Camping › South Dakota › Stargazing
Dark-sky camping in South Dakota
69 camps in South Dakota under the darkest skies (class 1–2 on our 9-step scale, from NASA night-lights).
Best areas for stargazing
- Around Johnson Siding28 camps for stargazing within 25 miles
- Around Angostura10 camps for stargazing within 25 miles
- Around Wall7 camps for stargazing within 25 miles
- Around Bijou Hills4 camps for stargazing within 25 miles
- Around Caputa4 camps for stargazing within 25 miles
Questions
How many campgrounds in South Dakota are good for stargazing?
69 camps under the darkest skies (class 1–2 on our 9-step scale, from NASA night-lights); 10 of them are free.
When is the best time to go?
The best camping months are May–Sep, judged from 30 years of weather at a typical camp: comfortable days, mild nights, little rain. In July expect highs near 83°F and lows near 57°F.
What else can you do there?
Of these camps, 19% also offer hiking, 19% also offer off-road (ohv), 7% also offer horseback riding.
Every camp, with a 3D fly-over, weather, cell signal and the drive.
Open stargazing in South DakotaThis week's picks
A different handful each week.
- Iron Creek (Horse Camp)Federal campground · First come, first served · Cell signal
Located 13 miles outside Custer, South Dakota, Iron Creek (Horse Camp) offers a secluded setting for guests seeking recreation and relaxation in the Hell Canyon Ranger District within the…
View camp → - Dutchman CampgroundFederal campground · First come, first served · Cell signal
Dutchman Campground, located in a shady Ponderosa pine forested area on the northeast edge of Deerfield Reservoir at 5,000 feet. This camp is an ideal setting for guests seeking recreation…
View camp → - Black Fox CampgroundFederal campground · First come, first served · No cell signal
The Black Fox Campground has nine camp sites. Restroom facilities are available. The campground is in a remote location within a spruce forest on South Fork Rapid Creek. The Black Fox…
View camp → - Oreville CampgroundFederal campground · First come, first served · Cell signal
Located 4 miles south of Hill City, South Dakota, Oreville Campground is a delightful setting for guests seeking recreation and relaxation in Black Hills National Forest. The sites are…
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Free camps for stargazing
- French Creek Camping AreaDispersed / primitive · Free · Cell signal
This small developed campground is a quiet area with picnic tables, fire rings, and a vault toilet. This site is popular for…
View camp → - Reva Gap CampgroundFederal campground · Free · Cell signal
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View camp → - Railroad Buttes OHV AreaFederal campground · Free · Cell signal
Railroad Buttes area is one of a few large, open off-road riding areas on Forest Service lands, covering approximately 3 square miles. The open play area includes hill climbs, multiple…
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