Elk Mountain Campground
Elk Mountain Campground, straddles the edge of a ponderosa pine forest and open prairie, offering unique opportunities to view the diverse flora and fauna of the southern Black Hills. Reservations may be made 6 months in advance of your stay and same day reservations are available.
More like this: reservable in South Dakota · pets allowed in South Dakota · group sites in South Dakota
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| RV, no hookups | 30 |
| Standard, no hookups | 19 |
| Tent-only | 14 |
| Group tent areas | 1 |
| group shelter nonelectric | 1 |
| Host/management | 2 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 36 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
65 sites in 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Tent only | 25 | Gravel | No / – | 8 / 1 | Yes | |||
| 2 | A | Tent only | 25 | Gravel | No / – | 8 / 1 | Yes | |||
| 3 | A | Tent only | 25 | Gravel | No / – | 8 / 1 | Yes | |||
| 4 | A | Tent only | 25 | Gravel | No / – | 8 / 1 | Yes | |||
| 5 | A | Tent only | 25 | Gravel | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||||
| 6 | A | Tent only | 25 | Gravel | No / – | 8 / 1 | Yes | |||
| 7 | A | Tent only | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 8 / 1 | Yes | |||
| 8 | A | Tent only | 25 | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 8 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 9 | A | Tent only | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 8 / 1 | Yes | |||
| 10 | A | Tent only | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 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 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 36 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | RV or tent rate when water and flush toilets are available (May - September 30th). Senior (Golden Age)/Access pass holders pay half price. Interagency Annual Park Passes are not applicable for these fees. $24.00. Campsite Fee - Off-season. |
| Accessibility | Sites 17 (Accessible Site), 49 (Accessible Site) are listed accessible |
This 63-site campground is open all year with sites available on a reservation basis from May to September 30th. In the off-season, only sites 15 through 35 are available. Sites 17 and 49 are handicap-accessible. Flush toilets and drinking water are available from late spring through early fall. Ranger programs are offered most nights in the amphitheater during the summer. Two group campsites are able to be reserved 6 months out.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
The visitor center is 11 miles (18 km) north of Hot Springs off US Hwy. 385, about 1/2 mile (.8 km) west of the highway. Do not rely exclusively on your GPS or Google Maps to find the campground. Routes can be misleading or incorrect. The coordinates for the Visitor Center are N43.55677 W103.47799. From Rapid City, South Dakota. Follow SD Hwy.
| Nearest town | Hot Springs, South Dakota |
| Coordinates | 43.5655° N, 103.4882° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- These campsites are available in both forested and open environments. - Campsites may be reserved all year through Recreation.gov.
- This is a cashless campground.
- Only credit cards will be accepted through Recreation.gov or the Recreation.gov mobile app.
- Fees are half-price when water is not available.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 14.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | High Mountain Outfitters ↗ | 14.9 mi |
| RV sales & service | Jack's Campers ↗ | 48.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Elk Mountain Campground Site 10 Review Wind Cave National Park
Worth a stop
- 12.6 miBluebird Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Public land it sits in
Black Hills National Forest begins about 6.4 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 6.4 miBlack Hills National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,537,116 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
- Beaver Creek BridgeStructure · Hot Springs · 1.3 mi
- Pig Tail BridgeStructure · Hot Springs · 2.5 mi
- Cold Springs SchoolhouseBuilding · Custer · 4.1 mi
Natural features
Wind Cave National Park protects two very different worlds - one deep within the earth, the other a sunlit world of many resources. Bison, elk, and other wildlife roam the rolling prairie grasslands and forested hillsides of one of America's oldest national parks. Visit Wind Cave's Natural Entrance - You can still see the largest natural opening into Wind Cave without going on a tour. This small hole is one of the only known natural entrances into the cave. Lakota oral tradition speaks of how the first bison and humans emerged from this deeply spiritual place.
Recreation
- Hiking at Wind Cave
- View rolling prairie vistas, ponderosa forests, and see wildlife in its natural environment. Wind Cave National Park has over 30 miles of hiking trails on the surface and provides visitors the opportunity to view pristine Black Hills scenery. Find out which trail is the best for you.
- Pet Friendly Hikes
- If you are traveling with a furry friend, Wind Cave has two pet friendly trails. The Prairie Vista trail leaves from the Visitor Center and the Elk Mountain Trail leaves from the amphitheater at the Elk Mountain Campground. Both trails are approximatly 1 mile in length.
- Become a Wind Cave Junior Ranger
- Kids of all ages can become a Wind Cave Junior Ranger. Complete the activity book, learn about the park, and take the pledge to earn a Junior Ranger badge.
Guidebooks for Wind Cave National Park, 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.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Elk Mountain Campground?
Sites at Elk Mountain 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 Elk Mountain Campground?
RV or tent rate when water and flush toilets are available (May - September 30th). Senior (Golden Age)/Access pass holders pay half price. Interagency Annual Park Passes are not applicable for these fees.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Elk Mountain Campground?
Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Elk Mountain Campground have?
67 sites, including 30 RV sites without hookups, 19 standard sites without power, 14 tent-only sites, and 1 group tent area.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Elk Mountain Campground?
The longest site here provides 36 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 there showers or a dump station at Elk Mountain Campground?
Flush toilets and drinking water are available from late spring through early fall.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Elk Mountain Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Elk Mountain Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Elk Mountain Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Elk Mountain Campground?
Sites 17 (Accessible Site) and 49 (Accessible Site) 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 Elk Mountain Campground?
Hiking at Wind Cave The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Elk Mountain Campground?
Hot Springs, South Dakota.
Source: Getting there
What if Elk Mountain Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Cold Brook Campground (7.2 mi), Cottonwood Springs Campground (9.7 mi), and Bismark Lake (15 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby