Hi there!
What might be considered an EPIC South Dakota camping experience?!
Camping with buffalo in South Dakota!!
It is possible that you might have the chance to see buffalo when you are camping in Badlands National Park… if you go camping at a certain campground!
There are 2 campgrounds in Badlands National Park.
If you want a chance to see buffalo near the campground, then the Badlands National Park campground that you want to go camping at is the Sage Creek Campground.
This is the campground that’s in a more remote area of Badlands National Park, and it’s further away from the best things to do in Badlands National Park.
But if staying in a more remote area of a national park sounds like your idea of good camping (and maybe seeing buffalo is your idea of good camping!), then you just might love Sage Creek Campground!
Oh, and if free camping is your idea of good camping, you might love it too.
As of 2023, Sage Creek Campground is a free campground in Badlands National Park. (Check current fees.)
Buffalo at a Badlands National Park campground: Sage Creek Campground buffalo
I was camping at Sage Creek Campground for 2 nights.
And both mornings, the buffalo did a walk through the campground between 6am and 7am.
I did not see the buffalo walk through the campsite at any other time during the day.
Of course, I do not know if the buffalo showed up at times I was not there!
And, buffalo could change their routine!
So although there’s no guarantee a buffalo will be around every morning, you might want to set your alarm clock!
Otherwise, if you miss the buffalo in the early morning, there are also generally buffalo to be seen a bit off in the distance in the Sage Creek wilderness area, so they do frequent the area surrounding the campground.
🦬
Partner resources for travel planning!
Look for hotels, vacation rentals, and cabins at booking.com or vrbo.com. You can filter to adjust for your price range to look for cheaper options too. Also look for the "property type" filter at booking.com and the kitchen, hot tub, or cabin filter at vrbo, as well as the map! Read the reviews! (For the Black Hills, look for the towns of Rapid City, Keystone, Spearfish, or Custer. For the Badlands, look for Wall.)
Look for unique South Dakota experiences like hot air balloon and private tours of the Black Hills at viator.com or getyourguide.com. Read the reviews!
📌 Pin this post for later! Save on Pinterest! 👈📌
Is it safe to go camping near buffalo in Badlands National Park?
The boring safety info!
Buffalo can be dangerous!
This Badlands National Park campground was the second campground I camped at in the Dakotas in which buffalo freely walked through the campground getting up close and personal to tents.
The other was camping in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Buffalo were walking through my campsite! See my Cottonwood Campground video!
First, to be clear, do not underestimate buffalo!
They can seem like gentle giants as you watch them slowly move across the campground.
But they can turn aggressive really quickly if they feel threatened.
So basically, don’t do anything to make them feel threatened!
That basically means stay away from them.
Don’t engage with them.
Just let them go by.
If you do that, then it’s an almost guarantee to camp safely with buffalo in Badlands National Park!
If you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you!
The general guideline that the National Park Service says is to “maintain a distance of 100 feet whenever possible” from the buffalo.
When you’re at the campground it’s possible that you may not adhere to this if the buffalo decides to walk by your campsite.
If this happens, just don’t do anything to provoke them and they will have no reason to stop to hurt you!
You may also hear buffalo being referred to as bison. They are the same thing.
And that’s a bit about maybe where to see buffalo in Badlands National Park while camping!
And, buffalo aren’t the only wildlife you might see at Sage Creek Campground! You have a chance to see prairie dogs while camping in Badlands National Park too!
If you’re interested in Sage Creek campground, you may also be interested in these South Dakota activities:
- What are the campground amenities at Sage Creek Campground?
- The other Badlands National Park campground
- Where to see bighorn sheep in Badlands National Park
- Things to do in Badlands National Park for VIEWS!
- What is up with the Wall Drug Store?
- Another South Dakota campground with a chance to see buffalo
- Best campgrounds for a South Dakota road trip
- Best places to visit in South Dakota for VIEWS!
HAPPY (MAYBE!) SEEING BUFFALO WHILE CAMPING IN BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK!
Here are some ideas for a classic South Dakota road trip going from east to west!
After you go to Badlands National Park, you can head west to Wall Drug and then onwards to Mount Rushmore!
You've made it to the Black Hills, where you'll find Custer State Park.
While you're in the area, you can also go to Wind Cave National Park and/or Jewel Cave National Monument and/or the Mammoth Site!
Drive the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway on your way west out of the Black Hills and South Dakota as you continue your epic road trip to Devils Tower National Monument and Wyoming!
Then, onwards to the best places to visit in Wyoming with your grand finale of Wyoming being one day in Yellowstone National Park!
Read more for your South Dakota road trip: Best places to visit in South Dakota
There are affiliate links on this page. I may earn a commission.