Best Camping in and near Custer State Park

88% (27 reviews)

Granite peaks, rolling prairie, and herds of wildlife roam free at this massive South Dakota park.

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Custer State Park

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Public campgrounds in the park
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Stay at a public campground in Custer State Park

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(4)

Stockade North Campground

43 sites · RVs, Tents In Custer State Park

Grace Coolidge Campground

27 sites · RVs, Tents In Custer State Park

from

$21

/ night

Legion Lake Campground

26 sites · RVs, Tents In Custer State Park

Sylvan Lake Campground

39 sites · RVs, Tents In Custer State Park

Blue Bell Campground

58 sites · RVs, Tents In Custer State Park

from

$21

/ night

French Creek Horse Camp

29 sites In Custer State Park

from

$30

/ night

Game Lodge Campground

69 sites · RVs, Tents In Custer State Park

Stockade South Campground

36 sites · RVs, Tents In Custer State Park

from

$21

/ night

French Creek Natural Area

1 site · RV, Tent In Custer State Park

from

$7

/ night

Top-rated campgrounds near Custer State Park

98%

(180)

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.

96%

(64)

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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(51)

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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(304)

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!

94%

(213)

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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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!

94%

(8)

Black Hills Station

87 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Piedmont, SD

Located in Piedmont, South Dakota, our campground is surrounded by the Black Hills! Whether you’re in South Dakota for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, visiting Mount Rushmore, or looking to reconnect with nature, we’re the perfect place to stay! We are home to the 46 Bar & Casino, and offer tent camping, RV camping, and have cabins all throughout our campground. Our RV spaces feature amenities such as full hookups (30- and 50-AMP), plus water, electricity, and sewer. Some of our on-site amenities are game machines and Wi-Fi. Located right off Interstate 90, there are many outdoor activities and nearby attractions for the whole family to enjoy – bicycling, hiking, and fishing to name a few! Or you can enjoy Rapid City and other nearby towns where there are many delicious restaurants, art galleries, national parks, and museums. We look forward to seeing you all soon!

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(26)

