South Dakota is a sparsely populated and expansive state in the midwestern United States. This state ranks 16th in size among the 50 states. South Dakota joined the Union in 1889 and has around 77,123 square miles. This is an average of around ten people per square mile. South Dakota has more shoreline miles than bigger states like Florida, and it is the highest point in the US east of the Rocky Mountains. South Dakota is a state where rolling prairies give way to the spectacular Black Hills National Forest.
Keep in mind that this forest is home to two historical monuments carved right into towering granite peaks: Crazy Horse Memorial, a tribute to the storied Native American tribal leaders and Mt Rushmore, the iconic depiction of four revered US presidents. South Dakota’s southeastern corner is known as the Dissected Till Plains, filled with hills and streams. There is also the western two-thirds of the state where you will find the Great Plains. They have canyons and flat-topped hills that locals call “buttes.” When it comes to camping, South Dakota has plenty to offer. You won’t run out of campground options in this state. Here are some of the free campgrounds in South Dakota.
Amsden Lake SRA – Groton, South Dakota
Address: 140th Street Groton, South Dakota
This is a free dispersed campground in Groton, South Dakota. It is a small campground with limited space for parking. It is a good idea to arrive early to avoid any inconveniences. When it rains, the access roads to this campground can be very difficult to navigate. That is why you should use a four-wheel-drive vehicle in such situations. Despite its small size, this campground has several amenities: some of them include water, boat ramp, restrooms, picnic tables, trash cans, a playground and toilets. While camping here, you can engage in fun activities like fishing, boating, biking, tent camping, and swimming.
Badlands National Park – Porcupine, South Dakota
Phone Number: +1 605-455-2878
This campground is a few miles from Porcupine, South Dakota. It is found on the southwest edge of the Badlands National Park. The campground is relatively small in size, but has enough parking spaces. You can stay here for up to to 14 days. The weather conditions here can get very chilly. Therefore, you should carry warm clothing when visiting. This campground has about five campsites, with three of them connected to electricity. The campground has access to amenities like fire rings, water, toilets, restrooms, electricity, and bathrooms. Some of the fun activities you can participate in while camping here include hiking, tent camping, horseback riding, bird watching, and water-based recreational activities.
Badlands Overlook – Buffalo Gap National Grasslands – Wall, South Dakota
Address: Hwy 240 Wall, SD 57790
Phone Number: 308-432-0300
This campground overlooks the Badlands south of the wall on hwy 240. It is found within the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands. The campground had seven campsites that are scattered across the wide area. Each campsite can hold up to eight people. Besides, there is enough parking space for everyone. Accessing this campground is easy, with access road kept in a good condition. However, you should carry protective clothing because of the mosquitoes that are experienced in the evenings and at night. Mosquito coils and other repellent methods are recommended. This campground has several amenities, they include water, bathrooms, trash cans, electricity, and toilets. Some of the activities available here include biking, boating, hiking, and wildlife viewing.
Badlands Truckstop – Kadoka, South Dakota
Address: 24475 South Creek Road
Phone Number: 605-837-2126
This rest area campground is found just off I-90 at exit 152. It a large parking area that most trucks stop for a rest and rewinding. The parking area is well organized in the sense that trucks stay together and RVs stay in one area. There is also space on the outskirts where it is quieter. This is a safe area where you can spend a night before continuing with your travel. Some of the amenities available here include restrooms, water, bathrooms, a shop, and toilets. Only overnight camping is allowed here.
Bombing Range Rd – Scenic, South Dakota
Address: Bombing Range Road Scenic, South Dakota GPS: 43.712661
This is a free dispersed campground in Scenic, South Dakota. This campground is found within the Wall Range District. It is a large campground with enough space for parking. Besides, it has several campsites that are connected to electricity. Some of the essential amenities you will have access to include water, picnic tables, fire rings, restrooms, electricity, toilets, and bathrooms. The activities you can participate in while camping here include hiking, boating, horseback riding, biking, wildlife viewing, and surfing. This campground does not accept reservations.
Britton City Park – Britton, South Dakota
Address: North Main Ave Britton, SD 57430
Phone Number: 605-448-5721
This campground is found in Britton, South Dakota. Free camping is allowed for the first two nights, but after that, you will pay $15 per night. The campground has everything you will need for a successful camp. It has an excellent playground and pool that you can use anytime. There is a quiet park in the background that you can go to relax and unwind. As much as the neighborhood is generally very quiet, they is a church nearby that occasionally plays its bells. The road network around this campground is well developed and you won’t have any trouble accessing the campground. This campground has all the amenities you need, including water, restrooms, electricity, toilets, bathrooms, picnic tables, fire rings, BBQ grills, among others. There are also many fun activities you can engage in while camping here, they include swimming, fishing, boating, biking, hiking, horseback riding, football, among others.
