The Mammoth Site
Hot Springs, SD
An active paleontology dig inside a building over an ancient sinkhole, where more than 60 mammoths have been found in place. Guided tours run all year; kids can join a simulated dig in summer.
The Mammoth Site is an active paleontological dig in Hot Springs in the south of South Dakota. It is designated a National Natural Landmark and, by its own account, holds the world's largest concentration of mammoth remains in one place.
So far 61 mammoths have been identified there, 58 of them Columbian mammoths and three woolly mammoths. Visitors can see the dig on a guided tour; because excavation is still going on, this is a place where you can watch research as it happens.
For road trippers: according to the tourism site, the attraction is open seven days a week, and the last guided tour starts at 4 p.m. Please check hours, admission and seasonal changes beforehand.
- Nearest town
- Hot Springs, SD
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 43.4246, -103.4835
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and August–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
© Clyde Charles Brown · CC BY-SA 4.0Wind Cave National Park
© Chad Davis from Minneapolis, United States · CC BY 2.0Custer State Park Wildlife Loop
© Clyde Charles Brown · CC BY-SA 4.0Jewel Cave National Monument
© Little Mountain 5 · CC BY-SA 3.0Needles Highway and Needles Eye Tunnel
Campsites nearby
- KOA HolidayMotorhome stopover5 mi from The Mammoth SiteTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Elk Mountain CampgroundCampsite10 mi from The Mammoth Site · 48 pitchesTentsCaravansDrinking waterToilets
- Custer's Gulch RV Park and CampgroundCampsite24 mi from The Mammoth SiteTentsCaravansWaste disposal
- Game Lodge CampgroundMotorhome stopover24 mi from The Mammoth Site · 60 pitchesTentsMotorhomesElectricityShowersWaste disposal
- Big Pine CampgroundCampsite24 mi from The Mammoth Site
- Bearded Buffalo ResortCampsite24 mi from The Mammoth SiteCaravansWaste disposalWi-Fi
All campsites in South Dakota · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is The Mammoth Site?
The Mammoth Site is in Hot Springs, SD, at GPS 43.4246, -103.4835. It is about 24 mi from Custer State Park.
Can you camp near The Mammoth Site?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Hidden Lake Campground and Resort, about 2 mi away; within 25 mi there are 27 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass The Mammoth Site?
The Mammoth Site is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Southern Black Hills: Crazy Horse, the Needles and Wind Cave.
What is there to see near The Mammoth Site?
Places worth a stop nearby: Wind Cave National Park (9 mi), Custer State Park Wildlife Loop (24 mi), Jewel Cave National Monument (27 mi) and Needles Highway and Needles Eye Tunnel (29 mi).
When is the best time to visit The Mammoth Site?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and August–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)