Black Hills& Badlands Sunrise& Set

9 sites · RVs, Tents40 acres · Hermosa, SD

Greetings! We're thrilled to extend a warm welcome to our peaceful slice of secluded paradise, on the Dancing Phoenix Farm. **Before your arrival, we ask that you familiarize yourself with the rules outlined upon booking. Also, please ensure you arrive no later than 8PM to secure your reservation.** **PLEASE TAKE A SCREENSHOT OF THE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS, AS YOU WILL LOSE PHONE SERVICE ON YOUR WAY. PLEASE TRUST OUR DIRECTIONS, VS. ENTERING IT INTO YOUR GPS AND CROSSING YOUR FINGERS. YOU WILL GET LOST** **To facilitate a smooth check-in process, we ask that you send us a text message an hour before your arrival, as cell phone reception is unreliable in our remote location. If you have any doubts or questions on how to get here, reach out to us BEFORE you head toward the site, and well before 8 pm, as we will close the campsites at 8 pm.** Originally from the city, we now find ourselves fully immersed in life at The Farm, situated amidst gently rolling land in the Southwestern Grasslands of South Dakota. Your campsite is located about 15 minutes in from SD44, and approximately 45 minutes from Rapid City. You will be driving on a dirt/gravel road to get to us. You may want to put your vehicle in 4wd to get to your site, given the uneven terrain on the dirt road that takes you to your campground. The location is perfect for a quick overnighter, if you're visiting South Dakota's nearby nature sights and parks. Our family lives on the property, and we're happy to help answer any questions or concerns. This is a working farm, and you may see us on the pasture, upgrading and maintaining. We're glad to share with you and happy to have you "ghost us" as we work, if that's an interest of yours. Be sure to flag us down if you need anything. ABOUT OUR CAMPGROUND Pitch your tent, park your RV/camper, bus or other ride on our pasture and enjoy the stunning panoramic views of the rolling hills of Hermosa, the Black Hills, Badlands and unobstructed sunrise and sunset views. Children and leashed pets are welcome, at no additional cost. To give you a glimpse into the experience that awaits, take a moment to watch a video review of our MORLA site by Precious Kofi, a former guest who visited during the Spring of 2023, when we resided and hosted in Colorado. You can find the video here: {https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvyzVA3Tzjk&t=1157s}. Each site is equipped with a table for you to enjoy your meals outdoors, and a nearby water spigot is available for your convenience. Your campsite is located in the wild and rustic, sometimes windy, plains of South Dakota, and may not be for everyone. We can experience extreme weather in all seasons. When you stay with us, you will get the experience of camping in the middle of nowhere, South Dakota - wild, raw, sometimes windy and rugged. It's an amazing experience to be had - with stunning views and a feeling of freedom that's hard to find in more urbanized locations. While here, you may encounter BADGERS, coyotes, deer, pronghorn, wild turkeys, frogs/toads, turtles, voles, bull snakes, rattlers, owls, creepy-crawlers - and you may experience annoying mosquitos and flies during the hotter summer season. We have a friendly barn cat, HERO, that may visit you as well. Please don't feed the beasts or approach any wildlife! Would you like to sample our homemade booch (kombucha)? Just ask! As stewards of the land, we're delighted to share this natural sanctuary with you to enjoy. Stargazing on the site can't be beat, and you may even catch a UFO or alien... if you're aligned! We've had guests liken their experience here to visiting another planet. We attribute this to the unique ambiance of our home and location. Photo enthusiasts will enjoy some amazing and breathtaking photo-worthy scenery and views. Please come prepared with blankets and sleeping bags, as nighttime temperatures can drop below freezing. Be prepared for travel and camping in sometimes extreme winter cold. Be sure to check out the local forecast before traveling. Of course, we will be happy to refund any weather-related cancellations. If you'd like to start your day with a complimentary cup of pour-over coffee or herbal tea delivered to your site between 6-8 am, simply let us know your preference the night before. We offer a cold brown-bag style breakfast/snack for $5, as well. Your choice of a couple farm-fresh hard-boiled eggs with trail mix, yogurt with Meusli - or an English muffin/butter, with mixed nuts. If you have Food Forest/Permaculture, farming, gardening or Back to Eden experience and are interested in contributing to our farm - we welcome your discussions and ideas, with short or long term arrangements. We're in the process of building a small country store on the property. Reach out If you'd like to purchase handcrafted items for yourself, or as gifts. We design Print-on-Demand coffee mugs, we make shower steamers, homemade tinctures, balms, herbal oils and jewelry/gift items made from our kombucha scobies - along with organic items we make from items we collect around the farm. We also offer for purchase items such as 16 oz. propane, children's books written by Susi (featuring our adorable Bull Terrier, Makai), half dozen farm-fresh eggs (if the chicks are in the mood), MayaMoon Ceremonial Cacao, extra basic sleeping bag, Cbd/Cbda/Cbga health-immune support and a Duraflame firelog. Hipcamp messages, email, and texts are the best way to reach us, as cellular reception is limited. Help us maintain the pristine beauty of our surroundings by tidying your campsite and removing all trash before departure. "Leave no Trace" campers, please. ABOUT THE AREA Local amenities, including mini grocery stores and gas stations, can be found in the town of Hermosa, located about 35 minutes away. For a wider range of options and services, Rapid City is located about 45 minutes from your campsite. Check out the property photos for some 'things to do nearby' suggestions. **In summary, once again: **Before your arrival, we ask that you familiarize yourself with the rules outlined upon booking. Also, please ensure you arrive no later than 8PM to secure your reservation.** **PLEASE TAKE A SCREENSHOT OF THE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS, AS YOU WILL LOSE PHONE SERVICE ON YOUR WAY. PLEASE TRUST OUR DIRECTIONS, VS. ENTERING IT INTO YOUR GPS AND CROSSING YOUR FINGERS. YOU WILL GET LOST** **To facilitate a smooth check-in process, we ask that you send us a text message an hour before your arrival, as cell phone reception is unreliable in our remote location. If you have any doubts or questions on how to get here, reach out to us BEFORE you head toward the site, and well before 8 pm, as we will close the campsites at 8 pm.** We look forward to connecting!

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(5)

Refuge Hill

3 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · Hot Springs, SD

Our tucked away forest and meadow are the perfect place to find peace and relaxation away from the busy tourist spots in the Black Hills. We have a walking trail going throughout the property and we are very close to the Mickelson Trail (1.1 miles from driveway), Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Park, Custer State Park, natural hot springs, and much more. We are family and pet friendly.

