Bismarck Lake Campground, Custer, SD

Bismarck Lake Campground is located in the Hell Canyon Ranger District, Black Hills National Forest (1 hr southwest of Rapid City, SD) with an elevation of 5,220 feet. There are a total of 21 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to the beginning of September. 19 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 25 and 74 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. There is a fee of $28.00 per night. Some amenities include boat ramp. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.

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Campsite Reviews (88)

4.6 out of 5

5 star		73%
4 star		16%
3 star		3%
2 star		2%
1 star		3%

@FredE55ECD731C · Camped on Sep 25, 2024 at Campsite #9

Campsites were raked and clean as was the entire campground. The hosts were exceptionally helpful with an electrical issue I had and helped me get a spot for an extra night so I could watch the Roundup. A+

@EDWARDZ3693755 · Camped on Sep 24, 2024 at Campsite #10

Very nice, mostly quiet campground (periodic generator activity). Excellent hosts. Bismark Lake is beautiful. Worth staying without power or water, etc. Central to much of Custer State Park. Wish we were still there.......

@DebbieKDA7259B · Camped on Sep 18, 2024 at Campsite #9

The sites are well spaced, good sized. The bathrooms are exceptionally clean! Fishing on the lake is amazing!

@TinaD2729764 · Camped on Sep 11, 2024 at Campsite #10

Lovely campground on beautiful lake. Pit toilets clean. However, campers can run generators from 6 am until 10 pm. This is absolutely asinine. We had a generator on either side of us. People were in their trailers watching TV. This is not what camping is about. Sitting around a campfire, listening to an obnoxious generator ruined our experience. As well as eating breakfast to the obnoxious sounds. We could not wait to leave. There is no reason why generator usage has to be for such an extended period of time. 9 a.m to 8 p.m. is more than adequate.

@AMYS5542485 · Camped on Aug 2, 2024 at Campsite #10

Always so peaceful. Best lake to go to

@PerleTDFAD65E3 · Camped on Jul 29, 2024 at Campsite #15

Great campground in the trees, sites fairly space out, clean bathrooms. We just didn't like the hosts drove around the loop in a pick up truck all evening so you had the noise and the headlights passing by at least 10 times for no apparent reason.

@BobK5632765 · Camped on Jul 21, 2024 at Campsite #7

Our hosts Paul and Jan made our 2 week stay what it was! They were helpful, present, accommodating and kind! Its my favorite campground!Just wish the outhouses didnt all stink so much!

@JenniferC92685 · Camped on Jul 2, 2024 at Campsite #15

The Bismark Lake campground was very peaceful. Quiet, clean and great location for exploring Custer State park and the surrounding Black Hills areas. It was a quick drive to Keystone, Hill City and Mount Rushmore.The camp hosts were friendly and kept the area clean. We enjoyed the peaceful evenings around the campfire and watching stars after busy days in Custer State Park. Also, the Custer Volunteer Fire Department put on an excellent July 4th fireworks show.

@ValerieTB5B28B · Camped on Jun 19, 2024 at Campsite #6

Absolutely gorgeous lake and campgrounds! This site has a beautiful overlook of the lake.

@JillN8557835 · Camped on Jun 16, 2024 at Campsite #5

We love this campground and really enjoyed our stay. The camp hosts were very good and kept the facilities very clean. My only complaint is there are no recycling receptacles.

@JamesB7853748 · Camped on Jun 16, 2024 at Campsite #11

Good location for exploring Custer area. Primitive campgrounds. Water and no dump station. We stayed in C60 Large site.. As soon as you get there the Campground host is there to collect $2 per day for each dog. Bismarck Lake is now run by a private corporation for profit. Its ashamed the forest service has turning these campground over to private companies to make a profit. Who ever head of changing for a dog and not offering anything for it. Be aware their is no dump station in reasonable distance. Cost $20 to dump at a private campground 5 miles awayOn a positive the lake is beautiful and larger that it looks.

@woutervB74D46C · Camped on Jun 15, 2024 at Campsite #3

We loved this private quiet campground. Very centrally located. Our spot (3) is next to the road which is not a problem with slide outs. There is enough space. The picnic and firepit area is quite a steep hill down. But totally private and free. We just organized everything in a way that we would take a shoppingbag with everything ;) that worked well! If you have bad knees or a bad health: don t take this spot. If you are healthy: great spot

@brookea9234907 · Camped on Jun 11, 2024 at Campsite #17

We loved our time at Bismarck Lake. The camp sites were well spaced and the lake was calm and beautiful. It was peak pollen season when we were there, however, so everything ended up covered in a layer of yellow dust.

@RichardB341941 · Camped on Jun 4, 2024 at Campsite #14

The campground hosts were very friendly and helpful. We love this campground and all it has to offer. We keep coming back every year from Minnesota for a number of years now. We always get to see Ospreys fly over the campground and sometimes dive into the lake.

@Jamesq52D61961 · Camped on Sep 29, 2023 at Campsite #3

Meh...The camping is overall much better at Custer State Park. First, Custer SP doesn't charge a pet fee. And, I'm not sure what the pet fee is for anyways, as there are no waste bags, no dedicated pet area, and not even a nice grassy area for the dogs. Further, the camp hosts made me check-in, which is not necessary at Custer SP. They were nice, but I feel it's unnecessary to deal with a paper check-in in year 2023. Further, the description for the site lacks some key useful information. It doesn't have any mention on whether the site is flat or the severity of incline. And, the website failed to mention the picnic is down a significant hill, making it unpractical for me, who would love to take a bunch of cooking items to the table. And, it wasn't safe for the dogs. Plus, the site info was plain inaccurate. It was listed as a back-in site when it's actually a pull-off site. I didn't stay a 2nd night even though I paid for it.

@JamesC5011896 · Camped on Sep 29, 2023 at Campsite #4

everything was perfect!

@DavidC2858387 · Camped on Sep 14, 2023 at Campsite #6

We started in site 6 and moved to site 15. Site 6 was a beautiful spot at the end of the boardwalk. Best for small RV's and vans. There is a hill with several benches behind the site that is a great spot for coffee or cocktails. Site 15 can handle and size vehicle. It is also very nice. The campground has a nice boardwalk starting at the day use area and going over to behind site #6.

@JamesM9879118 · Camped on Sep 13, 2023 at Campsite #7

Wonderful place to stay and the best site hosts I have ever met.

@JanG6519734 · Camped on Sep 10, 2023 at Campsite #13

We really loved Bismarck Lake Campground - 5 stars!!! The hosts were lovely and attentive. The facilities were good. The site was level and roomy, And the lake and boardwalk were an extra treat. We jogged around there, biked from there, and simply enjoyed sitting and reveling in the quiet. Well go back!!!

@JenB2333104 · Camped on Aug 27, 2023 at Campsite #2

This is a beautiful and quiet campground with nice sites surrounded by trees and rocks. The lake is beautiful, especially at sunset and there is places to walk and climb around by the little waterfall. My dog and I loved it and we will definitely be back! The pet fee is payable only in cash.

@MelissaW474369 · Camped on Aug 21, 2023 at Campsite #12

We arrived late, but there was someone to greet us and assist. We appreciate the late check in. We were driving in from Colorado. The reserved area was gorgeous and had everything we needed. Hope to go back for another visit.

@PamelaB5154250 · Camped on Aug 6, 2023 at Campsite #7

Great campground. Nice boardwalk around part of lake with platforms for fishing and benches for relaxing. Enjoyed kayaking the lake and viewing lots of wildlife. Hosts were friendly and helpful. Toilets very clean. Our campsite was really nice. The one drawback was the potable water had a brown tinge to it. They said it had been tested and was safe but we chose not to drink it. We did use it to wash in though. Overall, a wonderful place to camp and easy access to main roads for getting around the hills.

@IanL2304827 · Camped on Aug 6, 2023 at Campsite #3

nice quiet little campground with a pretty lake. stayed at site 3 which was 30 or so feet down a steep hill from the parking spot. so accessibility may be difficult for some folks but makes the site very secluded which was nice. had a good spot for a 4 person tent but larger tents may have difficulty.

@JamesC5011896 · Camped on Jul 27, 2023 at Campsite #12

always love coming here

@KarenN9769488 · Camped on Jul 19, 2023 at Campsite #3

A beautiful, quiet lake setting for this small campground with large, wooded sites. We were in campsite #3, a very, very private site but it sits well below the road. Our 11x9 tent just fit the only level ground on this site. 12 steep uneven steps to carry all the gear down and back up to the car. Loved the privacy. Didn't love the climb up every time to use the vault toilet. In mid-July, mosquitoes and flies were prevalent. However, worth it as an excellent base camp to explore Custer State Park, where the campsites are very small and crowded together. Would happily stay at Bismarck Lake again. Campsite #4 had the best setting of all!

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