Pactola
Its sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations), and camping costs Single Site: $36 per night. Pactola is a National Forest campground near Rapid City, South Dakota.
First-come, first-served
- National Forest
- Managed by
Pactola sits inside Black Hills 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
- Single Site: $36 per night
Source: apps.fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-30
What's there
- ✓ Toilets
- ✓ Potable water
On site: Toilets and potable water.
Access and cell service
- Elevation
- 4,700 ft
44.0674, -103.5055 in Pennington. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Common questions
Do you need a reservation at Pactola?
No. Pactola 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 Pactola?
Camping at Pactola costs Single Site: $36 per night.
Is there drinking water at Pactola?
Yes, Pactola has potable water. It also has toilets.
Who manages Pactola?
Pactola is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Around Pactola
Waterfalls nearby
Nearest to Pactola, in straight-line miles: Spearfish Falls (waterfall, 29 miles), and Roughlock Falls (waterfall, 29 miles). Each has its own page on swimholesmap.com.
Bear Gulch - Sites
- 1
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Overnight Use:
Pactola Reservoir Campground - Sites
- 53
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Not on record
- Sites
- Not on record
- Season
- Not on record
- Fee
- Overnight Use:
More campgrounds: camping near Rapid City and campgrounds in Pennington.
Sources
- apps.fs.usda.gov (all fields), accessed 2026-09-30