State park · Custer State Park · South Dakota

Stockade South Campground

Stockade South Campground is one of the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks campgrounds inside Custer State Park in the Black Hills, sitting on the west side of the park with easier access toward the town of Custer. Our Custer guide covers it briefly: it is the loop to choose when an electric RV site is the priority, with 23 electric RV sites plus separate tent-only inventory, and it suits mid-sized rigs and travelers who want a Black Hills base inside a 71,000-acre park with nearly 1,400 bison and the Wildlife Loop.

Stockade South Campground at a glance

Hookups Mixed: none or electric
Max RV length Mid-sized RVs; exact site
Cost $16–$34
Fees $16 tent dry or $34 RV electric.
Reservations South Dakota GFP; one year ahead

Source-backed: Official Custer campground table (checked 2026-08-05). Rates and site details change — verify with the operator before you book. Compare it with every other park we track in the price index.

Why RVers stay here

Stockade South Campground is one of the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks campgrounds inside Custer State Park in the Black Hills, sitting on the west side of the park with easier access toward the town of Custer. Our Custer guide covers it briefly: it is the loop to choose when an electric RV site is the priority, with 23 electric RV sites plus separate tent-only inventory, and it suits mid-sized rigs and travelers who want a Black Hills base inside a 71,000-acre park with nearly 1,400 bison and the Wildlife Loop.

The practical picture is standard Custer: no full hookups anywhere in the park, so an electric site still means shared water and a dump station where listed. Electric RV sites are $34 a night and tent-only sites $16, plus the $25 seven-day park vehicle license and a $10 online fee for nonresidents. Reservations open one year before arrival at 6 a.m. Mountain, and summer dates and the late-September Buffalo Roundup go fast. Rig fit is site-specific, so enter exact dimensions in the reservation system. The trade-off is that older descriptions calling this loop dry camping are wrong; the current inventory is electric, but sewer at the pad is not available.

  • 23 electric RV sites at $34 a night inside Custer State Park
  • West-side location with easier access toward Custer town
  • Bison, the 18-mile Wildlife Loop and the Needles all within the park
  • Reservable a full year ahead, unlike many South Dakota state parks
  • !No sewer or water at the pad; electric only, with shared water and dump station
  • !Add the $25 seven-day vehicle license and nonresident reservation fee to the nightly rate
  • !Fit is site-specific; our guide covers this loop only briefly, so check the reservation listing carefully

What our guides say about Stockade South Campground

Excerpts from the RV Parks Guide articles that cover this campground. Each links to the full guide.

Our verdict

Book Stockade South if you want an electric site on the west side of Custer State Park and can reserve a year out. Skip it if you need full hookups or a large-rig guarantee; check Blue Bell or Legion Lake for large-RV inventory.

Stockade South Campground: frequently asked questions

Does Stockade South Campground have full hookups?

No. Like every regular Custer State Park campground, it has no sewer at the site. Stockade South offers 23 electric RV sites plus tent-only inventory; water and dump station are shared facilities where listed.

How much does Stockade South Campground cost per night?

$34 for an electric RV site and $16 for a tent-only site, plus a $25 seven-day Custer State Park vehicle license and a $10 online reservation fee for nonresidents.

What is the max RV length at Stockade South Campground?

There is no published campground-wide maximum. Fit is determined by the exact site, so enter your full RV or trailer dimensions in the South Dakota GFP reservation system before booking.

Do you need reservations at Stockade South Campground?

Yes for summer. Custer State Park sites open one year before arrival at 6 a.m. Mountain, and popular dates, especially around the September Buffalo Roundup, sell out quickly.

What is the difference between Stockade North and Stockade South?

Stockade North has 42 sites across tent, basic, modern non-electric and electric tiers. Stockade South has 23 electric RV sites plus separate tent-only sites, so choose South when an electric RV site is the priority.

More campgrounds around Custer State Park

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