheridan Lake South Shore Campground

    31 Reviews
    Hill City, SD
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 673-9200

    $28 / night

    "This campground offers over 90 sites along the shores of a lovely reservoir in the vacation wonderland of the Black Hills of South Dakota."

    "So close to so many places to visit, which we never did (we loved every minute being disconnected). The weather was mostly perfect, besides some hail and rain a couple nights."

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Recent Reviews near Hermosa, SD

1768 Reviews of 254 Hermosa Campgrounds


  • John D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 5, 2025

    Badlands Boondocking Dispersed Camping Area

    Nice place.

    I stay here a few times a year on the way to the Black Hills in my car camper rav4. Perfect if you're looking for a place to rest or park overnight in the middle of nowhere. Can fill up fast in the early evening. About the only negative I have is to many houses on wheels. Good base for the area.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 2, 2025

    Cold Springs School Road by Beaver Creek

    Nice spot for where I was

    I couldn’t get to the actual spot because the fence was closed but stopped right before the fence. There was one other camper at a spot a little further down. Quiet, fluctuating service between SOS and one bar. About 2 miles from the wind cave entrance. Maybe no biting bugs as other reviews have stated but about a billion conifer seed bugs. Keep your windows rolled up! Plenty of sun and shade for your preferences.

  • Shirlee A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Hanna Campground

    Quiet haven

    Such a beautiful campground on one of the most scenic routes … The colors of fall , the mountains and the little creek were perfect.

    It is close to the road but it’s pretty quiet not many cars pass.

    $15.00 to camp - only 5 sites and a tent area There is a mile hike up the mountain too

  • Travis A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Fort Meade Recreation Area

    Raised the prices

    Lots of hiking, biking, picnicking area. Near Alkali Horse campgrounds. The price used to be $6.00 during the open season and free after October 1st. BLM just raised the price to $24, per day all year around and $30 per day at the Alkali Horse camp. The site dies not have a camp host all year around. There are picnic tables, 5 sites for RVs, fire rings, 12 tent camping sites. Some of the tent sites require a short hike. Pit toilet, bike rake station and a water fountain. Recommend using a water bandit with hose if filling up large containers. Just a few minutes outside Sturgis

  • Travis A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Ft. Meade Horse Camp

    Raised the price

    It use to be free camping after October. They have raised the price to $30 a day, per site

  • PThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2025

    Hart Ranch RV Resort

    It is a RV Resort

    This place has everything, gas station, golf course, roaming security, paved roads, concrete pads, pet and non pet areas, 10mins to town if you need to, and more. Their rules say $50 fine for speeding which is ok cause there is alot of people walking. Met a nice couple who stays there often, if it was closer to home for me I would too. I should give it 5 stars but I grade tuff.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Fort Welikit Family Campground and RV Park

    Quiet paradise in the pines

    This is my second time here in the same spot. The bathrooms are clean and staff is friendly. The crowd is quiet and respectful. There is laundry on site, firewood for sale, and I believe they sell propane. The wildlife is everywhere. I have had deer, turkey, and rabbit within 50 feet. Awesome place!

  • Susan W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Elk Mountain Campground — Wind Cave National Park

    Road to Mackinac and back

    This is a lovely campground in Wind Cave National Park. Surrounded by a Ponderosa Pine forest, with a fence and cattle guard to keep the Bison out! Seasonally there are flush toilets and water, off season pit toilets and no water. No RV hookups, no generators allowed (though a couple campers violated that rule, which was annoying for 5 min). It's very quiet here, heard coyotes on several nights. 62 sites, some tent only, the sites ok for RVs held a couple that were quite large. Our trailer is only 20ft. Sites were generally roomy. There is wifi, which was surprising!

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 26, 2025

    Balsar Gulch Dispersed Camping

    Beautiful & big rig friendly

    Gorgeous spot right off the paved Sheridan Lake Road. We stayed for a week while hiking & UTV-ing. Several spots available (maybe 8 if with a group?) and two other campers came and went while we were there. We were all far enough away that it didn't disturb the solitude. Cows visited on the last day! :-D We camped by the stream. 1 caution = if driving a long rig, it's a sharp right hand turn off Sheridan Lake Road coming from Rapid City. Very doable --just be ready.


Guide to Hermosa

Black Hills camping near Hermosa, South Dakota offers direct access to one of America's iconic outdoor regions at 3,600-3,900 feet elevation. The area serves as a strategic basecamp for exploring attractions like Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, and the scenic Needles Highway. Summer temperatures typically range 45-90°F with frequent afternoon thunderstorms developing rapidly, particularly during July and August.

What to do

Hike to Black Elk Peak: Access the tallest peak in South Dakota (7,244 feet) from Sylvan Lake Campground in Custer State Park. "There are great trails around the lake and along the creek. You might even catch some trout if you decide to drop a line in. Watch out for poison ivy along the creek though," notes Jennifer S.

Visit Center Lake: Center Lake Campground offers swimming and kayaking opportunities with easy access to nearby trails. "Water, bluffs, pine trees... what more could you want? This place is perfect!" according to Jennifer S., who enjoyed exploring the trails around the lake.

