Map showing campground location near Hill City, South Dakota

Camper submitted image from Spring Creek Road

Spring Creek Road

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Black Hills National Forest runs Spring Creek Road through a narrow valley where a small creek winds alongside the gravel access road, giving most sites direct water access. The road itself is smooth dirt and gravel with minimal rough spots, making it manageable for a range of vehicles, though campers with larger trailers should plan to drive further in before attempting a turnaround. One reviewer successfully fit a 30-foot rig into a level pullout, but several others note that most sites are sized for solo rigs or smaller overlanding setups. No-camping signs mark the first mile, so keep driving.

Sites are spread well apart along the road, which keeps crowding low even on busy weekends. Cell service becomes unreliable as you head deeper in. Mosquitoes are a consistent complaint across multiple seasons, so repellent is not optional. Deer are regularly spotted near dusk, and at least one reviewer noted cattle grazing along the road. More recently, Lisa B. flagged that campers should "expect OHVs running the road and about 3 helicopter flyovers per day," the latter from tourist flight operations in the area.

No services exist here. Bring all water in and pack all garbage out. Fires are not permitted, and signs make that clear on site. Nearby alternatives worth considering include Spring Creek Road Spur just to the east and Oreville Campground a couple miles further, both useful if this corridor is full. Campers looking for free camping near Black Hills National Forest will find this road a workable, no-cost base for reaching Keystone and the surrounding region.

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Map & DirectionsSpring Creek Road is located in South Dakota near Hill City

Dispersed Camping

Coordinates

43.86596108 N
103.6520265 W

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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)
Dispersed

Features

For Campers

Alcohol
Pets

For Vehicles

Big Rig Friendly

Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.

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Drive Time

38 min from Rapid City, SD
3 hrs 8 min from Casper, WY
3 hrs 54 min from Cheyenne, WY
4 hrs 30 min from Fort Collins, CO

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Reviews10 Camper Reviews - Spring Creek Road

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5 Stars

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1 Star

4.5

out of 5

10 Reviews

Dispersed camping along a scenic creek with varied sites suitable for different setups. Many mentioned the peaceful setting and beautiful location, though mosquitoes and lack of services require preparation.

SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Salvy F.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 19, 2025

Great spot next to Custer state park

Nice quite spot in the woods good views but lots of mosquitoes

Month of VisitJuly

(4) View All

Lisa B.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 2, 2025

Stay on Spring cr road

Beautiful sites. Couple updates i did not see on other reviews. Expect OHVs running the road and about 3 helicopter flyovers per day. There is a local flying tourists to see the area.

Sitestayed next to the creek in a large site just off the road.

Month of VisitJune

(4) View All

Michael U.

Guide

Reviewed May. 24, 2025

Road in good shape. Car accessable.

Road follows a creek with plenty of easily accessible spots.

Month of VisitMay

Makenzie S.

Guide

Reviewed Oct. 15, 2024

Very Quiet Cozy Area

Loved this area, saw many deer near sunset, very peaceful and quiet. Tent camping it was easy to find a site since we didn’t go too far, but if you have an big RV you might need to go further down the road. Otherwise very pretty especially with the creek right next to us.

Month of VisitOctober

(5) View All

Tim K.

Guide

Reviewed Sep. 28, 2024

Secluded, quiet, dispersed sites close to lots of Black Hills attractions.

The road in was fairly easy to find and smooth. I drove all the way to the end of the road to check out the sites and turned around and went back to the one I liked the best. There was only one other camper set up down along the stream and the couple there looked comfortable. I chose a nice level turn out that I could drive my pickup and ATV trailer into and was able to drive through the spot so I didn't have to back in or out. It was a very pretty site next to the road and big enough for my 30' rig. It was level enough that it only took one block under one wheel of the ATV trailer I had my roof top tent mounted on. Traffic was light and only about half a dozen vehicles passed my site the evening I was there. No problem with dust from the traffic. There were signs that cattle were in the area but I didn't see any. Probably not a place you would want to spend a lot of time staying at unless you planned to use it as a base for hitting all the tourist spots around Deadwood and Keystone. The main problem is the sites are nearly all too small for more than one camper so if you are traveling with other campers you won't be able to park close together. The sites are fairly far apart, more suitable for lone campers looking for a spot to rest for a night or two. No amenities and cell service was hit or miss but the price was right (free). I would definitely stay here again if I was passing through the area.

SiteSites were just pullouts along the road. No site ID's.

Month of VisitJuly

(7) View All

Chris N.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 8, 2024

Green Serenity

The turn off from the highway is easy to find. Smaller trailers or overlanding setups are best here. It may not be so kind for getting trailers turned around.

