Best Glamping near Spearfish, SD

I should have checked Recreation.gov to confirm this campground is open before heading there, it would have saved me some time. It closed as of September 11th 2020, and is reopening in May 2021. Looks like May- Sept. is what's planned for next year as well. Boo! Still, glad I did actually go because now I know where I might head next time I'm in the area. Noticed some other campsites in the Black Hills are closed as well, so I might have timed my camping trip to the area poorly. Live and learn. Anyway, about the campground… 

Easy to get to, good LTE reception on Verizon throughout, BIG area with what looks like four different loops, some closer to the water than others. A tent-only area, which I appreciate- those tend to be quieter than the RV spots, and the tent area was close to the reservoir. Standard campsite amenities- tables, fire pits, bathrooms. Swimming seems like an option. Plenty of trees for us hammock dwellers. Could easily see myself spending a few days here when it is open, assuming it isn't too much of a zoo, which large sites like these can devolve into.

NOTE: this is a duplicate listing of another Dyrt listing for the same campground. That listing is under the name "Pactola Reservoir Campground" which is the accurate name according to the Forest Service. That listing has more reviews and info, but has incorrect GPS coordinates. I've submitted a fix, so hopefully they'll fix the GPS for the other listing and merge them, but until then, just a heads up. Here's the other listing: https://thedyrt.com/camping/south-dakota/south-dakota-pactola-reservoir-campground

The owners are the friendliest. Very accommodating. All the hook ups worked. Awesome price in a fantastic location to see all the wonderful sites South Dakota has to offer.

right along spearfish creek, this campground was really nice and kept up well. Clean, good upkeep on the bathrooms and walking distance from grocery stores and laundry, etc. Fishing is fun and there is the hatchery nearby. Also ventured up to Spearfish Canyon for a hike, which i highly recommend if you have time as it is beautiful views - especially in the fall when the leaves are changing.

This lake is beautiful, its one of my favorite places inside Custer state park. There are a ton of trails, all within easy walking distance. Make sure you pack plenty of water. Some of the hikes are pretty steep and South Dakota in notorious for fast changing weather. The lake itself can be pretty busy, especially during the weekend. Lot of people swimming and kayaking. Needles highway is a must if your in the area

We stayed here for 3 nights after spending 3 nights closer in custer. Well maintained campground, our site was right across the road from the Creek. We stayed in July and the city of Spearfish had activities in the park (about 1/4 mile away) every evening (magician, concerts, etc). The hatchery was great as well. We spent a lot of time exploring Spearfish Canyon/Roughlock Falls/Lead/etc but spent one day just to relax at the campground/hatchery/Park. It was great.

Campsites were pretty close together but it was not anywhere near full when we were there so we had plenty of space. Paved roads were great for kids to ride their bikes.

I should have checked Recreation.gov to confirm this campground is open before heading there, it would have saved me some time. It closed as of September 11th 2020, and is reopening in May 2021. Looks like May - Sept. is what's planned for next year as well. Boo! Still, glad I did actually go because now I know where I might head next time I'm in the area. Noticed some other campsites in the Black Hills are closed as well, so I might have timed my camping trip to the area poorly. Live and learn. Anyway, about the campground…

Easy to get to, good LTE reception on Verizon throughout, BIG area with what looks like four different loops, some closer to the water than others. A tent-only area, which I appreciate - those tend to be quieter than the RV spots, and the tent area was close to the reservoir. Standard campsite amenities - tables, fire pits, bathrooms. Swimming seems like an option. Plenty of trees for us hammock dwellers.  Could easily see myself spending a few days here when it is open, assuming it isn't too much of a zoo, which large sites like these can devolve into.

NOTE - as of 9/28/2020 the GPS coordinates for this are wrong on Dyrt. I submitted a correction, so that might be changed soon, but just a heads up. Dyrt currently has another listing with fewer reviews simply called "Pactola Campground" that is also this campground and has accurate GPS coordinates. You can find that listing here: https://thedyrt.com/camping/south-dakota/pactola

To avoid potentially heading to the wrong spot, just fire up Google Maps and plug in "Pactola Reservoir Campground" and it'll take you right there.

EDIT / UPDATE - as of 10/7/2020 the GPS coordinates for this campground are now correct.

Like the title says, this campground on the edge of Spearfish is very well maintained and quite beautiful. Unfortunately the RV/Camper section is extremely cramped...the distance between sites is mere feet. The creek is very peaceful but oh is it cold!

Friendly staff, great cafe with excellent burgers! Stocked trout pond to catch your own meal and little streams running through the property! Location was perfect for daily rides - Spearfish Canyon, Mt Rushmore, it’s a long list but there’s plenty to do around here! Cell reception is low for anyone looking to work or stream. We’ll definitely stay here again!

A beautiful and well-kept campground! Very grassy. The spots are pretty close together compared to what we’re used to in state parks, but I would absolutely return. My kids loved the creek that runs through the campground and the fact that we could walk to the city playground. Very close to historic downtown Spearfish! The staff was super helpful and sweet.

This busy campground is located in Spearfish city near the National Fish Hatchery.  Sites vary from full hookups (FHUs) to tent sites.  The more spacious sites with some FHUs are along the creek. The middle RV sites were a bit more crowded together.  Decent WiFi and Verizon cell phone signals.  Be aware that they turn the water off 1 Oct, but the price for sites drops.

Chris’ Campground offers beautiful treed, grassy sites for tents and campers (RVs) of all sizes. They have 3 heated pools, a basketball court, recreation room, playground, & petting zoo for the kids, as well as a camp store, laundry facility, free WiFi and fire pits. They are close to Spearfish Canyon which has wonderful hiking trails and trout fishing. The area is beautiful.There are also close to Deadwood and Lead, both of which are worth exploring!

The campsites are large and rustic. Modern amenities such as boat rentals are available, but I like the more natural camping experiences. We camped in late September, the leaves were turning and the air was crisp and cool. The wildlife is abundant. Pactola lake is deep and clean; the views are amazing and the water is very cold. The proximity to Mt. Rushmore, Deadwood, and Spearfish make this a very nice camping destination.

2 big bathhouses newly updated. Lots of really clean showers and flush toilets. Each bathhouse has a laundry. I believe there are two washers and two dryers in each. Big rig friendly. Partial, full or no hookups available. Mostly level spots. Little hwy noise but not bad. Train came through very little with some horn noise but not like some cgs. Here during Labor Day, close enough to Rapid City, Sturgis, Spearfish to shop or take care of work business.

I have stayed at this dispersed camping area once during the Sturgis rally. This is a free camping area located Off the main highway between Sturgis and Deadwood, South Dakota. After you pull off the highway onto camp 5 Road there are a few single campsites, but if you continue down the hill, across the dry creek bed, You will find a huge field for camping. The creek bed crossing is fairly easy, especially if you have a SUV or a pick up truck. I probably wouldn’t recommend it with a low clearance car. During our stay, there were Porta potty’s located in this area. I’m not sure if the Porta potty’s remain throughout the summer or if They were placed there just for the Sturgis rally guests. This field area is located a bit further from the main highway, so it’s also a bit quieter. I am aware that this area is also considered an ATV trail head parking area, but we did not see any ATVs during our stay. This camping area does not have any access to water, electricity, or sewer hook ups. The sites closer to the highway will have some traffic noise, but the field area is fairly quiet, And the price for this camping area is awesome - FREE. I did not see any fire rings, and the forest service probably prohibits campfires. This camping area also allows for quick access into Deadwood If you want to visit casinos, historical sites, gas stations, Restaurants and bars, or just grab some groceries.