Forest Camping in South Dakota

Discover the best forest camping across South Dakota. Immerse yourself in the forest. Towering trees, dappled sunlight, and the sounds of nature.

20+ Campgrounds4.4★ AverageBest: Year-round

Find South Dakota Campgrounds Set Availability Alert

Featured Campgrounds

Handpicked destinations that define the region

4.6

(273)

Bismark Lake

Custer
Black Hills National Forest

Towering Ponderosa pines and shimmering aspen groves frame each spacious campsite, creating a cathedral of natural shade along the pristine lakeshore. Scenic trails wind through the forest where elk graze in meadow clearings and deer step quietly through the pines.

Spearfish
Black Hills National Forest

Towering ponderosa pines and shimmering aspens create a multi-layered canopy where sunlight filters through in golden shafts, while Little Spearfish Creek murmurs beneath ancient limestone cliffs.

Hill City
Black Hills National Forest

Towering Ponderosa pines create a secluded canyon amphitheater where mule deer, bighorn sheep, and elk wander freely through your private forest retreat.

Tents

RVs

About Forest Camping in South Dakota

Forest camping South Dakota offers an unexpected treasure in the Black Hills, where towering Ponderosa pines and fragrant spruce forests create a mountain oasis rising from the Great Plains. This island of forest wilderness spans over 1.

Best Time

The prime forest camping season in South Dakota's Black Hills runs from late May through September, with July and August offering the warmest weather and fullest forest canopy. Late May and early June provide excellent conditions with fewer crowds, wildflowers blooming in forest meadows, and streams running high from snowmelt, though some higher elevation campgrounds may still be closed.

Scenery Highlights

Towering tree canopies
Shaded, cool campsites
Diverse wildlife viewing
Peaceful woodland atmosphere

More Forest Camping in South Dakota

Discover 17 additional top-rated forest camping in South Dakota

Photo coming soon

4.6

(47)

Boxelder Forks Campground

Nemo
Black Hills National Forest

Towering ponderosa pines create a fragrant cathedral overhead, filtering sunlight onto shaded campsites where Boxelder Creek's gentle current lulls you into pure tranquility.

Hill City
Black Hills National Forest

Towering Ponderosa pines create a tranquil canopy at 5,000 feet, with spacious sites tucked beneath fragrant boughs that filter sunlight into dappled patterns. Ancient granite spires rise through dense forests of pine and spruce, where wildlife roams freely between hidden meadows and rocky outcrops.

Hill City
Black Hills National Forest

Towering ponderosa and lodgepole pines create a shaded mountain sanctuary at 6,000 feet, where well-spaced sites nestle beneath fragrant boughs and forest trails wind through the Black Hills.

Hill City
Black Hills National Forest

Tall ponderosa pines create a cathedral of shade across five lakeside loops, where deer wander through campsites and eagles circle overhead at dawn. Miles of forest trails wind from your tent into the Black Hills backcountry, revealing hidden meadows where elk graze beneath the towering canopy.

Custer
Black Hills National Forest

Towering Ponderosa pines create a fragrant canopy over spacious sites where elk and bighorn sheep wander through camp at dawn. Miles of forest trails wind through hidden canyons and granite spires, while the constant whisper of wind through pine needles provides nature's soundtrack.

Lead
Black Hills National Forest

Towering spruce trees create a shaded canopy along Spearfish Creek, while ponderosa pines blanket the surrounding canyon walls in deep green. Wildlife frequent the creek banks and forest edges, drawn to the same cool shelter and mountain seclusion that makes these 13 sites feel worlds...

Hill City
Black Hills National Forest

Towering Ponderosa pines form a natural cathedral overhead, filtering sunlight onto peaceful campsites nestled at 5,500 feet in the Black Hills. Ancient forests frame the shoreline while wildlife thrives among weathered granite formations and wildflower meadows just beyond camp.

