Sage Creek Campground (NPS) | Established Campground

September 16th, 2023 by frightenedshoehorn01

The road to get here is quite bad, we have an old RV (Toyota Winnebago from 1989) and it was though. But worth it!
The place is clean, quiet, beautiful and so much wildlife around you.
The toilet was clean even with the amount of campers that night.
We heard coyotes during the night, and during the day there were loads of prairie dogs in the middle of the ring. We also lost count of how many bisons we saw around the camp.
Loved the place.

August 24th, 2023 by hello

Un des plus beaux endroits où nous sommes restés ! Magnifique emplacement. Toilettes. Face aux bisons et chiens de prairies. Superbe coucher de soleil. Idéal et gratuit !

July 22nd, 2023 by ceceso22

Primitive campsite with several picnic tables, some with shade. Pretty busy when we stayed here for 1 night. Lots of vocal prairie dogs.

May 1st, 2023 by kate.schnake417

wow this place was definitely worth the 14 mile dirt road it took to get here - especially since it’s free!! the road is a little washboard in places but got through fine without 4x4. not too crowded with a few other campers and some tents. bison, praire dogs, and bunnies were all over the campgrounds! could also hear coyotes howling in the night. no cell service with verizon but very peaceful and quiet and the stars were amazing.

April 28th, 2023 by kimkayeontheroad

Very cool, rustic campground. Amazing having bison so close to camp! Cute prairie dogs & rabbits. Had some gusty wind passing thru, but gone in morning. Campground almost full.

August 26th, 2022 by cori.ontheroad

Great spot for a night. Definitely busy, but after escaping a storm at some higher elevation, this was a good backup. Buffalo grazing and prairie dogs chirping in the morning. Cool spot to get some different terrain! I got it around 8pm and there were a few spots left, didn't bother registering at the little paper station because I was in and out so quick.

July 29th, 2022 by joanofalltrades22

Great free campground, with picnic tables and vault toilets inside Badlands Park.. There are specific sites along a circular area with prairie dogs, but people also parked in the fields surrounding. Beautiful sunset, dark sky, and sunrise. We got there 8pm and even the later arrivals found spots. Full but quiet and respectful. Buffaloes grazing nearby.

June 24th, 2022 by smerdonv

Arrived at 4PM with plenty of spots and did not fill up over the evening. Clean pit toilet. Nice view of the sunrise with bison and prairie dogs around.

May 27th, 2022 by tomk

beautiful space. free, 1st come, sights. dispersed with pit toilets and shade structures for some picnic tables.
2 bars Verizon service. horse area for campers with their animals. very quiet.

November 18th, 2021 by @alyvanblake

Quiet spot that we had to ourselves in mid November. Room for maybe 30 but more than 12 or so would feel cramped. It was quite cold and very windy. The BEST vault toilet I have ever used! Only 4 stars because inside the loop, and outside in the surrounding area is inundated with prairie dog mounds, which is fine, but we had dogs that are supposed to be on leash as we are still in the national park here (I think) which made for interesting potty times.

October 11th, 2021 by roamingabout.com

Yea, a beautiful place to see wildlife. The first day/evening we saw tons of prairie dogs (PLEASE don't feed them), two bison, and 2 coyotes. The views are fair, and the campground is basically a circle everyone camps around, but the wildlife is great. Better views at the camping near Pinnacles entrance.

September 24th, 2021 by Gracefulvanlife

Road is extremely passable, great camp - lots of wildlife! 5 stars - it gets a little crowded but also easy to find a spot even in heavy use times. No water, pit toilets and picnic tables only. Weak signal for cell

August 28th, 2021 by velma_the_van

Prairie dog haven! Found a spot on a Saturday night arriving after dark.

August 18th, 2021 by peaksandvalleys88

2nd time visiting here. Just as wonderful as I remember. Gravel pass is pretty washed out in spots but drivable with 2wd easily. Multiple herds of bison walkin across road on the way in. Really rad

August 5th, 2021 by babsfgd

Places for tent camping and small trailers. No electrical or water, but clean pit toilets. Careful driving as there is an active prairie dog colony, and lots of bison around!

There’s a backcountry log and some other info board. Got there around 7pm and there was a ton of people. More people kept arriving the rest of the evening, so it got filled up fast.

June 3rd, 2021 by asands107

Beautiful and FREE campground. This is a wonderful spot to camp for a few nights inside Badlands national park. There are out toilets and trash cans but no water. There are 22 “sites” but everyone just parks along the outside and sets up their tent/camp anywhere in the middle. Dog friendly. The campgrounds are on a prairie dog town and they are running around everywhere. You’ll even see Bison grazing nearby. No service for AT&T but drive half a mile up the road and service comes back. Definitely recommend this peaceful spot.

April 7th, 2021 by heisenberg

Absolutely LOVE this campground!! FREE campground INSIDE the national park. The road in is very washboard for a few miles, so just be ready if you’re in an RV or camper van. This campground is so clean, quiet, peaceful, and surrounded by beautiful views!! Hiking and walking trails all around the campground. Tons of prairie dogs. You’ll wake up with bison roaming around. Plenty of car/van and tent camping spots available. Very clean vault toilets and trash cans available. Will definitely be back for another visit!

