Best Dispersed Camping near Rapid City, SD

Very close to Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Rapid City and Hill City. Lake Sheridan was a great place to go cool off. Very dispersed camping. Pack in Pack out. No cell service. At first we didn’t think there was a spot to pull off and then found a perfect circular area for us in our travel trailer and our friends car camping. No fires allowed when we were there. We stayed 2 nights and planned to sight see so left our stuff and was never bothered.

Dispersed Camping off the main road thru Custer State Park that is National Forest. Turn on the road that marks the Bob Marshall Camp. You pass a water treatment area and go thru the gate. It is open to vehicles in the summer and equestrian and hike in during the winter. Road is rough but was passable in our truck. We towed in a small teardrop but I wouldn't recommend a large rig. There are several areas to set up camp but pack in and pack out! No water sources spotted so bring enough in with you (didn't even see any water for filtering). Saw a preexisting stone fire pit from past campers too. Super quiet and near all the great things of Custer. We did experience biting flies. Coordinates: 43.7851324, -103.5041771

The campsites are basically outcrops off of the main road which means typical dispersed camping with no amenities. The views from the campsites are astounding. Very serene landscape with plenty of wildlife. The road is long and I suggest following it all the way before picking a campsite.

There are a few dispersed camping spots along this road which also holds the trailhead for Mt. Roosevelt Friendship Tower. There was one pull through site that has no campfire signs and then two or three other spots. We seemed to be lucky and got the last open spot. We got here around 4 pm. The site we got was beautiful and had a lot of room for us to pitch a tent. Plenty of trees to go pee in but also an open spot where we could stargaze through the tent. There was some traffic on the road, more than you would think for such a windy gravel road. The first part of the road up until the trailhead had quite a bit of washboard which was a little scary on the sharp curves with steep drop offs. Enough Verizon cell service to text and make calls. Enough AT&T service to get WiFi on our SubaruLink. No water that we saw that we could use or filter. Had some people pull into our spot at different times not knowing it was taken. 9:30 pm was the last one.

Literally dozens of good dispersed camp sites along this rough road.  Amazing find so close to Mt Rushmore.  Elevation is about 5500 feet.  I camped in November and the water bottle in my tent froze.  In the morning it was only  a 10 minute drive to the memorial.  With the sun in my eyes it was too late when I saw the deer.  (:-(

Close enough to civilization to be able to get stuff. Removed enough from civilization to feel free from the city. Camping spots are secluded and private. There are no facilities so pack water and toilet paper.

Black Hills can be hard to find cheap or free camping during busy season. Great free camp down a gravel/dirt road with cows on both sides and one in the road (it moved eventually). Go a good ways down the road and up a hill which did have a couple of spots that I would be Leary of if you have a low to ground vehicle. We stayed in the first spot once clear of the trees, and while on a slope, it was a fantastic view. Our neighbors had made it towing a full size 5th wheel travel trailer, so it can be done, but I wouldn't try on a muddy road day with a huge trailer. Too risky. Still we camped on top of one of the highest mountains in the Black Hills, for free. It was fantastic until about midnight when the rainstorms came and our old tent had a catastrophic failure. We nearly froze from being fully soaked. So no second night for us, we had to push on, wash and dry everything, and buy a new tent to continue our travels. It was a great camp tho. But I recommend a bug canopy for just chilling in, and go ahead and invest in a good ground tarp and throw one over your tent as well to keep rain from soaking thru. You will thank me, and be a little warmer. Happy camping.

Drive 240 S from Wall SD towards the NP for 6 miles. Look for a small dirt road on the left, it’s easy to miss. There are 3 radio towers near a Dispersed Camping area. You’ll notice the towers before the turn. Good cell service. Spectacular location. Most stay 1 night or 2. Best sites vacant by 10am and full by 4 pm.

This spot is at the end of a forest road that runs west of Nemo, SD. There are other dispersed camping sites along the way as well. This spot butts up right next to a cliff with the Boxelder Creek running below and gives good views of the Black Hills to the south. No amenities at all here. A high clearance vehicle will most likely be needed to get back to this spot.

My Fiancé and I loved these dispersed camping sites! They’re scattered all along the drive of the mountain. The roads are all dirt going back to the sites. They’re plenty big for a 20ft camper, we have a 16ft pull behind and our truck and we still had plenty of room on our site and it wasn’t even a group site. There are a few extra big spots for groups. No fires, but your dogs will love this area.

Nearly unlimited boondock spots with spectacular views. Wind is blowing 20+ (just a breeze according to our SD friend) out of the SE up the Wall from the Badlands) with gusts to 30. Everyone favors the spots at the edge, but we found that you still have a good view 100 feet or so back from cliff edge and get considerable protection from  the wind — the apparent wind velocity is cut by about half. Bonus:  Good cell reception. Is that a cell tower in the middle of the boondock area?

There were multiple pull off dispersed camping areas all along the Mt. Roosevelt road. The road is easy to drive if coming off the CanAm Hwy side of the mountain. Walking distance to the Roosevelt Friendship Tower hike which is highly recommended. Tons of bees in the wildflowers but they never bothered us. Pack in and pack out! Some traffic driving along the road but never overwhelming and quiet at night. Great base to visit Deadwood, Lead, Spearfish Canyon, and Devils Tower

Boondocking with no bathrooms/showers/water Located just outside Badlands National Park and Wall in Buffalo Gap Spots have no shade or electricity

One of the best if not the best spot to stay at the badlands if boondocks is fine with you. Never will be fill here but best views along the Cliffside will be taken.