Gem of a Campground near Custer State Park

This campground was a pleasant surprise for us. It is bordered by the Black Hills Natl. Forest. It has site for tent camper, pop-ups and bigger RV's and cabins. Due to the topography you will have to do some leveling. It is off a major highway so nighttime is quiet. There's a mix and tree and open areas The open area is great for night sky watching The bathroom was great for me, grab bars in the ADA restroom plus a great easy access shower. Bathroom was very clean. It's about 4 miles from Sylvan Lake and near the famous Needle's Highway. I also liked it because they don't use every inch of real estate to cram people in to like some KOA's. We camped after Labor Day but they have a nice pool, playground etc. We loved camping in our Sylvansport GO there but as I alluded to leveling can be challenging in some spots. But, we now have a better idea of flatter sites for a 2019 visit. I opted for more privacy so that was the trade-off. The campground is also close to Hill City, SD (The Heart of the HIlls) so restaurants were near should one not want to bother with cooking on a short visit.

Minimalist Camping in the Badlands National Park

Do wide open spaces and dark skies call you to seek adventure? Sage Creek Campground is a remote area in the Badlands with easy access on a dirt road. Traveling to the CG on the Sage Creek Rim Road gave us breathtaking views of the Badlands. The overlooks provided great views for sunset photos. Wildlife was abundant - bison, prairie dogs, badgers and serenading coyotes were seen on this visit. The campground is free but you must provide your own water. Fires are not allowed but cooking stoves are fine. The outhouses - two vaults - were very clean. If you want to experience bison up close and personal this is the campground for you. Bison roam the area at will so you need to exert caution in this area as there are no leash laws for buffalo :). Although we drive through the park frequently the recent visit to this campground gave us more reasons to appreciate this park. I'd recommend spring and fall for the best camping as it can get extremely hot during the summer.