99%

(82)

The Wilderness

1 site · RV, Tent80 acres · West Pennington, SD

Learn more about this land:Tired of the city? Want to get away from people? This 80 acre site is perfect for getting away from civilization and experiencing nature as it was meant to be. Hike in the beautiful Black Hills or make the short trip to Lake Pactola for boating or fishing. If relaxing isn't your speed, take a bike ride on the Michelson Trail or travel one of the many off road trails nearby.

Booked 12 times

No Name City Luxury Cabins & RV

129 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Sturgis, SD

Welcome to No Name City Luxury Cabins & RV!! A full-service resort nestled in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. We are located near Sturgis, Deadwood, beautiful ATV trails, gorgeous hiking trails, and hunting. We have RV a variety of RV sites, tent camping, cabins, full bar/grill, and beautiful amenities. Open year-round. Amenities Swimming Pool Hot tub Playground Cable TV in cabins WiFi Firepit Camp Store Full Bar and Grill Laundry Facilities Propane filling station Picnic Pavilion with 2 grills available for guest use.

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(8)

Naked Acres WY

4 sites · Lodging, RVs20 acres · Newcastle, WY

Naked Acres WY welcomes you with 20 private acres located in the heart of the Wyoming Black Hills! With a private pond fed by a natural cold water spring, cool off with a swim or paddle board, sit on the dock and watch the wildlife, or enjoy the prettiest sunset this side of Mount Rushmore! The property is bordered by 200 acres of Forest Service land that you get access to, perfect for our biking and hiking friends! We are located close enough to some beautiful tourist attractions, without being too close! 54 miles to Devils Tower for all of your climbing needs. 1 hour 20 minutes to Mount Rushmore. 1 hour to Hill City, SD 36 miles to Deadwood, SD 45 miles to Spearfish Canyon, SD Naked Acres WY also boasts some amazing wildlife year round including Wild Turkey's, Gosling Hawks, Deer, Elk, Mountain Lions, and tons of different butterfly, bird, and dragonfly species. A nature lovers dream! We can't wait to welcome you with our weekly community fire social around the fire pit!

The best camping near Custer State Park guide

Overview

About

Nestled in the Black Hills, Custer State Park is a top destination for wildlife viewing. Herds of bison, “begging” burros, elk, antelope, and bighorn sheep freely roam the 71,000 acres that make up the park. Spot them from the many trails around the park, or get up close on a buffalo safari jeep tour. Don’t miss the iconic Needles Highway, one of several scenic drives. Active visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, and water play at several lakes and streams. With nine campgrounds offering RV and tent camping, historic lodges, and camping cabins, it’s easy to spend a few days here and explore all the park has to offer.

Notable campgrounds

Best for viewing wildlife: Lots of wildlife can be found near Game Lodge Campground, which offers sites with RV hookups and a dump station, plus easy access to the State Game Lodge.
Best for exploring park and area highlights: Located near the Needles Highway, Sylvan Lake Campground is also closest to Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial.
Best for a taste of the Old West: Go horseback riding and enjoy a hayride and chuckwagon roast near Blue Bell Campground.

Tips for snagging a campsite

Plan ahead. Most campsites at the park can be reserved up to one year in advance. Book online or by phone as soon as you know your travel dates. Sites for summer weekends tend to fill up almost immediately.
If you can’t book anything ahead of time, try for a spot at the Center Lake Campground, which offers same-day reservations only, starting at 6am.
If your plans are flexible, try going in the off-season. Game Lodge Campground and French Creek Horse Campground are open year-round, though facilities will be limited in the wintertime.

When to go

Summer is the most popular season at Custer State Park, though the weather can be extreme, with afternoon thunderstorms that can bring lightning, high winds, heavy rain, and hail. A popular event is the annual Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival held in late September. In the summer and fall, enjoy a wide range of naturalist and interpretive programs. The park is open year round, but many campgrounds, lodges, visitor centers, and even the Needles Highway, are closed over the winter.

Know before you go

Several lodges inside the park offer restaurants, convenience stores, and gift shops. For additional supplies, the towns of Custer, Keystone, and Hill City are nearby.
The Blue Bell, Sylvan Lake, Game Lodge, and Grace Coolidge campgrounds offer wheelchair-accessible sites and restrooms.
Cell reception in the park can be very spotty, but wifi can be found in the lodges.
Do not drink from any of the lakes, rivers, or streams in the park.