Grizzly Bear Campground
Black Hills National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Keystone, SD, SD
Price: From $26 per night
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (85 reviews)
Season: Memorial Day through Labor Day
This campground lies beneath a canopy of oak and Ponderosa pine on the banks of Grizzly Creek. The site has retained much of its original Civilian Conservation Corps character, and offers visitors recreation and relaxation in Black Hills National Forest. Located along the Iron Mountain Road, it is between Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Custer State Park.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups, Camp Host, Fishing, Firewood for Sale
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/grizzly-bear-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Tent-only campground beneath oak and Ponderosa pine on Grizzly Creek in Black Hills National Forest, offering a more secluded experience near Mount Rushmore. Retains original Civilian Conservation Corps character with a historic pavilion available for camper use.
Wildlife alert: Mountain goats, mule deer, yellow-bellied marmots, American bison, bald eagles, and prairie rattlesnakes present within 8km
Insider tips for Grizzly Bear Campground: Book early as this is a popular federal campground Firewood is available for purchase on-site Camp host John is reported to be helpful and accommodating
Skip Grizzly Bear Campground if: You need RV hookups — no hookups available at most sites. You require year-round camping — seasonal operations only.
Best time to visit Grizzly Bear Campground: Memorial Day - Labor Day — Campground operates seasonally during this period only.
Nearby campgrounds: Horsethief Lake Campground (Hill City, SD), Iron Creek Horse Camp (Custer, SD), Willow Creek Horse Camp (Hill City, SD), Sheridan Lake (Rapid city, SD).
Cell Phone Coverage at Grizzly Bear Campground
Cell signal at Grizzly Bear Campground (Keystone, SD): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage · AT&T 5G: 100%
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage · T-Mobile 5G: 100%
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.
This campground lies beneath a canopy of oak and Ponderosa pine on the banks of Grizzly Creek. The site has retained much of its original Civilian Conservation Corps character, and offers visitors recreation and relaxation in Black Hills National Forest. Located along the Iron Mountain Road, it is between Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Custer State Park.
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 as this is a popular federal campground
Firewood is available for purchase on-site
Camp host John is reported to be helpful and accommodating
Campground operates seasonally during this period 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: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Keystone, South Dakota, take Route 16A west 1.9 miles to campground on the right.
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 Grizzly Bear Campground cost per night?+
What season is Grizzly Bear Campground open?+
Does Grizzly Bear Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Grizzly Bear Campground?+
How do I make reservations at Grizzly Bear Campground?+
What is the cell service like at Grizzly Bear Campground?+
What season is Grizzly Bear 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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