Sundance
Black Hills National Forest

Towering Ponderosa pines form a fragrant canopy overhead, where elk bugles echo at dawn and filtered sunlight dapples the grassy forest floor beneath your tent.

Ditch Creek Campground

Hill City
Black Hills National Forest

Towering spruce pines create a natural cathedral above sites nestled in a secluded creek valley, where heavy shade and melodic water sounds offer true wilderness immersion. Multiple forest trails wind through the canopy while deer and smaller wildlife frequently visit campsites throughout the day.

Tents

RVs

Campground Locations

Showing top 20 campgrounds near Forest Camping in South Dakota

Map of campgrounds near Forest Camping in South Dakota

Explore Interactive Map →

Map Key

Bismark Lake

Timon Campground

Bear Gulch

Boxelder Forks Campground

Dutchman

Whitetail

Sheridan Lake

Comanche Park

Hanna Campground

Roubaix Lake

Reuter Campground

Ditch Creek Campground

Elk Mountain Campground

Willow Creek Horse Camp

Cottonwood Springs Campground

French Creek Camping Area

Cook Lake Rec Area

Sundance

Rod & Gun Campground

Sage Creek Campground

View all 20 campgrounds on interactive map

Plan Your Trips

Popular Activities

Hiking through Ponderosa pine and spruce forests on hundreds of miles of trailsMountain biking on forest service roads and designated trail systemsWildlife viewing including elk, deer, wild turkeys, and mountain goatsFishing in mountain streams and forest lakes for troutRock climbing on granite spires and limestone cliffsPhotography of forest landscapes, wildlife, and wildflowers

Tips & Recommendations

1Reserve popular Black Hills forest campgrounds well in advance through Recreation.gov, especially for summer weekends and holiday periods when sites book out months ahead.
2Bring layers and warm sleeping bags even in summer, as nighttime temperatures regularly drop into the 40s at higher elevations like Whitetail and Dutchman campgrounds.
3A National Forest Adventure Pass ($5 daily or $30 annual) is required at some trailheads but not at campgrounds where you've paid camping fees.
4Pack extra water containers as some campgrounds experience water system issues during dry periods, and always treat creek water before drinking.

20 campgrounds ranked

Based on real camper reviews

Curated for Forest Camping in South Dakota

Forest Camping in South Dakota FAQ

We've ranked 20+ forest campgrounds in South Dakota based on tree coverage, wildlife viewing, and hiking access. Top options offer shaded sites and peaceful woodland settings.

Forest campgrounds in South Dakota are home to diverse wildlife including deer, various bird species, and small mammals. Store food properly and follow Leave No Trace principles.

South Dakota offers excellent forest camping with diverse woodland ecosystems, well-maintained trails, and shaded campsites perfect for summer escapes. Many sites offer both developed and primitive options.

Availability Alerts

Popular South Dakota Campgrounds Book Fast

The best forest camping in South Dakota book up quickly. Set up free alerts to catch cancellations.

Checks every 2 min

SMS, email, push

150,000+ campsites

Outdoorithm

Just now

🎉 Site opened up!

Bismark Lake
Your preferred dates

Quick! This site typically books within hours.

Find Your Perfect South Dakota Campground

Create your free account to save favorites, set availability alerts, and get personalized recommendations.

Search 20+ forest camping in South Dakota
Set alerts for hard-to-book sites
Get personalized recommendations for your trip
Compare campground amenities
Check weather forecasts

Create Free Account Browse First

No credit card required. Every feature is free to use.

Forest Camping in South Dakota

Forest Camping in Other States

Featured Campgrounds

About Forest Camping in South Dakota

Best Time

Scenery Highlights

More Forest Camping in South Dakota

Campground Locations

Plan Your Trips

Popular Activities

Tips & Recommendations

Forest Camping in South Dakota FAQ

Popular South Dakota Campgrounds Book Fast

Find Your Perfect South Dakota Campground

More Forest Camping in South Dakota