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Best Cabin Camping in South Dakota

1,585 Reviews

Cabins throughout South Dakota state parks and private campgrounds include multiple amenities beyond basic shelter, with most offering electricity, heating, and various sleeping configurations. Cedar Pass Campground in Badlands National Park provides cabins alongside its tent and RV accommodations, while Lake Vermillion Recreation Area features cabin options with picnic tables and fire rings. Many cabins include beds with mattresses, tables and chairs, electricity for lighting and small appliances, and outdoor gathering areas with fire pits. Bathrooms may be shared facilities or private depending on the location. One visitor at Spokane Creek Cabins noted "the campground is located in a beautiful and scenic area. Our site had full hook ups, a fire ring and a picnic table. The bathrooms were sparkling clean and the water pressure was great!"

Options range from tiny log cabins to spacious family-sized layouts across the state. KOA properties like Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch and Badlands/White River KOA feature standardized cabin accommodations with predictable amenities. Custer State Park offers multiple cabin options at Blue Bell Campground and Sylvan Lake. Most properties require advance reservations, especially during summer months when availability becomes limited. Pet policies vary by location, with some allowing dogs in designated cabins while others prohibit pets entirely. A camper who stayed in a specialty accommodation mentioned "we stayed in the TeePee and it was definitely an experience our family will cherish forever. Awesome staff as well."

Most South Dakota cabins include beds but require visitors to bring their own linens, towels, and toiletries. Cooking facilities vary significantly between properties - rustic cabins may offer only outdoor fire rings, while deluxe options include microwaves, mini-refrigerators, or small kitchenettes. On-site camp stores at locations like Badlands Interior Campground provide basic groceries and camping supplies, though selection is limited. Firewood is available for purchase at most cabin campgrounds, including Elk Mountain Campground at Wind Cave National Park. Guests staying at more remote cabins should bring all necessary supplies, as nearby towns may be considerable distances away. In winter months, visitors to year-round cabins should pack additional cold-weather gear and emergency supplies.

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Best Cabin Sites in South Dakota (181)

    1. Cedar Pass Campground — Badlands National Park

    115 Reviews
    Interior, SD
    Website
    +1 (605) 433-5460

    $37 - $47 / night

    "It was quite larger than I expected and with it being next to the visitors center/entrance, I am glad they do not charge more!  Each site had a picnic table and most with a little shelter over it. "

    "Each area has a covered picnic table. There are no fire pits or grills here, as the fire danger remains high most of the year."

    2. Badlands Hotel & Campground

    62 Reviews
    Interior, SD
    Website
    +1 (605) 433-5335

    $24 - $174 / night

    "Perfect location for visiting Badlands National Park. Jussstttt outside the park entrance and the Ben Reifel visitor center. Could not ask for a better location."

    "We were visiting the badlands and decided to stay at a place close by and this place was perfect!"

    3. Badlands / White River KOA

    59 Reviews
    Interior, SD
    Website
    +1 (605) 433-5337

    "As I drove through the Badlands today and saw people setting up their tents in the totally exposed Park campgrounds I was sad for them . The KOA has great shade at every tent site ."

    "Amenities: General store, water, electric (30/20 amps), showers, flush toilets, laundry mat, basketball court, swimming pool, mini golf. See what I mean."

    4. Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch

    55 Reviews
    Hill City, SD
    Website

    "This is a huge campground with tons of options which is nice, it also is in a great Central location for Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, Needles Highway, Windcave National Park and Mammouth"

    "We desperately needed showers and a place to park for the night. We knew what KOAs had/have to offer, so we had the right mindset."

    5. Elk Mountain Campground — Wind Cave National Park

    45 Reviews
    Pringle, SD
    Website
    +1 (605) 745-4600

    $12 - $45 / night

    "Passing through South Dakota rests a very unique park unlike any other you will find.    "

    "This is a great campground within the wind Cave national Park. It has both tent and RV parking. The RV parking is somewhat limited and mostly the RVs park along the road."