The access road is simple dirt and gravel with very little rough spots and no washboard on it.

Make sure you've got mosquito repellent.

The views and settings are plush, magical, quiet, with a small babbling stream winding through the forest, camp sites and meadows. There are no fires allowed and it's clearly posted.

I loved this place and was inspired to compose poetry overlooking a meadow with deer feeding in the morning. Absolutely beautiful! I'd stay here again and it felt safe too.

Month of VisitJuly

(8) View All

Clint M.

Traveler

Reviewed Sep. 6, 2023

Quiet spot on the creek

The campsite I stayed at was right on the creek. Great, secluded spot. Didn't see many cars at all. No bugs though I imagine they would be brutal in the summer.

Month of VisitSeptember

Cultivating Fire L.

Ranger

Reviewed Aug. 19, 2023

Easy Access to Seclusion

We went pretty far down Spring Rd and passed multiple spots in search of one where we could set up our Starlink and ended up at a spot down by the creek where we only had 3 or 4 vehicles pass by on the road the whole day.

Mosquitos were insane but besides that this was the quiet spot we were looking for after Rapid City during Sturgis

SiteN/A

Month of VisitAugust

(4) View All

De'Armond M.

Scout

Reviewed Jul. 23, 2023

Great spot

Was easy to drive in. The road wasn’t too rough. Got there in the dark was able to find a spot, can be hard to see the turn off to the sites at night. Didn’t see many places I would want to pull a camper into but great for ground tents, rooftop tents and camper vans.

Month of VisitJuly

Art S.

Legend

Reviewed Jul. 13, 2023

Dispersed camping beauty

This is dispersed camping so there are no services. Bring your own water and take with you all of your garbage. The spots within the first mile are no camping allowed. Just keep going and you’ll be happy. The road winds along the creek between rocky formations and trees. There are plenty of spots to pull into to camp. We saw larger sites and narrow ones you could back into. There was one other van camping down this way when we showed up. Cell service diminished as we drove in. The other folks walked back along the road to get a signal. Choose your site carefully because we also saw cows eating their way along the road. This is a beautiful spot right in an incredible area of the Black Hills.

Month of VisitJuly

(11) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Spring Creek Road dispersed camping located in South Dakota?

Spring Creek Road dispersed camping is located in South Dakota, accessible via a clearly marked turnoff from the highway. The camping area follows alongside a creek, offering numerous secluded spots nestled between rocky formations and trees. The camping sites are spread out along the road that parallels the creek, with options both near the water and in more wooded areas. For specific directions, contact the local Forest Service office or use GPS coordinates, as the turnoff is straightforward to locate from the main highway.

What road conditions should I expect when accessing Spring Creek dispersed camping areas?

Spring Creek Road is a dirt and gravel access road with relatively smooth conditions and very few rough spots. The road doesn't have washboard sections, making it accessible for most vehicles. The first mile is a no-camping zone, so you'll need to continue further to find camping spots. The road winds along the creek between rocky formations and trees. While the main road is well-maintained, some turnoffs to individual sites might be harder to spot, especially after dark. Most vehicles can navigate this road without difficulty, though larger RVs may find some limitations.

What seasons are best for dispersed camping at Spring Creek?

Late spring through early fall offers the best camping conditions at Spring Creek, though summer brings significant mosquito activity that requires proper repellent. Fall provides particularly pleasant conditions with fewer insects and comfortable temperatures. Many campers report seeing wildlife like deer during evening hours in the warmer months. Be aware that during peak summer, you might experience occasional helicopter tourism flyovers and OHV traffic on the main road. The area's creekside location makes it especially appealing during warmer months when the flowing water adds to the camping experience.

What are the rules and regulations for dispersed camping along Spring Creek Road?

As dispersed camping, Spring Creek Road has no services available - you must pack in your own water and pack out all garbage. The first mile of the road is designated as a no-camping zone, so continue past this area to find legal camping spots. There are established sites along the creek and within the wooded areas. Practice Leave No Trace principles while staying here. The area accommodates tent camping, rooftop tents, and smaller trailers or camper vans, but may present challenges for larger RVs, particularly for turning around. Most sites are primitive with no facilities, requiring self-sufficient camping preparation.

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Map & DirectionsSpring Creek Road is located in South Dakota near Hill City

Coordinates

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Site Types

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DISPERSED CAMPING

PERMIT might be REQUIRED

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Where is Spring Creek Road dispersed camping located in South Dakota?

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What seasons are best for dispersed camping at Spring Creek?

What are the rules and regulations for dispersed camping along Spring Creek Road?