Picnic Spring
Its sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations), and camping is free. Picnic Spring is a National Forest campground near Ludlow, South Dakota.
First-come, first-served
- National Forest
- Managed by
Picnic Spring sits inside Custer Gallatin National Forest. Its dispersed-camping rule, ranger offices, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.
Getting a site
- Managed by
- National Forest
- Reservations
- None, first-come
- Fee
- Free
Source: apps.fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-30
What's there
- ✓ Toilets
On site: Toilets.
Access and cell service
- Elevation
- 3,254 ft
45.8732, -103.4850 in Harding. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Common questions
Do you need a reservation at Picnic Spring?
No. Picnic Spring is first-come, first-served: there is no reservation system, so arrive early to claim an open site.
How much does it cost to camp at Picnic Spring?
Camping at Picnic Spring is free.
Who manages Picnic Spring?
Picnic Spring is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
More campgrounds: camping near Ludlow and campgrounds in Harding.
Sources
- apps.fs.usda.gov (all fields), accessed 2026-09-30
- epqs.nationalmap.gov (elevationFt), accessed 2026-10-01