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    Badlands / White River KOA

    3.7 (67 reviews)

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    Showers
    Liam D.

    Pros: super friendly staff, cute cabins, good wifi, clean, respectful neighbors. Gripes: the showers are absolutely horrifying. See pictures. Show some respect for your guests giving you their hard-earned money and clean the showers. I tried desperately to avoid touching anything, and God help you if you drop the soap. I can't imagine Moms and Dads having to take their kids into these showers. Yuk.

    Restroom/ shower/ sink.

    Good amenities like all KOA's but this one is the worst I've been too. I know it's camping but nobody cleans the bathroom or tent sink area. Tent Sink area has rat poop all over it. Bathroom is never wiped down, mopped, disinfected, shower curtains were all brown, mildew, mold in restroom. Campground they keep clean and they take out trash that's it.

    A very narrow site, making it impossible to use the fire ring. The neighboring site's ring on the side not shown was just as close.
    Lisa F.

    I really wanted to like this place. Unfortunately, we were assigned a really crappy campsite, that was so narrow there was no way to have a campfire without risking our camper and/or our truck. The neighboring site's fire ring was perilously close to our camper as well. Thank goodness they didn't have a fire, or we probably would have. I will give the park aces for the shower house. It was clean and the shower was plenty hot. If you will need cell service or Wi-Fi for work, this isn't your place. I had to drive to a neighboring campground/hotel for that. For $60/night, I expected more.

    Misty S.

    What a great place to camp and very affordable! The showers and bathroom are clean. We stayed for 1 night and a regular tent site cost $30. See the picture of the price list for RV's and cabin/tipi accommodations. If you don't have a reservation, you can still get a spot after hours if they are available. The sign up system is easy to use and there's an envelope drop box you can use if the office is already closed. There's a pool and hot tub next to the main office. There's also a general store and gift shop that sells souvenirs, general merchandise, food and beverages. The people that work here are nice and friendly.

    Cabin life.
    Riana A.

    This was the first KOA we stayed at while on our travels in South Dakota. I was not sure what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised. There are activities for the kids such as mini golf, swimming pool, and "fun cycles". We stayed in a cabin which had air conditioning, cool! The wifi worked well here and there, but we were told since there were more people using it that would happen. The bathrooms were very clean. I would definitely stay at this KOA again.

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    2 years ago

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    11 months ago

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    Samantha D.

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    3 years ago

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    Samantha D.

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    3 years ago

    Clean bathrooms. The staff were helpful and friendly. Very close to entrance of Badlands NP. Cool mini golf

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    Samantha D.

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    9 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Awesome people running this KOA! Tons of stuff to do and super close to the Badlands!!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Badlands / White River KOA

    Review Highlights - Badlands / White River KOA

    My wife and I have stayed in dozens of KOAs over the years, but this one is still one of our favorites.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Badlands National Park - Picnic area near Deer Haven

    Badlands National Park

    4.8(329 reviews)
    30.8 mi

    Visiting the White River Valley Overlook inside Badlands National Park was one of the highlights of…read moreour trip. This is one of those places that completely catches you off guard in the best way. You pull over expecting a quick viewpoint, and then suddenly you're looking out over this massive, open valley that just seems to go on forever. The contrast between the rugged Badlands formations and the wide, rolling landscape below is incredible. It honestly feels like two completely different environments meeting in one place. The colors, the textures, and the sheer scale of it all make it feel almost unreal when you're standing there. What makes this stop even better is how easy it is to access. There's no long hike required--just park, walk a short distance, and you're right there taking in one of the best views in the park. It's perfect for all ages and a great place to pause and really appreciate the scenery. If you're visiting the Badlands, this overlook is absolutely worth the stop. It's peaceful, stunning, and unforgettable. Check out our videos on our socials @reessroots

    "You spend your life waiting For a moment that just don't…read morecome Well don't waste your time waiting Badlands, you gotta live it everyday" (Bruce Springsteen) The last National Park visit of our trip may have been my favorite. The sheer sight of these massive rock formations, cliffs, buttes, pinnacles and spires truly made me feel as if I was a space traveler that had crash landed on the ancient world of a distant planet. Words cannot adequately describe the majesty of what I saw. Badlands also has the largest protected mixed grass prairie in America and is home to bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets. The park is also famous for its abundance of fossils. I read that ancient horses and rhinos once roamed here. We were able to walk out into the rock formations and overlooked the vast multi-colored stone canyons and valleys, marvel at the soaring cliffs and gorges, and just revel in this fantastic natural beauty. Talk about a religious experience, it was simply gorgeous and breathtaking. Badlands Facts Badlands National Park is our 39th National Park and was established on November 10, 1978. Badlands is a mid-sized park with 244,000 acres Badlands draws around 1 million visitors per year.

