U.S. Forest Service · Black Hills National Forest · South Dakota

Boxelder Forks Campground

Boxelder Forks Campground is host to 13 campsites, tucked into the Ponderosa Pines along Boxelder Creek near the town of Nemo, South Dakota. The campground offers easy access to both motorized and non-motorized recreation. The Centennial Trail is just 1 mile east of the campground and serves as a beautful host for hiking, biking, horseback riding and motorized recreation. Dozens of miles of OHV trails are in close proximity to the campground. Meanwhile, fishing access is just steps away from the campground.

More like this: reservable in South Dakota · big rigs in South Dakota · pets allowed in South Dakota

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Box Elder CreekNorth Loop CampsitesBridge across creekBoxelder Creek
Photos courtesy of US Forest Service · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups13
Host/management1
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

13 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadeWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFires
1North LoopBack-inGravelPartialNo / –8 / 2Yes
2North LoopBack-inGravelPartialNo / –8 / 2Yes
3North LoopBack-inGravelPartialNo / –8 / 2Yes
4North LoopBack-inGravelPartialNo / –8 / 2Yes
5North LoopBack-inGravelPartialNo / –8 / 2Yes
6North LoopBack-inGravelPartialNo / –8 / 2Yes
7North LoopBack-in35GravelPartialNo / –8 / 2Yes
8North LoopBack-in35GravelPartialNo / –8 / 2Yes
10North LoopBack-in35GravelPartialNo / –8 / 2Yes
11North LoopBack-inGravelPartialNo / –8 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Campground map of Boxelder Forks Campground
Campground map published by U.S. Forest Service on Recreation.gov, credited to US Forest Service. Open the image for full size.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
Max vehicle length60 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
Fees$24.00 / Night for single campsite

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

ForestBlack Hills National Forest
FeesRegular Season: $24/night --- See Off-Season Information

Black Hills National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Boxelder Forks Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 0.39 inches of precipitationFebruary: 0.52 inches of precipitationMarch: 0.91 inches of precipitationApril: 2.42 inches of precipitationMay: 4.21 inches of precipitationJune: 3.56 inches of precipitationJuly: 3.48 inches of precipitationAugust: 2.14 inches of precipitationSeptember: 1.37 inches of precipitationOctober: 1.57 inches of precipitationNovember: 0.56 inches of precipitationDecember: 0.45 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 25.7°F averageFebruary: 26.5°F averageMarch: 34.4°F averageApril: 42.1°F averageMay: 51.4°F averageJune: 61.1°F averageJuly: 68.3°F averageAugust: 66.6°F averageSeptember: 58.3°F averageOctober: 45.4°F averageNovember: 34.4°F averageDecember: 26.6°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Johnson Siding, 9 miles from the campground at 4,184 feet, station USC00394343 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 22 inches a year.

Getting there

From Rapid City, take South Canyon Road for approximately 7.1 miles to Nemo Road. Then proceed on Nemo Road for 11 miles to the town of Nemo, South Dakata. Turn left onto Boxelder Forks Road / Forest Road 140 and stay on Forest Service Road 140 for approximately 1.7 miles. The campground will be on your right.

Coordinates44.1978° N, 103.5353° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

RV sales & serviceJack's Campers ↗7.5 mi
Outdoor gearThe Rooster ↗16.5 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗24.6 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Boxelder Forks Campground - Black Hills National Forest, SD

  • 0.6 mi
    Nemo 259
    0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 0.6 mi
    Nemo 8550
    0.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 1 more
  • 0.6 mi
    Nemo 261
    0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
  • 0.6 mi
    Nemo 262
    0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 0.7 mi
    Nemo 260
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more
  • 1.1 mi
    Nemo 251
    2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 2 more

Trailheads within three miles

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Black Hills National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

The campground is tucked into the Ponderosa Pines and White Spruce along Boxelder Creek. Boxelder Creek offers access to fishing for Rainbow Trout and Brook Trout. The surrounding forest hosts a variety of wildlife including: elk, deer, squirrels and a host of birds species.

Recreation

Dozens of miles of OHV trails originate in the area. The Centennial Trail also offers non-motorized recreation for those interested in hiking, biking or horseback riding.

Guidebooks for South Dakota and camping across the country

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Moon Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills
    Laural A. Bidwell, 2016
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Frommer's Exploring America by RV
    Harry Basch and Shirley Slater, 2012
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Boxelder Forks Campground?

Sites at Boxelder Forks Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Boxelder Forks Campground?

$24.00 / Night for single campsite

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Boxelder Forks Campground?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Boxelder Forks Campground have?

14 sites, including 13 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Boxelder Forks Campground?

The longest site here provides 60 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Boxelder Forks Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Boxelder Forks Campground. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Boxelder Forks Campground?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

What is there to do at Boxelder Forks Campground?

Dozens of miles of OHV trails originate in the area. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What if Boxelder Forks Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Dalton Lake Campground (3.8 mi), Roubaix Lake (6.6 mi), and Pactola Reservoir Campground (8.5 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby