Best Tent Camping near Wind Cave National Park

With views of the Black Hills, open prairies, and pine forests, some of the best camping spots are in Wind Cave National Park. Near Hot Springs, SD, campers can stock up on camping supplies before pitching their tents. Campgrounds around the South Dakota park accommodate RV drivers, and also offer cabins and yurts as additional sleeping options. Backpack through the park watching birds perch calmly on the backs of bison. Elk and pronghorn antelopes also roam the prairies and forests. Campsites by the cave are a prime opportunity to discover the underground marvels that include the famous Wind Cave, and the subterranean chambers known as the Post Office and Elk’s Room.

Best Tent Sites Near Wind Cave National Park (16)

    1. North Pole Rd Dispersed Camping

    33 Reviews
    Custer, SD
    18 miles
    Website

    "We've been fulltiming since January and this was the first place we actually stayed the whole 14 day limit."

    "The forest road is a little rough, be aware if you are driving a car or a vehicle with bad off roaring capabilities."

    2. Black Hills Dispersed Site - Hwy 89

    5 Reviews
    Pringle, SD
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 673-9200

    "Pitch black nights, and pure solitude. Love this spot"

    "Lots of space. Quiet with no traffic. Google gets you close but not exactly there. Gps route was a little off. Just an hour from Rushmore."

    3. RD 356 Dispersed Site Black Hills National Forest

    33 Reviews
    Hill City, SD
    23 miles
    Website

    "A perfect location. Plenty of spots on the bumpy main road, use 4wd/high clearance vehicles to go off some of the side routes for more privacy. Nice tree covered spots and very quiet."

    "My Son and I stayed here while visiting Mount Rushmore and the surrounding area's other attractions. There's a lot of dispersed spots here but most spots don't have a fire ring that I could see."

    4. Wrinkled Rock

    23 Reviews
    Keystone, SD
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 673-4853

    "We were planning on backcountry camping in the park, but the amount of bugs and the inability to find a flat spot out of the trees pushed us to try and hike back to our car."

    "great location just 5 minutes away from Mt. Rushmore. free site but no fire rings. it does have toliets. There is just a parking lot with a large open area to pitch a tent."

    5. Rifle Pit

    3 Reviews
    Pringle, SD
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 673-9200

    "The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because while it is National Forest the spots for dispersed camping are very limited because there is a lot of privately owned land so please be aware"

    6. French Creek Horse Camp — Custer State Park

    2 Reviews
    Custer, SD
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 255-4515

    "We rode side by sides out on some trail, found a great spot to camp with beautiful views of the plains below and could see the badlands off in the distance. The skies were beautiful at night."

    7. Hot Springs, South Dakota

    1 Review
    Hot Springs, SD
    9 miles

    "If you have time drive 16 miles out of town to a roadside stop of Cascade Springs to dip in the cool pools and the main attraction Keith Memorial Cascade Falls."

    8. Camp Bob Marshall Dispersed

    3 Reviews
    Custer, SD
    15 miles

    "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."

    "We went a bit more off the path by turning right, going up past a water treatment plant and parking near the end of the road. It was secluded and pretty. Lots of coyotes in the area."

    9. Bear Den Cabins and Camp

    2 Reviews
    Hermosa, SD
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 484-1645

    $20 - $80 / night

    "Not an RV location. Fresh water, clean showers, LAUNDRY, coffee. Just a great place."

    10. Spring Creek Road Spur

    2 Reviews
    Hill City, SD
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 233-2800

    "Notes: Don't camp at the first sites you see driving further. There's better ones I assure you. Signs are posted everywhere, stating no campfires allowed."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Wind Cave National Park

1166 Reviews of 16 Wind Cave National Park Campgrounds


  • Casey L.
    May. 24, 2022

    Comanche Park

    Nice Campground Near Highway

    The sites were decent, our fire ring didn’t have any flat spots to put chairs around. The were lots of vault toilets bathrooms, they were a little smelly but not as bad as some. Most of the campground was empty on a May week night. We could hear the cars from the road. The camp host was a nice lady. Convenient to Mount Rushmore and Wind Cave National Park.

  • Rod
    Sep. 30, 2020

    Elk Mountain Campground — Wind Cave National Park

    In the Prairie and ponderosas

    This is a great campground within the wind Cave national Park. It has both tent and RV parking. The RV parking is somewhat limited and mostly the RVs park along the road. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire ring and the bathrooms have running water and flushing toilets during the warm seasons. There are no showers available. The campground is in the middle of the national park and just outside of the campground there are hiking trails everywhere. You will see herds of Buffalo and herds of deer everywhere. The cave was not accessible due to a mechanical problem with the elevator. It has been an ongoing issue and I would check the website before you go. Not a big loss to see the cave as the hiking was fantastic

  • Crystal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2019

    Elk Mountain Campground — Wind Cave National Park

    Beauty Abounds At This Park

    Passing through South Dakota rests a very unique park unlike any other you will find.    The Wind Cave National Park in its own right is emoting of great majesty, a unique preserved ecosystem in the midst of a world which has moved in and managed to destroy so much of the grassy prairie lands through development.    Passing into the park is passing into a piece of history.   

