Ditch Creek Campground

Federal campground in Black Hills National Forest

Location: Hill City, SD, SD

Price: From $22 per night

Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)

Season: May through October

Ditch Creek Campground is a quiet, 13 sites campground situated in an open area with scattered spruce trees along the banks of Ditch Creek, located just a few miles south of Deerfield Reservoir.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables

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

Quiet, well-maintained 13-site campground along Ditch Creek with recently updated sites featuring gravel and wood sides. Highly rated by campers (4.7/5) for cleanliness and access to scenic views including caves in the Black Hills area.

Wildlife alert: Bald Eagle, Pronghorn, Black-tailed Prairie Dog, Plains Bison, Canada Jay, and Smooth Greensnake documented in the area.

Insider tips for Ditch Creek Campground: Book early — this is a popular federal campground with only 13 sites. No cell service in the area, so plan accordingly. Vault toilet facilities are exceptionally clean and well-maintained per camper reports. Sites are mostly level with only minor leveling needed; recently filled with gravel.

Skip Ditch Creek Campground if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available; only suitable for self-contained RVs.. You require amenities beyond fire rings and picnic tables.. You need cell service or connectivity..

Best time to visit Ditch Creek Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only..

Nearby campgrounds: Whitetail (Rapid City, SD), Dutchman (Rapid City, SD), Redbank Spring Campground (SD), Castle Peak Campground (Rochford, SD).

Cell Phone Coverage at Ditch Creek Campground

Cell signal at Ditch Creek Campground (Hill City, SD): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

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.

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Federal campground in Black Hills National ForestLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Ditch Creek Campground

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Hill City, SD, SD★ 4 (0 reviews)From $22/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Ditch Creek Campground is a quiet, 13 sites campground situated in an open area with scattered spruce trees along the banks of Ditch Creek, located just a few miles south of Deerfield Reservoir.

Best for:CampersNature loversFamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV80 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
ADA sites13 sites
ToiletsVault toilets
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire Rings
Recreation
Picnic Tables

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups — no hookups available; only suitable for self-contained RVs.✕ You require amenities beyond fire rings and picnic tables.✕ You need cell service or connectivity.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a popular federal campground with only 13 sites.

No cell service in the area, so plan accordingly.

Vault toilet facilities are exceptionally clean and well-maintained per camper reports.

Sites are mostly level with only minor leveling needed; recently filled with gravel.

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Bald Eagle, Pronghorn, Black-tailed Prairie Dog, Plains Bison, Canada Jay, and Smooth Greensnake documented in the area.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
605-343-1567· Black Hills National Forest
Getting there →

From Hill City go west on Deerfield Road approximately 22 miles. You will pass Deerfield lake, and see signs for Ditch Creek campground and trail head. Turn south (left) onto Ditch Creek Road. Travel about 4 miles south and campground will be on your right. Note that the Ditch Creek OHV Trailhead is directly opposite of the campground.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#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, speakable
How much does Ditch Creek Campground cost per night?+
Ditch Creek Campground costs $22 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Ditch Creek Campground open?+
Ditch Creek Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Ditch Creek Campground have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Ditch Creek Campground?+
Ditch Creek Campground can accommodate RVs up to 80 feet.
How do I make reservations at Ditch Creek Campground?+
Ditch Creek Campground is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Ditch Creek Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Ditch Creek Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Ditch Creek Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Ditch Creek Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
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●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$22 /night★ 4 (0)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Ditch Creek Campground cost per night?+
What season is Ditch Creek Campground open?+
Does Ditch Creek Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Whitetail

Rapid City, SD

From $26/night

Dutchman

Rapid City, SD

From $26/night

Redbank Spring Campground

SD

From $22/night

Castle Peak Campground

Rochford, SD

From $22/night

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