    6. Sylvan Lake Campground — Custer State Park

    42 Reviews
    Custer, SD
    Website
    +1 (605) 255-4515

    "This lake is beautiful, its one of my favorite places inside Custer state park. There are a ton of trails, all within easy walking distance. Make sure you pack plenty of water."

    "Our family stayed in a walk-in primitive tent site located on a woodsy hill at the top of Custer. Campsites have a decent amount of privacy, but you are still aware of your neighbors."

    7. Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    38 Reviews
    Brandon, SD
    Website
    +1 (605) 582-7243

    "Just another overnight stop on my drive to Iowa. I spent the night in a non-electric tent site so I can't really comment on the other parts of the campground."

    "Easy access from 90W, not much road noise and close to the town of Brandon for supplies. "

    8. Blue Bell Campground — Custer State Park

    36 Reviews
    Custer, SD
    Website
    +1 (605) 255-4515

    "This is a nice, reasonably priced campground for RVs, tents, and cabin rentals. Have various activities, a general store, lodge, and café."

    "Located in Custer State Park, just a couple miles away from the entrance to the wildlife loop. Lots of great hiking, cycling, and horseback riding in the area, as well as Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Mt."

    9. Lake Vermillion Recreation Area

    33 Reviews
    Canistota, SD
    Website
    +1 (605) 296-3643

    $15 - $55 / night

    "There are only 4 strictly dedicated tent sites. you park across the street and walk a very short distance, maybe 200 feet to the site. The bathroom is in the parking lot along with a water source."

    "South Dakota charges a day use fee ($6) plus a fee for tent camping ($17); I opted to pay for an Annual Pass of $30 since I plan on doing more SD camping this year."

    10. Palisades State Park Campground

    30 Reviews
    Garretson, SD
    Website
    +1 (605) 594-3824

    "The park is not very big so there are not many campsites. Some have electric hook up, others are just for tent camping. All of them provide a picnic table and a fire pit."

    "We passed through Palisades State Park earlier this year and spent some time in the day-use area so we knew it was a good place to camp as we passed through South Dakota on another trip."

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390 Photos of 181 South Dakota Campgrounds

Cabin Reviews in South Dakota

1585 Reviews of 181 South Dakota Campgrounds

  • Kari T.
    Jun. 13, 2019

    Buffalo Ridge Camp Resort

    Ranger Review: Central Location with Little Highway Noise

    As a Ranger on The Dyrt, I sometimes receive compensation for reviews like this one. We received a coupon code for The Dyrt's online product store in exchange for trying out the new online camping reservation system to make a reservation for Buffalo Ridge Camping Resort. 

    We reserved a campsite for Buffalo Ridge Camping Resort through The Dyrt, and it was a breeze to go through the process. We were emailed the reservation information, payment was taken via bank card, and it all made the check-in process very fast upon arrival. We decided to change from a tent site to a log cabin and all the contact information was in the email, so we called and they made the change for us at the office. When we arrived they handed over the key and off we went. 

    Buffalo Ridge is conveniently located in Custer, South Dakota. It is at the location of the previous Flintstones Resort(my kids miss that place), and some of the playground equipment from the Flintstones Theme Park were located at the campground. My boys loved playing on the teeter-totters and in the old Flintstones car that were there. Good memories. The resort is sectioned into areas- a tent area, the glamping tipi area, two RV areas, and the cabins. There is a main building where you check in and they have a nice little gift shop with trendy, outdoorsy items and camping needs available. The heated pool is coming… they have broken ground behind the main building! However, since the pool is promised on their website, they partnered with another of the Custer Hospitality’s properties, Comfort Inn, which is across the road, and provide passes to the indoor swimming pool there until their pool is done. My sons were thrilled as the night we stayed at Buffalo Ridge it got down in the 30’s- that would have been a very chilly outdoor swim for June! 

