Looking to go glamping near Philip and enjoy a rustic retreat into nature? Glamping is not only a fun alternative to traditional tent camping, but also allows you to pack more or less gear as you see fit. The Dyrt's camping photos, reviews, and tips are an easy way to find the right South Dakota glamping spot for you.
Welcome to the oasis of the Badlands! This KOA is just 4 miles from Badlands National Park. The rugged beauty of the Badlands includes a rich fossil bed and the nation's largest protected mixed-grass prairie, where you'll find bison, bighorn sheep and prairie dogs. The campground is in a quiet rural setting with hundreds of large shade trees beside the White River. Enjoy the pool, fun-bike rentals, mini golf and a large pet park. Pancake breakfasts, Indian tacos and more are served Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Choose from Deluxe Cabins, Camping Cabins, full-hookup Pull-Thru RV Sites, tepees, Premium Tent Sites (with shelter, sink and electricity), standard shaded Tent Sites and big-rig friendly sites with a patio area. Free Wi-Fi! Stop by the grocery store and gift shop. Max pull thru: 120 feet
Traveler
There isn’t a lot around the Badlands so this location was very convenient. Full hookup was nice and the laundry and store were convenient. The pool was small and cloudy but needed as it is so hot. Sites were close but not overly crowded for RVs. Our biggest complaint were the flies. We haven’t experienced anything like it in all the campgrounds we have been too. Made us concerned about sanitation. It was so bad we couldn’t eat or sit outside in the evening. Needs to be treated.
GuideConveniently located not much Todo in the area as far as restaurants and such. Had a huge lot stayed a week
GuideNice campground, some shade, friendly staff and close to park. Very cool pool, needed in the heat (101 degrees).
GuideThe check in process got kind of confusing. Our spot was just okay but that’s probably my fault for not booking sooner.
TravelerNice stopjust outside badlands park
RangerTypical KOA, charged a little more but also more amenities. Would be a 5 if they kept the restrooms cleaner.
LegendThis was our first time at a KOA. Stayed for 2 nights to explore the Badlands. The campground was large and very close/convenient to Badlands National Park . I appreciated that they had the option of purchasing dinner or breakfast at their cafe. Hosts and staff are very friendly. They had a huge dog park that our pups loved. Sites were close together and just ok from an aesthetic standpoint. Looked like a good campground if you have children - lots of activities and a pool. I am only giving 4 stars because one of our party is in a wheelchair and he had to go all the way to the back of the campground where the tent camping was to access an ADA bathroom/shower. And there were only 2 of those available - they are the regular showers for the tent campers. Otherwise, if you aren’t handicapped it is a good choice. Especially if you have dogs. Oh, and watch out for mosquitos. They do spray for them
TravelerI was hesitant to camp in the Badlands because it gets so hot. This campground has SO many trees and I’m surprised at how much cooler it is, even though it’s right next to the Badlands.
Nice campsite space.
Bathrooms were a little sparse for the number of sites they have, but the bathrooms were clean.
TravelerNice campground located not far from Badlands NP. Easy access to the campground, and nice level sites. The free pancake breakfast was a nice touch for our family as well. We didn’t utilize the pool, but it looked clean, like the rest of the campground.
ScoutGreat facilities, sites are a little close together but staff is so awesome
GuideBeautiful campground. Spots aren't too close together and are level. I am in spot 22...water, electric, and sewer.Good sized dog park. Miniature golf, pool.
Traveler
We stayed one night and the staff was of great assistance with our reservation and suggestions on places to eat. Very nice place and great people
RangerWe stayed in one of the cabins for a couple nights. The bed was comfy and the cabin was clean. I had never stayed in a KOA before and didn't know what to expect, but was overall a great experience. My only complaint is about the showers, they could use a deep clean.
TravelerWe arrived here the last night of their season. We feel lucky to have had at least one night here before they close for the winter. Although the camp ground is outside the park, the views from the areas surrounding the campground are great. The white river runs just next to the campground and the the dry season allows a creek walk. Sunset across the grasslands to the Badlands was spectacular. The bathrooms are clean, posts helpful and the sites feel big enough… Although there were approximately 10 other RVs in the whole campground on this last night. At the moment it’s very quiet.
