Ways to Camp in South Dakota

Stick with Simple: Tent Camping

The only thing that comes between you and the fresh air is a tent flap and a sleeping bag. Stake your claim at any of these trusty camping sites and breathe it in — you’re home for the night.

Along wooded shores west of Aberdeen, Mina Lake Recreation Area keeps you close to boating the waves, fishing for lunkers and, of course, cooling off with a swim at this spacious campground. At Palisades State Park, just outside of Garretson, Split Rock Creek flows through Sioux quartzite formations and cliffs that reach up to 50 feet above the water. With approximately 70 new campsites and four miles of new trails that include kayak launches, the park remains popular with campers, photographers, rock climbers and hikers.

Out west, for those seeking relaxation while surrounded by a forest of spruce and rugged mountains, Hanna Campground makes a strong case for a simple life of fishing and hiking. Beneath a canopy of oak and ponderosa pines, Grizzly Bear Creek Primitive Campground offers relaxing seclusion in Black Hills National Forest just two miles from Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

For more monumental views, Sage Creek Campground offers great views of the stark terrain of Badlands National Park with free first-come, first-served sites. On the banks of the Missouri River, the peaceful Randall Creek Recreation Area gives campers a chance to see birds and animals along the quiet shoreline.

Bring Your Mobile Campsite: RV Camping  

The open road and wide-open skies are all you need for a great vacation — well, that and a place to park. Whether it’s along the shores of the Missouri River or nestled in a forest of ponderosa pines, come to a complete and restful stop in our great outdoors.

Yankton's Lewis and Clark Recreation Area is the second most-visited state park in South Dakota, offering swimming beaches, boating and stand-up paddleboarding along with archery and multiuse trails. At Farm Island Recreation Area east of Pierre, explore 8 miles of hiking trails with easy access to Lake Sharpe, a Missouri River reservoir north of Big Bend Dam. It’s heaven for lovers of water and nature. Enjoy a day at the beach, a fishing adventure or spotting migrating birds.

The Forest Service campground at Pactola Lake in the central Black Hills is located in an open ponderosa pine forest adjacent to the reservoir with easy access to the nearby marina. You’ll also find great boat access and fishing at Sheps Canyon Recreation Area, the newest campground on Angostura Reservoir on the southern edge of the Black Hills.

In eastern South Dakota, wilderness adventuring comes with a side of comfortable camping, swimming in cool water and even an exhibit of the area’s archaeological finds at Oakwood Lakes State Park near Bruce. The Stokes-Thomas City Park & Campground near Watertown boasts three playground areas, a large picnic area, a biking and jogging trail, a beach area and partial RV hookups at this campground with a full-time park manager.

Opt for Shelter: Cabin Life

You love being at one with nature, but you value a sturdy roof over your head. We appreciate that commitment to comfort and extra space, as long as you step outside to experience the windswept prairie, glistening lakes and swaying aspens beyond your door.

In Black Hills National Forest, the Rafter J Bar Ranch near Hill City features a rustic setting of alpine meadows shaded by ponderosa pines. At nearby Custer State Park, the Blue Bell Lodge is a ranch hideaway with modern amenities and access to horses at Blue Bell Stables. For a more unique cabin experience, try the camping kegs at Fort WeLikIt in Custer.

Go for Glamping: Canvas Tents, Covered Wagons & Treehouses

South Dakota hosts many unique camping experiences. Glamping adds a little glamor to traditional camping by way of a private tent, covered wagon, treehouse or modular hideaway. Some provide s’mores services, farm-to-table cuisine, craft beer, wine bars and live music, along with swimming pools, hot tubs or hot springs.

On an original gold mining settlement tucked within ponderosa pines and common juniper, you’ll find upscale accommodations at Under Canvas, less than 4 miles from Mount Rushmore National Memorial. At the The Still House near Keystone, relax in your own private tent with an attached deck on 10 acres overlooking forested mountains. 

Buffalo Ridge Camp Resort in Custer celebrates the convenience and modern style of escaping into nature with luxury canvas tents and glamping tipis. In Spearfish, Beneath the Pines welcomes you to secluded bell-tent campsites where trail hikes lead to lazy days beside quiet creeks. How about spending the night in a covered wagon? South of Rapid City, The Wagons at Rushmore Shadows are custom-made luxury accommodations that can sleep four to six people per wagon.

Advance Your Outdoor Adventure: Dispersed & Backcountry Camping

Feeling adventurous? Head into South Dakota’s backcountry. Unless specified, “dispersed camping” means setting up 100 feet from water, road or trails. Plan wisely, be prepared for quick weather changes, print out that map (cell phone service may be sparse), pack out what you pack in and enjoy the peace that comes with backcountry camping in South Dakota.

Reservations & Fees

Camping reservations are available in most state parks and recreation areas within 90 days of arrival. For RV camping, an entry fee is $30 for any private vehicle, and the pass is good for one week. An annual pass is $50. Check campsite occupancies, maximum stays, generator use/electrical hookups and more camping regulations before booking.

