Are you planning a dispersed camping trip to Pierre? We've got you covered. The Dyrt provides you with a diverse selection of places to camp, from dispersed backcountry camping to boondocking, and everything in-between. You're sure to find the perfect dispersed campsite for your South Dakota excursion.
There are no developed campgrounds at the grassland. Visitors may hike into areas without road access to pitch tents or camp in a campers parked up to 30 feet off any designated road on the Grassland. Make sure to view the Motor Vehicle Use Map to check where you can go.
All camping visitors are prohibited from using charcoal grills, having open camp fires, smoking outside of their vehicles, and operating engines without a spark arresting device installed. Commercial petroleum fueled stoves and lanterns are permitted.
NO services available, pack it out.
Scout
Perfect spot to rest after driving all day! I forgot it was opening weekend for grouse, so it was busy but not crowded.
TravelerWe actually never made it to the site. There was a big thunderstorm about an hour before we left the main road to this site. When we turned on to the road leading to this place we got stuck on the road. It seems that the road is clay and when it gets wet it becomes very difficult to travel on. Although the road is flat and level our Ram Van with all-terrain tires got stuck. After 3 hours of placing sticks and other things under our tires we managed to get out. Spent the night in a nice free park in Pierre.
TravelerWe stayed here one night while traveling West. It's a beautiful spot in the middle of the SD prairie. The little lake is pretty and the sunset was amazing. For such an out of the way place it's well taken care of. The whole camping area was recently mowed and as others have said it has a very clean vault toilet. There was only one other camper there on the other side of the tree shelter. Bring your own shade. We arrived on a hot windy day, parked against the trees as wind protection and unfolded the awnings for shade. Around sunset some storms rolled by and the wind kicked up something fierce! We closed up the awnings in a panic and hunkered down. The wind howled all night!!!
Ranger
Beautiful park like setting a short drive from a small town. Campground has garbage service and a vaulted toilet. The toilet was a total disaster, not good, like someone spray painted the toilet with poop. Despite the toilet, I would recommend based on the idelic location.
TravelerThere are two spots here for camping. One spot with primitive "sites" in an open grassy field with no sites that has some firepits (2-3) with no cooking grates, two picnic tables that can be moved and two under a roof on cement. The other spot (see separate dyrt listing) has electric sites that are supposedly $20 per dyrt but I didn't see nor look at how to get those spots (5-6 of them). They were actually looking all full. We set up in the grassy area with unfortunately a big trash bin in the way (hopefully someone moves it to a different spot). People before us had left trash in the firepit (no cooking grate) anyway even though the big bin was 20 ft away.
The restrooms are over by the electric sites and were disgusting. It seems bored locals come and trash the place as they had signs about keeping poop in the pits and not on the walls. I was happy we had bikes to get over to the restrooms and we did use the one that wasn't utterly disgusting once for a #2.
When we woke were in the midst of tons of wind again but some electric site folks had left so we packed up and drove over to one of those sites which are up by some trees and got out of the wind to cook some breakfast and food for the drive. The trees also provided some kindling to get the fire started.
Overall, OK stay, best for just pitching a tent late and hitting the road early though unless some improvements are made like more firepits and trees in grassy area or you can cook and be totally self contained.
RangerThis place is about as perfect as it gets! Free camping - dispersed so pull up where you want. Or choose a spot with a fire ring and table.
Views are OUTSTANDING! You can fish, kayak, hike, etc. Right off highway but very quiet and peaceful. Slept great.
They do have toilets (I didn't use them) and they do have a couple electric spots that are $20/night (I didn't use them).
Just super easy, super beautiful and a great place to call home for a night or a few.
Lots of mozzies at night - so use spray or plan to be in your tent/vehicle once the sun goes down.
Travelersmall tucked away spot with a very clean 1 person bathroom
LegendGreat quiet camping spot. Only one other camper while here for 4 days. Lake is full of small Crappie. Lots of wildlife. Deer , antelope, pheasants.
GuideRichland Reservoir has a vaulted toilet, lots of wildlife, and quiet. It was windy for my stay so be prepared for that. So far no rattlesnakes or ticks or chiggers but there was a bald eagle hunting the reservoir. For spring, blinds are reservable at the ranger station to view the prairie chickens and grouse doing their mating rituals. I used a cell booster with a 20ft antenna to get cell service. Your mileage may vary. You can find water and a dump station at Fischers Lilly Park in Pierre to the north. If this site is to crowded Google Sheriff's Dam which is just down the road. Google gets you pretty close. That is another lovely site, but has no vaulted toilet.
Guide
If you read Jessica's review with the GPS coordinates above, those will take you to the Richland Reservoir site. There is a listing for that separate. The coordinates on the end of this listing take you to a field. You can camp off most roads no further than 30ft in a vehicle, RV or trailer. Be aware that there is private land in here too. Best to stop in the ranger station in Pierre to the north and ask. They are very helpful.
