Inside Stockade Lake South campground camping cabins in Custer State Park ⛰ South Dakota travel blog

Hi there!

South Dakota state park camping cabins are basically minimalist shelters without a whole lot of amenities inside the cabin.

You can think of it as a simple place to sleep without having to go through the effort of putting up a tent yourself!

And, it’s possible to find these South Dakota state park camping cabins in Custer State Park!

Custer State Park is a rather big state park, and there are 8 regular campgrounds at Custer State Park.

There are campgrounds for tent camping and RV camping.

And the way it works for the camping cabins is that they are located at the Custer State Park campgrounds.

Not all of the Custer State Park campgrounds have camping cabins, but some of them do!

And, one of the campgrounds that you can find Custer State Park camping cabins is at the Stockade South campground!

👆 Driving to Stockade Lake South campground in Custer State Park in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Stockade Lake South Campground is just a few minutes away!

There are 2 campgrounds near Stockade Lake:

• Stockade North campground
• Stockade South campground

These campgrounds are in the same area.

The camping cabins are at the Stockade Lake South Campground.

There are no camping cabins at the Stockade Lake North Campground.

Also to note, there are also “resort cabins” in Custer State Park.

The resort cabins are more of the “luxury” cabins in Custer State Park, and these are different from the camping cabins.

The Stockade Lake cabins are camping cabins.

When staying at a Stockade Lake camping cabin, you will be staying at the Stockade Lake South campground alongside tent campers and RV campers.

And as a minimalist cabin without many amenities, you will be using the same Stockade South campground amenities as the campers who are tent camping and RV camping.

The 3 regular campgrounds in Custer State Park with camping cabins:

• Stockade Lake South campground
• Blue Bell Campground
• Game Lodge Campground

If you are horse camping in South Dakota, then the French Creek Horse Camp is another Custer State Park campground with camping cabins!

More below of what’s inside a camping cabin at Stockade South campground!

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Now…

A bit more about the Stockade Lake camping cabins!

My cabin trip to the Stockade Lake South campground was in August 2021. Some things may change, but this can start to give you an idea of what the Stockade Lake cabins can be like!

1. The Stockade Lake South campground is near Stockade Lake.

Yes in fact, the Stockade Lake South campground is named so because it is near Stockade Lake!

Although, neither the Stockade Lake South campground or the Stockade Lake North campground are directly along Stockade Lake. So there are no lakeside campsites here.

It is a short drive of a few minutes from the campground to Stockade Lake.

This means that you are just a few minutes away from a Custer State Park swimming beach.

You are also just a few minutes away from being able to eat with lake views! There are a few picnic spots around the lake.

There’s a picnic spot near the Stockade Lake swimming beach.

And you can drive around the lake to find other picnic tables here and there.

There is also the Stockade Lake Trail that starts near the lake. This hiking trail goes inland, away from the lake. (There are a bunch of easy hikes in Custer State Park that loop around other lakes!)

2. You will drive along Stockade Lake on the way to the Stockade Lake South campground.

You will pass by Stockade Lake as you drive to the Stockade Lake campground.

This means it’s a scenic drive to (and from!) the campground!

3. The Stockade Lake South campground is near the town of Custer SD.

If you are looking to be near a “town,” then the Stockade Lake South Campground is a convenient campground to stay at.

The town of Custer SD is a 10 minute drive away.

Lynn’s Dakotamart is a well-stocked small grocery store in Custer SD. (map)

4. The Stockade Lake camping cabins are located at the back of the Stockade Lake South campground.

Stockade Lake South Campground is on google maps. (map)

Depending on where you’re coming from, you may drive through Custer State Park to get to Stockade Lake South Campground, or Stockade Lake may be one of the first things you see in Custer State Park.

You will follow the signs for Stockade Lake if you see them.

And then once you see the entrance sign for Stockade Lake South Campground, you’ll turn on to that road, and then you basically will follow that road all the way back and it will take you to the camping cabins!

You will first pass by the tent camping sites and RV camping sites, and then you’ll start to see the camping cabins.

5. Once you have made it to the area of the Stockade Lake camping cabins, you will look for your cabin number!

There won’t be any campground office that you check into before you go to your cabin.

You can go straight to your cabin. (A little bit more about camping cabin “check-in” procedures later below!)

You will look for the specific cabin you reserved!

You’ll look for the sign post with the number on it.

👆 Welcome to Stockade Lake South Campground and Custer State Park! Check the board to see what’s going on around Custer State Park!

6. There are beds and mattresses inside the camping cabins. But there is no bedding of any kind!

The exact layout will vary based on the camping cabin you reserve. When you make your booking, you can see how many people the cabin will sleep.

The beds are set up bunk bed style. 

All you get is a mattress. No bedding of any kind is included, so you’ll need to bring all of that on your own. This can include things like a sleeping bag and a pillow.

What you see is what you get!

7. There is a small table inside the camping cabins with a little bit of space to put a few things.

It’s not a whole lot of space, but there is a small table inside the cabin.

There is also a spot to place a few things for convenience.

8. There is a picnic table outside the cabin.

The more convenient place to eat will be outside!

