There is something very special about the Great Plains of the United States. What looks like rolling hills as far as the eye can see, has many hidden gems in its grasses. South Dakota is a great place to see all of it. From the huge farms in the east to the monumental memorials carved in rock, South Dakota has a whole lot of everything and a whole lot of nothing. Not nothing in the sense of being boring, but the sheer size and space of it with a small population, gives a new understanding of what nothing means. Anyone who ever sat at the edge of the road, peering out at the badlands and not hearing a single sound except the whistling of the wind, knows the feeling. So instead of staying in truck stops or Walmart, here are some great camping spots that cost not a thing to enjoy all that freedom!
Hieb Memorial Park (Marion, SD)
One way to attract folks to your town is to have a park with free campsites and that's exactly what the town of Marion, SD does. Hieb Park has free campsites (between 6-10) that have electric hookup and water and can be stayed at for a consecutive 7 days. There is drinking water and fire rings. Hieb Park has a swimming pool, accessible for a small fee, with showers available nearby. Two things that make Marion attractive is its proximity to I-90, as well as being 45 minutes away from Sioux Falls. The city park is a peaceful and clean area, seeing that the population is less than 1,000 people, and has a fishing pond. One recent reviewer says, "The campsite is in a neighborhood park, but the river, small bridge, and sunset were gorgeous." The sites are back-in, but large and fairly level. Sioux Falls has some interesting sites, particularly Falls Park. Falls Park covers 123 acres and has beautiful waterfalls and a lookout tower.
“Hieb Memorial Park in Marion, South Dakota is a lesser known free boondocking site with RV parking available.”
Badlands Overlook - Buffalo Gap National Grasslands (Hot Springs, SD)
This is a scenic spot with great access to the Badlands. It is in a cow pasture. Recently, rangers closed it for a few days because people kept leaving the gate open and cows would get out on the highway. It is a boondocking spot with no amenities, however beautiful views. A recent online review read, "This campsite blew our socks off...There are plenty of spots on the bluff to pitch a tent or park an RV…Woke up to breathtaking sunrise and bison on the horizon! At night the stars are out of this world and you can even see the Milky Way!" People comment that there are cows and goats as neighbors and they leave campers alone for the most part. It is located about 10 minutes south of the town of Wall, South Dakota, where one will find the infamous Wall Drug.
Sage Creek Campground (Wall, SD)
There are a few dispersed campgrounds in Badlands National Park. Sage Creek Campground is one which is beautiful and surrounded by bison. Due to the popularity of the campground, staff is currently working on developing new management strategies to reduce impact of visitors and park resources. Camping is free of charge! Pit toilets and covered picnic tables are available, but no running water. Potable water is available near the Pinnacles Entrance Station. Sites at the Sage Creek Campground are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Don’t be surprised to see a bison wandering through this area in Badlands National Park. One reviewer states, "There’s no real danger as they’re use to campers and maintain a healthy distance…but they’re amazing to see. There’s also a couple of pit toilets which is a nice relief after true backcountry camping." The campground is good for tent camping, as well as smaller RVs. There are hiking trails nearby, but most people just enjoy the view of bison, prairie dogs playing, and the grass and sky.
Hanna Campground (Lead, SD)
Hanna Campground is 5300' up in the Black Hills south of Deadwood. It is a particularly scenic place, with forest and hill view, and a stream. The road is paved until the campground and it’s recommended for tent camping and small RVs. One reviewer wrote, “One of the best spots I camped at (and I spent 100’s of days camping). What a lovely clearing, forest view, hills and rocky outcrops. The kicker is the cold stream next to your camper or tent which happily gurgles all day, all night. It's deep enough to take a (quick and ice cold) dip after a hot day.”
Bear Mountain Hill Top (Custer, SD)
This campground is up there – 7000 feet high and 12 miles from a paved road. Its relative proximity to two of the more famous landmarks in South Dakota makes it appealing, as well as the downright beauty of the area. It is about 20 minute drive from the Crazy Horse Memorial, 40 minutes from Mount Rushmore and is bigger rig friendly - folks with 30’-40’ trailers stay there on occasion. The monuments are perfect places to visit to scratch the surface on the complex relationship between Natives and settlers. Mount Rushmore, in the Black Hills, serves as a beautiful memorial for the great presidents of the United States and is visited by about 3 million people a year. The Crazy Horse monument is still in progress. It has been in progress since 1948, about 7 years after Mount Rushmore was finished, and started when a famous sculptor, Korczak Ziolkowski, came at the invitation of Chief Henry Standing Bear. It does not accept any funding from the Federal or State government and is only funded by admissions and donations.
There are numerous other free campgrounds throughout the great state of South Dakota - these are just a few of the standout spots. So take it from us! Next time you are travelling down through the Great Plains and want to see it all for the cost of nothing, try one of the parks, or all together in a short trip, that we’ve compiled.