River, stream, or creek camping in South Dakota with campfires
Black Hills, Badlands, and presidential icons await intrepid campers.
96% (552 reviews)
- South Dakota
96% (552 reviews)
Popular camping styles for South Dakota
Under $50
Available this weekend
12 top river, stream, or creek campgrounds in South Dakota with campfires
96%
(156)
Horse Creek Resort RV Sites
17 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents18 acres · Rapid City, SD
theHCresort.com
Centrally-located on 18 acres between two of the Hills’ largest and most beautiful lakes, and less than 15 miles from Rapid City and Mount Rushmore, Horse Creek Resort is the perfect creekside oasis for your next adventure.
The resort is located off Highway 385, the main thoroughfare through the Black Hills National Forest, yet is peacefully nestled in a quiet valley, completely surrounded by national forestland with a tranquil year-round creek meandering throughout the property. Rock outcroppings, hiking trails and offroad trails are within footsteps of every cabin. The serene space is an outdoor sanctuary centrally-located within 20 miles of Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, Needles Eye Tunnel / Highway, and Black Elk Peak. Your adventure will also take you near Hill City, Keystone, Custer, and Historic Deadwood. Drive a little further, and end up in Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Sturgis, or Devils Tower National Monument.
There are 8 open creek side RV sites (Sites 1 -8). You will receive site assignment the day proir to your stay.
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$40
/ night
96%
(106)
Horse Creek Resort
28 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents18 acres · Rapid City, SD
theHCresort.com
Centrally-located on 18 acres between two of the Hills’ largest and most beautiful lakes, and less than 15 miles from Rapid City and Mount Rushmore, Horse Creek Resort is the perfect creekside oasis for your next adventure.
The resort is located off Highway 385, the main thoroughfare through the Black Hills National Forest, yet is peacefully nestled in a quiet valley, completely surrounded by national forestland with a tranquil year-round creek meandering throughout the property. Rock outcroppings, hiking trails and offroad trails are within footsteps of every cabin. The serene space is an outdoor sanctuary centrally-located within 20 miles of Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, Needles Eye Tunnel / Highway, and Black Elk Peak. Your adventure will also take you near Hill City, Keystone, Custer, and Historic Deadwood. Drive a little further, and end up in Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Sturgis, or Devils Tower National Monument.
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$40
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100%
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Tranquil Park/Creek/Views/Nature
12 sites · Lodging, RVs30 acres · Rapid City, SD
Our new campground is opened year round and offers 110 NEW large full hook-up sites and 9 fully furnished cozy cabins. We also offer Long Term options to qualified applicants.
Conveniently located a few minutes from both Rapid City and I-90 you will feel like you are out in the country surrounded by all the beautiful views, nature, & wildlife.
Interstate 90, Black Hills Harley Davidson, RV Supply stores, a horse boarding facility, and quick and convenient access to all of the treasures the Black Hills have to offer is conveniently near.
So whether you are kicking your feet up for the weekend or base camping out of Black Hawk Creek RV Park & Cabins to explore the beautiful Black Hills, you will find our tranquil, quite, and beautiful setting relaxing, convenient, and enjoyable.
Additionally, If you are a full time RVer and in the market for professional RV Skirting we also host the #1 RV Skirting company in the nation, Custom Skirting. Unhitch and check out their No Snap, No Gap channel system and Therma-Slide slideout wraps over in the big barn near the entrance.
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$49
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93%
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Custer's Last Chance Rv Park
32 sites · RVs, Tents4 acres · Custer, SD
Custer's Last Chance RV Park & Campground is about us and our dream come true. We spent 3 years putting a plan together so we could make the move to South Dakota. Finding the right piece of land wasn't easy and came with a few setbacks. We were lucky to find land in Custer with the French Creek running through the property. The creek features a couple of wide pools. The rest of the creek is fairly narrow with slow moving water. The kids will have a great time exploring the lower acreage. We plan to add new features & amenities to the park every year. Without you this dream wouldn't be possible. We hope you enjoy your stay!
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$25
/ night
86%
(18)
Day's End Campground
279 sites · Lodging, RVs27 acres · Sturgis, SD
Days End Campground & RV Park is a Sturgis, South Dakota camping destination conveniently located just off Interstate I-90’s exit 30. Fulfill that "Bucket List" today by booking your inexpensive vacation getaway right here in Sturgis, South Dakota.
The Black Hills area attractions are close by such as Mount Rushmore Park, Crazy Horse Monument, Spearfish Canyon, Terry Peak, Deadwood, Devils Tower, and The Badlands. You can experience some of the Best Motorcycle riding in the country, or just relax next to a beautiful Mountain stream and take in all the wonderful scenery of the Blackhills.
