Best Tent Camping near Wall, SD

Looking for an adventure where you can explore Wall and then fall asleep in your tent? With The Dyrt, it's easy to find Wall campgrounds for you and your tent. Each tent site offers quick access to one or more of Wall, South Dakota's most popular destinations.

Best Tent Sites Near Wall, SD (2)

    Camper-submitted photo from Baja Area Dispersed - Buffalo Gap National Grassland
    Camper-submitted photo from Baja Area Dispersed - Buffalo Gap National Grassland
    Camper-submitted photo from Baja Area Dispersed - Buffalo Gap National Grassland
    Camper-submitted photo from Baja Area Dispersed - Buffalo Gap National Grassland
    Camper-submitted photo from Baja Area Dispersed - Buffalo Gap National Grassland
    Camper-submitted photo from Baja Area Dispersed - Buffalo Gap National Grassland

    1. Baja Area Dispersed - Buffalo Gap National Grassland

    7 Reviews
    25 Photos
    176 Saves
    Interior, South Dakota

    There is only one small developed recreation area on the Buffalo Gap National Grassland. The National Grassland Visitor Center is located in Wall, South Dakota. This site provides the history behind the system of the National Grasslands located across the West.

    While there is only one developed campground, there are plenty of open spaces to camp. Bring your horse, your bicycle or your OHV and spend some quiet time in the wide open spaces of the Grassland.

    Overnight camping in developed sites is on a first-come, first-served basis. Campfires are allowed unless restrictions are posted. Red Cloud Campground site features 13 sites with picnic tables and fire grates, and a vault toilet. From Chadron, NE travel eight miles south of on U.S. Highway 385 to the campground.

    Backcountry, dispersed or primitive camping (no facilities) is allowed anywhere on the National Forest.

    Practicing Leave No Trace principles ensures that the next person to visit will have the same sense of discovery as those who came before.

    The seven principles are:

    Plan ahead and prepare, Camp and travel on durable surfaces, Dispose of waste properly, Leave what you find, Minimize campfire impacts, Respect wildlife, Be considerate of other visitors.

    • Fires
    • Phone Service
    • Tents
    • Dispersed
    • Alcohol
    • No image available

      2. Backcountry Camping — Badlands National Park

      Be the first to review!
      4 Saves
      Badlands National Park, South Dakota

      Permits are not currently required for overnight stays in the Badlands backcountry. Before setting out on an overnight trip contact a staff member at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center or Pinnacles Entrance Station for more information. Backcountry registers are located at the Medicine/Castle Trail Loop, Saddle Pass Trailhead, Conata Picnic Area, Sage Creek Basin Overlook, and the Sage Creek Campground.

      Campfires are not allowed under any circumstances. Use a backpacking stove.

      Pets are not permitted on trails, in backcountry, or wilderness areas.

      The location of your campsite must be at least 0.5 miles from a road or trail and must not be visible from a roadway.

      There is little to no water available in the backcountry. The small amounts of water found are not drinkable or filterable due to the high sediment content. Always carry at least one gallon of water per person per day.

      All refuse must be carried out. Use the cat hole method to dispose of human waste. Dig a small hole 6 to 8 inches deep and a minimum of 200 feet from any water source. Since animals will often dig up cat holes and scatter the toilet paper, it is preferred that you pack out all toilet paper. If you must bury toilet paper, use a minimal amount and bury with at least 6 inches of soil.

      Strain food particles from wastewater, pack out food scraps, and scatter remaining water more than 200 feet from any stream channel.

      • Tents
      • Dispersed

    Recent Tent Reviews in Wall

    596 Reviews of 2 Wall Campgrounds


    • laura S.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Sage Creek Campground
      Nov. 14, 2024

      Sage Creek Campground

      Pretty good for free!

      Spent one night here after exploring the park. less than a third full in early november. vault toilets clean-ish. wide open spaces, not really any privacy here. pretty sunrise.

    • SThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Buffalo Gap Dispersed Camping
      Oct. 29, 2024

      Buffalo Gap Dispersed Camping

      Great Camping / Views

      This is a great dispersed site right next to The Badlands National Park. In October, there were only about 20 campers at most (lots of available space). The views from here are amazing, as well as sunrise and sunset. It can get quite windy. Very quiet!

    • AThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Buffalo Gap Dispersed Camping
      Oct. 22, 2024

      Buffalo Gap Dispersed Camping

      Great Views

      This was an our first time dispersed camping so we weren’t sure exactly what to expect. There were lots of campers (probably 20 other cars), but the views are unmatched. Waking up at dawn and watching the sunrise over the Badlands is breathtaking! Really easy access. We saw people with all size trailers parked. Lots of space to spread out. Not much for privacy, but with views like that, who cares!

    • Lisa B.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Sage Creek Campground
      Oct. 14, 2024

      Sage Creek Campground

      Breathtaking & Best Smelling Bathrooms

      My boy Palo and I camped in my Outback for a night. It was a great experience. They have the cleans best smelling bathrooms I have venture into.