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    Badlands National Park
    Badlands National Park
    Badlands National Park

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    Cedar Pass Campground

    Cedar Pass Campground

    4.5(2 reviews)
    3.8 mi

    Did some tent camping here in the heat of summer! Every camp site here has a picnic table with a…read moreshaded structure that'll give much needed relief from the afternoon/evening sun. The bathrooms and showers are in very clean condition for a campsite. Showers are 50 cents for 4 minutes, with a machine to convert your bills to quarters outside it. You can't change the temp of the shower, so apparently our guys got hot showers, but the women's showers were great temperature. There's a nice sink for washing dishes. Found that it'll give very cold water which we used to help us cool off- this water is not for drinking but there are water fountains around. The staff is very friendly and helpful, you can reserve ahead or gamble and get a spot when you get there like we did. The visitor center and amphitheater for the star show is right next to this site. Trailheads for hikes like Castle and Notch are within a 15 minute drive. Beautiful scenery to wake up to, had wildflowers and the mountains/hills. Also heard coyotes both nights and saw deer, bunnies, and mountain bluebirds.

    Just a little past the Bad Lands park entrance brings you to the Amphitheater. If you come at…read morenight, there is no cost to enter the park. There is a nightly presentation by park rangers and volunteers that covers Reptiles and a Night Sky viewing. It starts at 9pm and goes for about 45 minutes. Staff were very friendly and kids can get a Junior Ranger badge for attending. They also bring out telescopes for you to check out the stars. A nice family activity worth checking out if you are staying in/near the Bad Lands.

    Cedar Pass Campground

    Cedar Pass Campground

    3.2(20 reviews)
    3.8 mi

    We stayed here in early May and overall had a pretty good experience. We booked several months in…read moreadvance so we didn't have any problems getting in. We reserved four nights, realizing that we probably weren't going to come in until late the next morning, technically. We let the campground know ahead of time, hoping that would make our arrival go smoothly. They let us know that they'd put that information in our reservation. Something that is irritating is that you don't know your campsite assignment until you get there. We got in at about 5:30AM and while they had a box with the info for late arrivals, ours was somehow not there. We were exhausted, so we picked an open site and set up camp. Once the "office" opened at about 9AM, we asked if we could stay at that site and they said that we had to move to a different one. This could have been avoided if we were allowed to know our site beforehand or if they had actually had put our info in the after hours arrival box. This wasn't a huge deal, but it would have sucked if the campsite was busier and the had to wait to set up camp even though we paid for the night before. As many people have said, there is no privacy. This was fine for us, the campsites are decently spaced out so you aren't on top of other people. There is a nice little roof on top of the picnic table that blocks some of the sun when it's quite bright. There are no trees, so it gets very windy. Campfires aren't allowed, so you need to bring a camping stove if you want warm food. There is a nice spot designated for washing dishes and there is warm water. For whatever reason, the drinking fountains were not working, so we had to pull from the dish washing water. There are bathrooms with running water but one of the female stalls was out of order during our stay and the ground was flooded. We made it work, but you had to be careful to not get your feet wet. There are also coin operated showers and that building is nicely heated. It cost about $1.25 for a ten minute shower, which is very reasonable. The water was more on the lukewarm side, but nevertheless nice after a long day of hiking. We didn't go inside, but there was also a café and gift shop very close. The campground is in the heart of the Badlands and all of the amazing trails are very close driving distance. You are also about 30 minutes away from Wall if you need to hide from the weather. Custer State Park and Rapid City are a couple hours away, but we took a day to visit. If I wanted to set up shop in the Badlands again, I'd stay here again.

    These campgrounds had nice views and great amenities and convenience to all the hiking trails, but…read morevery different than camping in Minnesota where I'm from! PROS: - Bathrooms were a huge plus. Had 3 stalls, running water, flush toilets, multiple sinks, lights, & plugins. - Had multiple drinking water pumps throughout the camp to refill all your containers. - Each campsite had a picnic bench w/ built-in shade covering. - You can see the Badlands so great views from the site. CONS: - There are no trees & you're out in the open, so you can see everyone's campsite around you...and they can see you - They allow RVs in the same campsite as us regular tent-ers so they ruined some of the views. - No campfires were allowed so can't have a classic camping experience here. TIPS: - Bring a tarp to give you more shade & protection from the rain & wind. The picnic table covering wouldn't of been enough for my group. - Book site early for the best spots on the edge facining the Badlands. - Bring a gas grill to cook on since no campfires are allowed. - Weather changes constantly. Dont leave tent flaps open even if it's sunny, since it could rain while you're out hiking...not speaking from experience or anything. This campsite was overall a good option for my group here to do all the Badlands hiking trails, which we did but you'll have to see my review of Badlands National Park for more tips on that!

