Hill City is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Hill City camping trip.
"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."
"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."
"15 minutes to Custer State Park and 15 minutes to breweries in hill city. A perfect location."
"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."
$30 / night
"Quiet, beautiful and close to Rushmore, Hill City and Custer! The sites were nice with new concrete pads and fire pits. Pit toilets, didn’t see any showers."
"If you're touring the Black Hills, and hitting all of the outdoor attractions, Horsethief Lake is perfectly placed to access it all."
$28 / night
"It is not far from Hill City but is still quiet. Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Needles Highway, Jewel Cave and other attractions are just a short drive away."
"We definitely took advantage of the east access to the lake and close proximity to Hill City. Had a tornado warning out first night here."
$28 / night
"Visited during a trip to the Black Hills when I wanted to get off the beaten path a bit from the normal Black Hills area (ie -Custer, Hill City, etc."
"A tent-only area, which I appreciate- those tend to be quieter than the RV spots, and the tent area was close to the reservoir. Standard campsite amenities- tables, fire pits, bathrooms."
$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."
"Not much to do if you’re not a climber, but luckily that’s all we came to South Dakota to do. Walking distance to nearby climbing and nice views from the huge boulder in the vicinity."
"Scenic campgrounds with 100s of climbing routes within walking distance. There is no water or electricity and only one latrine."
"It’s situated right in between Mt. Rushmore and The Crazy Horse Memorial."
"Within minutes of Mr Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Sylvan Lake, Hill City, and Custer."
$30 / night
"Campground Review:
The Stockade Lake North Campground is located just inside the west entrance to Custer State Park in Custer, South Dakota."
"There is a nice walking path that drops down to the lake from the south part of the campground. I literally walked across the road from SN33E and stepped on the trail to walk my dogs."
Guide15 minutes to Custer State Park and 15 minutes to breweries in hill city. A perfect location. Plenty of spots on the bumpy main road, use 4wd/high clearance vehicles to go off some of the side routes for more privacy. Nice tree covered spots and very quiet. No campfires allowed.
TravelerSite was pretty level and had a fireplace.
ScoutOn our way from Colorado up to the SD black hills we discovered this gem of a campsite. The host is in site #1 and site #2 was taken, then only one other site had a RV occupying it. We were surprised being the last weeks of summer and Sturgis 25 starting next week.
We chose site 11 and we secluded and happy. There is a really clean bathhouse, no showers that I saw and a pit toilet for the winter. The bathhouse has an outside marked potable water spigot. The lake is below the campsite and not accessible without a steep hike down. The lake access is 5min drive down the main road.
ScoutQuiet open and secluded with lots of open space to camp out
Travelerif you're looking for a place, away from everything/everyone with peace & quiet, this is the place for you... 33+ acres, spaced out RV sites (not crammed against each other), and yet close to all the best attractions that South Dakota has in the black hills... this is the place to be... surrounded by USFS lands on 3x sides, 1/2mi back from the main dirt road to get here... this is as far back in the woods you can be without hiking miles in somewhere else... they have glamping tents on the hillside (rentals), sheep wagons in the meadow (rentals), bumper pull & 5th wheel trailers (rentals), tiny house rental, and daily/weekly & monthly RV & tent sites... open year-round beginning this year, and open to ice fishers & hunters that wish to use the local area for their sports... I've been here since Jan 2025, and this is an awesome place... seen deer, wild turkey, fox, rabbit, and pronghorn in the local area...
TravelerThe entrance and spots of the road are pretty rough. With that being said we still got to our spot on motorcycle. There’s a lot of spots to tent and even spots further down the road that had 20ft campers.
ScoutOnly came across one other camper. Easy to get to. Secluded.
RangerOverall this is a very nice campground in Rapid City. Staff is nice, grounds are clean, bathrooms are well maintained however there is a distinct lack of shade trees. Please see attached photos for reference.
ScoutWe planned on parking/camping here for a night, only to arrive to find signs saying day use only with hours on it (something like 6am-10pm), so we didn't stay overnight.
Camping near Hill City, South Dakota, offers a mix of stunning scenery and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a peaceful getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Hill City, South Dakota, is a great way to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. With a variety of campgrounds and activities, there's something for everyone to enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Hill City, SD offers a wide range of camping options, with 251 campgrounds and RV parks near Hill City, SD and 36 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Hill City, SD is Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch with a 4.2-star rating from 54 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 36 free dispersed camping spots near Hill City, SD.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 parks near Hill City, SD that allow camping, notably Black Hills National Forest and Wind Cave National Park.
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