    • stephen W.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Buffalo Gap Dispersed Camping
      Oct. 13, 2024

      Buffalo Gap Dispersed Camping

      Outside the Badlands/trip tip

      Loved the close proximity to the badlands literally just down the road from the scenic loop. Plenty of spaces this time of year had my pic. Only downside was the wind which died down in the evening. Stars were fantastic. Wall drug had free water. Oh and I came in from Mitchell SD from the east and skipped the highway and took HWY 248 which runs paralell but I had the road to myself for 2 hours what a peace scenic ride.

    • Lisa M.
      Camper-submitted photo from Cedar Pass Campground — Badlands National Park
      Oct. 11, 2024

      Cedar Pass Campground — Badlands National Park

      Amazing scenery

      Spent two nights here in the Butte loop. Tried to make reservations on the same day, but they weren’t available to do so I had to just show up and hope there was a site available. We lucked out and got the last electric site. The one quirky thing about the campground is all of the sites are sort of parallel park. So your door will open up onto the pavement. Only paid $46 for two nights thanks to the hubby’s senior pass. Park itself is amazing with beautiful views and we also got to see some Buffalo. The visitor center has a nice gift shop and displays. Showers were $.50 for four minutes and $.75 for six minutes although I only got five minutes for my $.75 and I had a lukewarm water. There is a dump station available as well as potable water.

    • PThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from The Wall Boondocking Dispersed
      Oct. 4, 2024

      The Wall Boondocking Dispersed

      Can’t get better than free

      Great spot, lots of campers here, but still found a spot. Watch out for grumpy old coot who parks right where everyone drives in and then tells you to slow down coz it’s too dusty. Hey mate drive further in and there’s no traffic! Duh.

    • michael V.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from The Wall Boondocking Dispersed
      Oct. 4, 2024

      The Wall Boondocking Dispersed

      Great views, easy to get to

      A lot of campers of all kinds as it is free and right outside the park but it’s easy to get to and views are amazing. Regardless of the amount of people there tons of area to set up so doubtful someone won’t get a spot.

    • Ken G.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Buffalo Gap Dispersed Camping
      Sep. 25, 2024

      Buffalo Gap Dispersed Camping

      Beautiful view from top of cliff, but windy

      We camped here on a Sunday night.  Lots of campers along a road which was about 6 miles long along the top of a cliff.  We thought we found a nice spot away from others, but two huge campers pulled in after dinner right next to us on the opposite side of the road.  Beautiful view of the badlands and we enjoyed watching the sunset from our site.  After we went to bed, the wind picked up big time and howled for several hours.  It was strong enough to shake the trailer.  It died down before midnight.  You can't really hike down into the badlands from the cliff so the only place to walk is along the top of the cliff past the other campers.  No services, but free.

    • Ken G.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Sage Creek Campground
      Sep. 25, 2024

      Sage Creek Campground

      Hot and dry, buffalo wandered through the camp

      This was a free site in the Badlands.  It's a dirt road to get there, washboards, but OK.

      The cg is in a prairie dog town so we kept the dog close.

      It was full on a Saturday night in September, but we got one of the last sites.  Very basic campground with a few trails to hike.  Views were OK, but nothing great.

      Buffalo wandered through camp at dinner time.  We basically camped on the road that circles the campground.

      Some picnic tables had a shade covering.  Pit toilets were clean.

    • Jeff M.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Sage Creek Campground
      Sep. 16, 2024

      Sage Creek Campground

      Base to the Badlands

      Great location to set out to explore the Badlands? Low reception with Verizon in the valley bye still have good contact. Great reception, small hike to the top of the hill.

    • Jeff M.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Sage Creek Campground
      Sep. 16, 2024

      Sage Creek Campground

      Great location for a base, to explore the Badlands

      Free dispersed camping, with clean vault toilets. no water or power you will have to bring your own. Quiet and tranquil location, Surrounded by prairie dogs as you sit in the valley with low rolling hills around you.

    • Eric S.
      Camper-submitted photo from Lazy J RV Park and Campground
      Sep. 8, 2024

      Lazy J RV Park and Campground

      Great place near a lot of stuff

      Don't judge this place when you first drive up. The sites are quite level. The staff are very friendly. Sites get nice morning sun, but ample shade in the evening. The laundry room was very clean and up to date. It's very quiet. There is a nice Rainbow brand play set for the kids.

      It's a convenient, central location for a lot of activities.

    • KThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Cedar Pass Campground — Badlands National Park
      Aug. 31, 2024

      Cedar Pass Campground — Badlands National Park

      Good place to stay

      We stayed for 2 nights in the group loop. At first we were sure about the quality of the site - the group loop also serves as the entrance to the dump site - but we’re convinced the site is great. Our site faces into the badlands with a great view, it is very quiet and you are very private (there were no groups around us). The campground is very clean and every evening there is program prepared by the rangers as well as a presentation of the stars.

