How much does camping cost at Cedar Pass Campground ?

Camping fees at Cedar Pass Campground range from $37-$47/night. Prices may vary by site type (standard, hookup, premium) and season. Fees are typically paid at the campground entrance.

Is Cedar Pass Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Cedar Pass Campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Arrive early, especially on weekends and holidays, to secure a spot.

Can I see photos of campsites at Cedar Pass Campground before I book?

Yes! Cedar Pass Campground has 5 campsite photos on Outdoorithm, contributed by campers who've stayed there. Browse real photos of individual sites to see what to expect before you reserve. You can also add your own photos after your trip to help the next family plan theirs.

What is the best time to visit Cedar Pass Campground ?

Cedar Pass Campground is open March 27 to October 19. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Cedar Pass Campground ?

Cedar Pass Campground does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

How many campsites does Cedar Pass Campground have?

Cedar Pass Campground has 96 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Arrive early for the best site selection.

Are dogs allowed at Cedar Pass Campground ?

Pets are not allowed at Cedar Pass Campground . This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

Cedar Pass Campground

Q: Can I have a campfire at Cedar Pass Campground ?

Fire policies at Cedar Pass Campground : The campground entrance kiosk is open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Quiet hours are from 10:00 pm - 6:00 am. Generators are not permitted to run during these hours. Check-in begins at 1:00 p.m. Check-out is 11:00 a.m. RV sites allow for one RV (tow included) per site. In an effort to maintain the prairie grassland, campfires are not permitted within Badlands National Park. However, you may use small, portable propane grills at your campsite for cooking. Cedar Pass Campground is pet-friendly. Howev. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

3.66

54 reviews

Cedar Pass Campground

Top 1% in SDFall

Scenic ViewsStargazing

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

2,415 ft

Price

$37 - $47/night

Booking

Check Site

Sites

96 campsites

Season

Seasonal: open from ...

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

Book on Badlands National Park Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

2,415 ft

Price

$37 - $47/night

Booking

Check Site

Sites

96 campsites

Season

Seasonal: open from ...

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Check Policy

Book on Badlands National Park Official Website

Get Directions

Cedar Pass Campground

$37.00 - $47.00 / night

Campsite Fees

Electric: $47.00; Group Loop: $47.00; Group Site : $47.00; Non-Electric: $37.00. Plus Recreation.gov reservation transaction fee ($8 online / $9...

No paid fee categories listed.

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Recreation Dot Gov

Provider

605-433-5460

I manage this campground

Plan a trip to Cedar Pass Campground

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Campground Map

Cedar Pass Campground

43.7450, -101.9484

Nearby places

Mount Rushmore (about 1 hour 45 mins)

Custer State Park (about 1 hour 45 mins)

Cedar Pass Lodge and Ben Reifel Visitor Center (within easy walking distance)

Interior (via Hwy 377, ~2 miles/3 km to Cedar Pass Lodge).

Driving directionsFrom Sioux Falls: Travel west on I-90 to exit 131. Turn south onto Hwy 240 (Badlands Loop Road) and enter Badlands National Park at the Northeast entrance. Travel 8 miles (13 km) to Cedar Pass Lodge, make a slight left onto Hwy 377; Cedar Pass Campground will be on your left. From Rapid City: Travel east on I-90 to exit 110. Turn south onto Hwy 240 (Badlands Loop Road) and enter Badlands National Park at the Pinnacles entrance. Travel 30 miles (48 km) then turn right on Hwy 377; Cedar Pass Campground will be on your left. Alternate Rapid City route: I-90 to exit 131, then south on Hwy 240 to the Northeast entrance; travel 8 miles (13 km) to Cedar Pass Lodge and slight left onto Hwy 377; campground is on your left. Scenic Highway 44: Travel southeast on Hwy 44 to the town of Interior and continue northeast on Hwy 377 two miles (3 km) to Cedar Pass Lodge.

Weather at Cedar Pass Campground

Best Time to Camp at Cedar Pass Campground

Best season: fall. Fall offers the most comfortable weather and the most dramatic light for photographing the Badlands: daytime highs are typically in the 50s–70s°F (10–25°C) with crisp nights in the 30s–40s°F (0–8°C). Grasslands turn golden and the buttes take on rich, warm tones while crowds thin after Labor Day, making trails, overlooks, and sunrise photography far more peaceful. Hiking, scenic drives, and fossil-interpretation at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center are all at their peak in September and early–mid-- Peak months: September, October, May, April Avoid: November, December, January, February

Best

Fall(Sep-Nov)

5.0 / 5

Top 1% in SD

Fall described as best: 50s–70s°F days, golden light, fewer visitors, excellent hiking weather.

Planning Tips

Peak Season: March 27 to October 19. Book 2-3 months ahead.
Operating Season: Seasonal: open from late March through mid-October.

About Cedar Pass Campground

Cedar Pass Campground sits within Badlands National Park near Interior, South Dakota, operated by the National Park Service. This large campground places visitors directly among the park's iconic layered buttes and prairie grasslands, with trailheads and scenic overlooks steps away. Campers enjoy wildlife viewing, hiking, and photography from a base surrounded by dramatic eroded formations.

Seasonal campground with 96 sites open from late March through mid-October and located within walking distance of Cedar Pass Lodge & Restaurant and the Ben Reifel Visitor Center.