Explore Needles Highway: The distinctive rock formations are accessible from multiple campgrounds. A visitor at Sylvan Lake Campground mentioned, "Between the kayaking at Sylvan Lake, the resort amenities, hiking in Black Elk Wilderness, Black Elk Peak, this area is great. Needles Eye, Rushmore, nearby."

Take a historic train ride: The 1880 Train between Hill City and Keystone runs daily during summer months. From Spokane Creek Campground, it's a short drive to this popular attraction. "It is a bit of a drive (30+ minutes) to get to most attractions from here, so this location is really more about the destination itself," notes Brandon S.

What campers like

Secluded camping with cell service: Many dispersed sites in Black Hills National Forest provide privacy while maintaining connectivity. At RD 356 Dispersed Site, Connor M. found, "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."

Clean facilities in established campgrounds: Campers consistently mention well-maintained bathrooms. A visitor to Game Lodge Campground shared, "The bath houses were great! They were very clean and well appointed. We would go back again!"

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Multiple campgrounds offer direct wildlife encounters. At Game Lodge Campground, Pam K. reported, "There was wildlife in sight quite often. You could access the wildlife loop road just outside the entrance to the campground."

Creek-side sites: Many campgrounds feature sites adjacent to streams. At Grizzly Creek Primitive, one camper noted, "We even had access to Grizzly Creek at our site on the left, which was a nice place to cool off in July."

What you should know

Road access challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult approach roads. At Spokane Creek Cabins & Campground, Devon W. warned, "Big Rigs BEWARE do not take 16A!!! Luckily there are a few ways to get to the park, most are tight roads, but do-able."

Reservation strategies: Many campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. A Center Lake Campground visitor shared this tip: "Get your first night online. It'll be your site fee plus $7 reservation fee. There is no service at the campground but they do have a reservation phone. On your first day & before 8pm, call the reservation line on the land phone provided and extend your stay for a second night."

Noise concerns: Some campgrounds experience noise from nearby attractions or roads. At Grizzly Creek Primitive, Cynthia W. noted, "Don't camp here if you want some peace and quiet! Iron Mountain Road runs right by and is popular with motorists and motorcyclists. Also, starting at 9am until probably 6pm there are helicopter tours for Mount Rushmore and it flies right over the campground."

Fire restrictions: Rules vary significantly between established and dispersed sites. At RD 356 Dispersed Site, one camper mentioned, "Campfire not allowed (I think) but looked like everybody was doing one (we did)."

Tips for camping with families

Look for campgrounds with activities: Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch offers numerous family-friendly amenities. Lynn N. shared, "There are UTVs that you can rent to go out on the trails, there's a fun zone for the kids that has bouncy houses, the pools, Mini Golf and more!"

Consider camping cabins: Several parks offer cabin options for families wanting more comfort. At Blue Bell Campground, one visitor wrote, "Impressed with the cleanliness of the cabins and bathhouses at this campground. Easy driving access to Custer State Park offerings. The creek next to the cabins made for a relaxing background and respite from the sun."

Check for junior ranger programs: Several parks offer educational opportunities for children. Sara P. at Game Lodge Campground mentioned, "The jr. Ranger programs were great for our girls and we enjoyed the learning."

Plan for weather changes: Temperature swings can be significant. Joie V. from Game Lodge Campground advised, "Found a couple of girls in the bathroom that were completely unprepared for winter camping. They didn't even have a hat. So if you do go winter camping bring the right gear and you will have a blast."

Tips from RVers

Consider site size limitations: Some campgrounds have size restrictions or challenging access. At Heartland RV Park And Cabins, a reviewer noted, "The RV sites are gravel and the grass is not well established so when it rains it get kinda muddy."

Level sites can be hard to find: Many campgrounds in the hills have uneven terrain. One camper at Sylvan Lake Campground reported, "Electric only at our site, very unlevel, hard to get into. Recommend a small rig than us, we were at 25 ft with two slides."

Off-season availability: Some campgrounds operate year-round. Heartland RV Park offers camping throughout winter months, with one long-term visitor noting, "We will be leaving the end of November, but after having been at several campgrounds over the past 2 years, this will be our go to place in the Rapid City area from now on."

Expect tight quarters in peak season: Many RV parks fill to capacity in summer. Brandon S. observed at Spokane Creek, "Great setting with generous campsites. Not over-crowded; butts up against open field/horse farm, with a really neat creek running through the grounds."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Hermosa, SD?

According to TheDyrt.com, Hermosa, SD offers a wide range of camping options, with 254 campgrounds and RV parks near Hermosa, SD and 48 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Hermosa, SD?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Hermosa, SD is Center Lake Campground — Custer State Park with a 4.6-star rating from 30 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Hermosa, SD?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 48 free dispersed camping spots near Hermosa, SD.

What parks are near Hermosa, SD?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 parks near Hermosa, SD that allow camping, notably Wind Cave National Park and Black Hills National Forest.