    The RV sites are pretty typically spaced, and there are small trees throughout. The tent sites are large, have a fire ring, and some have picnic shelters as well as tables. There are two types of cabins, log (think KOA-style) and rustic. They sleep 4-5 comfortably. Cabins also have fire rings and picnic tables, and there are trash cans right outside the cabin! What a nice touch(you can tell we aren’t in bear country here!). There is a really nice, new laundry and shower facility and a bathroom building with two toilets and a very large outdoor sink for washing dishes. 

    The price for this campground is more than reasonable compared with others in the area! We were happy to see both their tent sites and their cabin prices were about$10 below the local competition. All of the staff we encountered were friendly and helpful, and did their best to insure a positive stay. 

    The log cabin we stayed in did not have A/C, but they do provide a space heater(which we needed in June, believe it or not), but they are situated near the top of the ridge so get a nice breeze. There were two sets of beds inside, one twin bunk and one full-twin bunk. Five could easily sleep there. There is a nice porch with chairs and a swinging bench as well. Our sons asked if we could stay a second night, they enjoyed it so much! 

    Right now (as of June 2019) they are working on installing the outdoor pools, expanding the second RV area(looks almost done), they just paved the east entrance this week, and are putting in more gravel and possibly paving more of the main roads. It is going to be a very nice campground when it is finished, as it already has a great start! There were a ton of RV’s the night we stayed, and they have an employee that leads you to your site using a golf cart, which is always a nice touch. Class A’s fit easily into their sites, as well as RV’s with slides. Plenty of safe room for kids to run around and play as well. All around, we are very pleased to have Buffalo Ridge in our home town and will stay there again just for the fun of it!

    For the techies - excellent Wi-Fi service is included all over the campground, and there is a  very good 4G Verizon signal at the campground.

  • J
    Sep. 1, 2021

    Badlands / White River KOA

    Nice , quiet , SHADED, not overcrowded

    I am very pleased with this Campground . As I drove through the Badlands today and saw people setting up their tents in the totally exposed Park campgrounds I was sad for them . The KOA has great shade at every tent site . The sites are spacious and there were was no overcrowding . I opted to rent one of the small Rustic cabins with AC ( no bathroom or kitchen ) in order to give my elderly dog a respite from the scorching afternoon heat . The little camping cabin is clean and comfortable, there is a small front porch with a swing . Outside there is a picnic table and fire ring . We walked through the campground this evening and there was a cool gentle breeze . Most of the tent sites were unoccupied while I believe absolutely every RV site was occupied . Definitely worth checking out this campsite and hands down better choice than the exposed unshaded sites with in the Badlands .

  • Chad M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 29, 2020

    Buffalo Ridge Camp Resort

    It all depends on what you’re looking for

    The pros:

    • 100+ spaces for campers/motorhomes accommodating all sizes, even the real big diesel pushers.
    • They have small cabins to rent, tree houses, and glamping tent/cabins.
    • The bathrooms are clean and have private showers.
    • There are laundry facilities on site.
    • Full hookup sites.
    • Two swimming pools.
    • Close proximity to Keystone, Custer, Rapid City
    • Each gravel pad may require minor leveling but they are pretty good.
    • A nice picnic table is located at each site.

    The cons: We ended up here because I called 17 other places between Custer and Rapid City and all were full. Many of the sites offered by the competition are nicely spaced out with mature trees surrounding the pads, that’s not the case here.

    • The RV area is tight with a sea of RV’s. For us it’s less like camping and more like a townhouse development. It’s not as bad as the parking lot variety, there is grass between the sites and some trees.
  • C
    Sep. 26, 2021

    Mystic Hills Hideaway

    In the trees

    This was a quite campground for us. All ATVs were shut down by 10:00 pm. They have ATV rentals there and plenty of them. The main log cabin had a small bar area and kitchen, food was good. Tables, booths and center room fireplace. A small room with souvenirs. Sell trail permits there. Maps for trails that leave from camp. They have permanent camp sites as well. Spacious sites but lots of trees to pull around. Pleasant people work there. Pet friendly.

  • Isa K.
    Nov. 5, 2018

    Plenty Star Ranch - CLOSED

    Easy access from Hwy 385 & the Mickelson Trail, friendly, peaceful & clean.