    Photos
    Cedar Pass Campground - Nice area to climb around near camp

    Nice area to climb around near camp

    Cedar Pass Campground - Site #86

    Site #86

    Cedar Pass Campground

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    Buffalo Gap National Grassland - Buffalo Gap National Grasslands

    Buffalo Gap National Grassland

    4.9(11 reviews)
    20.7 mi

    Being from the east coast, I was aware of national parks, national monuments, national forests, and…read moreeven national seashores. But, I wasn't aware of national grasslands until traveling through South Dakota. We stumbled upon Buffalo Gap National Grasslands when we visited the nearby Badlands National Park. (Sept, 2024). Buffalo Gap, with almost 600 thousand acres in southwestern South Dakota, is the second largest protected national grassland in the United Stated. (It's second to the Little Missouri National Grasslands in North Dakota, with over one million acres). Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, its highlights are the colors of the prairie and chalk-colored geological formations, as well as old homesteads and the chance to see wildlife. While there are few developed recreational sites, there are plenty of opportunities to get out into nature here -- with nature viewing, mountain biking, hiking, camping (see below), horseback riding, and hunting. There is also a free Visitors Center in Wall, South Dakota with information about all of the national grasslands, and the importance of the prairie ecosystem. With respect to camping, we already had reservations at the campground in Badlands National Park, but while traveling along the Badlands loop road (Hwy 240), we noticed RVs camping on the top of a cliff in the National Grassland. When we checked online reviews, it was reported that the free dispersed camping offered "jaw dropping views" but with a lot of wind. We hope to return someday to report firsthand!

    A must stop if traveling down I-90. Here, you won't find crowds or flashy landmarks--just endless…read morespace, solitude, and sky. It's a place that invites reflection and connection with nature in its most original form. The silence is profound, broken only by the occasional bird or whispering wind. You can almost feel the ancient rhythm of the land beneath your feet.

    Photos
    Buffalo Gap National Grassland - Buffalo Gap offers a moment of stillness that stays with you long after you're gone.

    Buffalo Gap offers a moment of stillness that stays with you long after you're gone.

    Buffalo Gap National Grassland
    Buffalo Gap National Grassland

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    Sage Creek Campground - Lots of spaces for tents with their own covered picnic tables, and horse area with pens.

    Sage Creek Campground

    4.5(4 reviews)
    27.9 mi

    We rolled into this *free* campground once it was already dark. Most of the campers were settling…read morein for the night. There are two pit toilets (enclosed restroom with actual toilet seat) and places for trash/recycling right by it. Some of the sites have the sun shade for the picnic benches, others do not. There are prairie dogs all over, watch your step for their holes when setting up! Beautiful place to watch for shooting stars. I think our groups favorite part was waking up to the sunrise and sound of bison- we hadn't seen one on our trip yet.. saw one as we walked up the hill and then found the entirety of the herd. The bison made their way across the prairie, one came into the camp and enjoyed using the wooden post to scratch himself. Tent camping went without a hitch!

    Be prepared do some driving on rough, loose-gravel roads to get to this campground. Easy to find on…read moregoogle maps if you need directions, though it'll be quicker if you take the northern route as opposed to the southern one (from the Ben Reifel Visitor Center). The site itself is a cul de sac of sorts with picnic tables (half had shade cover, half did not) next to the inside part of the road. My fam and I got there on a mid-day Sunday and there were plenty of spots. Set up our tent next to a shaded picnic table. LOTS of cute prairie dogs everywhere--but they mind their own business as they squeak their day away. By nightfall, almost all of the picnic table/camping spots were taken, but everyone was quiet and respectful after dark. The restrooms had vault toilets and were surprisingly clean with plenty of toilet paper and hand sanitizer, didn't stink either, and no random bugs. As soon as dusk came, the prairie dogs all disappeared (for good reason) and the coyotes came out--they were VERY noisy with their constant howling. It was BEAUTIFUL at night, either the moon illuminated everything, or the river of stars--just wow. My kids and I had a great time here. Things to note: 1. Please be watchful of and stay very close to your pets, especially small ones (dogs/cats), PARTICULARLY at night if they need to go out to do their thing. The coyotes will likely see them as food and you won't see/hear them coming. 2. There is a horse campground next door. My only gripe about Sage Creek is that the riders bring their horses through the human campground sometimes and leave horse poop all over the place, despite clear instructions not to do so (it says they must go around the campground and pick up their horse poo). 3. No generators allowed... but pretty sure the horse campground folks had their generators running until at least midnight. :-/ 4. Make sure you have enough water for drinking, washing, etc. There is no water at this site. Please dispose of grey water appropriately. No electricity either. 5. There are a few hiking trails in the area. No map of those hiking trails though. 6. Buffalo are free to roam in the area. They weren't on the campground when I was there, but found them just around a bend when I left the site. Most importantly, have a great time! Be patient, be filled with wonder.

    Photos
    Sage Creek Campground - Overlook from the paths that go up the hill (campsite circle is on left, herd of bison on right)

    Overlook from the paths that go up the hill (campsite circle is on left, herd of bison on right)

    Sage Creek Campground - Sunrise

    Sunrise

    Sage Creek Campground - Lots and lots of space!

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    Lots and lots of space!

    Badlands / White River KOA - campgrounds - Updated May 2026

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