Established Camping
Cedar Pass Campground — Badlands National Park
About
National Park Service
Badlands National Park
Located near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, the Cedar Pass Campground has 96 level sites with scenic views of the badlands formations. This campground offers flush toilets and coin operated showers in the summertime.
Location
Cedar Pass Campground — Badlands National Park is located in South Dakota
Directions
The Sage Creek Campground is located off of South Dakota State Highway 377.
Coordinates
43.744154 N
101.950161 W
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Stay Connected
- WiFiGood
- VerizonGood
- AT&TGood
- T-MobilePoor
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Market
- Trash
- Phone Service
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Big Rig Friendly
Great location
If you want to stay in the park and explore the Badlands this is a great location. It is near the Ben Reifel Visitor's Center and also near Cedar Pass Lodge which has a cafe and store. The visitor’s center is worth a look because it had a lot of interesting information and the lab was open so we got to see someone working on a fossil specimen and there are many other fossils to look at in this room.
This campground has 2 loops and all sites have bump out parking. Sites have covered picnic tables, some have grass, and a few have trees for shade but mostly it is wide open and lots of sun.
There are some electric sites $40.28/night and $24.39/night for regular site. Off season $15.91/night but only the group loop is open off season but not just for groups. We did not have reservations but were able to get a spot around midmorning on a Saturday late Sept. There were about 10 spots available but they filled up fast. It was not windy here as other reviews have noted but a nice light breeze all day.
There is also drinking water, bathrooms and pay showers here. Garbage and recycling and an RV dump station and water on site as well. Good cell service ATT and Verizon.
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Clean and Quiet
Stayed one night in a converted Sprinter while traveling through South Dakota, we needed a place with showers.
The showers and restrooms were pay to use, with a single curtain as privacy. (Men's and women's separate rooms of course) They were clean for a public shower, definitely wear shower shoes! The only complaint was the women's showers did not have working lights.
The site itself was clean and decently level.
We rolled in after sunset and left before sunrise, so we did not have any views. FYI if walking around in the dark be careful where you step as there's hidden mud holes that will ruin your shoes.
Clean, Friendly, Nice Facilities
Got in late around 9pm. They have my reservation that I made online. Clear directions to my campsite. Showers were functional and much appreciated. $.50 for four minutes and then $.25 for every two minutes after that. They have a change machine just outside the showers. Each campsite has a picnic table and awning. And my tent site was clear requiring no tidying up. One of the two toilets was out of order, creating a bottleneck, but the bathrooms were clean in general.  Amazing scenery, and lots of hiking right around you. Felt very safe. Would highly recommend!
Awesome views
Awesome views of the badlands while camping
Fun Spot
One of my favorite spots. Amazing panoramic views of the badlands and nice amenities. Also very close to the lodge, a small town, and some other cool stuff.
They overbooked!
We reserved a campsite with electric two months prior to our visit. We arrived about 5:00 pm and were greeted by the camp host informing us that there were no sites available as they had overbooked. We were told that we could get a refund at the park lodge. The lodge told us that the overbooking has been a problem ever since Aramark bought out the prior park concessionaire. Apparently 50 electric sites are offered online for booking even though only 5 actually exist.
Caught in transition
We were here in April and they were in the middle of transiting from dry to wet, as far as running water. The sign said no water, but there was water! Flush toilets all clean. Only the small loop was open. It was super windy, I don't know how the tent campers managed! Some sites are pull in of varying depths, others have the slightest widening of the road to pull onto.
Nature odditty at it’s best
The Badlands is a site to behold with its unique hills. Its full of history too of the western outlaws and modern history with an actual Minuteman missile site right next door.
There is nothing special about the camp sites. There is 30/50 amps at most RV sites but no water. The potable water and dump is available at the entrance to the campsite. The park cost $30+ to get in and at least $42 per night to camp. Showers will cost you too. It was very early season and there was little else to do. Park service personnel were very helpful and friendly. Don’t come hear before May
Great views
Easy access to sites on two main loops. Bathroom & bathhouse are standard NP. Cedar grove lodge has a shop & cafe a short walk away. We had a great time here.
Cedar Pass Campground
Very scenic, located in the Badlands NP. Close to the visitor center and many trails. The convenience of being within the park is great but the sites are small and in close proximity of your neighbors. Paid showers, restrooms can get rather untidy because of the crowds.
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Windy
Very windy but if you’re inside a hard vehicle it’s not too bad. Flushing toilets and water available. Nice to walk around in and amazing views at sunset.
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Interesting layout
This campground is weird in that you pull along the road and that's your site. There are some back in sites available. Amphitheater nearby sometimes has presentations on the stars and brings out telescopes. Nice to stay in the park and have electricity! Most national park campgrounds don't offer sites with electric. Nice views of the badlands from the campground! Was hazy due to wildfires.
