Elk Mountain Campground
Federal campground in Wind Cave National Park
Location: Hot Springs , SD, SD
Price: From $12 per night
Price range: $12–$45 per night
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (388 reviews)
Season: May through October
Elk Mountain Campground, straddles the edge of a ponderosa pine forest and open prairie, offering unique opportunities to view the diverse flora and fauna of the southern Black Hills. These campsites are available in both forested and open environments. Campsites may be reserved all year through Recreation.gov.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Drinking Water
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/elk-mountain-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Elk Mountain Campground straddles a ponderosa pine forest and open prairie, offering diverse flora and fauna viewing in the southern Black Hills. Google reviewers praise the beautiful setting near the visitor center with clean facilities and drinking water available at each site.
Wildlife alert: Black-footed Ferret, Pronghorn, Black-tailed Prairie Dog, American Bison, Townsend's Big-eared Bat, and Northern Yellow Warbler documented in the area
Insider tips for Elk Mountain Campground: Campground is cashless—bring credit cards only Book through Recreation.gov up to 6 months in advance; federal campground fills quickly Do not rely on GPS or Google Maps; visitor center is 11 miles north of Hot Springs off US Hwy 385, about 0.5 miles west of highway
Skip Elk Mountain Campground if: You need RV hookups—no hookups available, only suitable for self-contained RVs. You require privacy—Google reviews report cramped site spacing with tables practically touching neighboring sites. You prefer year-round camping—seasonal operations May through October only.
Best time to visit Elk Mountain Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally during these months. Early/late season — Google review noted reduced rates and fewer campers at cusp of season.
Nearby campgrounds: Cold Brook Campground (HOT SPRINGS, SD), Cottonwood Springs Campground (HOT SPRINGS, SD), Bismark Lake (Custer, SD), Comanche Park (Custer, SD).
Cell Phone Coverage at Elk Mountain Campground
Cell signal at Elk Mountain Campground (Hot Springs , 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.
Elk Mountain Campground, straddles the edge of a ponderosa pine forest and open prairie, offering unique opportunities to view the diverse flora and fauna of the southern Black Hills. These campsites are available in both forested and open environments. Campsites may be reserved all year through Recreation.gov.
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 entryCampground is cashless
bring credit cards only
Book through Recreation.gov up to 6 months in advance; federal campground fills quickly
Do not rely on GPS or Google Maps; visitor center is 11 miles north of Hot Springs off US Hwy 385, about 0.5 miles west of highway
Campground operates seasonally during these months
Google review noted reduced rates and fewer campers at cusp of season
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
The visitor center is 11 miles (18 km) north of Hot Springs off US Hwy. 385, about 1/2 mile (.8 km) west of the highway. Do not rely exclusively on your GPS or Google Maps to find the campground. Routes can be misleading or incorrect. The coordinates for the Visitor Center are N43.55677 W103.47799 From Rapid City, South Dakota: Follow SD Hwy. 79 south approximately 50 miles (80 km) to US Hwy. 385. Turn right onto US Hwy. 385 north. Continue through Hot Springs another 6 miles (9.5 km) north into
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 — Wind Cave National Park fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Wind Cave National Park before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Elk Mountain Campground cost per night?+
What season is Elk Mountain Campground open?+
Does Elk Mountain Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Elk Mountain Campground?+
How do I make reservations at Elk Mountain Campground?+
What is the cell service like at Elk Mountain Campground?+
What season is Elk Mountain 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.
Nearby Campgrounds
Own a campground nearby?
List free on CamperWatch — we take 5% only on bookings we send. No monthly fee.