    While the cave itself is something of a wonder, the park itself is a ground which should also be noted.     It is a place where wild bison roam free, elk pass through and can be found thriving, prairie dogs bark adamantly and so many more unique native animals and plants can be observed and appreciated.

    It is in this area that you will find Elk Mountain Campground.     

    When I drove through this area I wasn't sure what to expect.   The rolling prairie plains were beautiful however did not offer much in way of shade and that somewhat concerned me as I drove closer and closer to camp, however the world began to roll as hills turned and transitioned into a forest of wonder and lush green grasses.   

    The campground looked like a different world from the world which I had been driving in coming from Hot Springs.     Tall trees shaded sites and provided a soft bed for tent campers, large pull ins offered RVs options for a variety of sizes and styles of camping.    Each site was adorned with the standard fire rings and picnic tables and depending on your desire you could stay in a location which was completely shaded or had sun exposure.

    Bathrooms here are flush toilets with running water, including a wash basin room for dishes and though there were not showers it didn't seem to be an inconvenience with all the beauty around.

    Group sites offered large grassy knolls and in some cases pavilions for use and with winding paths around camp to differentiate the loops through sites were close together they seemed to have privacy.

    Although this campground does have an honor box there is also a campground host which does keep track of campers and park rangers patrol throughout the day and evening to ensure safety.     This makes for a very secure feeling camp in such a unique location.

    TIPS:

    • If visiting call ahead to see if the cave is open.   When I visited the elevators were not operating and this limited access to the cave itself.
    • Try hiking in the park, unlike many parks which only allow trail hiking this park encourages you to explore fully.
    • Keep your distance from wildlife.    Wildlife is wild here even if it looks tame they are not!!  Bison can run up to 35 miles per hour and most incidents with the wildlife occur from people trying to encroach upon the animals for photos.
  • Shea M.
    Feb. 21, 2021

    Grizzly Creek Primitive

    Mount Rushmore

    This campground was a relatively small loop with primitive amenities. The host was friendly, but make sure you follow all the rules. His camper is on the right when you enter and that's where you check in. We were able to visit several places while camping here because it is very close to Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Wind Cave National Park and the The Black Hills National Forest. The campground offers many trees for shade and for hanging hammocks, a picnic table, firepit with grill, vault toilet (extremely foul odor in the summer), clean water spout, and firewood for sale. We even had access to Grizzly Creek at our site on the left, which was a nice place to cool off in July. We would stay here again, the only negative is that you can hear helicopter tours throughout the day.

  • Kari T.
    Jul. 22, 2016

    Elk Mountain Campground — Wind Cave National Park

    Quiet with Great Location!

    We stayed at the Elk Mountain Campground in Wind Cave National Park in January 2016. It was definitely the LOW season, as roads were a bit icy and we were the only campers all weekend. During the off-season, part of this campground is closed off, but there still remains an ample amount of campsites available, including pull-throughs. There is a pit toilet building in the center of the campground. Flush toilets and water are available during the busy season. The campsites are situated in a small valley, placing it away from noise and traffic, aside from bison and other animals that might wander through. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, and firewood is available for purchase at the campground entrance. Best of all, this campground is located very close to the Visitor Center, even up for a hike on a nice day (not in January!). Speaking of hiking, one of Wind Cave's Nature Trails is located off the back loop here, the Elk Mountain Nature Trail. There is also a small, semi-dry creek that wanders along the northern edge of the campground. Please note via NPS.gov: the Elk Mountain Campground will be closed from noon, August 5, 2016 until the morning of August 7, 2016.

  • Kari T.
    May. 4, 2019

    Plenty Star Ranch - CLOSED

    Ranger Review: Warm, Welcoming Hosts, Countryside Camping at Plenty Star!

    As a Ranger on The Dyrt, I sometimes receive compensation for reviews like this one. We received a coupon code for The Dyrt's online product store in exchange for trying out the new online camping reservation system to make a reservation for Plenty Star Ranch.

    We reserved a campsite for Plenty Star Ranch through The Dyrt, and it was a breeze to go through the process. We were emailed the reservation information, payment was taken via bank card, and it all made the check-in process very fast upon arrival. We needed to change our camping date and all the contact information was in the email, so we called and owner Isa was more than understanding (it was going to storm, then snow, then get really windy for the night we reserved).

    This campground is actually a small, working ranch located right next to a bison ranch, which had just had about four bison calves born in the previous week. They were fun to watch run and play in the field next door. Plenty Star Ranch itself allows you to bring your own horses (for a small fee) and there is plenty of room for them to enjoy. There are cabins, campsites, and RV hook-ups, all conveniently located along the rural Highway 385 north of Pringle, SD.

    We planned to pitch a tent for the night, but the weather has been pretty harsh in the Black Hills this spring, and temperatures were going to be well below freezing overnight. We are hearty campers and planned to tough it out, but owner Isa insisted that we take one of their two cabins instead and upgraded our stay for no additional cost. My boys (8 and 12) and I stayed in their 3-person cabin which has a queen bed and a pull-out twin. They provided all the linens (though we used our own pillows by choice) and the cabin was nicely heated with electric heat. We definitely stayed much warmer that night than we would have been in a tent! It was super cozy and quiet in the cabin!

