Cedar Pass Campground
Interior, SD
Picnic shelters facing the Badlands wall, with some of the darkest skies in the Midwest for stargazing.
Cedar Pass Campground is in Badlands National Park in South Dakota, near the Ben Reifel Visitor Center close to Interior. It has 96 sites and four group sites and is run by Cedar Pass Lodge. 23 sites have electric hookups and the rest are for tents; there are no full hookups. The campground has views of the Badlands formations but little shade, so bring sun protection.
The National Park Service praises the Badlands' night skies, and the campground has an amphitheater and a Night Sky Interpretive Area. Open campfires are not allowed, while camp stoves and small grills are; confirm the current rules before you go. The maximum stay is 14 days. Reservations are usually needed, and for the summer season they open in the first week of March, bookable through recreation.gov or the lodge. Recreation.gov lists late March to mid-October as the season, while the NPS describes year-round operation with limited services in winter. A free dump station is in the Group Loop. Secure your tent and gear against sudden wind and storms.
- Nearest town
- Interior, SD
- Category
- Camping & RV
- GPS
- 43.7497, -101.9463
- Hookups
- electric
- Max length
- 40 ft (12.2 m)
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 September. Still fine, with some compromises, in August and October. Cold, short days in December–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
© Shadowmeld Photography · CC BY-SA 4.0Badlands National Park
© BakedintheHole · CC BY 4.0Wall Drug
© Chad Davis from Minneapolis, United States · CC BY 2.0Custer State Park Wildlife Loop
© Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand · Public domainMount Rushmore National Memorial
Campsites nearby
- Cedar Pass CampgroundCampsite0 mi from Cedar Pass Campground · 96 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityShowers
- Badlands Hotel and CampgroundCampsite2 mi from Cedar Pass CampgroundTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Badlands/White River KOA HolidayMotorhome stopover4 mi from Cedar Pass CampgroundMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Circle 10 Campground & RV ParkMotorhome stopover6 mi from Cedar Pass CampgroundMotorhomes
- Buffalo Gap National GrasslandCampsite18 mi from Cedar Pass CampgroundTentsCaravansFree
- Kodako KampgroundCampsite22 mi from Cedar Pass CampgroundTentsCaravansElectricityShowersWaste disposal
All campsites in South Dakota · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Cedar Pass Campground?
Cedar Pass Campground is in Interior, SD, at GPS 43.7497, -101.9463. It is about 22 mi from Wall.
Which road trips pass Cedar Pass Campground?
Cedar Pass Campground is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Badlands and the Black Hills with kids.
What is there to see near Cedar Pass Campground?
Places worth a stop nearby: Badlands National Park (21 mi), Wall Drug (22 mi), Custer State Park Wildlife Loop (71 mi) and Mount Rushmore National Memorial (76 mi).
When is the best time to visit Cedar Pass Campground?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)