Buffalo Gap National Grassland | Wild Camping

December 8th, 2023 by shumandm

Great location with great sunrise views. Half mile from the entrance. This time of year we only had 2 neighbors the first night and none the second. Wind was howling though. sustained 30mph wings with gusts to 50! Low was 37 degrees. Needless to say, we did not unhitch from our tow vehicle! Definitely the best place to boondock near the park, but we understand it's quite busy in the peak season.

September 6th, 2023 by bloodhound89

Excellent spot! Got here around 5pm on a Wednesday and snagged a beautiful spot overlooking the badlands. It’s a decent dirt road in, made it no problem in our old van.

August 21st, 2023 by michael.calabrese810

Accessible flat site. Great views. Lots of other campers.

March 30th, 2023 by travel2u.de

Almost empty at this time of the year. Nice views, quiet and perfect with dogs.

September 28th, 2022 by 3weltreisen.de

wonderful, lots of space, lots of normal camper with generator, perfekt views, but also very very windy

September 21st, 2022 by branson.crewse

Absolutely beautiful area to camp! Set the pop up just next to the edge! It can be pretty windy though! Several miles of area to set up, so if you don’t like a spot keep moving you’ll find another. Local Sherriff made a loop in the evening before sunset and another pass in the morning.

September 13th, 2022 by j_serpe

When leaving the national park you can’t miss this area, it had lines of RVs and vans along the ridge. We found a spot overlooking the Badland dunes and spent the night. The winds coming off the dunes carried a lot of dust but it settled down towards evening

July 18th, 2022 by 1point3liter

Awesome spot, there were only a handful of other campers. The wind showed up at about 1am, it had to be a constant 30-40 mph, more with the gusts. Our van was rocking pretty bad and peoples were losing stuff over the cliff. We watched a number of sites scrambling and leave in middle of night. Make sure you check the weather and don’t leave anything outside.

July 4th, 2022 by kryekr

Great spot! Amazing view! Easy to access. The only bad thing is RV’s generator. They are too loudly!!!

June 26th, 2022 by harvie.julie

Wow. I read the reviews but didn't fully realize what I was going into. There really were hundreds of campers when I arrived around 730pm. I think next time I would go a little earlier to make it easy to find a good spot on the rim. That being said, it is truly beautiful!
Also I gotta say I don't know where people are pooping. There are no facilities, and I guess the majority of people I saw had RVs. But otherwise it's a wide open meadow on one side, and badlands on the other side, no privacy. I went #1 in the dark last night and will be going into the park for #2 but I wonder what my other "simple" van/tent people are doing 🤭

June 12th, 2022 by HomelessAdventures

situated right outside of Badlands National park, this is a phenomenal place to spend the night. Park then enjoy the views of the Badlands.

cars, tents, SUVs, RVs and campers were all here. I met a couple who converted a school bus!

May 21st, 2022 by priusperson

Lots of spots along a canyon. Beautiful scenery of the edge of the badlands.

May 17th, 2022 by Mary

Snagged an awesome spot at the end. Got here at 11:30 a.m.

September 19th, 2021 by NPTraveler

Very very crowded spot with lots of big rigs and RVs everywhere. It can be hard to find a spot and getting secluded away from people is nearly impossible. All that being said, decent spot for a night or two, just be prepared for generators and lots of people. I do have full 5G service on Verizon however, so that's a plus.

September 1st, 2021 by drcampbell1221

Windy but beautiful! We tent camped here for one night. Full ATT cell service and free.

August 31st, 2021 by kbddesign

Very open, plenty of room for everyone with fantastic views. Very windy!
Heard coyotes howling in evening.
We will be back!

August 2nd, 2021 by rickihoffman537

Stayed a while ago. Forgot to check in. Great spot

July 20th, 2021 by mistydjacobsen

Very popular spot for vans, RVs, trailers, everything. Great views but a lot of vehicles lining the ridge line. It was a very hot day, close to 100, but overcast and windy so it was tolerable to work from inside my van. I had all windows and doors open to create a breeze. It was a gorgeous view, for one day of working.

June 23rd, 2021 by Susan

a stunning beautiful ridge. million dollar views. 5 star for wild camping

June 22nd, 2021 by jan_ario

Great spot amazing view! Lots of other people but found a great spot right at the edge! It is windy but man the view makes up for it!

June 6th, 2021 by jasonzabriskie

#scenicaf but unfortunately it was also #windyaf

June 2nd, 2021 by living.it.right

Great place to park just 10 minutes from Wall and has a beautiful view. We had 2 bars Verizon with a booster so not the best reception, but just drove into town when we needed it. Like everyone said, it is crowded most of the time, but if you find a spot where only one vehicle can fit then you get some privacy!

