Established Camping
Elk Mountain Campground — Wind Cave National Park
Warning 1 Alert is In Effect
There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!
Warning 1 Alert is In Effect
There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!
Due to a complete replacement and modernization of our elevator system, we expect tours of Wind Cave to be closed beginning in late spring and continuing through September. There will still be plenty of things to do at the park including viewing new exhibits. Installation of our new exhibits is on-going and will be finished by April. These new exhibits tell a more inclusive story of this land using interpretive panels, video clips, and hands-on exhibits that are all fully accessible. Using LIDAR technology, rangers will be offering virtual cave tours in the visitor center auditorium throughout the summer. Please call the Visitor Center at 605-745-4600 with any questions.
About
National Park Service
Wind Cave National Park
Overview
Elk Mountain Campground, straddles the edge of a ponderosa pine forest and open prairie, offering unique opportunities to view the diverse flora and fauna of the southern Black Hills. These campsites are available in both forested and open environments. May 20 to September 30: Customers can reserve reservations in advace or for the same day.__ October 1 to May 19: Elk Mountain Campground is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Visitors must arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site. Once on-site, you can pay for your campsite(s) by scanning a QR code using the Recreation.gov mobile app. The QR code is located at the campgroudn kiosk. Please download the Recreation.gov mobile app before you leave for your trip (see our "Need to Know" tab for more information). NOTE: This is a cashless campground. Only credit cards will be accepted through Recreation.gov or the Recreation.gov mobile app.
Recreation
Hiking at Wind Cave View rolling prairie vistas, ponderosa forests, and see wildlife in its natural environment. Wind Cave National Park has over 30 miles of hiking trails on the surface and provides visitors the opportunity to view pristine Black Hills scenery. Find out which trail is the best for you. Pet Friendly Hikes If you are traveling with a furry friend, Wind Cave has two pet friendly trails. Both are close to the visitor center and about one mile in length. Become a Wind Cave Junior Ranger Kids of all ages can become a Wind Cave Junior Ranger. Complete the activity book, learn about the park, and take the pledge to earn a Junior Ranger badge.
Facilities
This 63-site campground is open all year with sites available on a reservation basis from May 20th to September 30th. In the off-season, only B-loop is available. Sites 17 and 49 are handicap-accessible. Flush toilets and drinking water are available from late spring through early fall. Fees are half-price when water is not available. Ranger programs are offered most nights in the amphitheater during the summer. Two group campsites are able to be reserved 10 months out.____
Natural Features
Wind Cave National Park protects two very different worlds - one deep within the earth, the other a sunlit world of many resources. Bison, elk, and other wildlife roam the rolling prairie grasslands and forested hillsides of one of America's oldest national parks.__ Visit Wind Cave's Natural Entrance You can still see the largest natural opening into Wind Cave without going on a tour. This small hole is one of the only known natural entrances into the cave. Lakota oral tradition speaks of how the first bison and humans emerged from this deeply spiritual place.
contact_info
This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (605) 745-4600.
Fee Info
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Hike-InBackcountry sites.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonUnknown
- AT&TGood
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Cabins
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Water Hookups
Small and quiet
Smaller campground. Tent only section is small, but sites have reasonable amount of space between sites. Plenty of water and restroom is not too far off (but needs a deep clean and update). First couple of sites have no shade. Camp hosts were great (there’s almost no signal in park so they came through to warn us on tents that a huge thunderstorm was heading our way so we could prepare—thank goddess they did: it was a long and intense storm).
Peaceful
Lovely little campground in a underrated park that was fantastic!!!
Host jumped right in to help you book the site. The site was right on the road which I didn't love but huge site and not a lot of traffic. Site was level. Bathroom was right next door and clean enough...no showers ..
Would definitely camp here again. Rangers came by to tell you a storm was rolling in and to stay in. They had a nighttime hike and the trails were right off campground...smaller than some parks but great!!
- (10) View All
Clean and Quiet
We arrived on a Monday afternoon without reservations, and there were many sites to choose from. The Campground Hosts helped us to complete our reservation (no cell signal here). Very clean and well maintained campground. There were nightly Ranger Talks at the Amphitheater. Campground is very close to the Wind Cave Visitor Center and the tours there. We took a half-day trip to do a tour at Jewel Cave. Restocked supplies in Hot Springs.
Location
Elk Mountain Campground — Wind Cave National Park is located in South Dakota
Directions
The visitor center is 11 miles (18 km) north of Hot Springs off US Hwy. 385, about 1/2 mile (.8 km) west of the highway. Do not rely exclusively on your GPS or Google Maps to find the campground. Routes can be misleading or incorrect. The coordinates for the Visitor Center are N43.55677 W103.47799__ From Rapid City, South Dakota: Follow SD Hwy. 79 south approximately 50 miles (80 km) to US Hwy. 385. Turn right onto US Hwy. 385 north. Continue through Hot Springs another 6 miles (9.5 km) north into Wind Cave National Park. Once in the park follow signs to the visitor center for cave tours and general park information. From Chadron, Nebraska: Follow US Hwy. 385 north through Hot Springs, SD to the park. Once in the park follow signs to the visitor center for cave tours and general park information. From Custer State Park: Follow SD Hwy. 87 south into Wind Cave National Park. Once in the park follow signs to the visitor center for cave tours and general park information.
Address
26611 US-385
Hot springs, SD 57747
Coordinates
43.565471 N
103.488235 W