    Privately owned ranch setting with dispersed tent sites, 4 full RV hook-ups under huge old Willow Trees, 1 one-room camping log cabin for 2-3 people and 1 guestroom for 2 in the owners home.Toilet room with flush toilet and cold water sink, outdoor shower building for camping solar shower bags, hydrants with drinking water and electric outlets.Cabin and house guests may use one of the bathrooms/shower in our home.

    Coffee and tea in the mornings is served on our large porch. There you find WiFi and electric outlets for charging your devices.

    Free Parking in designated areas close to all the camp sites. Direct access to National Forest all around us.

    There is an approved large fire pit for campfires, otherwise no other fires on the ground allowed. We normally have fire wood for sale here.

  • Aimee M.
    Aug. 17, 2021

    Creekside Mountain Resort, LLC

    Excellent all the way around

    Crooked Creek is a great option in Hill City. The camp hosts are very welcoming and accommodating and have been coming back to work as seasonal hosts for years (that in itself tells you something.) The campground is well kept with new amenities being added. There are sites with concrete back porches that offer adirondack chairs and fire pits, sites offering furnished wooden decks that overlook the creek, plenty of fish watching and soothing sounds of running water. There are cabins, a Lodge, a fitness center, store, very warm heated pool, playground, a nice concrete and covered stage with seating and propane fire pits that hosts live music thurs-sun. We were able to enjoy listening to CJ and Woody one night with a cold drink in hand, warmth from the fire pit and great company while our kids played on the playground right next to us. Good quality wifi and cell service (hard to find in Hill City), clean bathhouses and a nice walkable campground. Mickelson bike/walking trail is directly behind the campground. There are plans in the works to offer food more regularly (right now, there's a bbg food vendor that comes on some weekends) and an entire new section of camping in the 12 acres they purchased. Some people have complained that the spaces are too tight and they can't get their awnings out because of trees. After driving around Hill City and seeing some of the rv parks calling themselves Resorts, i will gladly take a smaller site that offers some natural shade from the trees. Besides, the wind picks up rather quickly in the area so the awnings have to be watched closely. I wish we had stayed longer.

  • Kari T.
    May. 4, 2019

    Plenty Star Ranch - CLOSED

    Ranger Review: Warm, Welcoming Hosts, Countryside Camping at Plenty Star!

    As a Ranger on The Dyrt, I sometimes receive compensation for reviews like this one. We received a coupon code for The Dyrt's online product store in exchange for trying out the new online camping reservation system to make a reservation for Plenty Star Ranch.

    We reserved a campsite for Plenty Star Ranch through The Dyrt, and it was a breeze to go through the process. We were emailed the reservation information, payment was taken via bank card, and it all made the check-in process very fast upon arrival. We needed to change our camping date and all the contact information was in the email, so we called and owner Isa was more than understanding (it was going to storm, then snow, then get really windy for the night we reserved).

    This campground is actually a small, working ranch located right next to a bison ranch, which had just had about four bison calves born in the previous week. They were fun to watch run and play in the field next door. Plenty Star Ranch itself allows you to bring your own horses (for a small fee) and there is plenty of room for them to enjoy. There are cabins, campsites, and RV hook-ups, all conveniently located along the rural Highway 385 north of Pringle, SD.

    We planned to pitch a tent for the night, but the weather has been pretty harsh in the Black Hills this spring, and temperatures were going to be well below freezing overnight. We are hearty campers and planned to tough it out, but owner Isa insisted that we take one of their two cabins instead and upgraded our stay for no additional cost. My boys (8 and 12) and I stayed in their 3-person cabin which has a queen bed and a pull-out twin. They provided all the linens (though we used our own pillows by choice) and the cabin was nicely heated with electric heat. We definitely stayed much warmer that night than we would have been in a tent! It was super cozy and quiet in the cabin!

