Bismark Lake

Black Hills National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: Custer, SD, SD

Price: From $30 per night

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (182 reviews)

Season: May through October

Bismarck Lake Campground is set amidst a scattering of aspen groves and Ponderosa pine on the southeast edge of Bismarck Lake at 5,000 feet. This is a great place for visitors seeking recreation and relaxation in the Black Hills National Forest. Acess to this campground is through Custer State Park near the West Highway 16A entrance.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: AT&T. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups, Fishing

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/bismark-lake to be notified when sites open up.

Bismarck Lake Campground sits at 5,000 feet amidst aspen groves and Ponderosa pine on the southeast edge of Bismarck Lake in Black Hills National Forest, offering widely spaced sites with lake views and adequate privacy. Recreation options include biking, boating, fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing, canoeing, and birding.

Wildlife alert: Plains Bison, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, American Mink, Long-tailed Weasel, Wood Duck, White-winged Junco, Red-naped Sapsucker, and Black Hills Redbelly Snake documented in the area.

Insider tips for Bismark Lake: Book early—this is a federal campground with high demand. Access is through Custer State Park near West Highway 16A entrance; take US Rt. 16A east 4.8 miles from Custer. Sites are widely spaced with lake views, providing good privacy despite 21 total sites.

Skip Bismark Lake if: You need full RV hookups—no hookups at most sites; only suitable for self-contained RVs.. You plan to camp outside May through October—seasonal operations only..

Best time to visit Bismark Lake: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only..

Nearby campgrounds: Iron Creek Horse Camp (Custer, SD), Horsethief Lake Campground (Hill City, SD), Oreville Campground (Custer, SD), Grizzly Bear Campground (Keystone, SD).