ScoutWe stayed at a full hook-up site, our first time with sewage. It was pretty cramped camping. They squeeze you in. The other parts of the campground are spaced a bit more. There is a full service convenience store, pet eun area, mini golf and a beautiful view.
ScoutVery well ran and managed KOA campground. Quiet and clean. Everyone helpful. Nice shop, pool, dog park, dump station, etc. We would definitely recommend it.
TravelerWe usually like to camp at a campsite for one night before we disperse camp so we can check out the areas and make sure our RV can get there. This seemed to be very kid friendly and very clean. It was a nice stop!
TravelerIf you’re looking for a place to quickly crash for the night I’d recommend this. It was $30 and close to the highway. Plus only had 3 other campers. Not very level on any of the sites.
RangerPull through RV spots, tent spots, cabins, and a yurt. High quality facilities with a shower house and bathroom. Mini golf, camp store, dog park, and pool available. 10 min drive from the park!
ScoutI am very pleased with this Campground . As I drove through the Badlands today and saw people setting up their tents in the totally exposed Park campgrounds I was sad for them . The KOA has great shade at every tent site . The sites are spacious and there were was no overcrowding . I opted to rent one of the small Rustic cabins with AC ( no bathroom or kitchen ) in order to give my elderly dog a respite from the scorching afternoon heat . The little camping cabin is clean and comfortable, there is a small front porch with a swing . Outside there is a picnic table and fire ring . We walked through the campground this evening and there was a cool gentle breeze . Most of the tent sites were unoccupied while I believe absolutely every RV site was occupied . Definitely worth checking out this campsite and hands down better choice than the exposed unshaded sites with in the Badlands .
ScoutThis campsite had all the amenities - even laundry! The staff is super friendly. They provide free pancakes in the morning. All in all, a nice KOA!
TravelerWe stopped here after panning to stay in the grasslands when we saw it was going to hit 105. The pool is small but was just what we needed on a scorcher. Nice camp shop and friendly staff. Most spots had some shade from trees.
LegendPros: The location is perfect for visiting the Badlands! We really liked that there was lots of trees, even though our site didn't have a big one. The campground was large with lots of amenities and activities. They had a huge variety of different style campsites, cabins and teepees!
Cons: This place was PACKED! I get it, its right outside of a National Park, it's summertime and families are on vacation. I just never understand why campsites are right on top of each other! I also don't like that I can't pick my own site. When we showed up, we were escorted to the site we were assigned. Our site backed up to the mini golf course and our campsite shared a power box with our neighbors. The problem was that the power box was on the wrong site of the camper and it was at the front of the campsite instead of the back. We had to reposition the camper so that we could stretch the cord to reach the power box. Also, the fire pit and table was on the wrong site. I sucked it up and just felt grateful that we were vacationing in the Badlands!
GuideThis campground is great for an overnight stay. There was machinery and farm equipment in some of the RV sites. The property has not been mowed in some time. It is W/E only with a dump station for the majority of the sites. There is not a host on site and no one from the hotel that owns the campground came by. There is a bathhouse with showers (dirty) and flush toilets and sinks. The RV site we had was level gravel. This property is next to an interstate so beware of the noise.
ScoutJust a simple campground with full hookups, both 30 and 50 amp. Most sites have some trees. We didn't use the showers or bathrooms. No play equipment if you have children. Very reasonable at $28 on a Friday night. Would stay here again.
RangerSo generally we opt for more remote camping but it was SOOO hot that we absolutely needed shore power for our small rig. The spaces are large and there are so many mature trees that when we drove by the Cedar lodge RV campground (with no shade) we knew we had made the right call. This place has a very nice store with everything you might need and lots for the kids to do. Laundry at a reasonable price, and even a small pizza place. I’d definitely come back. It was literally a life saver in the July heat.’
ScoutThis is a great location for agate hunters to stay. It's near some descent agate beds and right next to the Badlands for a day trip. The staff is pleasant and always maintaining the campground. A very clean and quiet stay. Would recommend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Philip, SD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Philip, SD is Badlands / White River KOA with a 4.1-star rating from 58 reviews.