Planning a family vacation? Bear Country, Custer State Park, Dinosaur Park, Storybook Island and Reptile Garden are all just a short drive away.
The Blackhills of South Dakota offer lots of local events and festivals like "Kool Deadwood Nites", The Days of 76, The Annual Sturgis Mustang Rally, the Sturgis Camaro Rally, the Off-Road Rally races, indoor Bull-Riding at the Knuckle and Sturgis downtown Moto-Cross. For those of you that enjoy an endurance sport come and partake in the Tatanka Mountain Bike Race or the Black Hills 100. Spend your evening visiting downtown Sturgis with Music on Main.
Every Year the City of Sturgis and Days End Campground gear up for the Legendary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August. Come and experience a Motorcycle Rally like none other. People from all over the world come here to ride Iron Mountain Road, Needles Highway, Spearfish Canyon, Boulder Canyon, Vanoker Canyon and so much more. Stop in at Aladdin, Stonehouse, and Bear Butte, or enjoy a short walk to Downtown Sturgis to see Main Street lined up with the most amazing motorcycles. Book now to experience the Ride of a Lifetime!
Days End Campground is ready to accommodate your needs with Big Rig RV sites, Cabins, Glamping, or Tent Camping! Book your Next Blackhills Visit Today.
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$50.82
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Camp Custer in Star Valley
1 site · RV, Tent3 acres · Custer, SD
Dry camping RV spot located in the southern Black Hills on 3 acres. Enjoy beautiful sunsets, visiting wildlife and occasional hot air ballons from the fire pit & picnic table just steps from your RV. Located 5 miles South of Custer. Enjoy your days visiting nearby Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, Mt. Rushmore, Wind Cave National Park, Jewell Cave. Walk, bike or run on the 109 mi Mickelson trail. We are also 2 hours from Badlands National Park. This area is rich in beauty and history so be sure to get out and explore!
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$20
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Black Elk Resort
1 site · RV5 acres · Rapid City, SD
Black Elk Resort is one of the finest cottages and RV resorts in South Dakota, nestled in a beautiful wooded setting and only a short drive to Mount Rushmore. We feature 9 cottages sleeping 2 to 5 people, 8 Full Hook-up Pull-Thru 50 ft. RV sites with 30/50 Amp, picnic tables, & park style charcoal grills available for the ultimate RV experience.
Whether taking advantage of our cottages, RV sites or the Palmer Creek Taproom, our long list of amenities are available for your use and enjoyment. We are proud of our family-oriented reputation and continually strive to make the Black Elk Resort as beautiful as the nature that surrounds it.
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$59
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(45)
Requine and Relax, LLC
10 sites · RVs, Tents1000 acres · Winfred, SD
Located in the vermillion hills of South Dakota. This property has plenty of wildlife and places to let your hair down and run. We were a former feedlot that is currently under renovations to becoming an equine center. Currently has horses, chickens, and baby calves. Come experience a bit of farm life without all the work!Learn more about this land:We are in the process starting an equine center so what you see may depend on our progress. Currently we have horses, chickens, and 2 bottle calves. :) The arena and round pen are up and ready for use if you are interested! We are willing to try to accommodate your needs. Please don't hesitate to ask.
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$20
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Serenity Fields
20 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents240 acres · Kimball, SD
Originally settled by immigrants homesteading westward, Dakota Prairie Lodge now conducts hunting and fishing adventures and dabbles in agriculture. Far from population centers, the peacefulness of this rural retreat is a delight.
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$50
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The Retreat at Pointer’s Ridge
1 site · Tent21 acres · Baltic, SD
The Retreat at Pointer’s Ridge is located on 21 acres along the Big Sioux River, a place of quiet and natural beauty intended to foster social interaction and creative pursuits between artists and community in SE South Dakota,
10 miles north of Sioux Falls.
Property updates at The Retreat happen constantly; we get better and better!
The 100′ x 40′ main hall is perfect for larger workshops, concerts, poetry readings, small theatrical productions, classes, and other social gatherings and rentals in April through November.
The A-Frame is a unique space for recitals, presentations, meetings, or a sleeping space for up to 6 people.
There is a Woodworking Shop; Artist Studio; screened-in outdoor patio;
playground; huge bonfire pit; and room to camp or explore.
The Retreat is a space to work in quiet solitude or to collaborate on creative projects with others.