      We would always come back here.

    • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Sleepy Hollow Campground
      Aug. 21, 2024

      Sleepy Hollow Campground

      Across the street from wall drug

      It’s a nice place heading east or west to land for the night. We’ve stayed at sleepy hollow before and find it and the proximity to wall drug a fun landing stop for the night on our trek across SD. Dinner, ice cream and splash pad fun at wall drug is the perfect end to a day on the road for our family.

    • Kelly V.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from The Wall Boondocking Dispersed
      Aug. 20, 2024

      The Wall Boondocking Dispersed

      Not just another brick in the wall

      Fabulous! Views and several spaces both on the edge of grassland dropping off into the badlands wall and farther back. At least 25 campers there last night. It was breathtaking. Do be prepared for I tense wi d; this is prairie with no trees to cut wind. Well worth a visit.

    • ron R.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Buffalo Gap Dispersed Camping
      Aug. 19, 2024

      Buffalo Gap Dispersed Camping

      simply amazing views and a perfect ballance of sun and wind to keep it grea

      I camping here from 8/15 to 8/21.   Far, the weather has been amazing.  I moved spots about 3 days in.  The first spot was great except for Cell Service (t-mobile) that exact spot was a dead spot.  After moving south one spot about 60 feet, i went from 1-2mb/s to 40-60mb/s.  Roads are rough but do-able I am pulling a 29ft toyhauler with a Chevy silverado 1500.  I cecomend taking the north entrance or if taking the main (by Radio towers) then turn left when you get to the wall.

    • MThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Buffalo Gap Dispersed Camping
      Aug. 7, 2024

      Buffalo Gap Dispersed Camping

      Super windy, not good for tents

      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)

    • MThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Sage Creek Campground
      Aug. 4, 2024

      Sage Creek Campground

      Good

      I really liked this site, they had tables with shade, out house, flat ground, and compared to the dispersed camping wayyy less windy. We did not see bison today but there were prairie dogs

    • Elise V.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from The Wall Boondocking Dispersed
      Jul. 26, 2024

      The Wall Boondocking Dispersed

      Favorite Dispersed Campsite EVER!

      Gorgeous site! Very popular site with neighbors close by, but ours were very kind and friendly! We got lucky and didn’t have any problems with wind. Enjoyed the sunrise and sunset from this spot!

    • SThe Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from The Wall Boondocking Dispersed
      Jul. 24, 2024

      The Wall Boondocking Dispersed

      Loved my night here!

      I loved camping at this spot! It was easy to find, and even though there was a good amount of people there it was spaced out and I felt comfortable. There is zero privacy, so be prepared for that. If you’re in a tent also be prepared because it is extremely windy at night! Even my little teardrop was shaking. But the view is incredible and the sunrise was stunning.

    • A
      Camper-submitted photo from Cedar Pass Campground — Badlands National Park
      Jul. 23, 2024

      Cedar Pass Campground — Badlands National Park

      A Scenic Retreat in Badlands National Park

      Cedar Pass Campground in Badlands National Park offers 96 scenic sites with amenities like flush toilets and summer coin-operated showers. Located near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, it provides a great base for exploring the park. Reviews highlight its beautiful views and convenient facilities.

    • Brianna R.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Buffalo Gap Dispersed Camping
      Jul. 22, 2024

      Buffalo Gap Dispersed Camping

      Safe, Free Camping for Solo Travelers

      I stayed here for 2 nights as a solo female traveler. It is minutes from the Badlands entrance. There were a lot of people around (I stayed in early July) so I always felt safe even at nights. It's pretty open land so it was hard finding a private area to use the bathroom. I slept in a tent the first night, but it got really windy on night 2, so I just slept in the car. Overall, I highly recommend staying here as it is free and absolutely beautiful.

    • andrew The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Sleepy Hollow Campground
      Jul. 20, 2024

      Sleepy Hollow Campground

      A Place to Stay

      The campground is fine. FHU with cable. $65 might be steep but,....

      You can walk to Wall Drug Store if you are so inclined.

      Plenty of space to walk the dogs.

      8 miles from Badlands National Park entrance.

      COMPLAINT - not the parks fault but....they were/are doing construction on the railroad crossing that prevents you from following your navigation guide. The detour signs are terrible or non-existent. We drove down a street with cars parked on both sides, and found ourselves at road closed even thought we could see the park. We had to call and ask how to get into the park.

    • James P.The Dyrt PRO User
      Camper-submitted photo from Badlands Hotel & Campground
      Jul. 19, 2024

      Badlands Hotel & Campground

      Nice campground

      Close to NP. Level sites. Hookups are a little wonky. Some sites they are on the wrong side. Gravel sites and roads. Nice staff. Would stay here again.



    Frequently Asked Questions