    The cabin is located about 50 yards from the public bathroom, which is also heated, well-lit, and attached to their garage. Parking is right next to the cabin, making it a breeze to unpack. There is a picnic table on the porch in front of the cabin, where we could cook and eat, as well as a table inside. In the morning I set up my Primus stove and made coffee, which I sat on the porch and enjoyed while watching whitetail deer and Canada geese stroll past. There is a goose nest right on the island in their pond, and I am sure it is neat to watch the goslings grow all summer!

    Tent camping sites are located in one of their former pastures, and we saw plenty of level, gravel RV sites with hook-ups around the main living area. There are two shower stalls next to the cabins that are ready for your solar shower bag to be attached (we thought that would be really fun), and in the off-season they allow guests to use their shower inside the main house. We didn't need to take them up on that since we were only staying one night, but they also invited us up in the morning for coffee and cocoa (usually out on the porch, but it was about 35 degrees that next morning- brr!).

    Isa and Jack (the owners) are very friendly, and were a lot of fun to chat with, I would definitely return to Plenty Star Ranch for another getaway evening or weekend in the future. They currently have plans to move their smaller 2-person cabin up into the canyon behind the main house and put it completely off-grid. It would be a perfect getaway for a couple, and what a gorgeous setting back in the hills!

    If you are looking for a quieter place to camp in the Black Hills, you should definitely consider Plenty Star Ranch, as it is only about 8 minutes south of Custer, but greatly removes you from the hustle and bustle of the tourist towns. It is just minutes from Wind Cave National Park as well, which is a must-do when you are in the area!

    One more thing to note: the only cell service in the immediate area of the ranch is AT&T. We knew that going into the weekend, so planned on not having service (we have Verizon), which for us is no big deal - after all, we were camping! :)

  • Brent K.
    Aug. 5, 2018

    Elk Mountain Campground — Wind Cave National Park

    Spacious and Quiet

    This is the only campground in Wind Cave NP and has four loops with just over 60 sites. Loop A is for tents only and is the only loop with designated tent pads. Loop D has group sites that are reservable.

    Some sites are in or near trees, but many are in grassy areas with little to no shade.

    Each loop has restrooms with flush toilets and running water. There are water faucets for every couple of sites, however at the time there were a few that were not working.

    Each site has a fire ring and picnic table.

    There is a shed at the entrance where firewood/kindling are available for a donation.

    There were lots of wildlife in/around the campground: mule deer, pronghorn, prairie dogs, and bison.

    Just south of the campground is the visitors center where tickets for the cave tours can be purchased.

    This campground is centrally located for visiting Jewel Cave, Badlands NP, Mt. Rushmore, and exploring the Black Hills region.

    My only complaint is that many of the sites (on loops B-D) are more for RVs just to park and don't have much space for tents. As a result, several sites can only accommodate small tents because there's not much space with a fire ring and picnic table too.

  • GoWhereYouAreDraw N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 30, 2021

    Black Hills National Forest Bear Gulch Campground

    Primitive but comfortable group camping

    A former individual campground now turned group campsite. Eight individual tent sites (each has a picnic table and fire ring) around a central camping area. Vault toilets and a hand pump for drinking water. There is no electrical hookup.

    Vehicles must travel down nine miles of dirt roads to reach the facility. Hill City is the nearest town for additional amenities, and Rapid City is 20 miles away. Nice fishing and kayaking. 3 stars because it's groups only!

  • Sarah H.
    Jul. 23, 2016

    Sylvan Lake Campground — Custer State Park

    Primitive Camping in Custer

    Our family stayed in a walk-in primitive tent site located on a woodsy hill at the top of Custer. Campsites have a decent amount of privacy, but you are still aware of your neighbors. Portable toilets were available at the bottom of the hill near the parking lot with shower facilities a short walk away. Showers and laundry facilities were well maintained. Sylvan Lake is beautiful and provides a full day of activities without having to drive anywhere else in the park. Our family enjoyed hiking, paddle boating, and swimming with gorgeous scenery all around.


Guide to Wind Cave National Park

Tent camping near Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying the stunning landscapes of the Black Hills. With various options available, campers can find the perfect spot to set up their tents and explore the great outdoors.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Enjoy hiking and exploring the scenic trails around Camp Bob Marshall Dispersed, where you can also spot local wildlife like coyotes.
  • The Rifle Pit area is known for its proximity to Wind Cave, making it an ideal base for exploring the park's unique geological features.
  • Experience the tranquility of nature at Black Hills Dispersed Site - Hwy 89, where you can enjoy quiet surroundings and stunning views just an hour from Mount Rushmore.

Tips for tent camping near Wind Cave National Park

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Wind Cave National Park?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Wind Cave National Park is North Pole Rd Dispersed Camping with a 4.5-star rating from 33 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Wind Cave National Park?

TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Wind Cave National Park, with real photos and reviews from campers.