Popular spots during peak holidays can fill early. However, many camping experiences accept last-minute reservations.

Birdwatching in the Black Hills & Badlands

The Black Hills, Badlands & Lakes Birding Trail covers the western third of South Dakota and includes 38 sites and more than 350 species of birds. While much of the region is open prairie grassland, varying landforms add beauty and habitat for many birds. Mountain bluebird, red-breasted nuthatch, common poorwill and spotted towhee are common in the northwestern part of the region. Rivers attract bald eagles, golden eagles and ferruginous hawks while wetlands offer a home to green-winged teal and northern pintail. There are three driving loops — the Buttes and Prairies Loop; Badlands, Lakes and Canyons Loop, and the Black Hills Loop. Each loop offers unique birding opportunities.

Bird Spotting in the Missouri River Region

The Mighty Mo' bisects South Dakota. It's also home to the Great Lakes Birding Trail. This area around central South Dakota's "great lakes" — named for three huge reservoirs created by dams on the Missouri River — is home to at least 322 bird species, 164 of which are breeding species. This trail follows the course of both the Missouri River and the Lewis and Clark Trail.

On the east side of the river, the birding trail runs through gently rolling, glacially scoured land and passes by small, glacially formed pothole lakes and isolated woodlands & wetlands. On the west side of the river, mixed-grass prairie predominates.

On both sides, at the river breaks, you'll find high bluffs, steep draws filled with cedars and deciduous trees and shrubs, cottonwood groves, and miles of cliff faces and shoreline, offering striking vistas and perfect habitats for a wide variety of bird species, from songbirds to raptors. This trail gives birders an extraordinary opportunity to find several desirable species.

Sites such as the Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge, Lower Brule Indian Reservation Birding Loop, Farm Island Recreation Area, Oahe Downstream Recreation Area, West Whitlock Recreation Area and Cheyenne River Indian Reservation Birding Loop are only some of the great birding places in this region.

Birds of the Glacial Lakes & Prairies

Get a bird's-eye view of northeastern South Dakota on the Glacial Lakes and Prairies Birding Trail. Hundreds of large and small pothole lakes were formed when glaciers receded 10,000 years ago. Today you’ll find one of North America’s most productive waterfowl breeding areas. The trail includes 38 sites, ranging from state parks teeming with warblers to waterfowl production areas full of shorebirds.

There are also deciduous and coniferous woodlands and numerous marshes and wetlands where you can see woodland songbirds, marsh birds, shorebirds and raptors. Situated on the overlapping central and Mississippi migratory flyways, the area also hosts millions of migrating birds each spring and fall.

Top sites along the trail include Oakwood Lakes State Park, Waubay National Wildlife Refuge, Sica Hollow State Park and Sand Lake National Refuge.

Birding in Southeast South Dakota

The Southeast South Dakota Birding Trail provides a detailed look into birding in this region. The trail's 33 sites include woodlands — a magnet for dozens of warbler species — and prairie pothole lakes and wetlands teeming with marsh birds, shore birds and wetland species.

Southeastern South Dakota’s landscape is famous for its largely undulating prairie cut by three large rivers and tributaries. Remnants of the most western-reaching fingers of the nation’s eastern deciduous forests extend to the Big Sioux River. Prairie stands of cottonwood, ash, box elder and elm dot the James and Missouri River corridors.

Glacier-formed pothole lakes are scattered throughout the region, and significant areas of grassland habitat attract prairie species. The Missouri River provides sandbars and miles-long reservoirs with quiet bays where many species of waterfowl, gulls and terns may be found. The region’s woodlands are a magnet for three dozen species of warblers. Prairie pothole lakes and wetlands teem with marsh birds, shorebirds and wetland species. Watch for raptors soaring over the entire region. (If raptors are your thing, cruise through Raptor Alley.)

Top sites along the trail include the Outdoor Campus, Lake Herman State Park, Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge and Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve.

Birding in South Dakota’s State Parks

Some of the best places to enjoy birding are South Dakota’s state parks and recreation areas. You’ll find a variety of habitats to explore, including oak-basswood forests, native prairies, wetlands, glacial lakes and the tail waters and reservoirs of the Missouri River.

Squarely in the middle of where eastern and western North American avifaunas (bird regions) meet, several eastern bird species reach the western limits of their breeding range in eastern South Dakota and are considered uncommon or very local summer residents. These include birds like the whippoorwill and vireo found in two of the state’s birding hotspots: Newton Hills and Hartford Beach State Parks. At Farm Island Recreation Area, located a few miles below the Missouri River dam at Pierre, the birder will find the rose-breasted grosbeak and its western counterpart, the black-headed grosbeak.

The greatest number of species gathers in parks and recreation areas during spring and fall migration. However, during spring migration male birds show off their colorful breeding plumage. Union Grove State Park is one of the best areas to observe the spring migration of wood warblers and other Neotropical migrants.

Birders should bring a good field guide showing both eastern and western species. If you see a rare or unusual bird, please report your observation to the park naturalist or manager. Note the dates and location of your observations in the park. Have fun!