Camping near Hot Springs, South Dakota offers diverse accommodations ranging from basic tent sites to luxury yurts within the Black Hills region. Situated at elevations between 3,400-4,000 feet, the area experiences warm summer days with cool evenings, and daytime temperatures typically range from 75-85°F in summer months. Fall River, which flows through several campgrounds, maintains a consistently warm temperature year-round due to the natural hot springs feeding it.
What to do
Swimming in warm waters: Fall River provides naturally heated swimming opportunities at Allen Ranch Campground, where the spring-fed creek maintains a comfortable temperature. One camper noted, "Right next to the creek that is great temperature to play in. Tetherball, kids play set and volleyball net for activities."
Fishing at Angostura: Angostura Recreation Area offers excellent fishing opportunities with proper facilities. A visitor shared, "The lake was amazing and beautiful. It was too cold for us to swim but we grabbed a 1 day fishing license and caught soooooooo many fish. They have an amazing fishing cleaning station as well."
Hiking to scenic viewpoints: The Black Hills offer numerous trails within short drives from Hot Springs. At Cold Brook Lake Campground, visitors enjoy both water and land activities. As one camper described, "Small campground nestled in a little canyon of sorts with red rock walls on one side and green hill on other. It echos if you yell. The reservoir is a short walk up the road with a nice sandy beach and good fishing."
Exploring Wind Cave National Park: Located just minutes north of Hot Springs, the park features unique boxwork cave formations and surface hiking trails. A Hot Springs/Black Hills KOA visitor mentioned, "We used for jumping off for Blackhills, Mount Rushmore, and the mammoth site."
What campers like
Natural warm water access: The consistent water temperature at Fall River is a major draw for campers. A visitor at Allen Ranch Campground mentioned, "Despite the highway beautiful scenery! Campsites were pretty close to each other so not much privacy. Bathrooms and showers were nothing to rave about, but at least they had them!"
Proximity to attractions: Hot Springs/Black Hills KOA serves as a convenient base for regional exploration. One camper stated, "Very scenic location. Had all the necessary hook ups. Very friendly employees that actually escorted us to our camping spot. Lots of amenities we did not use but it was good to have the option."
Peace and quiet: Despite being near highways, many campgrounds offer relatively tranquil settings. A visitor to Cold Brook Lake noted, "Absolutely beautiful. Arrived after a rain storm, bugs weren't bad. Walked around lake and it was beautiful. So quiet and peaceful. Wish we stayed more nights! Dumpsters, restrooms, fire rings and nice grass. You gotta stay here!"
Complimentary extras: Several campgrounds offer additional amenities included in the stay. At Allen Ranch, "Inner tubes are provided FREE for the guests too. They are located right next to the playground."
What you should know
Seasonal bugs: Insect populations can be significant in certain campgrounds. At Angostura Recreation Area, a camper warned, "Beautiful site but bad with bugs! The campsite during after the sun goes down is a different story. The bugs here are horrible, they are attracted to light of any kind, so do yourself a favor and grab quite a few of those citronella candles."
Highway noise: Some campgrounds are situated close to major roads. One Allen Ranch visitor mentioned, "Not a bad little spot. Close to town and near a peaceful stream. Owner is very nice. The only negative is that It's close to the road and truckers use their Jake brakes all hours of the day and night, so don't expect to sleep in."
Reservation systems: Different campgrounds have varying reservation processes. Some, like Center Lake Campground, have specific systems: "I was able to snag a spot at this campground and here are the tips: Reservations for this campground open at 6AM mountain time. Making a profile for their site feels like doing taxes so plan ahead and get your account set up the day before."
Limited facilities at some locations: Not all campgrounds offer full amenities. A Cold Brook Lake camper noted, "Bumpy road to park. Pictures listed are dated for sure. By far the nastiest pit toilets I've seen. The amount of flies inside the building and in the toilets were horrible."
Tips for camping with families
Look for dedicated play areas: Several campgrounds feature playgrounds and recreational facilities. At Buffalo Ridge Camp Resort, a family noted, "Great campground, lots of fun for the kids, beautiful views, great price."
Consider specialty accommodations: Luxury glamping in Hot Springs, South Dakota is particularly family-friendly. A Buffalo Ridge visitor explained, "We originally booked the teepee which is adorable but after arriving we felt we needed some more space. Luckily for us there was one glamping tent available for the dates we needed. 3 beds (2 queen and one twin!) all with trundles underneath! The front and back porch were amazing for coffee and yoga in the am."
Book split stays: Combining different camping experiences can enhance a family trip. One visitor suggested staying at a KOA for full facilities then moving to more rustic settings: "We were only tent campers there so we offered to mow the grass or help set up the tipis but Allen wanted us to just relax since he had his family helping him."
Check swimming options: Kid-friendly water access varies by location. A Buffalo Ridge camper observed, "The pool... there is a kid side and adult side which was awesome! The kid pool was super gross so I was glad to have a spot to go with crystal clear water!"
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require extra work to level RVs. At Heritage Village Campground, one RVer noted, "Nice layout. FHU at $32 + tax is reasonable for area. 3 or 4 miles north of Custer SD."
Bridge and access limitations: Larger rigs should verify access points. One Allen Ranch visitor warned, "There is a dump station on site as well, but getting to it can be tricky as there are low hanging branches around it."
Look for pull-through availability: Some sites are better suited for larger rigs. At Hot Springs KOA, a visitor reported, "The restrooms were very clean and have showers. Close proximity to Hot Springs. There were other campers that were quite noisy at night well after quiet time."
Check hookup reliability: Electrical issues can occur. A Hot Springs KOA visitor experienced issues: "Our power pedestal had an electrical short and shorted out our Progressive 30-amp surge protector. Thankfully we had a surge protector and it took the electrical hit and not our trailer."