You can eat at the picnic table that’s located just outside your cabin.

9. The camping cabins have electricity, AC, and heat!

There is electricity inside the cabin, so you’ll get lighting inside.

This also includes many outlets around the inside of the cabin.

There is also AC in the camping cabins.

You can also get heat in the camping cabins!

You can also use electricity outside of your cabin. There is an outlet outside.

10. There is no running water inside the cabin. Instead, you will use the water faucets that can be found around the Stockade Lake South Campground.

There are faucets around the campground for drinking water (and cooking water) that you can use to fill up your water jug.

11. There is no bathroom inside the camping cabin. Instead, you will use the Stockade Lake South Campground bathroom.

The type of bathroom you use will depend on where your cabin is located and how far you’re willing to walk!

There are regular bathrooms and toilets at the Stockade Lake South Campground.

There are also basic no-flush toilets that will be a shorter walk from your cabin.

12. There is no shower inside the camping cabin. Instead, you will use the Stockade Lake South Campground showers.

The regular bathroom is also the “bath house” or where you will go to take a shower at the Stockade Lake South campground.

13. There is a small trash can inside the camping cabin.

There’s also a trash dumpster at the Stockade Lake South campground.

Similar to tent camping or RV camping, it would be good to take the trash bag from your cabin to the dumpster!

Try to leave the cabin as you found it. There is minimal housekeeping with the camping cabins.

14. There is a fire extinguisher inside the camping cabin.

Know how to use a fire extinguisher! PASS: pull, aim, squeeze, sweep! Watch the video!

A small portable fire extinguisher is also a good thing to add to your Custer State Park camping packing list! You can find them at Walmart.

15. You can go kayaking at Stockade Lake!

Bring your own kayak for Stockade Lake!

Otherwise, there are other Custer State Park lakes that rent kayaks like at Sylvan Lake and Legion Lake.

How to check in for your Stockade Lake South campground camping cabin

Once again, there is no campground office that you need to check-in to.

There is no formal check-in process.

What you DO need to do (or should) before you arrive at Custer State Park during business hours is call the South Dakota state parks office. There will be instructions in the cabin reservation email for how to access your cabin! So DO be sure to read that email completely!

It tells you to call the South Dakota state parks office (which is only open during regular business hours) to find out how to get your key.

BUT… if you don’t read that email and you’re traveling during the regular camping season, chances are the Stockade Lake South campground host can take care of your cabin access.

Or, the cabin might already be unlocked and the key might be inside.

At some point, the Stockade Lake South campground host will probably come and talk to you about the basics.

How to make camping cabin reservations for Custer State Park

You will make your camping reservation for Stockade Lake South Campground and any other Custer State Park campgrounds through the South Dakota state park camping reservation website, which is go outdoors south dakota.

Cost of camping cabins in Custer State Park

The cost in 2023 for Custer State Park camping cabins is $55 a night. There are additional fee of taxes and out-of-state resident fee.

When I did cabin camping in 2021, the base price was also $55.

At that time, the total cost for one night of staying in a Custer State Park camping cabin with taxes and the out-of-state resident was $66.

See current Custer State Park camping cabin fees.

You separately also do need to buy the Custer State Park pass or the annual South Dakota state park pass.

In 2023, it is $20 for a 7-day pass (same if you’re only one day in Custer State Park) and $36 for an annual pass. See current fees.

You can buy either pass when you get to Custer State Park.

Custer State Park camping dates to keep in mind

In early August there is the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

There are reports that this event has attracted nearly half a million people to the region.

Many of these people also go camping, and they also stay at camping cabins! This means that cabins could get booked up more quickly.

This especially affects the areas surrounding Sturgis SD, and that notably includes Custer State Park, even though it’s an hour away.

As the people at South Dakota state parks say, either join them or avoid them!

In 2023, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is August 4 to 15. Confirm this year’s dates.

At the end of September there is the buffalo round-up within Custer State Park.

Once again, this will create crowds, and you can choose to go to it because you want to see the buffalo rounded up, or you can choose to avoid this time!

In 2023, the Custer State Park buffalo roundup is September 28 to 30. Confirm this year’s dates.

And that’s a bit about staying at a cabin at the Stockade Lake South Campground!

See the other Custer State Park campgrounds with camping cabins:

• Game Lodge Campground
• Blue Bell Campground

If you’ll be driving along I-90 in South Dakota to/from the east, you can stay in a camping cabin in eastern South Dakota too! This can make for a perfect overnight stop!

Plan more for your trip to Custer State Park, the Black Hills, and beyond:

• Things to do in Custer State Park with VIEWS!
• Best hikes in Custer State Park
• Custer State Park lakes + trails
• Best campgrounds in South Dakota
• Campgrounds in Badlands National Park
• Best places to visit in South Dakota
• Things to do in Mount Rushmore National Memorial
• Driving from Mount Rushmore to Devils Tower
• Things to do in Devils Tower National Monument
• Things to do in Badlands National Park
• What is up with Wall Drug in South Dakota?

HAPPY STAYING AT A STOCKADE LAKE CAMPING CABIN IN CUSTER STATE PARK!