Survivalist’s Guide to South Dakota’s Best Campsites

As a survival prepper in South Dakota, finding the right camping sites is crucial for honing skills, testing gear, and ensuring you’re prepared for any emergency. The Mount Rushmore State offers a diverse range of terrains, from dense forests to expansive prairies, making it an ideal location for survival training. Below are 30 of the best campsites in South Dakota that cater to preppers seeking solitude, natural resources, and a true wilderness experience.

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1. Roy Lake State Park

Located in Marshall County, Roy Lake State Park is a haven for those looking to practice water-based survival skills. With 100 campsites and access to fishing and boating, it’s perfect for testing water purification methods and fishing techniques.

2. Hartford Beach State Park

Situated on Big Stone Lake, this park offers 87 campsites with electric hookups. The area is ideal for practicing fishing and water purification, with the added benefit of a boat ramp for easy access.

3. Lake Vermillion Recreation Area

In McCook County, Lake Vermillion Recreation Area provides 267 acres of wilderness. It’s a prime spot for practicing navigation and shelter building, with ample opportunities for hiking and fishing.

4. Oakwood Lakes State Park

Located in Brookings County, this park features 136 campsites and two lakes. It’s excellent for practicing fishing, canoeing, and water purification techniques.

5. Newton Hills State Park

With 1,063 acres of forested terrain, Newton Hills State Park is perfect for practicing shelter building and fire-starting skills. The park also offers hiking trails and cross-country skiing in winter.

6. Fisher Grove State Park

This park offers 22 campsites and access to the James River, making it ideal for practicing canoeing and water purification. The surrounding area provides ample opportunities for foraging and wildlife observation.

7. Custer State Park

Known for its bison herds, Custer State Park offers over 70,000 acres of wilderness. It’s a prime location for practicing navigation, wildlife tracking, and survival skills in a variety of terrains.

8. Badlands National Park

With its unique geological formations, the Badlands provide a challenging environment for survival training. The park offers limited camping options, making it ideal for those seeking solitude and a test of their skills.

9. Black Hills National Forest

Spanning over 1.2 million acres, the Black Hills offer diverse ecosystems and terrains. It’s perfect for extended survival trips, with opportunities for hiking, fishing, and wildlife observation.

10. Buffalo Gap National Grassland

This expansive grassland offers wide-open spaces, making it ideal for practicing navigation and shelter building in a prairie environment.

11. Sica Hollow State Park

Known for its dense forests and steep ravines, Sica Hollow offers a challenging environment for survival training. The park provides opportunities for hiking and wildlife observation.

12. Pine Ridge Ranger District

Located in the Nebraska National Forest, this area offers diverse terrains, including forests and grasslands. It’s ideal for practicing navigation and shelter building skills.

13. Spring Creek Recreation Area

Situated in the Black Hills, this area offers opportunities for fishing and hiking. It’s a great spot for practicing water purification and shelter building techniques.

14. Lewis and Clark Recreation Area

Located near Yankton, this area offers access to the Missouri River, making it ideal for practicing water-based survival skills and fishing techniques.

15. Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge

This refuge offers opportunities for wildlife observation and fishing. It’s a great spot for practicing navigation and foraging skills.

16. Red Canyon Visitor Center

Located in the Black Hills, this area offers hiking trails and opportunities for wildlife observation. It’s ideal for practicing navigation and shelter building.

17. Angostura Recreation Area

Situated near Hot Springs, this area offers access to Angostura Reservoir, making it ideal for practicing water purification and fishing techniques.

18. Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Located near Waubay, this refuge offers opportunities for wildlife observation and fishing. It’s a great spot for practicing navigation and foraging skills.

19. Lake Thompson Recreation Area

Situated near De Smet, this area offers access to Lake Thompson, making it ideal for practicing water-based survival skills and fishing techniques.

20. Swan Lake State Park

Located near Viborg, this park offers opportunities for fishing and hiking. It’s a great spot for practicing water purification and shelter building techniques.

21. Big Sioux Recreation Area

Situated near Brandon, this area offers access to the Big Sioux River, making it ideal for practicing water-based survival skills and fishing techniques.

22. Oakwood Lakes State Park

Located near Brookings, this park offers opportunities for fishing and hiking. It’s a great spot for practicing water purification and shelter building techniques.

23. Lake Poinsett Recreation Area

Tucked away in Hamlin County, Lake Poinsett is one of the largest lakes in eastern South Dakota. With over 100 campsites and year-round access, it’s excellent for cold-weather survival drills, fishing, and testing winter gear. The variety of game and nearby forested areas make it a strong candidate for extended primitive stays.

24. Shadehill Recreation Area

Located in Perkins County in the northwestern part of the state, this area is remote, open, and rugged — ideal for long-range bug-out practice. The Shadehill Reservoir provides a reliable water source, and the sparse human presence makes it a prime location for stealth camping or off-grid living experiments.

25. Snake Creek Recreation Area

On the banks of Lake Francis Case, this area gives you the opportunity to hone your fishing and boating survival tactics. With both primitive and modern campsites, it’s a good transitional training ground for going from comfort to bare-bones wilderness.

26. Llewellyn Johns Recreation Area

A lesser-known site near the North Dakota border, this quiet escape offers wide-open terrain with minimal foot traffic. It’s ideal for testing long-term shelter setups, solar gear, and food growing experiments in a prairie climate.

27. Beaver Creek Nature Area

Located near Sioux Falls but hidden enough to give you a decent taste of the wild, Beaver Creek is good for quick weekend bug-out drills. The creek is a great natural resource for learning advanced filtration and fire-starting techniques in wetter conditions.

28. Sheps Canyon Recreation Area

Nestled near Angostura Reservoir in the southern Black Hills, Sheps Canyon is a solid training ground for rocky terrain survival, water access issues, and dealing with varied wildlife. It’s remote, yet rich in resources — ideal for testing concealment shelters.

29. Union Grove State Park

Down in Union County, this peaceful spot offers dense forest cover and a quiet creek. It’s excellent for isolation training, practicing stealth movements, and working on nighttime navigation under tree canopy.

30. Brush Lake State Recreation Area

A real gem for preppers who like to stay off the radar, Brush Lake in Edmunds County is small, remote, and lightly trafficked. It’s ideal for primitive camping with minimal gear, foraging exercises, and small-game trapping tests. If you’re looking for a site that forces you to rely on instinct, this one delivers.

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Final Thoughts from a South Dakota Survivalist

Out here in the Dakotas, nature doesn’t hand you anything — you earn it. Whether you’re getting ready for hard times, brushing up on self-reliance skills, or teaching the next generation how to live off the land, these 30 spots are tried and true. They’ve helped me test solar kits in windstorms, start fires in freezing rain, catch food when the fish ain’t biting, and sleep soundly under the open stars with just a tarp and a knife.

Use these places wisely. Don’t just car camp — simulate a real grid-down scenario. Leave the generator at home, cook over open flame, and carry water like it’s gold. Pack light, plan smart, and remember: it’s not about comfort. It’s about capability.

Stay sharp, stay silent, stay prepared.