This dispersed campsite has a stunning north-facing view (depending on the angle you park) with the gap right below you. Honestly, don’t even bother paying to get into the National park unless you’re passionate about seeing Buffalo up close.
Not too crowded, got to 26 degrees in mid April (so pack for the weather!)
This is a super awesome place to camp. RIGHT ON THE RIM of the badlands.
We absolutely loved staying here! We only staid one night because of the high heat temp 100 degrees. We could have staid longer, but .... we decided to keep on going. There are some down, up, down, up hills as you are coming into the boon docking area. Don't let that stop you, however, be prepared. Go slow. Nothing will ever match this experience. We heard coyotes, saw an awesome sunset and enjoyed peace and quiet. Wind was of no concern. We appreciated the wind! Easy drive to the Badlands and Wall. We will never forget this epic day, night and sunrise.
We stayed for 3 days. Plenty of spots to camp. Very peaceful. 14 day limit.
Small fire pit, dusty, no grass , lots of places for people to park with RV’s and fifth wheels.
Had a beautiful spot right along the rim
Love, love, love this place! Park right along The Wall for the most incredible views. Just a mile from the entrance to Badlands National Park and 7 miles from the town of Wall, SD (home of the famous Wall Drug store). We stayed here for 4 nights and it was the perfect base camp for us to go see Badlands, Wall Drug, Mount Rushmore, and Deadwood. Go to sleep to the sounds of coyotes and wake up to bighorn sheep just feet away from your RV!
This has to be one of the best spots in America. The view and accessibility is incredible.
Plan well when driving back here if windy or rainy. Lots of ruts where you can see folk of yesteryears getting stuck.
Dog friendly. Not sure on generators though. We didn’t hear anyone else running theirs but other friends said they heard generators all night just a few nights earlier. So we skipped ours out of courtesy but we paid for it with the fridge rising to temp and not being able to charge our medical equipment. It was just so quiet we didn’t want to be the ones to disrupt that peace. Even though ours it a quiet version.
All in all it’s beautifully temped and breezy at night, but gets hot during the day. You’ll know you’re in the right place when you pull off the road and go through the teal-ish green gates. Making a left is not as fruitful - go right once approaching the cliff road and you’ll find plenty of spaces!
This spot is very well known, so expect it to be busy. I went when it was cold out in May, and still we struggled to find a spot far away from others. The views are incredible, so I didn’t mind sacrificing space and privacy. It is very open and has no shade, so be prepared to be pretty exposed. Perfect spot for visiting the badlands.
The views here are stunning! It’s an easy drive off a gravel road super close to badlands and wall drug. You defiantly won’t be alone, but there’s plenty of room for everyone.
Just before entering the Badlands official entrance is a side road leading up to a ridge. Expect a breeze to winds that can be forceful so tie things down. I got lucky and had a beautiful sunset, light breeze, and warm but not too warm of temps. Lots of spots to chose from but first come first serve boondocking. I can see the interstate from here but can’t hear it making it a great stop over spot when traveling. Highly recommend!
I arrived around 7 p.m. and setup my table and chair to enjoy the view with a glass of wine. It was a beautiful cloud-free evening. The wind was blowing at 15-20 mph and I thought…what’s the big deal? I prepared dinner for my dog and a late supper for me. Then it happened. Out of nowhere lightning, thunder, and hurricane force winds accompanied by hellacious hail(gravel size). We were rocking back and forth in a frightening way. I went out to lower the jacks on my Artic Fox to help stabilize the camper and was pummeled by hail. I didn’t have time to rescue the Starlink receiver, and I was sure it was a goner. I also thought the truck and the camper would both sustain some serious damage. My dog was terrified and so was I. Things finally calmed down and we were able to fall asleep only to be awakened again about 4 a.m. with an encore of the show. BTW, Rescue Remedy is helpful to my dog in anxiety situations like this. When I went out in the morning to survey the damage I was shocked to find Starlink receiver in place and the truck and camper unscathed.
I have a friend who travels with a sail boat towed by his truck camper. He has an anemometer and measured wind gusts here when he stayed here on 7/3 at 103 mph….yikes. I am including his photo of a pop up next to his site that was destroyed the night they were here. I know we are requested to only upload our own photos, but I think this is important for future campers to be aware of.