May 13th, 2021 by John Frame

This is a beautiful spot overlooking the an amazing canyon.

April 27th, 2021 by Capics

Super awesome views, camped over the valley. Fire pits set up but I heard no fires. Lots of other campers,rv’s and vans . Plus a odd amount of cars. Great night. Super windy

November 8th, 2020 by cjheaney77

A bit windy but great spot! Awesome view!

November 8th, 2020 by cjheaney77

A bit windy but great spot! Awesome view!

September 22nd, 2020 by Jon

Really loved this spot. Plenty of room. It does get a bit windy though.

September 5th, 2020 by mtazin

Wide open area. Pretty popular. I made it through my Prius. 3 bar Verizon LTE device

September 5th, 2020 by sailorcolin

If you can get here before 3, you’ll find a nice spot! Otherwise it gets very busy and hard to find a spot alone.

September 5th, 2020 by mtazin

Great view and awesome sunrise. Expect others very crowded/popular for a dispersed campsite. I made it through with my prius, but roads have many pot holes. Had 3-bar LTE data with Verizon the whole night!

September 2nd, 2020 by curtisgallagher

Wide open space free camping just outside of the west entrance of Badlands national Park. 4 bar’s Verizon and LTE.

August 16th, 2020 by riantpeter

Stunning view off of the Wall facing east. Fairly busy location, but people were politely spread apart and very respectful. Access is a bit bumpy. Just check your latches and batten down. Plenty of room for most types of vehicles (ours was a small class c) even saw a modest size class A enjoying a stay.

August 1st, 2020 by brendanmckee52

An absolutely incredible place to camp. Park your rig right on a cliff overlooking the badlands.

July 30th, 2020 by mironchlebosz

amazing free location next to the park. Beautiful views.

July 28th, 2020 by j_verwys

One of my favorite boondocking sites in the whole US. As advertised. Amazing views. Yes, does get a little windy, but can’t beat the views from your car of overlooking the badlands.

July 12th, 2020 by calen.rane.mccammon

BEAUTIFUL scenery! I stayed here for well over a week. open them windows during the daytime because it gets h o t. and close them at night because it gets cold. Plus, I saw a bushfire, tornado, nightly severe thunderstorms, and the worst hail storm I've ever seen in July.
the weather is unforgiving out here, but the views are amazing. Even watch the Badlands animals just chilling below your feet

July 10th, 2020 by white.van_no.plan

Beautiful views! It was busier this year than our past trip two years ago but there is always enough room for everyone to find a spot. Big horn sheep grazed within feet of or van. Incredible place.

July 9th, 2020 by LetsPlayRIDEandSeek

We love this area! Beautiful views!
There are many spots off the dirt road that runs along the ridge.

Be aware that it is a high wind area and storms are frequent.

We had a hailstorm come through when we were there.

Also,if you don’t have a toilet on board... it’s A little difficult to find privacy but it is doable.

2-4 bars LTE Verizon.

June 22nd, 2020 by lone.traveler.passing_through

Nice camp. perched on the edge of the Badlands with a spectacular view of the sunrise. dispersed camping, so no amenities. it is also open to the elements. there is no shelter on the prairie so keep that in mind if there is a storm coming. our neighbors bailed out in the rain last night. fantastic spot for those who weather it though!

May 29th, 2020 by alan.vestal08

Very cool place to camp. Wide open looking out over the badlands. Plenty of places to camp. No water so camel up before you leave town. Oh, no bathrooms. Might have to get creative if you’re tenting.

May 1st, 2020 by tman2211

absolutely beautiful spot! weathered a large thunderstorm here, it was incredible to watch it roll in! very windy in general here. other campers mentioned gusts of around 60 mph before we arrived.

October 28th, 2019 by xander_troy

best boondocking site ever. just off the main road before you enter badlands ntl park coming from wall. hang a left om the gravel road about half a mile before the entrance to the park

September 20th, 2019 by Solarseniors

Awesome view.Easier access than I expected.

September 13th, 2019 by 19sivad72

Beautiful free place to camp. Stopped here after Black Hills backpacking.

September 8th, 2019 by vanlifevjo

You must know that the trail do a loop. The red road will join the 240 further north from the GPS point. If you have a good vehicle go further on the red road. I advise you to go as far as possible because this spot is quite crowded(more then 40 rigs when we where there. If it rain the road become very muddy, it was the case when we visited the badland. On the other hand, the view is 10/10.

September 7th, 2019 by Van Girl76

Google maps didn’t show what road to turn on. Coming from the north, the left hand turn was about 1/4 mile before the spot where it looks like you would turn if there was a direct/completely straight road leading to the spot. It’s pro easy to see during the day, more challenging at night.

