Camping across the central U.S. gives you access to wilderness and wide-open skies. The landscape is more varied than many expect, ranging from the rugged Badlands and pine-covered Black Hills of the Dakotas to the tallgrass prairies of Kansas and Nebraska to the deserts, canyons and Hill Country of Texas. Wildlife is a major highlight, with bison herds, pronghorn, and prairie dogs on the northern plains and a rich mix of birds and other species drawn to the region’s rivers, grasslands, and wetlands.
North Dakota’s Scoria Pit and its raw beauty tops the region this year while The Wall in South Dakota is No. 2. Since 2022, The Wall has been ranked in the top 2 of its region every single year of Best Places to Camp. It sits alone at the top as the overall most-recognized campground in the history of The Dyrt.
Check out these and the rest of this year’s Best Places to Camp Regional Award winners in the Central Region, which are based on reviews and ratings from The Dyrt’s vast community of campers.
1. Scoria Pit — North Dakota
Location: Medora, ND
What makes it great: This boondocking gem is tucked into the Little Missouri National Grassland, where a red-scoria gravel road climbs through open prairie to a string of dispersed sites. Campers consistently rave about the 360-degree panoramas over the badlands and grasslands, with hours-long sunsets and very early sunrises that make the elevated ridge-top spots feel almost cinematic. This is true leave-no-trace, pack-in-pack-out dispersed camping with no water, toilets or hookups, so most campers make quick runs to the Painted Canyon Visitor Center or Sully Creek State Park.
The gravel road handles most vehicles well in dry conditions but it turns to mud after rain, and the ridge can get seriously windy, so lower sites are the smart pick in storms. Theodore Roosevelt National Park — and the new Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library — is close by, putting hiking trails and wildlife viewing right at your doorstep. Campers regularly spot mule deer right from camp, hear coyotes at night, and enjoy some of the darkest skies around.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Great place for free dispersed camping right outside of TRNP and the new TR Library. Level site with great views in every direction. Road was a bit rough, but we have a Rav4 TRD and pull a small Hiker Trailer trailer, so no issues and I saw larger RVs make it up further. Highly recommend for a great time in a beautiful area.” — Jay H.
Campground details
Price: Free
Number of sites: Dispersed
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: No
Pets allowed: Yes
2. The Wall — South Dakota
Location: Wall, SD
What makes it great: The Wall is peak dispersed camping in the Buffalo Gap National Grassland perched right on the rim of the Badlands. Marked sites line the edge of the wall, delivering sweeping views straight down into the mineral formations and valley below. Practically speaking, this is primitive camping on a maintained dirt-and-gravel road system that accommodates everything from a hatchback with a tent to a 40-foot fifth wheel.
There are no restrooms, water or hookups and heavy gusts of wind whip across this treeless prairie. You literally camp within sight of the Badlands National Park entrance, making it an unbeatable base for exploring the park, and it’s an easy hop to the famous Wall Drug in town. Late spring and early fall are the sweet spots.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Awesome
Can’t describe the views, there’s no words that can come close. You just have to come see for yourself. Road is a bit bumpy but go slow and it’s no problem.” — Kenneth W.
Campground details
Price: Free
Number of sites: Dispersed
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: No
Pets allowed: Yes
3. Big Pine Campground — South Dakota
Location: Custer, SD
What makes it great: Tucked into the pines of the Black Hills National Forest and open May through October, Big Pine Campground is all about hospitality. The amenities are exactly what you want after a day of adventuring and sites sit on level gravel with full hookups available, shaded by tall pines.
There’s a small store, laundry, playground, horseshoes, firewood delivered right to your site and free device-charging lockers. Wi-Fi and cell service reach most areas. Location seals the deal for Black Hills exploring. Downtown Custer is just three miles away for groceries and supplies, and the campground makes an ideal home base for Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, Wind Cave, Jewel Cave and the Needles Highway. A gate in the fence line even opens onto the BHNF trail network for hiking right from camp.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “We had a great time at this campsite. There is so much around there to do. The hosts are very friendly and caring. We are new to RVing and in backing up into a site. He helped my husband. If you want to be on the go, then there is so much around, or if you just want to relax, then this is the place to be.” — Judy J.
