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Best Tent Camping near Philip, SD

586 Reviews

Dispersed tent camping dominates the options near Philip, South Dakota, with the Baja Area in Buffalo Gap National Grassland offering a free primitive experience approximately 60 miles southwest of Philip. The area provides wide-open spaces with views of the Badlands formations to the north. Backcountry camping is also available in Badlands National Park, providing a more remote tent camping experience for those willing to hike in. Midland Rest Area, located about 30 miles east of Philip, offers limited tent camping with access to toilets and drinking water.

Tent sites throughout the region require self-sufficiency, as amenities are minimal to nonexistent. The Baja Area Dispersed camping is drive-in accessible with no designated sites, allowing campers to find secluded spots across the open grassland terrain. Most vehicles can access the area, though some sections may require higher clearance. No drinking water, toilets, or trash facilities exist at the Buffalo Gap sites, requiring campers to pack in all water and pack out all waste. Fires are permitted in the grassland dispersed areas but prohibited in Badlands National Park backcountry camping.

The tent camping experience in this region offers exceptional night skies and solitude, particularly in the grasslands where campers can spread out significantly. The open landscape provides panoramic views but limited shade, making summer camping potentially challenging during hot days. Badlands backcountry camping requires a short hike but rewards tent campers with dramatic landscapes and complete immersion in the park's unique formations. Wildlife viewing opportunities include prairie dogs, pronghorn, and occasional bison sightings. Seasonal considerations include intense summer heat and potential for strong winds across the open prairie. A camper noted, "Large area with plenty of room and awesome night sky. Easily accessed with van."

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Best Tent Sites Near Philip, South Dakota (3)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Philip, SD

586 Reviews of 3 Philip Campgrounds

  • K
    Aug. 29, 2018

    Sage Creek Campground

    Beautiful and Primative

    Sage Creek is a free and primitive campground in the Badlands National Park. It is absolutely beautiful and surrounded by grassland. The only amenities are vault toilets-there is no water at the site, but you can fill up at the outside faucet at the visitor center before heading down the road to the campsite. There are 12 miles of gravel roads (some great pull offs along this road for pictures) to get to the site, so low clearance vehicles may want to watch out when it rains. The early morning is awesome at this campsite, its quiet, the sun is rising over the hills and sometimes wildlife can be seen munching away.

    The bison frequently roam through this site and I urge all campers to stay a safe distance from the bison as they are wild and unpredictable.

    The only complaint I really have about this site, is more of a concern. In recent years there has been a problem with over crowding at the site, for example, more people staying than allowed, people driving and camping outside the designated campgrounds, being loud, crowding other campers, etc. While we were there, we saw a truck barrel over a prairie dog town, parents allowing their children to throw things at the prairie dogs or stick things into the animal's dens and an argument over a campsite. I just hope that those who choose to camp here keep the park rules and the leave no trace principles in mind. This is a beautiful place and a joy to visit the quiet grasslands.

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 13, 2024

    Sage Creek Campground

    Free camping with wildlife

    Campground is basic. Only 2 (very clean) vault toilets, no water or electricity. I got there a little before 3pm on mother's day; it was full by 8. Only a handful of sites have sun covers over the picnic tables. You will be very close to other campers. Most are respectful. I would just recommend getting there before dark to keep from disturbing everyone. Prairie dogs galore in the center and on the periphery of the campground. My dog was fascinated by them. As noted by others, you will most likely be serenaded by coyotes and have morning visits from the bison. I also heard wild turkeys off in the woods.

  • S
    Aug. 27, 2019

    Cedar Pass Campground — Badlands National Park

    Functional camp sites in badlands national park

    Pros: you are camping in badlands national park. Night time star gazing program with the park during the summer.

    Cons: sites are tightly packed together. No trees. No wind protection. Pay showers. Showers not super clean. Bathrooms and showers do not have counter space or other areas to place personal items.

    During our stay sustained winds collapsed our tent during the day. If you are tent camping, using a tent designed to handle windy conditions would be recommended.

  • Tara S.
    Jul. 29, 2019

    Sage Creek Campground

    Primitive Campground in an Amazingly Wild Spot

    There's a lot of wildlife in Badlands National Park, but we saw the bulk of it right in Sage Creek Campground. This is a totally free campground, which is basically a field surrounding a prairie dog town, with two pit toilets and no water. There is also no shade, but there are a few picnic tables under sun shelters in the campground.

    Unfortunately, we didn't score a sun shelter because we arrived late in the day. We did have a tarp that we set up over our picnic table for shade. During our stay in July, we saw several bison in the campground, as well as hawks, meadowlarks, magpies, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and a family of burrowing owls. 

    There are trails that lead up to the surrounding hills, and plenty of wide-open spaces to explore. If the campground gets busy, it does feel a bit like the grounds of a festival, as there is no privacy and people tend to pitch their tents wherever there is room. Also, it took us about an hour to drive back and forth from the visitor center, and the road is extremely rough, so you have to drive really slow. 

    We loved Sage Creek Campground - the remoteness, the wildlife, and the amazing sky, and would definitely return! Sites do fill up in the busy summer season, but not until late in the evening.

  • Scott S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 5, 2020

    Buffalo Gap Dispersed Camping

    Camping on the edge!

    This is by far one of my favorite places to camp in the country! It is a windy ridge overlooking the badlands and just outside the north park gate. Look for the radio towers and drive up the dirt road to a cliff where you can set up and enjoy a spectacular spot! There is a lot of room for everyone to spread out. But be sure to stake down your tent and secure it well because I have camped there twice and both times I felt like I was going to blow away! But it is well worth it and a magical spot!

