Dutchman
Black Hills National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Rapid City, SD, SD
Price: From $26 per night
Price range: $26–$52 per night
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (150 reviews)
Season: May through October
Dutchman Campground, located in a shady Ponderosa pine forested area on the northeast edge of Deerfield Reservoir at 5,000 feet. This camp is an ideal setting for guests seeking recreation and relaxation in Black Hills National Forest. Sites in the campground are widely spaced, and a few offer wide views of the lake.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: AT&T.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/dutchman to be notified when sites open up.
Dutchman offers widely-spaced sites in a shady Ponderosa pine forest on Deerfield Reservoir at 5,000 feet elevation, with a 4.6/5 rating from 54 Google reviews praising its quiet atmosphere, friendly camp host, and spacious tent-friendly sites.
Wildlife alert: Bald Eagle, White-tailed Deer, Pronghorn, Black-tailed Prairie Dog, Canada Goose, Western Wood-Pewee, Canada Jay, Least Chipmunk, Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
Insider tips for Dutchman: Book early — this is a popular federal campground Half-mile from boat launch; quarter-mile bushwhack trail near site 34 for direct lake access A few sites offer wide lake views; request one when booking if available
Skip Dutchman if: You need full RV hookups — no hookups at most sites, only suitable for self-contained RVs. You visit outside May through October — seasonal closures apply. You dislike generator noise — some campers report tolerable but present generator sounds.
Best time to visit Dutchman: May through October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only.
Nearby campgrounds: Whitetail (Rapid City, SD), Castle Peak Campground (Rochford, SD), Ditch Creek Campground (Hill City, SD), Black Fox Campground (Rochford, SD).
Cell Phone Coverage at Dutchman
Cell signal at Dutchman (Rapid City, SD): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: AT&T.
- 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.
Dutchman Campground, located in a shady Ponderosa pine forested area on the northeast edge of Deerfield Reservoir at 5,000 feet. This camp is an ideal setting for guests seeking recreation and relaxation in Black Hills National Forest. Sites in the campground are widely spaced, and a few offer wide views of the lake.
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 popular federal campground
Half-mile from boat launch; quarter-mile bushwhack trail near site 34 for direct lake access
A few sites offer wide lake views; request one when booking if available
Campground operates seasonally during these months only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: AT&T.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
Take Forest Highway 17 (Deerfield Road) for 16 miles northwest of Hill City, South Dakota.
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 Dutchman cost per night?+
What season is Dutchman open?+
Does Dutchman have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Dutchman?+
How do I make reservations at Dutchman?+
What is the cell service like at Dutchman?+
What season is Dutchman 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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