Weather and SeasonsBest season: fall. Fall offers the most comfortable weather and the most dramatic light for photographing the Badlands: daytime highs are typically in the 50s–70s°F (10–25°C) with crisp nights in the 30s–40s°F (0–8°C). Grasslands turn golden and the buttes take on rich, warm tones while crowds thin after Labor Day, making trails, overlooks, and sunrise photography far more peaceful. Hiking, scenic drives, and fossil-interpretation at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center are all at their peak in September and early–mid-- Peak months: September, October, May, April Avoid: November, December, January, February

Elevation2415 ft above sea level

Natural Features and SceneryThe campground sits in prairie grassland surrounded by layered buttes composed of sandstone, siltstone, mudstone, claystone, limestone, volcanic ash, and shale. These formations reveal one of the world's richest fossil beds, remnants of an ancient sea. Sites have little natural privacy or shade, but the open layout means unobstructed sunrise and sunset views. After dark, minimal light pollution makes the Milky Way visible overhead. Reviewers mention frequent wildlife sightings, especially at dawn and dusk.

Programs & ActivitiesRanger-led evening programs run Memorial Day through Labor Day, starting with a half-hour educational talk about the Badlands followed by guided night-sky viewing using lasers and often telescopes.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Check-out

11:00 AM

Amenities available

Cedar Pass Campground has 96 sites and is a seasonal campground open from late March through mid-October. The site is staffed (local staff phone: (605) 910-9246) and the Amphitheater parking lot is located at the entrance to the campground; a host kiosk at the campground entrance is noted as an information point.

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

Evening ranger-led programs are offered nightly at the Cedar Pass Amphitheater (program details and start times available at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, Cedar Pass Lodge, or the campground host kiosk). Programs include approximately a half-hour educational talk about the Badlands followed by guided night-sky viewing, often using lasers and telescopes.

Cultural and Educational Programs

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Fire PolicyThe campground entrance kiosk is open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Quiet hours are from 10:00 pm - 6:00 am. Generators are not permitted to run during these hours. Check-in begins at 1:00 p.m. Check-out is 11:00 a.m. RV sites allow for one RV (tow included) per site. In an effort to maintain the prairie grassland, campfires are not permitted within Badlands National Park. However, you may use small, portable propane grills at your campsite for cooking. Cedar Pass Campground is pet-friendly. Howev

Quiet HoursQuiet hours are 8:00 a.m to 6:30 p.m

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

From Booking Sources

3.7

54 reviews

Mixed Reviews

Cedar Pass Campground has mixed reviews, placing it in the bottom 85% of campgrounds based on reviews

Reviewers overwhelmingly rate Cedar Pass Campground very highly, emphasizing its stunning Badlands scenery and convenient location inside the national park near the visitor center and trails. The campground is described as basic but clean, with adequate facilities and an especially memorable night sky and ranger programs. Some detractors mention cramped or open sites, pay showers with mixed temperature and design issues, and occasional noise from generators or storms, but most still recommend staying here for 1–3 nights to experience the Badlands.

Review Summaries

Based on 54 reviews

What Campers Love

Campers consistently praise the incredible views and feeling of being “right in the middle of the Badlands,” with easy access to hiking trails, wildlife viewing, scenic drives, and the visitor...

Based on 54 reviews

Common Concerns

The most frequent complaint is about the showers: they are pay-per-use, some reviewers found them only lukewarm or even cold, and several noted a lack of hooks or dry space inside stalls and only...

Based on 54 reviews

Site-Specific Reviews

Site 30 is mentioned positively as being a short walk to both a bathroom-only building and a separate bathroom/shower building, as well as within easy walking distance to the amphitheater for the...

Based on 54 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Arrive early or be prepared to check in promptly if you want a desirable site, especially with electric hookups, since specific site numbers may not be assigned at reservation time. Bring plenty of...

Based on 54 reviews

Seasonal Insights

One reviewer who has visited in both summer and fall notes that summer can be extremely hot, while mid- to late-October brought much cooler hiking weather, fewer visitors, and freezing nights with...

Based on 54 reviews

Camper Quotes

“The site was gorgeous. You are right in the middle of the Badlands and just a short drive to the visitor's center.” “Nice campground just inside badlands national park. They have water, electricity,...

Based on 54 reviews

Pet-Friendly Features

One reviewer specifically notes that dogs are not allowed on any of the park trails, which is an important consideration for visitors traveling with pets.

Based on 54 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

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Campgrounds

Badlands National Park

Cedar Pass Campground

About Badlands National Park

Context for the broader area surrounding Cedar Pass Campground , sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.

The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world. These striking geologic deposits contain one of the world’s richest fossil beds. Ancient horses and rhinos once roamed here. The park’s 244,000 acres protect an expanse of mixed-grass prairie where bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets live today.

Directions

Badlands National Park is located 75 miles east of Rapid City, South Dakota. Physical Addresses for GPS* Park Headquarters: 25216 Ben Reifel Road, Interior, SD 57750. Northeast Entrance (I-90, Exit 131): 21020 SD Hwy 240, Interior, SD 57750. Pinnacles Entrance (I-90, Exit 110): 24240 Hwy 240, Wall, SD 57790. Interior Entrance: 20640 SD Hwy 377, Interior, SD 57750.