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Great place to camp well viewing the Badlands
The people here were very easy to get along with and the campsite was clean and quiet even though it was completely full.
Beautiful Spot
Much if the campground is dry camping. There are some with electric, but we did not have one of those. We were fortunate to have overcast weather so it wasn’t too hot so didn’t even need the generator. The landscape is amazing and we enjoyed a trip through the park stopping at various overlooks. We were fortunate to be placed in the group section, site 1, but there were no other campers in this area! SO quiet!!
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BOOK 👏 IT 👏 NOW
Everything about this campground is perfect. There are showers, water, bathrooms closeby, considerate neighbors (we lucked out) and minimal to no noise from the road. Showers cost quarters, but it’s still super cheap. Not to mention, there’s wildlife if you’re quiet enough!
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Beautiful sunrise
You will have beautiful sunrise and sunset. If summer you will get up early to see as it is too hot to be out hike during the day. There is no shade except for the picnic table cover. Bathrooms are clean. It is a pay shower and one temperature for the water. Bring lots of water you will drink it. Great programs provided by the park at night at amphitheater.
Very Nice Campground
Nice Campground within Badlands NP. Was nice and quiet , loved the covered picnic table it was 104 the day we stayed do much appreciated shade. The bathrooms were ok , you have to pay for shower think it was 75cents for 5 minutes. Would stay again for its convenience within the park.
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Nice facilities
Basic windblock and picnic table. Great for hammocks. Alot better views than the "free" campground.
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Typical National Park campground with a view at every site.
We had our travel trailer in a dry site. Camper parking is just along the road which can be tight here and there. Ours had a lot of space for parking. Great views.
Absolutely love this spot
One of my favorite places to camp. I always roll in kind of late tho coming from Nebraska on my way to Deadwood area. Facilities are always clean, the stars are always beautiful and the yotes are always howling. I’m definitely going to be back.
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Convenient and easy
Federal campground Sites are adequately spaced with paved pull out rv parking, mostly, but not all level.
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The campground that knows to get out of the way
Badlands National Park is a breathtaking treasure, and this site is smart enough to know that.
Built on an open plain, it offers a 360° view of the rocky hills, arranged so that nothing spoils that.
The site itself is simple: shaded picnic tables at each site, but no campfires (propane fires allowed while cooking).
There are toilet buildings with plumbing and showers, and a sink for washing dishes. However, when I was there, the water faucets for drinking wither didn’t work or provided only drips.
There’s a soda machine on site, and the gift shop/restaurant is 1/2 mile down the road.
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Views
Absolutely stunning location to set up camp, I’d recommend at least 2 nights.
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Great Site with a View
I had a great experience. I showed up kind of late on a Wednesday night. Wow what I view I woke up too and the campgrounds were full so Im glad I called ahead. Deer were roaming around in the campground right next to my tent. I could hear coyotes howling in the distance and the stars were amazing(Seen 2 shooting stars). The shower and bathroom facility was really clean. Overall it was a great experience and Badlands is a beautiful place.
Best campground for visiting the Badlands
It's all about location. This campground is right in the badlands, has beautiful views all around, and is easy to get in and out of. It was nice being able to pull in with our motorhome and vehicle in tow, hook up (no sewer), and settle in.
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Amazing views
Relatively private site as most sites are behind you. Beautiful view of prairie ans badlands in the distance. Picnic table shelter is positioned so you have shade in the afternoon. Shelter doubled up as a great place to hang our hammocks. Careful it can get very windy here!
Needs maintenance
The campground is strange for RVs and Trailers the sites are all bump outs, not full pull through. Neither of the baths had working blow dryers for hands. The dump station flush his was taped in several spots and had the threaded male end coupler yanked off and laying on the ground making it useless for tank flush. Clearly the concessionaire isn’t doing needed maintenance.
Flies are out of control as the garbage areas are filthy around the dumpsters.
Cut our stay short a day to move in. I wouldn’t camp here again.
Fall sunset and sunrise
Nice campground. Lots of water spigots, but some did not work. Sites are a bit close together, but there are shelters over the picnic tables. Had a beautiful sunrise and sunset. Full moon so not much stargazing. At sunrise, I had to choose between watching the sun and watching 3 deer next to my site.
Desert Camping
Nice campsites. in open area of the Badlands National Park
Adequate for safe overnight rest and launching point to see this part of Badlands.
The campsites are located to the left or right of the road. You parallel park on the road next to your campsite. We had a small trailer and a tent. There are covered picnic tables at each site. Did not use pay shower but bathrooms were clean.
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