We loved this place. Easy to find and drive out to. Only 5-10 minutes of the main road entering badlands and from Wall. The drive in is pretty smooth and though there will be other campers, there’s room for everyone. The cell service was also strong which was an added bonus. There’s a friendly heard of cows who wander through and at night the coyotes howl. It can be pretty windy, but with the summer heat we enjoyed it. Highly recommend a trip out here!
The views are beautiful and the area is quiet and secluded, overall would be a great boondocking location if you have an RV. For a rooftop tent camper like myself, it is extremely exposed and windy. No shade whatsoever.
One of the best if not the best spot to stay at the badlands if boondocks is fine with you. Never will be fill here but best views along the Cliffside will be taken.
Lots of places to park and sleep, rv, tent etc. We slept right under the stars with a blanket and sleeping bags. No bugs other than a moth here and there. Cows got a bit close so heard them all night along with the coyotes. Other than that it's super quiet.
Plenty of places to pitch a tent. Super quiet
The vistas are amazing but the word is out and campers are nearly bumper to bumper in areas. Also, there are clear trails where people have walked out on narrow ridges but to their peril. The cliffs are steep and the draws are deep.
As I type this, search and rescue teams including climbers and helicopter are on site to rescue a person who took the risk of heading out on a ridge and fell.
If you are going to the Badlands camp here. It is windy and we weathered a couple of thunderstorms that were pretty intense, but the views are amazing and there is are cool hiking spots to explore. As other reviews have noted, there are a lot of people camping there. However we were there on a Sunday-Tuesday and had plenty of space and it was quiet. The sunsets are amazing and you have an outstanding view of the grasslands in one side and Badlands features on the other.
It’s gorgeous, but everyone knows it. RV’s every 30 yards all along the Wall
Extremely scenic disbursed camping just south of Wall, and just on the north side of Badlands. Great free spot to drive in, no hookups or facilities, but close to cell towers w/data service on Verizon. Overall incredible.
That's right it was amazing it was free but it was raw. We camped right on the edge realize that might not be a good idea with the storms that came through we certainly didn't want to get rolled over so we moved off the edge the wind comes up and blows dust in your face. It is a windy place the two nights we stayed and of course storms both nights. but like I said it was amazing Waking up to those views. Watching thunderstorms roll in the distance. Was priceless
I camped on the ridge in the South Dakota grasslands. I was able to look out my front door and see the badlands or or see the grasslands out my rear window. The best information I can pass on is that the closest laundromat is in wall next to the ace hardware. And the closest dump station is sleepy Hollow RV campground also in wall. For a dump and fill it’s $20 
We stayed here 2 nights. Lots of spots available on both sides of the road. No facilities, pack in and out. Beautiful to walk along the road. It stormed the first night and you could hear the thunder rumbling across the prairie. Getting to the spot we saw lots of wildlife. Highly recommend this spot!
Great views and surprisingly quiet. Many of the sides are not level so bring something to level your rig
There are probably 50 spots on the bluffs overlooking the badlands, with probably 100 more on the other side of the road. This seems to be a pretty popular area for boondocks, but most days there shouldn't be a problem finding a spot.
The road was dry, but there were some pot holes coming in. Most of the sites are fairly flat with great views of the badlands Overall, a pretty nice place to stay.
Windy and freezing (but it was January)!! Amazing sunrise, easy to find, beautiful views, only ones there, minutes from Badlands National Park entrance and FREE!!
Spent the better part of a week here, it was absolutely incredible! Amazing views, tons of wildlife, and only a few minutes drive from Badlands NP entrance! Relatively close to Wall as well if you need supplies. The road in was a little rough and uneven in spots, but totally doable even in a low-clearance rig. Tons of Class A's and large tow-behinds. Verizon service was amazing. Would 1000% stay again!
Drove out in the dark, road was a little bumpy to start but easy to find for being pitch black and our first time. Very cold and windy but worth it for the view. Highly recommend and we would absolutely come back!
We arrived as it was getting dark and it was kind of hard to find. You turn off the highway and cross a cattle guard into an open field. The taillights of RVs helped us to see it. It was pretty busy but there is a large area you can camp in. It’s a really cool place and an awesome place to see the stars.
