Dalton Lake Campground
Black Hills National Forest — lakeside
Location: Nemo, SD, SD
Price: From $24 per night
Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)
Season: May through October
Dalton Lake Campground sits next to the 2.8 acre Dalton Lake and offers nearby access to fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding and a variety of motorized recreation opportunities. Explore the dozens of miles of nearby trails or simply relax and enjoy the lake and nearby Little Elk Creek. The campground offers 11 sites and a picnic area nestled into the Ponderosa Pines of the Northern Black Hills.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Restrooms, Electric Hookups
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/dalton-lake-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Dalton Lake Campground offers direct access to a 2.8-acre lake with nearby fishing, hiking, biking, and horseback riding opportunities nestled in Ponderosa Pines. Multiple campers note the beautiful scenery and peaceful setting.
Wildlife alert: White-tailed Deer, American Red Squirrel, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Bobolink, Western Tanager, Great Blue Heron, Smooth Greensnake, Bullsnake, and Western Terrestrial Garter Snake documented in the area.
Insider tips for Dalton Lake Campground: Book early — this is a federal campground with only 10-11 sites and high demand Bring a 4WD vehicle or high-clearance vehicle — Dalton Lake Road is gravel Self-contained RVs only — no hookups available at most sites
Skip Dalton Lake Campground if: You need RV hookups — electric hookups exist but most sites lack full hookups. You're sensitive to dust — reviewers report constant dust from road traffic and ATVs. You prefer quieter camping — noise from ATV activity reported. You dislike chilly nights — elevation causes cold nighttime temperatures.
Best time to visit Dalton Lake Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only. Summer — Campers report it gets chilly at night due to higher elevation.
Nearby campgrounds: Boxelder Forks Campground (Nemo, SD), Steamboat Recreation Area (SD), Roubaix Lake (Spearfish, SD), Bear Gulch (Rapid City, SD).
Cell Phone Coverage at Dalton Lake Campground
Cell signal at Dalton Lake Campground (Nemo, SD): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 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.
Dalton Lake Campground sits next to the 2.8 acre Dalton Lake and offers nearby access to fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding and a variety of motorized recreation opportunities. Explore the dozens of miles of nearby trails or simply relax and enjoy the lake and nearby Little Elk Creek. The campground offers 11 sites and a picnic area nestled into the Ponderosa Pines of the Northern Black Hills.
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 only 10-11 sites and high demand
Bring a 4WD vehicle or high-clearance vehicle
Dalton Lake Road is gravel
Self-contained RVs only
no hookups available at most sites
Campground operates seasonally during these months only
Campers report it gets chilly at night due to higher elevation
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 Sturgis, I-90 exit 32 take Vanocker Canyon Hwy south for approximately 12.5 miles to Dalton Lake Road. Dalton lake is a gravel road. Take Dalton Lake Road east for 3.7 miles to Dalton Lake Campground. The Campground and lake will be on the left-hand side of the road.
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 — Black Hills National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Black Hills National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Dalton Lake Campground cost per night?+
What season is Dalton Lake Campground open?+
Does Dalton Lake Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Dalton Lake Campground?+
How do I make reservations at Dalton Lake Campground?+
What is the cell service like at Dalton Lake Campground?+
What season is Dalton Lake Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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