  • Daniel H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 1, 2023

    Sage Creek Campground

    Sage Creek Campground - Phenomenal Primitive Camping

    If you keep in mind that this is a primitive campground, you'll be just fine.  Concrete vault toilets, no water, nice covered picnic tables and phenomenal views.

  • J
    Sep. 1, 2021

    Badlands / White River KOA

    Nice , quiet , SHADED, not overcrowded

    I 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 .

  • Rachel O.
    Sep. 1, 2020

    Sage Creek Campground

    Prairie dogs are reclaiming their land and I love it.

    Holy cats it was windy when I set up camp here. It's so flat that when the wind comes through, it just does not stop. AND the ground was SO hard. Super glad I had a real, metal hammer in my car to get my stakes in the ground. 

    Lots of available spots when I arrived mid-afternoon, but the sites with covered tables were all taken. Lots of prairie dogs. 

    Vault toilet was fine, but a line formed during busy times and ran out of tp. 

    THERE IS NO WATER HERE. And the spigot at the entry was broken, so I had to drive to the complete other end of the Badlands to get more water. Bring your own in if you can. Sage Creek could be used with a filter, but it was pretty shallow, slow moving, and a nice sage green color. I took the drive.

  • Kimberly S.
    Sep. 19, 2021

    Sage Creek Campground

    Nice Primitive Campground

    We were initially planning to dispersed camp in the Black Hills National Forest, but quickly realized we were going to spend more time in Badlands NP than we initially planned, so we stayed here instead. We arrived in the early afternoon to set up camp and there were plenty of sites available. The campsites are out in the open with no shade, but many sites have covered picnic tables, which was nice. We loved seeing all the prairie dogs throughout the campground and the herd of bison that walked right past several times. Be prepared for wind since it is in an open, flat area. The vault toilets were very clean. This was perfect for our one night stay.

Guide to Philip

Tent camping near Philip, South Dakota provides access to some of the most remote prairie landscapes in the northern Great Plains. The region sits at approximately 2,200 feet elevation, characterized by rolling grasslands interspersed with dramatic badlands formations. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 95°F with minimal shade, while spring brings wildflower blooms across the prairie ecosystem but also unpredictable weather patterns.

What to do

Wildlife photography opportunities: Buffalo Gap National Grassland offers excellent opportunities to photograph prairie wildlife. One camper at Baja Area Dispersed noted, "Passed a couple campervans on the way in. Ended up getting a great spot with nobody around us and amazing views of the badlands."

Off-road biking trails: The open terrain provides natural trails for dirt biking enthusiasts. A visitor mentioned, "Really fun on a dirt bike, u can drive around with a car if u want as well, some mellow spots allow non high clearance cars to get around."

Stargazing sessions: The minimal light pollution makes this area ideal for astronomy. The open grasslands provide unobstructed views of the night sky. A recent camper at Baja Area observed, "Wide open and beautiful views. Only saw a few other campers but was totally private. Definitely worth the stay!!"

What campers like

Proximity to Badlands National Park: Staying at dispersed sites near the park boundary offers convenient access to daily excursions. A camper at Backcountry Camping in Badlands National Park shared, "Very nice to Des pursed camping. There are no facilities but the views make up for it."

Complete solitude: The vast open spaces allow campers to find isolated spots away from others. A visitor to Baja Area Dispersed noted, "Easily accessible and quiet. Large enough to find a spot away from anyone. There probably is ATV here sometimes, but none while we were here."

Convenient park access: Many campers appreciate the short drive to park entrances. According to one review, "A great place to stay the night while visiting Badlands NP. Super close to the park and Interior, SD. We were able to find a secluded place near the entry to the front gate."

What you should know

Insect preparation: Mosquitoes can be problematic during certain seasons. Pack appropriate repellent and protective clothing. A camper at Midland Rest Area warned, "Only down side is there were A LOT of mosquitoes."

Vehicle accessibility considerations: While many areas are accessible to standard vehicles, some sections require higher clearance. A visitor mentioned, "Seemed like a less popular spot then the northern dispersed camping, but it was a really sweet stop after a sick drive thru the Badlands."

Limited cellular service: Most tent camping near Philip has spotty or nonexistent phone coverage. Download offline maps before arrival and inform someone of your camping plans.

Tips for camping with families

Morning wildlife viewing: Plan early morning excursions when wildlife is most active and temperatures are cooler. The best tent camping near Philip, South Dakota offers opportunities to see prairie dogs, pronghorns and bison with children.

Educational geology stops: The unique rock formations provide natural science lessons for children. The varying colors in the rock layers tell the geological history of the region going back millions of years.

Water conservation strategies: With no water sources at most sites, families should plan for 1-2 gallons per person per day. A camper at Baja Area Buffalo Gap suggested, "Bring extra water containers if staying more than one night."

Tips from RVers

Alternative parking strategies: While tent camping dominates the Philip area, some RVers find creative solutions. A visitor noted, "Large area with plenty of room and awesome night sky. Easily accessed with van."

Generator-free camping: The lack of designated generator use makes this area better suited for self-contained units with solar or battery power. The natural quiet is a significant draw for campers seeking peace.

Navigation landmarks: Without formal addresses, dispersed camping locations rely on GPS coordinates or natural landmarks. First-time visitors should arrive during daylight hours to identify suitable camping spots.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Philip, SD?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Philip, SD is Baja Area Dispersed - Buffalo Gap National Grassland with a 4.4-star rating from 9 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Philip, SD?

TheDyrt.com has all 3 tent camping locations near Philip, SD, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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