SD · Great Plains
Black Hills & Badlands Loop
Mount Rushmore is the least interesting thing here. The Badlands moonscape, Custer State Park bison herds, Wind Cave, and Needles Highway are why you drive here. Some of the best road trip value in the US: $0 Badlands camping, $20/night in Custer, and free public land everywhere.
- Badlands backcountry camping is completely free, so camp directly in the formations
- Custer State Park bison herd is the best large wildlife viewing in the US without safari cost
- Needles Highway is top-5 scenic drives in the US and almost unknown outside South Dakota
- Rapid City Airport makes this accessible from anywhere with a short cheap flight
- Dark sky quality rivals anything in Utah for Milky Way photography
Free camping near Black Hills & Badlands Loop
Black Hills NF: Spearfish Canyon Area Dispersed
Black Hills National Forest (Northern Hills Ranger District)
Dispersed camping along forest roads around Spearfish Canyon, one of the most dramatic limestone canyons in the Midwest. Waterfalls, old-growth ponderosa pine, 1,000-ft canyon walls. Free and almost entirely uncrowded.
How to get there
From Spearfish SD, take US-14A into the canyon. Before the canyon narrows, look for FS road turnoffs (FS-222, FS-134). Dispersed camping allowed throughout marked NF sections.
Black Hills NF: Custer Area Forest Roads
Black Hills National Forest (Hell Canyon Ranger District)
Extensive network of dispersed camping on forest roads south of Custer. Ponderosa pine savannah, great wildflower meadows in summer. Best base for Wind Cave NP and Custer State Park day trips.
How to get there
From Custer SD, take US-16 west or SD-89 south. Multiple FS roads branch off: FS-301, FS-345, FS-600 series. All have dispersed camping zones.
Dispersed camping ground rules
- Usually a 14-night limit in one area, then you move on
- Camp at least 200 ft from water, trails and roads
- Pack out all trash. Leave no trace.
- Check local fire restrictions before building a campfire
- No potable water: bring or filter everything you drink
Rules vary by forest and BLM field office, so check with the local ranger district or field office before you go.
Find more free spots
Get an app like iOverlander to find places to camp on public land for free in the states. Other campers post what's there, how rough the road is and whether a ranger moved them on.
- iOverlander (opens in a new tab)Free. Campsites reported by other travelers, with recent notes on access, signal and rangers.
- Campendium (opens in a new tab)Free to browse. A map of free campsites across the US, much of it on public land, with reviews.
Spots change. Read the newest reports and any posted rules before you set up, and pack out everything you bring in.
When to go
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May: best month
- June: best month
- July: month to skip
- August: month to skip
- September: best month
- October: best month
- November
- December
WanderRank Scores
Daily Cost
$15 to $55
per day (food + transit)
Campsites: $20/night
or free on nearby public land
Entry fee: $35
Plus gas for the drive
Recommended Stay
4 to 7
days · easy difficulty
Drive time from your airport
Avoid if
- Sturgis week (first week of August): 500,000 motorcycles descend on the entire region
- July heat. Badlands temperatures regularly exceed 105°F with no shade