Nice spot. There were 20 or so other campers in sight but very spaced out and a ton of room. I had good Verizon signal and sunrise was pretty.

September 1st, 2019 by DowntoWander

Amazing views of the Badlands from this site, and right next to the park entrance. The sunrises were incredible. We had bighorn sheep surrounding our van. Very popular, but plenty of space for everyone. Rigs of all size we're there. There's a lot more spaces if you go left, but the better views are right. Very windy at times and lots of flies, but it's totally worth it.

August 30th, 2019 by steph

really nice place. It's been raining all day so it's pretty muddy at the moment. I'm hoping with son tomorrow it'll dry out a bit

August 29th, 2019 by Ti-Gus

Really nice spot.
The road was freshly covered with crushed stone, but big holes were already appearing. Easily manageable though.
Wind picked up at night.

August 3rd, 2019 by ross.crandall

Nice views. It gets busy so get here early.

July 31st, 2019 by neglectedracing

I loved this spot. I’m not a fan of camping around other people but everyone is pretty spread out along the ridge line. Also we might have just been lucky but everyone was really nice and it was quite at night. Nobody was playing music or running generators. We stayed an extra night because we enjoyed it so much. Be aware of when it rains though the dirt road in/out of the spot turns into mud and there were plenty of stuck rigs from SUVs to promasters/transits. The big RVs didn’t even attempt to get out. They waited until the sun dried the road out before heading out.

July 6th, 2019 by erin.henley30

Beautiful. There was plenty of room. There were a good bit of people out there! There’s a little walking trail (it’s a little muddy). The path to get out is a little muddy, but we made do in an AWD vehicle with all terrain tires.

June 12th, 2019 by 883piglet

Great, very peaceful, stayed 2 nites. Walked 5 miles, beautiful view. Just close the gate when you enter and exit.

June 6th, 2019 by joe33305

As described. No so windy. Very quiet crowd. Enjoyable! The rangers call it “radio towers”.

June 2nd, 2019 by fozzie.jpeg

awesome views with plenty of sites that sit right on the edge of a cliff/hillside. no amenities. be sure to shut the gate!

September 21st, 2018 by samnolte1102

One of the best campsites i’ve stayed at, a by windy but gorgeous. recommend staying at least a night here in your tent under the stars

September 16th, 2018 by Wilde Weite Welt

Great dispersed camping at a rim north of Badlands National Park in Buffalo Gap National Grassland. The view across the badlands is gorgeous. It can get very windy. Free, quiet, but there will be more campers around and some will have generators.

September 12th, 2018 by instagram.com/_clarish_

The views are nice, but the place is too windy and there are no shades or privacy at all. Didn’t like staying here.

September 9th, 2018 by m3l3ana

Beautiful site. Lots of space with a lot of RV and trailers.

There is a gate to get into the area, make sure you close it once you enter.

September 6th, 2018 by vagabundosdelmundo.com

As describe. Amazing mornings with view to the Badlands. It can be uneven at some places, but if you drive around you can find even spots. Can get windy

September 2nd, 2018 by 2kidsContent

Beautiful overlook of the beginning of Badlands NP. Probably over of the more epic places to wake up. Bring some blocks to level your rig as the ground is not at all level.

August 17th, 2018 by birico2

Beautiful views. Visited with 19ft travel trailer no problems. Tons of spots but also very popular

August 8th, 2018 by vagavaughans

Popular but got a great spot after 6pm. Remember to shot the gate after you enter. Saw a herd of Big Horn sheep after the gate on the way in. spectacular views. Can't imagine a nicer boondocking spot. Over 100 degrees today but in the shade of our View, with a cocktail and a nice breeze...couldn't be nicer!

August 8th, 2018 by vagavaughans

great boondocking spot. lots of sites along the ridge looking down into the Badlands. Herd of Big Horn Sheep right after you enter the gate. Don't forget to close it. 100 degrees today but the breeze and the shade of the RV...plus the margarita...make for a very pleasant evening!

June 3rd, 2018 by DogsAnDiapers.com

This is the be all, end all, most gorgeous site to camp. Spent a night here and were blown away by the views.

Great spot for rigs of all sizes. Would highly recommend.

August 27th, 2017 by BodesWell

Great views and camping on canyon rim.

August 26th, 2017 by alongfortheride.blog

As described

August 12th, 2017 by mars_rover

what a popular place. But wow what a view. night sky looks ok. still has some light polution. 2 bars 4g on Verizon. Wi-Fi at the lodge in the park (quite fast). small town nearby for supplies. Only main complaint would be the wind. makes cooking on a gas stove kinda hard. hike down into the canyon a bit with your stove to keep it from blowing out.

June 26th, 2017 by /blogs/10228

beautiful place with plenty of space. nice View over the badlands and amazing sky in the night.