Cedar Pass Campground
Badlands National Park — hiking
Location: Interior, SD, SD
Price: From $37 per night
Price range: $37–$47 per night
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (299 reviews)
Season: Memorial Day through Labor Day
Surrounded by the vast, open prairie and featuring expansive views of the Badlands, Cedar Pass Campground is a great base camp from which to explore Badlands National Park. Featuring 96 sites, this seasonal campground is open from late March through mid-October, and is conveniently located within easy walking distance of Cedar Pass Lodge & Restaurant and the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. Ben Reifel Vistor Center Cedar Pass Lodge Minuteman National Historic Site Prairie Homestead Wall Drug Mount Rus
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): moderate signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Camp Host
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/cedar-pass-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Cedar Pass Campground offers unbeatable location within Badlands National Park with expansive prairie and rock formation views. The campground provides nightly ranger-led evening programs, free stargazing, and convenient access to Cedar Pass Lodge and Ben Reifel Visitor Center.
Wildlife alert: Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, American Bison, Black-tailed Prairie Dogs, Western Meadowlarks, Turkey Vultures, Bullsnakes, and Plains Hognose Snakes have been verified in the area.
Insider tips for Cedar Pass Campground: Book early — this is a federal campground with high demand and limited sites (83 total). Attend nightly ranger programs at Cedar Pass Amphitheater for free interpretive activities and stargazing. No hookups available; ensure your RV is self-contained or plan for tent camping.
Skip Cedar Pass Campground if: You need RV hookups — campground has no hookups available.. You require camping outside Memorial Day through Labor Day — seasonal operations only.. You prefer less crowded campgrounds — early booking requirement indicates high demand..
Best time to visit Cedar Pass Campground: Memorial Day through Labor Day — Verified operating season per CamperWatch data..
Nearby campgrounds: Grizzly Bear Campground (Keystone, SD).
Cell Phone Coverage at Cedar Pass Campground
Cell signal at Cedar Pass Campground (Interior, SD): moderate overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Surrounded by the vast, open prairie and featuring expansive views of the Badlands, Cedar Pass Campground is a great base camp from which to explore Badlands National Park. Featuring 96 sites, this seasonal campground is open from late March through mid-October, and is conveniently located within easy walking distance of Cedar Pass Lodge & Restaurant and the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. Ben Reifel Vistor Center Cedar Pass Lodge Minuteman National Historic Site Prairie Homestead Wall Drug Mount Rushmore (1 hour, 45 mins) Custer State Park (1 hour, 45 mins) An evening program led by park rangers is held nightly at the Cedar Pass Amphitheater.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a federal campground with high demand and limited sites (83 total).
Attend nightly ranger programs at Cedar Pass Amphitheater for free interpretive activities and stargazing.
No hookups available; ensure your RV is self-contained or plan for tent camping.
Verified operating season per CamperWatch data.
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Sioux Falls: Travel west on I-90 to exit 131. Turn south onto Hwy 240, the Badlands Loop Road and enter Badlands National Park at the Northeast entrance. Travel 8 miles (13 km) to Cedar Pass Lodge, making a slight left onto Hwy 377. Cedar Pass Campground will be on your left. From Rapid City: Travel east on I-90 to exit 110. From exit 110, turn south onto Hwy 240, the Badlands Loop Road and enter Badlands National Park at the Pinnacles entrance. Travel 30 miles (48 km). Turn right on Hwy 37
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Badlands National Park fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Badlands National Park before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Cedar Pass Campground cost per night?+
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What is the cell service like at Cedar Pass Campground?+
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●Data sources on this page
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