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French Creek Camping Area

5 ReviewsAdd Review

This free Forest Service campground operates on a pack-in, pack-out basis with parking in a designated lot and walk-in access to the fenced camping area. French Creek Camping Area sits within Buffalo Gap National Grassland, requiring campers to carry their gear from vehicles to individual sites equipped with ramadas, picnic tables, fire rings, and grills.

The small campground accommodates tent camping exclusively, though some visitors park RVs and truck campers in the lot itself. Each site includes a covered shelter structure alongside standard amenities. A clean pit toilet serves the area, but no water is available on-site. Cathy notes to "bring plenty of water as there is none available." French Creek runs through the property, and reviewers mention opportunities for fishing, swimming, and kayaking when water levels permit.

Wildlife viewing draws many visitors, with bison visible on surrounding hills and prairie dogs active throughout the grassland. Horse trails extend through the area, and equestrian facilities include hitching posts. Road conditions can deteriorate during wet weather, and some visitors report evidence of target practice in the area. Cell coverage remains limited, and seasonal burn bans may restrict fire use. The campground sees light use outside peak season, with camping spots around Buffalo Gap National Grassland offering alternatives for those preferring developed facilities.

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Location

Public Campground

French Creek Camping Area is located in South Dakota

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Fairburn, South Dakota travel 11.4 miles east on French Creek Road to the turn off on your left.

Coordinates

43.66220008 N
103.02270082 W

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Connectivity

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  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon
    No Coverage
    Verified by 1 user
    Last on 5/5/26
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 6 users
    Last on 5/5/26

Connectivity

Presented byT-MobileT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoors
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile
    No Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    Verizon
    No Coverage
    Verified by 1 user
    Last on 5/5/26
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 6 users
    Last on 5/5/26

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Site Types

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

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Toilets
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Big Rig Friendly

Drive Time

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Reviews

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4.0

out of 5

5 Reviews

Campers regularly cited the clean facilities and beautiful scenery with wildlife viewing opportunities. The walk-in tent camping setup and lack of water require advance planning, but most found the free campground peaceful and well-maintained.

D
Reviewed Aug. 29, 2022

Great views, low amenities

This beautiful location is wonderful to wake up to. Bison on the hills around. Prairie dogs galore! Coyotes howling in the distance. Wonderful scenery!

However, this site offered no water and no availability for cooking unless you brought your own stove. There were however bathrooms and specific places to hitch up your horse. Hopefully your horse will not need water.

Site11
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of French Creek Camping Area by Daniel J., August 29, 2022
Becbecandbunny O.
Reviewed Jul. 20, 2022

Great find in South Dakota

Very peaceful but small campground. Each campsite has a Ramada, picnic table, grill and fire pit. No water. Pit toilet. Limited cell coverage. Free.

All sites are walk-in tent only.

The only issue we experienced were the horse flies but this would not deter us from staying again.

Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of French Creek Camping Area by Becbecandbunny O., July 20, 2022
  • Review photo of French Creek Camping Area by Becbecandbunny O., July 20, 2022
  • Review photo of French Creek Camping Area by Becbecandbunny O., July 20, 2022
c
Reviewed Sep. 18, 2021

Great Free Campground

We are camping in mid September and there are only 2 other couples here. Pit toilet is very clean. Great fire rings and grills (but we can’t use because of current burn ban)

Most important thing to note is that you have to park in parking lot and carry your supplies in. So tent camping only in the fenced part of the campground. The two other people here now have a camper van and a truck with a camper shell…so they are just using the parking lot.

Bring plenty of water as there is none available.

It is free with a place to make donations to help with upkeep.

Very good experience!

Sitesite in back corner
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of French Creek Camping Area by cathy , September 18, 2021
  • Review photo of French Creek Camping Area by cathy , September 18, 2021
  • Review photo of French Creek Camping Area by cathy , September 18, 2021
Beth C.
Reviewed Oct. 29, 2020

Pleasant spot

Great views all around with a pleasant stream running through, BLM road behind the site for a stroll/potential free camping. The BLM road was not passable mid-october due to flooding. The site has some evidence of local kids using it as a target range (holes in sign, trash cans, and fence posts). Overall, pretty nice in the off-season -- access roads were all flat and passable w a good amount of snow cover.

Daniel S.
Reviewed Oct. 29, 2017

Excellent campground but we got unlucky

Camped here after spending some amazing time in Badlands NP. French Creek looks like a cozy place normally but we got unlucky with the weather. Fortunately the weather while we were at the national park was wonderful. I would definitely stay here again. The campground is small with toilets, picnic tables and fire rings. Pack in pack out. Very clean.

There seems to be plenty of hiking and biking, swimming, fishing kayaking of one wanted to as well. There was only one other group here in and they mentioned there's copious amounts of horse trails as well. If the weather was better would have explored more. We just packed on up and kept a cruising.

Cheers!

Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of French Creek Camping Area by Daniel S., October 29, 2017
  • Review photo of French Creek Camping Area by Daniel S., October 29, 2017
  • Review photo of French Creek Camping Area by Daniel S., October 29, 2017
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Showing results 1-5 of 5 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at French Creek Camping Area?

French Creek Camping Area offers basic amenities. Each campsite includes a ramada, picnic table, grill, and fire pit. The campground has clean pit toilets but no running water, so campers need to bring their own water supply. The campground is free to use. Cell phone coverage is limited in the area. Note that during certain periods, fire bans may be in effect which would restrict the use of grills and fire pits.

Where is French Creek Campground located in South Dakota?

French Creek Camping Area is located in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. It's situated in a scenic area with beautiful views and natural surroundings. The campground is positioned near a pleasant stream (French Creek) and is close enough to Badlands National Park to make it a good stopping point when exploring the region. The area features rolling hills where you might spot bison and prairie dogs in the surrounding landscape.

How do I make reservations for French Creek Horse Camp?

French Creek Camping Area doesn't require reservations as it operates on a first-come, first-served basis. The campground is small with limited sites, so arriving early, especially during peak seasons, is recommended to secure a spot. For the most current information about reservation policies, contact the managing agency directly. Remember this is a tent-only facility where you must park in a designated lot and carry your camping supplies to your site.

What outdoor activities can I do at French Creek Natural Area?

French Creek Natural Area offers several outdoor activities for visitors. You can enjoy hiking along the creek and on nearby BLM roads (though these may be inaccessible during wet conditions). Wildlife viewing is exceptional with opportunities to see bison, prairie dogs, and possibly hear coyotes. The creek provides a peaceful setting for relaxation and photography. Bird watching is also popular in this diverse ecosystem. The natural setting makes it ideal for stargazing at night due to minimal light pollution.

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