Best Dispersed Camping near Philip, SD

The views are beautiful and the area is quiet and secluded, overall would be a great boondocking location if you have an RV. For a rooftop tent camper like myself, it is extremely exposed and windy. No shade whatsoever.

Fantastic views No facilities but worth checking it out for a night while in Badlands Unlimited space Sage Creek also free camping with 22 sites No big RVs We travel in a Ford Transit 19

Free! Best views in Bad Lands NP! Free! Great cell signal! Oh, it’s free, too! Best spot I’ve stayed in the past week, no bad spots to be found! A must-do place to boondock if you are passing thru!

Free camping right by Pinnacle entrance of the Badlands...cant beat free! It is hot up there in the middle of summer though a breeze comes through ..we were in the 80s, so I can't imagine what it will be like when it gets to 100 degrees. Regardless, I recommend this spot if you like free and want a lovely view of the badlands.

There were a lot of RVs campers and people in tents, but still tons of spots to choose from!!!

We were on “The Wall” dispersed camping near the tall antennas south of Wall, SD, just off Hwy 240. Plenty of room for everyone. No services, no cost. Gorgeous scenery.

Dispersed Camping right outside the Badlands NP. No amenities but plenty of space and easy access. I saw large RVs and small cars camping there. Trail 7158 and 7170 right of of Rt 240 and close to the town of Wall.

This beautiful place overlooks the badlands. We entered on the second road right by the cell tower. We heard that turning left at the wall was a smoother route. Even though the place was full we kept going and found plenty of spots to camp. We choose one opposite the edge but it was too small and angled for someone to camp there. This gave us a perfect spot to set up our chairs and enjoy the view. This is dispersed camping so there are no services. Pack in/pack out is important. This also means that folks have dogs off leash but they were respectful of keeping their dogs away from our reactive dog. This is a beautiful, free gem of a place to stay at.

As others have said in so many words, Wow!!  If the stark beauty of this place doesn’t blow you away, the wind might! The sheer force of it was humbling. 

This is a dispersed camping site located on a ledge overlooking the Badlands. This configuration makes for some serious winds which are evidenced in the rock that’s been sculpted in the area. 

The location is about 6 miles south of Wall, SD, but make sure to get the GPS coordinates.  The drive into the dispersed camping area is on a gravel service road which was doable for my 24’ class C (see video), but I took it very slowly because there are rutted areas. This spot is convenient to lots of attractions in the area. Many folks with toads would safely leave their RV’s during the day to go and sightsee. 

My favorite memories:  the hiking and star gazing! 

My not so favorite memory: while stargazing in flip flops something bit my big toe and drew blood. It was the screech heard round SD! NOTE: Wear closed toed shoes and don’t park too close to the edge.

This was an our first time dispersed camping so we weren’t sure exactly what to expect. There were lots of campers (probably 20 other cars), but the views are unmatched. Waking up at dawn and watching the sunrise over the Badlands is breathtaking! Really easy access. We saw people with all size trailers parked. Lots of space to spread out. Not much for privacy, but with views like that, who cares!

Nothing beats the experience of boondocking at the wall. Waking up to this view is a must.

This is a dispersed camping location. The only ameneties are what you bring. The view is great. Any size RV can make it down the dirt road. Most every camp location will require the RV to be leveled. Arrive in early afternoon so you can select your most desirable location. Easiest directions to area is to go south on 240 off of I90 at Wall, SD. Drive for approximately 7 mi and look to the east. You will see the RVs on the rim.

The view right.on the rim of the badlands. Just a few minutes from the np entrance. Wonderful views.
This is a gem in your boondocking travels. Great views. Windy. But wonderful. T mobile and att service

There were a lot of RVs boondocking when we were there. But everyone kept a distance from each other and it was quiet. The views are wonderful!!!! The park is awesome! Bighorn sheep right when we entered the park boundary.

Camping at “The Wall” is an amazing experience! Waking up to miraculous views and ending your days with stunning sunsets is truly what camping is all about. Here at The Wall, you are camping on a cliff that runs along the Badlands. Prairie on one side, the badlands on the other.

The site is about 6-8 miles from the town of Wall, so while you are in a remote area, you still have ready access to food, shopping, and gas if you need it. Wall Drug is also pretty cool and worth a stop.

You are about 15-20 minutes away from the Minuteman Missile Museum, which is an awesome place to visit. There are three sites, so make sure you take the time to see them all. Some of the staff at the Visitors Center actually worked the facility during the Cold War and have tons of information to share.

You are (obviously) very close to the Badlands NP, one of the entrances is a stones throw from the Boondocking area.

Pro tips: Most of the Boondocking area is not level, and the ground is a soft-ish volcanic soil. Bring wooden planks to level your rig and use as Jack pads as the Lego levelers will sink. Also plan to be really out of level, up to 6” off on some sites.

It’s a cool area, but the roads in the Boondocking area are dirt, not level, steep in places, and full of potholes. Be very careful driving in as it can be very hard to see the potholes, and they are pretty serious.

We enjoyed two nights at the Badlands Boondocking Area. We stayed at the northernmost area of the camping and enjoyed the view down the entirety of the wall. The winds can get really high so don’t park too close to the edge. This was a great location for visiting Badlands National Park and going to Wall Drug.

We found plenty of parking even on Labor Day. The views were outstanding and we even got to enjoy the stars at night since there is no light pollution from towns. Road was a little roughy at times and there are a few steep hills so be prepared for those. This is boondocking at its best. I’m sure we will be back soon.

This was one of the best boondocking spots I’ve ever been to. There were multiple people there but there is so much space that you can definitely find a spot. There’s not a lot of privacy, but the views and wildlife make up for it and everyone is so friendly but keeps to themselves and is there to enjoy the outdoors. Great spot and right outside of the National park.

Just before entering the Badlands official entrance is a side road leading up to a ridge. Expect a breeze to winds that can be forceful so tie things down. I got lucky and had a beautiful sunset, light breeze, and warm but not too warm of temps. Lots of spots to chose from but first come first serve boondocking. I can see the interstate from here but can’t hear it making it a great stop over spot when traveling. Highly recommend!

We absolutely loved staying here!  We only staid one night because of the high heat temp 100 degrees.  We could have staid longer, but .... we decided to keep on going.  There are some down, up, down, up hills as you are coming into the boon docking area.  Don't let that stop you, however, be prepared.  Go slow. Nothing will ever match this experience.  We heard coyotes, saw an awesome sunset and enjoyed peace and quiet.  Wind was of no concern.  We appreciated the wind!  Easy drive to the Badlands and Wall.  We will never forget this epic day, night and sunrise.