Brooks Memorial Park. – Vital, South Dakota
Address: 2465 US-97, Goldendale, SD 98620, USA
This is a free dispersed campground in Vetal, South Dakota. It is a large campground with several campsites. Nine of the 16 campsites are connected to electricity. Despite the large size of the campground, there is limited space for parking. This is while you should get here early. The campground tends to get very busy on weekends, with locals coming in for various activities. It is recommended that you use a four-wheel drive vehicle in the rainy seasons because the access roads can get very muddy. This campground has access to amenities like water, toilets and electricity. While here, you can engage in activities like swimming, fishing, hiking, biking, and horseback riding.
Buffalo Gap National Grasslands – Oelrichs, South Dakota
Address: 708 Main St / PO Box 425 Wall, SD 5779 Oelrichs, South Dakota
Phone Number: (605) 279-2125
This campground is located in Oelrichs, South Dakota. It is an excellent campground with lots to offer. This is a large camping area with many campsites. The landscape is magnificent, with vast miles of rolling grass and meadows. This campground is managed by the National Forest Service and it is open for public use. It is strategically located and it gives you full 360° stunning views of the area. There is enough parking space, with RV parking allowed. However, this campground does not accept reservations. The campground has access to amenities like water, bathhouses, electricity and toilets. While camping here, you can engage in activities like wildlife viewing, bird watching, horseback riding, hiking, fishing, and hunting.
Buffalo South LUA – Eden, South Dakota
Address: County Highway 16 Eden, South Dakota GPS: 45.607385
This is a free dispersed campground in Eden, South Dakota. It does not accept any reservations. This campground is large enough and has plenty of parking spaces. However, the access roads to this site are muddy and get worse when it rains. This is why you should use a four-wheel drive vehicle when coming here. Nonetheless, the campground has access to essential amenities like water, toilets, bathrooms, and picnic tables. The strategic location of this campground gives you a spectacular view of the moon at night. The neighborhood is generally very quiet, with locals living a short distance away. The presence of a lake nearby means you can engage in water-based recreational activities like swimming, fishing, surfing, canoeing, boating, and kayaking.
Bullhead Lake Access – Lake City, South Dakota
Address: Lake City, South Dakota GPS: 45.709112
This is a free dispersed campground in Lake City, South Dakota. It does not accept reservations. Before becoming a campground, this site first served as a wildlife viewing area. It is generally a large campground with around 12 campsites. The campsites are densely distributed, with around eight of them connected to electricity. Accessing this campground can be challenging especially when it rains. This is why you should use a four-wheel drive vehicle. The campground has access to essential amenities like water, toilets, and electricity. Some of the activities you can participate in while camping here include wildlife viewing, bird watching, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and hunting.
Byre Lake – Kennebec, South Dakota
Address: 239th Street Kennebec, SD 57544
Phone Number: 605-869-2263
This campground is found in Kennebec, South Dakota. It is found on the lake beach, making it an exciting place to camp. This campground is very easy to access, with the access roads kept in very good conditions. The camping are can hold up to nine campsites. Electricity is also available, you just need to call. This campground is an excellent place to spend a night. There are several places you can camp around here, with plenty of parking spaces. The lake creates a very peaceful environment you can use to relax and unwind. Some of the fun activities you can engage in while camping here include birdwatching, kayaking and beaching. The presence of a lake makes it possible to engage in water-based recreational activities like swimming, fishing, surfing, canoeing, boating, among others.
Cabela’s – Rapid City, South Dakota
Address: 3231 E Mall Dr, Rapid City, SD 57701
Phone Number: +1 605-388-5600
This is a parking lot belonging to Cabela’s store in Rapid City. It is a large parking lot that has a dump station and potable water. Only overnight parking is allowed here. The parking lot is very safe with security guards on the watch out most of the time. There are also security cameras that monitor it 24/7. This makes it a good place to spend a night. Apart from the distant traffic noises, this is generally a quiet place. The parking lot has amenities like water, toilets, bathrooms, WiFi, and electricity.
Castle Peak Rd Campsites – Hill City, South Dakota
Address: Hill City, South Dakota GPS: 44.068062
Phone Number: +1 605-673-9200
This campsite is found in Hill City, South Dakota. It is open all year, but it can be closed in adverse weather conditions. This is generally a large campground with around 15 campsites. Most of these campsites are connected to electricity. The maximum RV length is 25 feet. You are allowed to camp here for a maximum of 14 days. It is recommended that you use a four-wheel drive vehicle when coming to this campground because the access roads can be difficult to navigate. Nonetheless, the campground has amenities like water, toilets, and electricity. Some of the activities you can engage in while camping here include hiking, boating, horseback riding, and biking.