The setting is inspiring; possibilities for your stay are endless.
Learn more about this land:
This site is a sandy spot along the Big Sioux River on a ridge well above the water line. View out over the river to a farm on the opposite bank. Spend your time with wild turkeys, geese, and an occasional deer. Site is on the far edge of an artist retreat, but still private. Spend time hiking the river bank or gravel country roads, fish in the river, take part in any Retreat activities if available, photography opportunities, enjoy an evening campfire under the stars.
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$30
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Woodland Ranch
25 sites · Tents2000 acres · Allen, SD
Warnings:
🛻1) All roads are difficult, you should have 4x4 if you want to visit us.
🌚2) We do not have signage, lighting, toilets or showers. You must be comfortable using the maps provided and it is highly suggested you show up before sunset.
🐺3) Unfortunately, there are neighbor dogs who can enter the property, and while they are not dangerous, they may initiate conflict with your dog if you have a dog.
Enjoy a retreat in one of the most remote regions of the United States. This one thousand-acre ranch is part of a 7th generation legacy. The ranch is surrounded on three sides by a complex network of creeks and canyons full of wildlife.
Learn more about this land:
Woodland Ranch is surrounded by creek stream canyons on 3 sides. This canyon system fills a pond at one of our primary campsites. Our family has managed this ranch since 1970. We are tribal members happy to share the natural beauty and discuss the history and current developments of our area. There are turkey, deer, elk, and bison for those interested in hunting. We have a resident hunting guide available to show you around. We also have an abundance of wild sage, plums, and other herbs.
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$20
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94%
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Steinke Ranch Buffalo
7 sites · RVs, Tents1000 acres · Colome, SD
Learn more about this land:
Welcome Steinke Ranch! We offer rolling hills covered with beautiful trees. We have 8 different sites available alongside 3 fishing lakes within 10 miles. Find a shooting range near by and a plenty of deer, turkey, buffalo, and pheasant, only 2 1/2 miles off of highway! Come here and enjoy ultimate peace and quiet!.........have a Camp Fire...Play Horseshoes....Cowboy putting green.....Skeet shooting....Buffalo meat ...Buffalo snacks....Wisconsin Cheese......100% Pure Maple Syrup from Vermont.....Buffalo toys......Decals.....
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$35
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River, stream, or creek camping in South Dakota with campfires guide
Overview
South Dakota's headline acts need little introduction. This sparsely populated state is home to the most visited national park in the Midwest—Badlands National Park—and one of the most iconic landmarks in the United States—Mount Rushmore. From the craggy peaks of the Black Hills to the vast backcountry of the Great Plains and the banks of the mighty Missouri River, outdoor adventures are easy to find in South Dakota. The main camping season runs from May through October, with midsummer temperatures peaking in the mid-80s, while winters are snowy, especially in the north.
Where to go
Badlands and the Black Hills
Swathes of forested mountains blanket the southwestern corner of South Dakota, where a road trip to Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial is likely top of your to-do list. Just west of the four presidents, the Black Hills National Forest has 450 miles of hiking, biking, OHV, and horseback riding trails, plus 30 campgrounds, some with full hookups. To the east, hike beneath layer-cake cliffs and towering canyons in Badlands National Park, then camp out beneath the stars—backcountry camping is permitted throughout the park.
Great Lakes
The Missouri River flows through the heart of South Dakota, where you'll find the four man-made "great lakes"—Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Lake Francis Case, and Lewis and Clark Lake. Campgrounds and RV parks pepper the shores, and all four lakes are popular spots for walleye and smallmouth bass fishing. Bring your own boat, paddle the lakes on a kayak, or rent a jet ski.
Glacial Lakes
The sweeping prairies and glacial lakes of northeastern South Dakota are little-explored, but you’re never far from a lakeside campground. With its chain of eight glacial lakes, Oakwood Lakes State Park affords plenty of opportunities for swimming, paddling, and ice fishing, depending on the time of year. Further south, Lake Poinsett has a sandy beach, two camping areas, and lakefront cabins.
Southeast South Dakota
The state's southeast corner is a patchwork of lakes, rivers, and vineyards, interspersed with country towns. Set up camp at Lake Vermillion and hit the water to swim, canoe, or paddleboard; enjoy hiking or rock climbing around the unique pink quartzite cliffs of Palisades State Park; or go wine tasting in South Dakota wine country. A photo stop at Sioux Falls is a must for visitors to the namesake city, but for camping, head to the nearby Big Sioux Recreation Area, a scenic stopover along the Jay Heath Canoe & Kayak Trail.
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