Forest camping in South Dakota with a private bathroom
Black Hills, Badlands, and presidential icons await intrepid campers.
97% (971 reviews)
- South Dakota
97% (971 reviews)
Popular camping styles for South Dakota
Dog-friendly getaways
Star Hosts in South Dakota
12 top forest campgrounds in South Dakota with a private bathroom
96%
(62)
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
/ night
98%
(191)
Tent camping near a pine forest
14 sites · RVs, Tents16 acres · Custer, SD
These tent sites are located in a campground, bordered by the Black Hills National Forest. While staying here you have access to free hot showers, flush toilets, a dish washing station, a charging stations for electronics, a game room and a laundry room.
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$27
/ night
97%
(75)
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
94%
(217)
Plenty Star Retreat
26 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Custer, SD
Bring your hiking shoes, bicycles or motor bikes, your RVs, tents and hammocks or stay in one of our camping log cabins.
From mid May through August we are hosting a limited number of summer camping guests at our private home and property
Plenty Star Retreat is a peaceful 10 acre place, surrounded by National Forest, just a few miles South of Custer, in the Southern Black Hills, of South Dakota.
From its location along Hwy 385, both, Custer State Park and Wind Cave National Park, as well as all the other Black Hills attractions, such as Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse Monument as well as numerous hiking trails and lakes are within short driving distance.
The retreat is also conveniently located directly at the Mickelson Trail at mile marker 34/35, about 10 miles South of Custer, SD.
Smaller towns like Custer, 10 miles North or Hot Springs, 24 miles South, offer a variety of interesting shops and some really good restaurants.
We keep our property smoke free.
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$45
/ night
100%
(314)
Bear Den Cabins & Camp
8 sites · Lodging, Tents2 acres · Hermosa, SD
Bear Den is a small camp with 3 Glamping Tents, 2 cabins and shower house. Outdoor spaces for relaxing. We are located approximately 5 miles from Custer State Park, 11 miles from Keystone the Gateway to Mt. Rushmore in the beautiful southern Black Hills.
Cabins have electricity, our tents do not have electricity. All sites including bring your own tent sites have access to the shower house and outdoor grilling areas.
Pick a spot to pitch your own tent, one tent per space. If you have 2 tents please book 2 sites. We have 3 spots cleared. Hang your hammock in trees around the property. This option includes all access to the shower house and outdoor grilling areas!
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$20
/ night
93%
(205)
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
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(10)
Rustic Rendezvous
1 site · RV, Tent5 acres · Hermosa, SD
Semi secluded on 5 acres camping has a large cement pad with a bathroom that has shower, toilet, and sink.
Nearby is Mt Rushmore, Custer State Park, Black Hills Playhouse, Rush Mountain Adventure Park, Keystone, Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, numerous off roading trails, and hiking trails, Iron Mountain Road, Needles Highway.
A short drive away is Deadwood, Sturgis and Spearfish Canyon. Devils Tower and Badlands are within driving distance
History in the Black Hills is unlimited, along with off roading adventures.
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$42
/ night
96%
(62)
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
/ night
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(33)
redblue RV SITE
2 sites · RVs, Tents11 acres · Custer, SD
2 for 1! Large RV site - room for two. Perfect for traveling families or other travel buddies. Gravel pad with sweeping mountain views.
Book for a private stay or bring a buddy.
Full hookups (2). Large communal fire pit. Outhouse.
The property is bordered by the Black Hills National Forest and the Michelson Trail. Just minutes away from Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park.
Bring your rv / camper / horse trailer / tent and experience western South Dakota.
Full water, sewer, & amp hookups - 20, 30, 50 amps.
Porta potty available- outhouse chic! No showers.
Steps away from the Black Hills National Forest. Minutes from Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and Custer State Park.
Located in Custer, South Dakota, United States.
9 miles to Wind Cave National Park
28 miles to Mount Rushmore National Memorial
23 miles to Custer State Park
23 miles to Jewel Cave National Monument
Local maps available.
Additional dump sites available in nearby Custer and Hot Springs.
No lodging. Bring your own!
The redblue CABIN and RIDGE units are nearby -Making this a great family reunion option! Contact us for more information.
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$55
/ night
89%
(51)
Easton’s Castle/O-TE-LA Camp
25 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · Aberdeen , SD
Camp where L FBaum found the inspiration for The Emerald City of OZ. Campsites with an acre each, magical firepits in the forest circling the castle. Numerous deer owls pheasants and songbirds. Wireless free on the porch, tents for rent, indoor bathroom w shower just $3/day. Monthly rate half price.Learn more about this land:Pitch camp in one of 25 sites in the 20 acre forest surrounding magical Easton’s castle, the inspiration for the Wizard of OZ. L Frank Baum loved this place and you will too. A small forest. One acre campsites. You will be alone in Nature. Room for RV to park w limited electrical and wireless around castle. There are no RV electrical or sewer hookups. /p>
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$16
/ night
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(1)
Working Homestead Farm & Dairy
1 site · RV, Tent27 acres · Hot Springs, SD
Serendipity Farmstead is a fully operational homestead farm/ranch, cultivating more variety than you could ever imagine. Our high tunnel extends the outdoor growing season from April to October, while the tropical greenhouse boasts oranges, bananas, guava, and much more. We employ organic and regenerative farming methods across all areas of the farm, where animals grow the plants and vice versa, creating a perfectly balanced operation.
A stay at Serendipity Farmstead offers an immersive experience into the workings of a homestead farm. You'll have the opportunity to learn about the symbiotic systems between yaks, cows, and chickens, how pigs enrich the soil, our milking process, and how we utilize beneficial insects to manage pests without chemicals. Animal enthusiasts will delight in interacting with our yaks, cows, llamas, and donkey.
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$45
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(30)
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
/ night
Available this weekend
Under $50
Nearby parks
Explore the area’s public lands.
Forest camping in South Dakota with a private bathroom 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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