Camping in South Dakota
South Dakota has 40 public campgrounds on record, 21 reservable and 18 first-come. Most (33 of 40) are run by the U.S. Forest Service. Each row below says who runs it, how to get a site, and what it costs.
- 40
- Total
- 21
- Reservable
- 18
- First-come
Bear Gulch - Sites
- 1
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Overnight Use:
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $19 per night
Bismark Lake - Sites
- 21
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $30 per night
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Peak Season Single Site: $19 per night.
Boxelder Forks - Sites
- 13
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $21.50 per night
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Peak Season Single Site: $19 per night.
- Sites
- 83
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
Cold Brook Campground - Sites
- 12
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
Comanche Park - Sites
- 20
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $26 per night
Cottonwood - Sites
- 76
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
Cottonwood Springs Campground - Sites
- 17
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Peak Season Single Site: $19 per night.
Dalton Lake - Sites
- 10
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $21.50 per night
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Peak Season Single Site: $22 per night
Dutchman - Sites
- 34
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Peak Season Single Site: $24 per night
Elk Mountain Campground - Sites
- 65
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Free
Grizzly Bear - Sites
- 18
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $26 per night
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $21.50 per night
Horsethief Lake - Sites
- 22
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $30 per night
Iron Creek Horse Camp - Sites
- 9
- Season
- 05-15 to 09-30
- Fee
- Site: $30 per night
Left Tailrace - Sites
- 91
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
Oreville - Sites
- 16
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $26 per night
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $36 per night
Pactola Reservoir Campground - Sites
- 53
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Free
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Overnight Use:
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Free
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $24 per night
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $28 per night
Roubaix Lake - Sites
- 30
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
Sage Creek Campground - Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Overnight Use:
Sheridan Lake - Sites
- 89
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Peak Season Single Site: $36 per night
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $18.00 per night
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $24 per night
Whitetail - Sites
- 12
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Single Site: $24 per night
Willow Creek Horse Camp - Sites
- 9
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
No campgrounds match these filters.
How booking works in South Dakota
There is no single system: each campground books through its managing agency. 21 campgrounds book through Recreation.gov. 18 campgrounds take no reservations at all, first-come, first-served.
For a park's own hours, entrance fee, and boundary, see South Dakota state parks on publiclandsdb.com.
Narrower lists
By agency
18 first-come campgrounds need no reservation; 0 stay open year-round ; and 12 sit on a named lake . By agency: 4 Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds , 33 National Forest campgrounds , and 3 National Park Service campgrounds .
Common questions
How do I reserve a campground in South Dakota?
It depends on who runs it. Of the 40 public campgrounds on record here, 21 book through Recreation.gov and 18 are first-come, first-served with no reservations.
Where can I camp for free in South Dakota?
3 public campgrounds in South Dakota charge no fee: French Creek, Picnic Spring, and Reva Gap. Free camping away from campgrounds (dispersed camping) is a land-management rule, not a campground; see the managing agency.
Is boondocking legal in South Dakota?
On BLM land, dispersed camping (boondocking) is generally allowed under the agency's rules. BLM limits dispersed camping to 14 days within any 28-day period (stay limits vary by field office), asks campers to stay at least 200 feet from lakes and streams, and says most areas need no permit or reservation (blm.gov, read 2026-09-26).
What are the best campgrounds in South Dakota?
This site doesn't rate campgrounds. The most fully documented here are Cedar Pass Campground (16 sourced facts), Elk Mountain Campground (16 sourced facts), and Iron Creek Horse Camp (16 sourced facts); the table lets you sort every campground by agency, booking, season, and fee.