    The cabin is located about 50 yards from the public bathroom, which is also heated, well-lit, and attached to their garage. Parking is right next to the cabin, making it a breeze to unpack. There is a picnic table on the porch in front of the cabin, where we could cook and eat, as well as a table inside. In the morning I set up my Primus stove and made coffee, which I sat on the porch and enjoyed while watching whitetail deer and Canada geese stroll past. There is a goose nest right on the island in their pond, and I am sure it is neat to watch the goslings grow all summer!

    Tent camping sites are located in one of their former pastures, and we saw plenty of level, gravel RV sites with hook-ups around the main living area. There are two shower stalls next to the cabins that are ready for your solar shower bag to be attached (we thought that would be really fun), and in the off-season they allow guests to use their shower inside the main house. We didn't need to take them up on that since we were only staying one night, but they also invited us up in the morning for coffee and cocoa (usually out on the porch, but it was about 35 degrees that next morning- brr!).

    Isa and Jack (the owners) are very friendly, and were a lot of fun to chat with, I would definitely return to Plenty Star Ranch for another getaway evening or weekend in the future. They currently have plans to move their smaller 2-person cabin up into the canyon behind the main house and put it completely off-grid. It would be a perfect getaway for a couple, and what a gorgeous setting back in the hills!

    If you are looking for a quieter place to camp in the Black Hills, you should definitely consider Plenty Star Ranch, as it is only about 8 minutes south of Custer, but greatly removes you from the hustle and bustle of the tourist towns. It is just minutes from Wind Cave National Park as well, which is a must-do when you are in the area!

    One more thing to note: the only cell service in the immediate area of the ranch is AT&T. We knew that going into the weekend, so planned on not having service (we have Verizon), which for us is no big deal - after all, we were camping! :)

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2021

    Farm Island State Recreation Area

    Sweet

    Fee area:$8.00 daily$36.00 annual purchase on line 

    Open: all year(between October 1 and April 30 amenities maybe turned off 

    Vault toilets are usually operating

    $26.00 electric site $55.00 camping cabins 

    archery basketball birding boating fishing hiking hunting swimming volleyball snow activities   boat ramp drinking water fish cleaning station picnic tables showers trash picnic table fire ring/grill

     ADA accessible 

     You will find gravel pads, level with some mature trees and many trees have been planted around the campground There is a new bath house and very clean. Many lake sites and lake views. Since the campground is fairly flat a lot of the sites have water views.

  • Katrin M.
    Jul. 7, 2019

    Palisades State Park Campground

    A very nice getaway!

    We camped here over the weekend with our dogs. The campground is within 10 miles off of I90.

    The park is not very big so there are not many campsites. Some have electric hook up, others are just for tent camping. All of them provide a picnic table and a fire pit. They also have little log cabins. We stayed at campsite 6 which was a very good spot. Some of the other sites seemed very close together without much privacy or shade.

    The park staff (rangers, camp host and volunteers) was extremely friendly. They always made sure that we had everything we needed. The rangers also offer different programs on the weekend like learning about geocaching or how to make campfire desserts.

    There is one bathhouse for the entire campground. It seemed a little old but got cleaned daily. There are also several vault toilets around the area. From the campground you have access to the water. There are also several short hiking trails from where you can see the rock formations.

    It was just a very short ride to the Devils Gulch (Jesse James historical site) or Split Rock Park. There is also a Dollar General close by. We would definitely recommend the campground.

Guide to South Dakota

Cabin camping in South Dakota offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure and cozy accommodations, perfect for those looking to explore the stunning landscapes of the region.

Some prices for cabin camping range from $65 to $150

Explore the breathtaking landscapes of Custer State Park

  • The Blue Bell Campground offers easy access to scenic trails and wildlife viewing, making it a great base for outdoor enthusiasts.
  • Stay at the Sylvan Lake Campground to enjoy stunning views and a variety of hiking options right at your doorstep.
  • The Elk Mountain Campground is perfect for those looking to explore Wind Cave National Park, with its unique geological features and diverse wildlife.

Enjoy local attractions and activities

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