LegendNo fees No water No open fires No cell Pack it in Pack it out
A beautiful peaceful campground. It looks more like a small pasture that has not been mowed. I would use a tick spray, not sure about chiggers. We spray to be safe. Possible snakes in the tall grass. This site can handle anything that is willing to travel on the road. The road in is a good “dirt” farm road. As long as it hasn’t rained in a few days and does not rain while you are camped the way in and out will be good. If it has rained or does rain this road will become nasty. Traffic on the road is by farm truck or tractors without an issue of getting out. If it has or does rain the road will become very slick rutted. Sunsets are amazing. Farm land surrounds the grassland. The site is bit enough to handle just about anything that is willing to travel a dirt road. There is a perimeter of tress and bushes that enclose the area. We backed up to the perimeter and set camp. The pit toilet is new and would be at home in any campground. Super clean and stocked with toilet paper and hand sanitizer. There is also a boat ramp or you can fish from the shore. The Augustana University has established a Milkweed Project Garden which looks promising. No cell service. No shopping. Bring your supplies with you.
Pack it in Pack it out
LNT
Better than when you found it.
Stay safe- Happy travels
GuideSo much space and cleanest bathroom ever!
TravelerWe got there and there were a few other camper. Once we got set up and playing frisbee with the dog we saw a rattle snake… so we left. If it wasn’t for that we would have stayed!
ScoutThere is an actual campground here, which has a pit toilet. No other facilities and the campground is just a field, but it's amazingly beautiful. We parked our camper at night, saw the milky way and shooting stars, and woke up to deer, cows, and birds. The exact coordinates for the site are 44.1501760, -100.4088890 Plug that into your GPS and it will take you right there. It's grassland so no fires. I have AT&T and still had enough service to text and make calls without any issues.
ScoutVery remote campsite, but easy to find off of the main road using the coordinates from here. The bathroom was one of the cleanest I’ve ever seen. It was peaceful, and I felt safe there. Only one other car aside from me, but the space is huge and there is plenty of room to spread out.
GuideBeautiful remote campground! We were the only campers. The campground was easy to find from directions on here. The vault toilet was clean. We saw so many birds, deer, fish & turtles, and of course, the beautiful landscape.
Ranger
We found a great fishing hole here. Had a great time did not see any camping site although the signs did say you could camp. I had no troubles and used my roof top tent.
RangerMiddle of nowhere. Awesome to get away! Has pit toilet on site that was cleaner than any public restroom I’ve ever seen. Go about 5 miles down gravel road to get here, did it in RV, just take it slow, lots of washboarding. Good fishing here, also!
GuideWas pleasantly surprised when I rolled in and saw this beautiful spot. Just a few grouse hunters and me for the time I spent there. Very clean bathroom and awesome fishing in the reservoir. Certainly recommend.
ScoutThis is a great place to camp for anybody. Traveling through perfect to camp in. Looking to just camp for a few nights and relax this is a great relaxing spot. With a simple toilet, and plenty of room for any and all campers. Plenty of room for Van and RV’s too.
ScoutNational Grassland dispersed camping.
Vault toilet, lots of space for several sites.
1 bar of Verizon LTE.
GuideMaybe it existed once. There is a field of sunflowers on one side and a fenced in grassland on the other. I don't think anybody would appreciate someone hopping the fence or sleeping in the sunflowers. I would not come back here.
RangerI stayed here during a long cross country road trip. You basically go off the highway and drive in on some gravel roads and apparently can camp anywhere as long as you are 100 m away from any roads or trails! No amenities. I was alone and was nervous to camp alone. But I slept fine (besides some wind) and woke early and got back on the road.
Ranger
Please note that this is NOT the designated Sage Creek campground but the wilderness area that allows for very primitive tent camping. You park off of Rim Road where there is a small lot and a place to register (whether you're day-hiking or staying over night). You hike down into the high prarie and keep wide eye out for bison ( there are over 600 in the badlands!). Make sure that when you do come across wildlife, especially bison, that you give them ample space, do not appear aggressive and definitely don't try to pet them. You must hike in with your food and plenty of water, because the water in Sage Creek is not able to be filtered. It is very easy to spend hours and days exploring the beautiful land and jagged rock, but you must be prepared. From what we saw and what we researched, rarely do people go out and backpack and camp in this wilderness area. I would recommend this to only those who have enough experience backpacking and who know how to prepare themselves, as you will not be near any people or amenities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Pierre, SD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Pierre, SD is Richland reservoir dispersed camping with a 4.7-star rating from 15 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Pierre, SD?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 dispersed camping locations near Pierre, SD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
