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South Dakota Camping

cervelorod

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 14, 2022
Member Number
5762
Messages
122
Loc
Near the sand dunes
Since I have no friends besides you virtual guys here, I thought I would see if anyone had any experience with dry camping in South Dakota. Wife has expressed interest in looking at a Sprinter camper van conversion, and I'd like to go visit Mt Rushmore and surrounding, I thought maybe I'd rent a Sprinter van there and we would fly into Rapid City, then dry camp for a few days in the rental van. It looks like there is a lot of RV parks in the area, but I'm not really into the neighborly vibe in most RV parks. Not looking for a swimming pool and jacuzzi, just a few nights to see if a sprinter is viable for her wants and see the local sights.

There seems to be no lack of rental vans in the area, and we had planned to go late Sept / early Oct anyways, so the tourist season seems to over according to the availability of stuff. Anyone have any recommendations of camping areas?

Is SD more like ID, in find a flat spot and camp there, or WA, don't even camp here unless its a designated camping site...

Thanks,
Rod
 
"The Wall" (aka the towers) outside Wall SD but not yet inside Grasslands NP is a very cool place to stay and pretty popular. Some new rules about where you can park are now being enforced but its go awesome views and occasionally get big horns in the area to watch.
 
We used to go out and rock climb devils tower. The only places that have pools or a hot tub is the KOA and you’re gonna have people close together. So close you will hear the neighbor, sneeze and coughing having sex and or fighting. And don’t forget everybody’s kids and dogs just running around.

Clandestine campsites, are harder to find when you don’t know the area and you’ll have to poop in the woods if your camper is dry and doesn’t have a crapper
 
non-OP said:
"The Wall" (aka the towers) outside Wall SD but not yet inside Grasslands NP is a very cool place to stay and pretty popular. Some new rules about where you can park are now being enforced but its go awesome views and occasionally get big horns in the area to watch.
Click to expand...
I was there yesterday, not crowded, it's far away from everything except the badlands.
 
Custer state park has 3 campgrounds , electric hookups only decent price and not on top of each other, close to most stuff .....farther out stuff badlands and devils tower are 1.5 hrs opposite directions.

near Custer State Park is Gold Valley camp newer place and has not been crowded all season, has full hookups.
goldvalleycamp.com

goldvalleycamp.com

Getting ready to button it up for the winter. Our cabins are still available for nightly, weekly or monthly stays. Contact us
goldvalleycamp.com goldvalleycamp.com

Sturgis is over traffic has thinned out a lot.

as said Black hills national forest has some camping look at the forest service website see if they have info, I have run into a few camps ou and about not sure exactly where I was at times.
 
Depending on what area you are looking to land in, there are multiple areas in the forest that you can camp. Last time I was there, I stayed outside Deadwood (Camp 5) for a couple nights. I just stayed in a flat dirt parking lot since my truck doesn't fit into a lot of places (too tall), but there were spots between me and the trails that would work for what you are looking for.
IMG_9062.jpg


Get On-x Off-road, shows public and private lands. Pick an area, look for public lands, zoom in and find a spot.
 
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Havent done the dispersed camping in SD. We usually stay at Rafter-Bar-J campground when we go to SD. It is an RV park, but pretty spread out with lots of open areas. Tend toward the spots that back into the trees. The pancake breakfasts are pretty fun and the pool isnt gross.

www.rafterj.com

South Dakota Camping & Resort in the Black Hills at RafterJ

Welcome to Rafter J Bar Ranch where you can enjoy South Dakota camping and the beauty of the black hills. Call 605-574-2527 to make a reservation!
www.rafterj.com www.rafterj.com


Dont bother visiting that area during sturgis. Not worth it.
 
You can camp nearly anywhere you find a spot. Run crossed rigs in the badlands all the time and same in the hills. Black Fox, Castle Peak, Rod and Gun are real nice official campgrounds. Also several spaces around Deerfield lake, they are are of the way and should be low numbers this time of year. There are so many palces you could spend a month dry camping here.

So yes do whatever your planning and it will work out fine. If you need more details feel free to pm.
 
cervelorod said:
Is SD more like ID, in find a flat spot and camp there, or WA, don't even camp here unless its a designated camping site...
Click to expand...
If you can't figure out how to dry camp dispersed in WA, you'll likely have the same trouble in SD, but I'm willing to bet it's the same.

Know which public land allows it (National Forrestis a good place to start), buy map, find a place that looks nice, drive down that road and see if it looks nice, camp there.
 
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