Best Tent Camping near Piedmont, SD
Black Hills National Forest surrounding Piedmont, South Dakota offers numerous primitive tent camping options within a short drive of major attractions. Tent campers can choose from established sites like Wrinkled Rock near Keystone, which provides designated tent pads and vault toilets just minutes from Mount Rushmore, or more remote dispersed camping at RD 356 Dispersed Site. Mount Roosevelt Road Dispersed Campsite and North Pole Road Dispersed Camping provide additional backcountry tent camping opportunities with varying levels of accessibility and amenities.
Most tent-only sites in the Piedmont area require campers to bring all necessary supplies, as drinking water and facilities are limited or nonexistent. At RD 356 Dispersed Site, the first three sites are accessible with standard vehicles, but high clearance is required beyond that point. According to visitors, rain can create challenging conditions for tent campers, with one camper noting that "tents were flooded and had to dry out in the sun the next day" after a storm. Wrinkled Rock offers more established tent camping with vault toilets but no water sources. The 14-day stay limit applies to most dispersed camping areas, and all sites operate on a pack-in, pack-out basis.
Tent campsites throughout the region provide excellent access to hiking trails and climbing areas. At Wrinkled Rock, one visitor reported the tent spots are "reasonably close to the parking lot" while still allowing campers to find secluded areas with "a really nice view of the stars." The area attracts rock climbers, with "hundreds of climbing routes within walking distance." For those seeking more isolation, North Pole Road Dispersed Camping offers what one camper described as "a special place, away from all the sounds of cars and lights from the cities," where wildlife sightings include deer and coyotes. Walk-in tent sites at several locations provide additional options for backcountry tent camping experiences with greater privacy.
