Best Tent Camping near Philip, SD

Tent camping in the Badlands is a one of a kind experience. The sites are basic, but the views are amazing. We stayed at tent site 81 and had unobstructed views. We read about the wind before going and those campers were not joking. A storm swept through with lightning like we’ve never seen before and the wind continued all night. Be prepared for the wind! Fires are not allowed due to the wind. Bathrooms were ok and they had a dishwashing station which was nice. Enjoy this unique campground!

The location is right outside of the national park, and is a motel / campground. You could get a room, RV or tent site. We reserved a tent site and picked once we arrived. The staff was friendly and they do have a store with ice / wood / etc if needed. They also had a breakfast option.

The tent sites are just on a field of grass. They are right next to one another without any separation so proximity to neighbors is very close. However, the view was great as you could see the badlands.

The bathrooms and showers were rough, and we refrained from using them. Not very well maintained or cleaned often it seems. Also, bugs. Especially at night when the beatles come out.

For RV users, looks like they had full hookups but unsure of the amps. Probably the usual 50.

Overall we wouldn’t mind coming back!

You will have nice views of the Badlands from your campsite. A nice tent camping area for sure. You are in the open at this campground, not many trees grow here.

Good wifi, little store. Tent site. Hot showers, restaurant serves breakfast. Fire rings. Beautiful place overlooking bad lands. Friendly staff, quiet, and comfortable.

They has some fancies when I was in a pinch to get a site for the next few nights. They were able to accommodate my needs. They have continued to be friendly & helpful throughout my stay.

There are very few trees or shady areas. The tent sites seem to be shadier than the RV sites, who often have air conditioning. The tent sites are also closer to the bathrooms.

There is a pool & other family activities.

This KOA is out among some very small towns. There are few amenities outside of the campground. But I enjoyed a day trip through the Badlands.

Talk about wide open spaces!

I could see how tent camping could be rough here in heavy winds, but I got lucky during my stay.

Incredible spot on a plateau overlooking the Badlands.

Epic sunrises and sunsets, but no shade during the day!

Just outside of the park boundary, so great basecamp for Badlands exploration.

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 .

We have stayed here twice, it was easy to find and lots of available spots but it’s just on a cliff’s edge so there are TONS of strong gusts of winds, it caused our tent to cave in and I ended up sleeping in the car. There was a goat, that was cool, but otherwise I don’t recommend for tent camping (go to sage creek campground, also free)

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.

What a great park and a wonderful campground :) Tent camped here for 4 nights and was pleased with the campground location, restrooms, and site. Nothing special for the site- just a level, open area to put the tent, but there was a nice picnic area.  Lots of little creatures scurrying around most of the time, so there's build in entertainment at the site! The park is beautiful- 5 days was not enough time to explore everything.  I liked camping here since it was close to many trails and gave me a better sense of the park and its wildlife. I would definitely camp here again on a trip to the Badlands.

Located within Badlands National Park, this campground couldn’t be more conveniently located to nearby hiking trails and all the Badlands has to offer. There is a visitors center with a small store in walking distance. Our site was essentially along a road, so privacy is limited, but you get your own awning and picnic table. The bathrooms weren’t heated and it was about 5 degrees which made our showers uncomfortable. The showers require quarters, but there is a no change machine. Use the vending machine to make change instead.

Tent camping is allowed all year, but most guests were staying in RV’s.

I loved this campground. Now it could easily have been because it was our first official, set up our tent site after 23hrs of driving. But honestly the views were beautiful.

Sites were nice and level for setting up our tents, the sites had a great covered picnic area. And even though we saw quite a few others camping out, it was quiet. We visited in Oct.

The bath houses were clean and well maintained and showers were sure nice to have.

We rolled in around 7pm so was already dark but waking to the morning sunrise was amazing.

Our family of four tent camped two nights in the Cedar Pass campground and the views are unbelievable! The sky is so open we watched a rainstorm pass by to the south of us, but never felt a drop. The campground can become crowded at times so try to choose a site on the outer edge of the grounds. Covered picnic tables were greatly appreciated since shade is sparse. Day hikes and evening ranger led programs are well worth your time. The kids also enjoyed making friends playing on the gigantic rocks outside of the amphitheater. Campground and bathrooms were well maintained. A cool experience all around.

Got in late around 9pm. They have my reservation that I made online. Clear directions to my campsite. Showers were functional and much appreciated. $.50 for four minutes and then $.25 for every two minutes after that. They have a change machine just outside the showers. Each campsite has a picnic table and awning. And my tent site was clear requiring no tidying up. One of the two toilets was out of order, creating a bottleneck, but the bathrooms were clean in general.  Amazing scenery, and lots of hiking right around you. Felt very safe. Would highly recommend!

Badlands Interior Campground is located one mile south of Badlands National Park, and includes plenty of clean, level RV and tent sites, as well as teepees, camper cabins, and a motel. The owners were a delight to talk to, which we did every morning, and very knowledgeable about the area.

The RV sites include both electric and full hook-up, which is a step above the sites available inside the national park. There are community bathrooms that are small and feel a bit older, and only two showers are located in each. On a busy summer day, those could feel quite crowded. The playground is small and dated, but the unique merry-go-round (standing version) captivated our sons for a few hours.

The sites are not very shaded, especially the tent sites. This was not a concern for us since we visited in early spring, but a mid-summer day in the 100’s might be a bit unbearable. But in lieu of the trees, visitors get to see awesome views of the Badlands from almost every site! There are picnic tables at every campsite, some have sun overhangs, which would be outstanding to have in the summer. Each site also boasts an above-ground campfire ring, which is small, but a welcome feature as the campgrounds inside the park do not allow open fires (fire dangers here stay high most of the year).

The owners keep the facility in great shape, keeping the grass short to avoid encounters with rattle snakes, and the garbage disposal areas free from larger critters. When we arrived the day before their official 2017 opening, the grounds were in great shape and they appeared ready to roll and welcome travelers at any time.