Deadwood, South Dakota, is located within the Black Hills National Forest and is close to Sturgis, home to the Black Hills Motorcycle Rally that attracts bikers from all across the country. On its own, Deadwood celebrates Wild Bill Hickok Days each summer. Deadwood is a thriving Old West town in western South Dakota with plenty of camping, outdoor recreation and local flavor.
Geography
Deadwood is located in a valley within the Black Hills and is essentially a tourist town with an elevation around 4,400 feet. The mountains in the Black Hills are the highest in the United States east of the Rockies. The landforms in the Black Hills include limestone and granite, of which Mount Rushmore's famous presidential sculptures were chiseled. The flora includes Ponderosa and limber pine, burr oak, and American elm. Because Deadwood is located in a national forest, there are many trails for hiking and mountain biking close to the campgrounds.
Types
Because this is a popular tourist destination, the area offers many RV parks and campgrounds, both private and public. The Custer State Park is not far from Deadwood, and it has RV sites and tent camping sites. The Center Lake Campground sits within the Custer State Park and has 71 campsites. The next largest public campground in the area is the Game Lodge Campground with 59 sites. Private campgrounds include Nemo Guest Ranch and the Shade Valley Resort where campers can rent three-room tents, pitch their own or park their RVs.
Features
The Shade Valley Resort features washers and dryers, a restaurant and full hookups for RVs. This resort also has plenty of shade trees. Because many of the campers come for the annual bike rally, Shade Valley Resort has motorcycle mechanics and tire services available at the campground.
The Nemo Guest Ranch provides full hookups for RVs, has showers and restrooms and is adjacent to a trout stream where you can walk and enjoy the woods. This guest ranch has a restaurant. Besides having RV and tent camping, the Nemo Guest Ranch has cabins.
The public campgrounds within Custer State Park have access to running water, showers and flush toilets. The parks have picnic tables and fire rings for the campers. The parks are close to hiking trails, and you can walk along the lakeshore at Center Lake Campground and ride mountain or road bikes through the state park.
Considerations
During the summer, the Deadwood and Sturgis areas are home to many festivals, so you can expect crowds in town. It's a good idea to make reservations for a camping site ahead of time. The bike rally brings thousands of bikers to Sturgis, and parking can be a problem.
Some of the campgrounds and resorts close completely for winter, although some of the shops or restaurants in private areas stay open for the entire season. You can cross-country ski in the woods or downhill ski at Terry Peak in the winter. Terry Peak is close to both Lead and Deadwood, and you can ski or snowboard at this resort.
Warnings
This part of South Dakota does not receive much rainfall, and hot, windy, dry weather creates dangerous conditions for forest fires. You might not be able to have a campfire or use charcoal barbecues when fire danger is present. Between November and March, winter storms are unpredictable. If you are planning a ski trip to the area, make sure you check the forecast before you head out and make sure you bring along extra food and water in case your are delayed by a storm.
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