Photo: NPS Photo

Elk Mountain Campground

64 sites · $12–$24 · Reservable + first come · RVs to 40 ft

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Reservable + first come$12–$24 / night

Reserve a site ↗Booking and payment are handled by Recreation.gov.

🧭 Directions Apple Maps

64Sites

64Reservable

64First come

$12–$24Per night

40 ftRVs

14 tent only50 rv only2 group

Reservations

All campsites can be reserved through www.recreation.gov. Payment is by credit or debit card only.

Fees

Campsite Fee RV or tent rate when water and flush toilets are available. 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 RV or tent rate when water is not available. Senior (Golden Age)/Access pass holders pay half price. Interagency Annual Park Passes are not applicable for these fees.	$12.00

Season & hours

The campground is open year-round with drinking water and flush toilets available late spring into early fall. Fees are half-price when water is not available. Sites can be reserved at www.recreation.gov.

Amenities

Toilets · Flush Toilets - seasonal, Vault Toilets - year round
Showers · none
Drinking water · seasonal
Trash / recycling · year round
Laundry · none
Camp store · none
Firewood for sale · none
Ice for sale · none
Food storage lockers · none
Dump station · none
Amphitheater · seasonal
Camp host · seasonal
Cell reception · none
Internet · none

RVs, trailers & access

RVs	Allowed, up to 40 ft
Trailers	Allowed, up to 40 ft
RV notes	RV and trailers are allowed in the campground, however, drivers should be mindful of site selection. While there are sites which will accommodate a large RV or trailer, not all sites can do so.
Roads	Paved Roads - All vehicles OK
Type	Limited Development Campground
Campfires	Fires are allowed in designated fire rings only and must not be left unattended. Extinguish all fires completely before leaving your campsite. Wood collection is not allowed.
Wheelchair	There are two wheelchair accessible campsites at sites 17 and 49. There are wheelchair accessible vault toilets in B loop and seasonal accessible flush toilets in D loop. Campground amphitheater is wheelchair accessible.
ADA	Campground amphitheater is wheelchair accessible with parking nearby.
Internet	Wireless internet is available at the information kiosk.
Also	Maximum combined length is 36 feet and maximum width with slides extended is 10 feet.

Getting there

26611 Hwy 385, Hot Springs, SD 57747

The Elk Mountain Campground is located about 11 miles north of Hot Springs, or 22 miles south of Custer, off U.S. Hwy 385, about 1/2 mile west of the highway. Follow the link below for detailed directions to the visitor center; the campground entrance is approximately 1/4 mile north of the visitor center.

Contact

605.745.4600 · WICA_interpretation@nps.gov

About Elk Mountain

This 64-site campground is open year round. Sites can be reserved at www.recreation.gov. Two sites are handicap-accessible. Flush toilets and drinking water are available late May through September. Fees are half-price when water is not available. Payment is by credit or debit card only. Two group campsites are also available through www.recreation.gov.

Photos

a brown wood and stone sign reading "elk mountain campground" — The Elk Mountain Campground is located just 1/2 mile from the visitor center. · NPS Photo

A campsite is set up with a tent, picnic bench and metal fire ring. — Each campsite comes with a picnic bench and a fire ring. · NPS Photo / Megan Porter

tent and camper in campground — The Elk Mountain Campground at Wind Cave National Park. · NPS Photo

The restroom facilities with sidewalk — There is a restroom facility located in each camp loop. · NPS/Megan Porter

The Elk Mountain Campground reservation board with information and a drop box for cash payments. — The Elk Mountain Campground is a first-come, first-served site. Campers can register the campsite of their choice the day of their stay, and drop their cash payment in the drop box. · NPS/Megan Porter

The Elk Mountain Campground Nature Trail sign stands in front of the trail. — The Elk Mountain Campground is a moderately strenuous, half mile hike through the campground. Leashed pets are welcome on this trail. · NPS/Megan Porter

A water spigot at the side of the road. — There is potable water access seasonally in the campground. · NPS/Megan Porter

Campsites

Site-by-site details (sizes, hookups, shade) for this campground are coming soon.

Conditions at camp

🌤️ Forecast

Wed, Nov 11

Tonight

36°F

Mostly Clear

Thu, Nov 12

Day

57°F

Sunny

Thu, Nov 12

Night

38°F

Mostly Clear

Fri, Nov 13

Day

56°F

Mostly Sunny

Fri, Nov 13

Night

38°F

Mostly Cloudy

Sat, Nov 14

Day

49°F

Partly Sunny

Sat, Nov 14

Night

37°F

Mostly Cloudy

Sun, Nov 15

Day

53°F

Sunny

Source: National Weather Service (weather.gov)

🔥 Wildfires nearby

No active fire perimeters nearby. ✅

Source: National Interagency Fire Center (WFIGS)

🗓️ Typical weather

Spring: Highs range from 50-70°F with highly variable weather. Spring is the park's wettest season. Summer: Hot and generally dry with daytime temperatures regularly exceeding 80°F (27°C). Strong thunderstorms are common and can produce large hail and lightning. Fall: Generally dry with warm days and cool nights. Highs 50-60°F. Lows below freezing are common. Winter: Highs are in the high 30s with lows around 10°F. Snowfall averages 30 inches annually, periodically closing park roads.

Rules

Overnight parking or camping is only allowed in designated campsites. Each campsite accommodates up to 8 people and one vehicle. Quiet hours are 10 pm through 6 am. Generators may run between 8 am and 8 pm. No unattended fires. There are trailer dump stations in Hot Springs and Custer. Do not dump waste water on the ground. There is a delicate cave system beneath the surface in this park; our actions can have a negative impact on it! Pets are welcome, but must be leashed at all times. Pets are only allowed on the Prairie Vista trail and the Elk Mountain Campground trail. Read more at https://www.nps.gov/wica/planyourvisit/pets.htm

Trails near camp

Campground information from the National Park Service. Confirm current status with the park before you go.