Campground details
Price: $27
Number of sites: 24
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
4. Sagebrush Campground — Palo Duro Canyon State Park — Texas
Location: Canyon, TX
What makes it great: Palo Duro Canyon, “the Grand Canyon of Texas,” is home to Sagebrush Campground, where flat farmland suddenly drops away into dramatic, colorful rock walls. It’s the first campground you reach in the park, so it’s less of a haul than the loops farther back, and it’s a bucket-list-worthy setting that reviewers describe as breathtaking and comparable to a national park. Sites are spacious and open, suited to both tents and RVs (including larger rigs), and nearly all come with covered picnic tables — a genuinely valuable feature given the sparse shade and Texas heat. There are clean restrooms with showers, electric and water hookups, fire rings, and a nearby RV dump.
A trading post within walking distance sells supplies, firewood, burgers and ice cream, and there’s a visitor center and amphitheater; just stock up on groceries before arriving since the park is fairly remote. Do note that the descent into the canyon involves steep grades and hairpin turns that make the drive nerve-wracking for large Class A and C rigs. For activity, this place is a dream for hikers and mountain bikers, with a well-regarded trail system for all skill levels. Wildlife sightings are a treat, with campers reporting bald eagles, Texas horned toads, roadrunners, wild turkeys, mule deer, and the resident longhorns.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “The Grand Canyon of Texas. Nice camping sites. Excellent trail system. Breathtaking views.” — Shawn
Campground details
Price: $26
Number of sites: 30
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
5. Badlands Boondocking Area — South Dakota
Location: Wall, SD
What makes it great: Set on Bureau of Land Management land just outside Badlands National Park, this boondocking area offers designated numbered dispersed sites (a few tent-only) spread across a wide-open area, with rugged rock formations on one side and the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands rolling out on the other. This is amenity-free boondocking — no hookups, no water, no Wi-Fi — so come self-sufficient and ready to leave no trace.
Many sites aren’t level, but there’s plenty of room, with reviewers noting even a 33- or 40-foot rig fits comfortably in the spots near the southern loop. The wind is the often-mentioned “only downside,” so check the forecast and think twice about rooftop tents. Beyond the sunrises, sunsets and dark-sky stargazing, you’re minutes from Badlands National Park and close to the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Staying here is a really special experience. Being able to camp here for free feels like a real privilege. Waking up in the morning to the incredible views is absolutely worth it. Yes, it can get quite windy, but in our experience it was still very manageable.” — Kai Z.
Campground details
Price: Free
Number of sites: Dispersed
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: No
Pets allowed: Yes
6. Osage State Fishing Lake — Kansas
Location: Scranton, KS
What makes it great: Osage State Fishing Lake is a free, dispersed, waterfront camping in the open Kansas countryside. Nearly every site sits right on the water, so campers routinely wake to glorious sunrises over the lake. It’s an easy, relaxing spot that’s especially beloved as an overnight break for road-trippers crossing the state. Amenities are basic but functional for primitive camping: fire rings at various sites, well-kept pit toilets, and picnic tables, but no hookups or trash service, so it’s strictly pack-it-in, pack-it-out.
The roads are well-maintained and genuinely big-rig friendly, but the lake itself is the main draw, ideal for fishing (a Kansas license is required) or simply sitting back to relax. It’s only 15 minutes from Topeka and about an hour from Kansas City, a great free getaway for peaceful nights and water fun.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Road tripping from CO to the east coast. Stopped here for the night. Got in at about 1am. Many spots available and it appears to be all waterfront. Sunrise was absolutely amazing. Honestly wish we could stay longer!” — Morgan V.
Campground details
Price: Free
Number of sites: Dispersed
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
7. Big Bend Ranch State Park Interior Primitive Sites — Texas
Location: Redford, TX
What makes it great: The interior primitive sites of Big Bend Ranch State Park is the place Texas calls “the other side of nowhere.” Scattered across the vast Chihuahuan Desert with sites separated by literal miles, this is where you go for genuine solitude, big Texas sunsets, and star-filled skies unlike anywhere else. Make no mistake about the amenities: each site typically has a picnic table and a fire ring, but you bring everything else, including all your water and a way to pack out waste, and there’s essentially no cell service. Many sites require high-clearance and often 4×4 vehicles to reach over rough, rocky, washboard roads and reviewers joke that “West Texas pinstriping” (brush scratches) is a badge of honor. The Sauceda ranger station offers clean showers, water, ice and Wi-Fi.The payoff is spectacular.
This is a hiker’s and backpacker’s paradise with incredible desert scenery, the geologic wonder of El Solitario and access to Fresno Canyon, plus wildlife from coyotes and javelinas to big horn sheep. Time your visit for late fall through early spring as summer temperatures can soar past 110.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “If you are looking to get out into the backcountry of Big Bend and truly experience its vast remoteness & beauty, then this is one of the best places to do just that. The hiking is incredible & the wildlife is amazing.” — Matt T.
Campground details
Price: $15-$21
Number of sites: 44
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
8. Acorn Campground — Beavers Bend State Park — Oklahoma
Location: Broken Bow, OK
What makes it great: Acorn Campground is a lush, green riverside retreat where the Mountain Fork River curves through the forested hills of southeastern Oklahoma in Beavers Bend State Park. Many level, concrete RV pads set right along the riverbank so you can fall asleep to the sound of flowing water. The sites offer water and electric hookups with 30- and 50-amp service, arranged in an offset pattern so even side-by-side neighbors feel like they have their own space.
There are clean restrooms and showers, a small store, firewood, trash service and a dump station nearby, and reviewers recommend paying up for the premium riverside sites, which have access to newer, nicer bathrooms. The river is perfect for kayaking, canoeing, fishing and swimming, and the park’s extensive trail system covers hiking and mountain biking for all levels.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Really enjoyed the Acorn Campground – south end of park. There are many to choose from in this large state park, but I would return here. Site was level with the usual amenities all in working order and not too close to neighbors. The river ran directly behind the site and I was entertained by an otter family and ducks daily.” — Susan L.
Campground details
Price: $16
Number of sites: 25
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
9. East Campground — Smith Falls State Park — Nebraska
Location: Valentine, NE
What makes it great: East Campground is a gem in the Nebraska Sandhills, sitting right along the Niobrara River in Smith Falls State Park, home to the state’s tallest waterfall at around 70 feet. The two big draws — tubing the river and hiking to the falls — are both close enough that neither requires much of a drive, and nearby outfitters rent canoes for float trips that can end right back at your campsite.
What campers love most is the atmosphere: spacious, serene riverside sites, the sound of the river to lull you to sleep, and skies dark enough that stargazing is worth staying up for. Between the majestic waterfall, the clear, spring-fed Niobrara — one of the best recreational rivers around for tubing and canoeing — and the abundant wildlife, it’s a hidden treasure that families return to again and again.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “This waterfall is so incredible! Such a nice place to camp or just to go for the day and visit. Beautiful river, fun to swim and walk the trails. The path is wheelchair accessible too which is great and makes it easy for little kids too!” — Shirlee A.
Campground details
Price: $15
Number of sites: 26
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes
10. Davis Mountains State Park Campground — Texas
Location: Fort Davis, TX
What makes it great: Rounding out the Top 10 is a high-desert beauty tucked into the West Texas mountains — a classic CCC-built park from the 1930s that campers describe as possibly the most beautiful in that part of Texas. At roughly 5,000 feet of elevation, it runs noticeably cooler than the surrounding lowlands, and its remoteness delivers some of the darkest, most star-filled skies in the contiguous U.S.
The campground offers real variety, from full-hookup RV sites (some pull-through and big-rig friendly) to water-and-electric and rustic tent sites, plus the historic adobe Indian Lodge if you’d rather sleep indoors. Sites are large, mostly level with asphalt parking and cement pads, picnic tables and fire rings. Trails for all abilities lead right from the campground, the Skyline Drive scenic route rewards you with stunning summit views, and it’s a superb birding destination with dedicated blinds.
What The Dyrt’s community of campers has to say: “Davis Mountain State Park is a gem. They offer RV sites with full hookup, or just electric and water. Tent sites with water only. If you want to glamp, there is a lodge renting rooms. Hot showers, dumpsters, hiking trails and amphitheater. State Park is near the town and historic site of FT. Davis.” — Travis A.
Campground details
Price: $10-$25
Number of sites: 100
RV sites: Yes
Fires allowed: Yes
Pets allowed: Yes