Centennial Trailhead Samulies – Silver City, South Dakota
Address: US-16 Silver City, South Dakota
Phone Number: (605) 343-1567
This is a small campground in Silver City, South Dakota. The campground allows overnight parking. Due to its small size, there is hardly any space to pitch a tent. The main campground is densely populated, but there are much better spots in the near vicinity. Accessing this camping spot is easy, with the access roads kept in good condition. Some of the essential amenities you can access while camping here include water, trash cans, electricity, and toilets. The activities available here Include hiking, tent camping, horseback riding, biking, and skating.
Chamberlain Riverside Camp – Chamberlain, South Dakota
Address: Cedar Shore Campground Chamberlain, SD 57325-0308
This campground is located in Chamberlain, South Dakota. Given the unpredictable road condition, it is a good idea to use a four-wheel drive vehicle. The campground is large in size and has about 13 campsites, most of which are connected to electricity. Some of the amenities available here include picnic tables, fire rings, BBQ grills, water, bathrooms, electricity, toilets, and trash cans. While camping here, you can engage in various fun activities like hiking, biking, fishing, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing.
Coffee Cup Fuel Stop #4 – Plankinton, South Dakota
Address: South Dakota · 25471 US Highway 281
Phone Number: +1 605-942-7138
This is a truck shop found in Plankinton, South Dakota. It has plenty of overnight parking for RVs or campers of any size. Keep in mind that only overnight parking is allowed here. The parking space has a gravel lot, so you don’t have to go for the paved semi-truck spots. This area is generally quiet except for the distant traffic noise. Your security is almost guaranteed, with guards on the lookout most of the time. The parking lot has amenities like water, toilets, and electricity.
Coffee Cup Fuel Stop – Hot Springs, South Dakota
Address: 27638 US-385, Hot Springs, SD 57747, USA
Phone Number: +1 605-745-4215
This is a rest area belonging to Coffee Cup Fuel Stop. It is found in Hot Springs, South Dakota. Only overnight parking is allowed here. The environment is mostly quiet, except for the nearby traffic noises. This is a large parking area that can accommodate RVs. It has amenities like water, toilets, and restrooms.
Griffin Park – Pierre, South Dakota
Address: Missouri Avenue Pierre, SD 57501
Phone Number: (605) 773-7407
There is free camping space in Griffin Park in Pierre, South Dakota. It is a large camping area that can hold up to 11 campsites. This campground is located along the Missouri River. Accessing this campground is easy thanks to the well-maintained road network. Some of the amenities available here include water, toilets, electricity, and picnic tables. While camping here, you can engage in activities like swimming, fishing, surfing, canoeing, and hiking.
Valley Springs Information Center – Valley Springs, South Dakota
Phone Number: +1 605-942-7138
This is a rest area located in Valley Springs, South Dakota. It is a large area with plenty of parking. Keep in mind that only overnight parking is allowed here. The parking lot is quiet and peaceful, except for the traffic noises. While camping here, you will have access to amenities like water, toilets, bathrooms and electricity. Security around here is tight, with security guards watching the area most of the time.
Spring Creek – Crazy Horse, South Dakota
Address: Crazy Horse, South Dakota GPS: 43.86594
This is a free dispersed campground in Crazy Horse, South Dakota. It is found within the Black Hills National Forest. The campground is large and has a total of 13 campsites, most of which are connected to electricity. Spring Creek campground doesn’t accept reservations. It has access to essential amenities like water, toilets, restrooms and electricity. While camping here, you can participate in activities like swimming, fishing, surfing, hiking, and horseback riding.
Sutton Bay LUA – Agar, South Dakota
Address: Agar, South Dakota GPS: 43.86594
This is a nice campground down by the lake. It is located in Agar, South Dakota. Accessing this campground is easy thanks to the well maintained access roads. It has a large area with plenty of parking spaces. Keep in mind that this campground doesn’t accept reservations. It is a very peaceful place that you can unwind after a long week. The maximum number of days you can camp here is 14. This campground has access to essential amenities like water, toilets, bathrooms, and some campsites are connected to electricity. While camping here, you can engage in various water-based recreational activities like swimming, fishing, surfing, canoeing, boating, and kayaking.
Taylor Ranch RD – Rapid City, South Dakota
Address: 12791 Taylor Ranch Rd, Rapid City, SD 57702
This is a nice, grassy campground located in Rapid City, South Dakota. It has a nice paved road that makes it easy to access it. This campground is connected to essential amenities like water, toilets, bathrooms, and electricity. While camping here, you can participate in fun activities like hiking, biking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, among others.
