Bismark Lake
Bismarck Lake Campground is set amidst a scattering of aspen groves and Ponderosa pine on the southeast edge of Bismarck Lake at 5,000 feet. This is a great place for visitors seeking recreation and relaxation in the Black Hills National Forest. Acess to this campground is through Custer State Park near the West Highway 16A entrance. Sites in the campground are widely spaced and open up to views of lakes, providing adequate privacy for visitors.
More like this: reservable in South Dakota · big rigs in South Dakota · pets allowed in South Dakota
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 20 |
| Tent-only | 1 |
| Host/management | 3 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 75 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
21 sites in 2 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 002 | BISM | Standard | Back-in | 57 | Gravel | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 003 | BISM | Standard | Gravel | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||||
| 004 | BISM | Standard | Back-in | 43 | Gravel | No / Yes | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 005 | BISM | Standard | Back-in | 63 | Gravel | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 006 | BISM | Standard | Gravel | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes | Yes | |||
| 007 | BISM | Standard | Gravel | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes | Yes | |||
| 008 | BISM | Standard | Back-in | 59 | Gravel | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 009 | BISM | Standard | Back-in | 46 | Gravel | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 010 | BISM | Standard | Back-in | 57 | Gravel | No / No | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 011 | BISM | Standard | Back-in | 53 | Gravel | 8 / 1 | Yes |
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 1:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 83 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 006, 007 are listed accessible |
Bismarck Lake Campground has sites able to accommodate tents, trailers, and RVs. Access to the lake is within walking distance and there is a beautiful boardwalk and with fishing piers along the waters edge. The campground has picnic tables, campfire rings, vault toilets, and drinking water; however, electrical hook-ups are not available.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Black Hills National Forest |
| Fees | Regular Season: $30/night --- See Off-Season Information |
Weather by month
Getting there
In Custer, SD, at the intersection of State Rt. 89/US Rt.16A (Mt.Rushmore Rd) and US Rt. 16/US Rt. 385 (5th St.), take US Rt.16A east for 4.8 miles (past Custer State Park entrance) to Bismarck Lake campground sign. Turn left at sign into campground.
| Coordinates | 43.7819° N, 103.5158° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
No refunds will be given for weather or related events.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | High Mountain Outfitters ↗ | 4.3 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 7.5 mi |
| RV sales & service | Jack's Campers ↗ | 33.7 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Bismark Campground
Worth a stop
Possible day trips include Custer State Park with its many buffalo and other wildlife, Crazy Horse Monument and Wind Cave National Park as well as Jewel Cave which is the second longest cave in the world at 159.29 miles. It features sparkling calcite crystals and other rare formations, as well as some of the largest concentrations of passageways in the world. Bismarck Lake Campground is within a couple of miles of the start of the beautiful Needles Highway scenic drive.
- 4.7 mi
- 5.7 mi
- 7.5 miLakota Lake Picnic Area ↗Day use
- 7.7 miBreezy Point Picnic Area ↗Day use
Trails nearby
- 0.4 miBismarck Lake Shoreline Trail ↗0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.3 miNorbeck #3 ↗5.1 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3.8 miCentennial on Hell ↗10.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 4.7 miGrizzly #7 ↗6.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
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
This campground sits inside Black Hills National Forest.
- inBlack Hills National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,537,116 acres
- 2.8 miBlack Elk Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 13,534 acres
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.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Badger HoleBuilding · Custer · 3.3 mi
- Galena Creek Schoolhouse (Additional Documentation)Building · Custer · 3.5 mi
- Peter Norbeck Summer HouseBuilding · Custer · 3.5 mi
Natural features
Located in western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming, Black Hills National Forest encompasses nearly 1.25 million acres of rugged rock formations, canyons and gulches, open grassland parks, tumbling streams, deep blue lakes, and unique caves. Derived from the Lakota language, the words "Paha Sapa," meaning "hills that are black," honor the dark, pine-covered hills rising several thousand feet above the surrounding prairie. Wildlife in the area abounds. Bighorn sheep navigate mountainous terrain, while elk, deer and pronghorn gather in forests and prairies. Bald eagles, hawks, osprey, peregrine falcon, and hundreds of other bird species can be found in the forest, especially along streams, lakes and rivers.
Recreation
The forest offers accessible recreation for all ages and abilities. Visitors can take advantage of opportunities for hiking, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and riding off-highway vehicles (OHVs) on moderate terrain. At the campground, a short foot trail traverses the forested shoreline, offering opportunities for birding in early morning or picnicking in the afternoon. For those seeking higher elevations, a day-long trek to the summit of nearby Black Elk Peak is worth the effort. Black Elk Peak is the highest natural point in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. Most of the summit is bare granite and offers expansive views of the surrounding area. An old stone tower (Harney Lookout Tower) at the top, once used as a fire lookout, is still open to hikers. Adjacent to the campground is Bismarck Lake, an ideal spot for fishing and boating. The lake supports populations of rainbow and brown trout, a variety of sunfish, smallmouth bass, northern pike, and catfish.
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Bismark Lake?
Sites at Bismark Lake 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 Bismark Lake?
Regular Season: $30/night --- See Off-Season Information
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Bismark Lake?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 1:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Bismark Lake open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Bismark Lake have?
24 sites, including 20 standard sites without power and 1 tent-only site.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Bismark Lake?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Bismark Lake have hookups?
Yes, water and sewer hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Bismark Lake?
Yes, pets are allowed at Bismark Lake. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Bismark Lake?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Bismark Lake?
Sites 006 and 007 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Bismark Lake?
The forest offers accessible recreation for all ages and abilities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Bismark Lake is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Iron Creek Horse Camp (3.3 mi), Horsethief Lake Campground (8 mi), and Oreville Campground (8.1 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby