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Bear Butte State Park Campground

CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Bear Butte State Park Campground, near Sturgis, South Dakota, is a charming spot that offers a mix of rustic camping and beautiful scenery. With a handful of sites available, it’s a great place for both tent campers and RV enthusiasts looking to soak in the natural beauty of the area.

The campground features picnic tables and fire rings at each site, making it easy to enjoy meals outdoors and gather around the fire at night. Visitors have noted the clean facilities, including well-maintained pit toilets and a drinking water spigot, which add to the overall convenience of your stay. One camper mentioned, “The outhouses were clean and the campground host was really nice,” highlighting the friendly atmosphere you can expect.

For those who enjoy outdoor activities, the campground is right by a lovely lake, perfect for fishing, kayaking, or just taking a leisurely stroll along the shore. The stunning views of Bear Butte are a highlight, with many sites offering a glimpse of this iconic landmark. Plus, you’re just a short drive from the bustling town of Sturgis, where you can find supplies or grab a bite to eat.

While some campers have mentioned the occasional noise from generators, the overall vibe is laid-back and welcoming. Whether you’re passing through the Black Hills or looking for a peaceful retreat, Bear Butte State Park Campground has plenty to offer.

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Location

Bear Butte State Park Campground is located in South Dakota

Detail location of campground

Directions

In Western South Dakota: Located 6 miles northeast of Sturgis off SD Highway 79

Address

20250 Hwy 79
Sturgis, SD 57785

Coordinates

44.45989012 N
103.4507904 W

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Connectivity

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    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Good Coverage

Drive Time

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Connectivity

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  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Good Coverage

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • 30 Amp Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

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Reviews

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out of 5

8 Reviews

Reviewed Sep. 23, 2025

Nice Quiet Spot

Nice, quiet spot on the water. Potable water spigot near the vault restrooms. Level sites with picnic tables.

Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Bear Butte State Park Campground by Therese S., September 23, 2025
Reviewed Sep. 21, 2025

Great spot. Gorgeous setting

We were lucky to find this state park pristine. Perhaps a few of the campers were there long term but everyone's site was neat and tidy. The only other folks we saw were there to enjoy the beautiful peaceful lake fishing. Very quiet. Bathrooms were very clean though door locks didn't seem to work. We camped at main site. Entrance a little way past main entrance to Bear Butte on opposite side of road. There is actually another entrance almost immediately across from The Bear Butte entrance that offers horse and trailer camping with a corral as well as at least 2 pull off sites just above the lake. There is even a bathroom on this more "dispersed" side of lake. Highly recommend fir RVs or tents! Beautiful walking/hiking trail across earthen dam for the lake from main campground that wraps around and crosses road to the trail up Butte! Highly reccomend. Excellent Cell Service too!!

Site4
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Bear Butte State Park Campground by Lindsey R., September 21, 2025
Reviewed Aug. 20, 2023

Semi-peaceful Location

We have camped at Bear Butte State Park several times and have started to notice that this campground possibly has permanent residents who somehow work the system to stay there. Several of the camping rigs are a patchwork of different colors of paint. One ancient patchwork looking van had a window air conditioner out the back end of it and a very loud truck pulled up, spent the night, and left again in the morning, like the van was their home. They ran the generator until just about midnight and because the campground is small, you could hear this one generator all the way around the loop. An ancient travel trailer was parked next to a small pickup that had a flatbed trailer attached, which they obviously could not haul both at the same time. Another patchwork looking truck with another ancient travel trailer has occupied the same prime spot next to the lake every single time we have camped there. The price of a night is cheap and I have never found it to be full so I suppose these folks are harmless, but the vibe is on the creepy side now. I will be on the search for another campsite to use when I need a campsite in the Black Hills while passing through.

As far as the facilities go, the pit toilet smelled pretty ripe. I've camped many places where the pit toilets smell freshly cleaned and this was not one of them. The floor was covered in what had to be several months' worth of dead flies and the TP was nearly out. There was a camp host on site and only half the sites had people camping in them, so I would think it should be fairly easy to keep a non-busy pit toilet in better shape than it was in.

My last complaint would be the bright light in the middle of the campground. No lights near the pit toilet but there is one that is on a fairly high pole right in the middle. This could be an amazing dark sky park if they would cut the bright light! If light is required, why not put it where it is useful near the pit toilet?

Month of VisitAugust
Reviewed Jul. 29, 2023

Clean, friendly, and located in a beautiful part of SD

The campground is very clean including the pit toilets. The only negative is at the time of my stay there were cattle across the road which means flies.  They are the small ones that don't bite but are annoying. There are also mosquitos though they are barely noticeable. 

Everyone I met there, including the camp host, was friendly.

Site#5
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Bear Butte State Park Campground by Jan H., July 29, 2023
Reviewed May. 7, 2022

Nice spot

Small, primitive campground. Lots of trailers came in. Some didn't follow the quiet hours and had generators on late and early. Most sites are reasonably spread out. Half a dozen have a shelter over the table.

Site3
Month of VisitMay
Reviewed May. 12, 2021

Beautiful scenary!

This campground is cute & quiet! There are15 spots, one being the host spot that was available to stay at & had electric hook ups. For a state park, the sites are well spaced. Each site has a nice metal picnic table and fire ring. Some sites also have a shade awning over the picnic table. Sites are first come first serve and are $11.67/night. There are 2 vault toilets which were extremely clean during my stay. There is a drinking water spigot near the bathrooms as well as trash services. Beautiful lake you can walk completely around. Seems like a good spot to go fishing/kayaking/SUP/boating. As you pull onto the dirt road, you’ll pass a first small campground area which is mainly for tents. If you continue down the dirt road another 1/4 mile, you’ll come across the larger campground that accommodates vans/trailers/RVs. They are all back in sites, no pull through. You also do not need to pay the $8 day pass fee to enter into the campground so that was nice. Park trucks drove through daily. Spoke to Fred, extremely nice and helpful. Town is about 10 minutes away if you need to restock on anything.

Site10
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Bear Butte State Park Campground by Abby M., May 12, 2021
  • Review photo of Bear Butte State Park Campground by Abby M., May 12, 2021
  • Review photo of Bear Butte State Park Campground by Abby M., May 12, 2021
  • (8) View All
Reviewed Jul. 6, 2019

Lakeside ish and Sweet Butte View

Tent spots are $11.67 although when I originally researched the campground people were saying $7.00/night. The lake is right at the campground and depending on where you pick your spot, you can have a view of the lake. The butte can be seen from pretty much every tent spot. Decent sized campground overall. Outhouses were clean and campground host was really nice.

  • Review photo of Bear Butte State Park Campground by Dylan M., July 6, 2019
Reviewed Oct. 29, 2016

Small campground close to a lot.

Just outside of Sturgis at the base of Bear Butte lies this small lake. Great for fishing, paddle boarding, kite surfing, access to the Centennial Trail, and minutes from the Black Hills.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is fishing allowed at Bear Butte Lake Campground?

Yes, fishing is allowed and quite popular at Bear Butte Lake. The small lake is located right at the campground and offers good fishing opportunities. Beyond angling, the lake supports other water activities like paddle boarding and kite surfing. The proximity to the campground makes it convenient for campers to enjoy water recreation, with some campsites offering direct views of the lake.

What are the camping regulations at Bear Butte State Park?

Camping at Bear Butte State Park requires adherence to established quiet hours, which prohibit generator use during late night and early morning. The current tent camping fee is approximately $11.67 per night. The park appears to have issues with some campers attempting to stay beyond normal length-of-stay limits, suggesting there may be strict duration regulations. For the most up-to-date information on regulations, reservations, and length-of-stay restrictions, contact the South Dakota State Parks office directly.

How do Bear Butte Creek Campground reviews compare to the state park camping?

Bear Butte State Park Campground is typically described as a quiet, clean, and primitive camping experience with well-spaced sites and basic amenities. It offers natural surroundings with views of both the lake and Bear Butte. While generally peaceful, some visitors note occasional issues with quiet hours not being respected. Bear Butte Creek Campground (a separate facility) tends to be busier, especially during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally period, and may offer different amenities. The state park provides a more nature-focused experience with access to hiking, fishing, and water activities in a less commercial setting.

What amenities are available at Bear Butte State Park Campground?

Bear Butte State Park Campground offers basic amenities in a primitive setting. The campground features 15 sites, each equipped with a metal picnic table and fire ring. Some sites have shade awnings over the picnic tables. There's one site with electrical hookups (formerly the host site). The facility has clean pit toilets and is located next to a small lake that provides recreational opportunities. The campground is well-maintained and offers reasonable spacing between sites, with many providing views of both the lake and Bear Butte.