June 28th, 2020 by clared.email

Big free open campground. Lots of prairie dogs around and not much space in between sites but a great spot while staying at Badlands

May 18th, 2020 by falkortheluckvan

Great free campsite in the Badlands National Park. Bison and prairie dogs are free roaming but people still tent camped. Campground was busy when we came probably because SD is one of the few if not the only state that have their National parks open.

September 10th, 2019 by derickflis

Campsite was great. A big loop road with a field full of prairie dogs in the middle. We approached the camp site from 44 near Scenic. Dirt road for about 10 miles in had some pretty bad washboard spots. From the campground it’s about 45 minutes through to the welcome center side of the park.

August 25th, 2019 by ioverlander ben

Everything else had been said already except I'll add that it gets crowded so try to get here early. Expect others will crowd in next to you. Bugs were fairly bad too.

August 22nd, 2019 by ceriberry60

Good basic campground, and amazing to have a free one inside a national park...we've been to several in the US and Canada this summer and this is the only free campsite within a park we've come across. Plenty of space for lots of vehicles. Not much privacy but there are picnic tables (some with sun shelter and some without), and when we arrived around 6/7pm in mid august there were still several spaces available. Also, the stars at night are amazing!

August 19th, 2019 by halleswanderingsoul.com

Perfect free campground. A little far from everything worth seeing in the park though, and be prepared to drive 12-16 miles down dirt. Prairie dog neighbors and pit toilets. Plenty of spaces at almost 3pm during the week. NO WATER—bring drinking water or fill up bottles at the visitor center, especially in the summer!

July 30th, 2019 by vian

Free Campground. First-come First-served. Filled in the evening. Many prairie dogs. Pit toilets. Nice campsites with picnic table.

July 1st, 2019 by balisco2016

Be aware that if you are riding a motorcycle you will have to traverse about 10 miles of groomed dirt road. Bison are indeed free roaming !

Great location for a night

June 1st, 2019 by brans12102

This site is about 38miles from Wall, SD and off of Hwy 240. it's mostly for tent camping but there are 2-3 spots available for rigs up to 18'. it's muddy where the rig spots are, when it rains. seems to try quickly though. There are outhouses available with picnic tables, with some trails for hiking. I've stayed for 46 nights. it's also located within the Badlands National Park. I would give it 5 stars

October 4th, 2018 by renaud.miniaou

Great free campground when you are in the park. Surrounded by prairies and hills. Perfect for sunset or morning walk. Road from park entrance to campground is not paved but good. Bisons roam nearby. Sometimes very close to us. Very enjoyable.

September 19th, 2018 by les3moustiquaires

Un magnifique parc, la route pour se rendre au camping peut être très cahoteuse. On y voit des chiens de prairies, des cerfs et des bisons.

September 17th, 2018 by Wilde Weite Welt

Primitive Campground with pit toilets, picnic tables - some shaded - in Badlands National Park in a beautiful setting. There is no camping fee. Prairie dogs are very close to the sites and if you are lucky Bison will also visit the campground.

August 14th, 2018 by sonja_winti

Nice basic campground in lovely grassland surroundings, clean pit toilets, picknick tables (some with sun roof) & trash bins. We loved watching the prairie dog colony in the middle of the campground.

June 22nd, 2018 by patfux

nice place. but today no bisons around here....

May 30th, 2018 by marswild7

This place was AWESOME! You have to drive down a bumpy gravel road to get there but all the buffalo and prairie dogs make up for it. When it was dusk about seven buffalo walked right into camp and were grazing around our cars/campers. One was only a few feet away from us!

May 29th, 2018 by Bill

Absolutely beautiful! Bison right there. More crowded than I anticipated but enough space to park and set up some chairs.

May 24th, 2018 by kathrine009

beautiful spot, and completely free to use. clean pit toilets and prairie dogs and bison all over. Also lots of ticks, so a daily check is recommended!

April 24th, 2018 by theslowdutchman

Nice spot. Basic campsites but beautiful views and bison! See pictures. No cell phone reception with AT&T.

August 27th, 2017 by BodesWell

shade structures, tables, pit toilets, garbage bins

August 10th, 2017 by eudes.mauris

Au milieux d'une vallée. ne pas hésiter de partir à la rencontre des bisous à 30-45 minutes de marche. pas d'électricité ni de lumière, idéal pour découvrir le ciel étoilé au son des coyotes.

July 27th, 2017 by floornagler

Perfect free campground. Beautifully located. Bison!

March 29th, 2017 by aron.beisswanger

The name is Safe Creek Campground. was / is closed off season as long as other park facilities are also not up.

October 14th, 2016 by Martina

One of the best free places!

May 4th, 2016 by PanAmericanAdventures

free basic campsite with pit toilets and no water BUT many bison around and you will wake up to them grazing around you :)

September 15th, 2015 by Leigh Nielsen

Drove the long corrugated road to this awesome spot! It was hot, heard coyotes at night in the distance and bison walked through the campground. Loved it! Highly recommend!