About Pactola Reservoir Campground
Available sites
52 total sites
RV Sites
Activities & Attractions
Nearby
Boating
Fishing
Hiking
Kayaking
Swimming
Year-round
Fishing
Hiking
Spring
Boating
Kayaking
Summer
Boating
Kayaking
Swimming
Fall
Boating
Kayaking
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Water Access
- Beach Access
- Lake Access
- Marina
Rates, Sites & Availability
52 Sites Available
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Site Details
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52 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (639)
What Guests Are Saying
Pactola Reservoir Campground offers a beautiful lakeside setting with spacious, well-maintained sites and friendly camp hosts. Visitors appreciate the quiet atmosphere, clean facilities, and access to hiking trails and water activities. However, some concerns include the low water level in the reservoir, limited water sources, and occasional noise from nearby campers.
What Guests Are Saying
Pactola Reservoir Campground offers a beautiful lakeside setting with spacious, well-maintained sites and friendly camp hosts. Visitors appreciate the quiet atmosphere, clean facilities, and access to hiking trails and water activities. However, some concerns include the low water level in the reservoir, limited water sources, and occasional noise from nearby campers.
Review Summary
Pat L
VerifiedJune 28, 2022 • Stayed at: 032, Loop: PACT
Pactola is a beautiful campground, and I would highly recommend it to my friends.
***Please read my entire comment, because I think that the Campground Host from Loop C might have received an unfair review by another guest from my group. ***
Unfortunately, when I was returning to the campground from the little store at the end of the road, a woman—one of the campground rangers(?)—ran after me, shouting ‘Where are YOU going!’. I said, ‘To my campsite’. She then said, ‘Oh, I see your white paper.’ When I checked in, I had been told to put it on my dash, which I did. I must say that it WAS a busy weekend—with lots of day visitors who may have been trying to access the reservoir through the campground. However, her running and shouting at me was unnecessary, since I had to pass the gate where I would need to show my site slip.
There also seems to be some inconsistencies with the campground Hosts. In Loop C, where I was having dinner with a group of friends, the Host*** advised that we could only have 2 vehicles per site. I understand that he was just following the park guidelines. However, In my loop ‘A’, there were 4 cars parked in one site on more than one occasion during my stay.
***Host from Loop C was polite when he reminded members of my group to limit 2 vehicles per site, and he asked them to not park on the grass. Perfectly reasonable requests. One of our members—I could best describe him as a cranky and obstinate—took offence, saying that there was no need for the Host to shout. Yes, the Host raised his voice, but only to be heard over the voices of our group, and because he needed to be heard from a distance. He was not ‘shouting’ in the sense of chastising or bullying.
Thank you for a pleasant stay!
James S
VerifiedJune 28, 2022 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: RSVC
Campsites well maintained and "little house in the woods" were clean and plenty of toilet paper. I had a handicapped site which helped my spouse immensely. She needs a cane to walk. Rangers were helpful and polite. Hope to get back again soon.
Jim Stark
Golden, CO
Pat L
VerifiedJune 28, 2022 • Stayed at: 032, Loop: PACT
Pactola is a beautiful campground, and I would highly recommend it to my friends.
***Please read my entire comment, because I think that the Campground Host from Loop C might have received an unfair review by another guest from my group. ***
Unfortunately, when I was returning to the campground from the little store at the end of the road, a woman—one of the campground rangers(?)—ran after me, shouting ‘Where are YOU going!’. I said, ‘To my campsite’. She then said, ‘Oh, I see your white paper.’ When I checked in, I had been told to put it on my dash, which I did. I must say that it WAS a busy weekend—with lots of day visitors who may have been trying to access the reservoir through the campground. However, her running and shouting at me was unnecessary, since I had to pass the gate where I would need to show my site slip.
There also seems to be some inconsistencies with the campground Hosts. In Loop C, where I was having dinner with a group of friends, the Host*** advised that we could only have 2 vehicles per site. I understand that he was just following the park guidelines. However, In my loop ‘A’, there were 4 cars parked in one site on more than one occasion during my stay.
***Host from Loop C was polite when he reminded members of my group to limit 2 vehicles per site, and he asked them to not park on the grass. Perfectly reasonable requests. One of our members—I could best describe him as a cranky and obstinate—took offence, saying that there was no need for the Host to shout. Yes, the Host raised his voice, but only to be heard over the voices of our group, and because he needed to be heard from a distance. He was not ‘shouting’ in the sense of chastising or bullying.
Thank you for a pleasant stay!
James S
VerifiedJune 28, 2022 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: RSVC
Campsites well maintained and "little house in the woods" were clean and plenty of toilet paper. I had a handicapped site which helped my spouse immensely. She needs a cane to walk. Rangers were helpful and polite. Hope to get back again soon.
Jim Stark
Golden, CO
Pat L
VerifiedJune 28, 2022 • Stayed at: 032, Loop: PACT
Pactola is a beautiful campground, and I would highly recommend it to my friends.
***Please read my entire comment, because I think that the Campground Host from Loop C might have received an unfair review by another guest from my group. ***
Unfortunately, when I was returning to the campground from the little store at the end of the road, a woman—one of the campground rangers(?)—ran after me, shouting ‘Where are YOU going!’. I said, ‘To my campsite’. She then said, ‘Oh, I see your white paper.’ When I checked in, I had been told to put it on my dash, which I did. I must say that it WAS a busy weekend—with lots of day visitors who may have been trying to access the reservoir through the campground. However, her running and shouting at me was unnecessary, since I had to pass the gate where I would need to show my site slip.
There also seems to be some inconsistencies with the campground Hosts. In Loop C, where I was having dinner with a group of friends, the Host*** advised that we could only have 2 vehicles per site. I understand that he was just following the park guidelines. However, In my loop ‘A’, there were 4 cars parked in one site on more than one occasion during my stay.
***Host from Loop C was polite when he reminded members of my group to limit 2 vehicles per site, and he asked them to not park on the grass. Perfectly reasonable requests. One of our members—I could best describe him as a cranky and obstinate—took offence, saying that there was no need for the Host to shout. Yes, the Host raised his voice, but only to be heard over the voices of our group, and because he needed to be heard from a distance. He was not ‘shouting’ in the sense of chastising or bullying.
Thank you for a pleasant stay!
James S
VerifiedJune 28, 2022 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: RSVC
Campsites well maintained and "little house in the woods" were clean and plenty of toilet paper. I had a handicapped site which helped my spouse immensely. She needs a cane to walk. Rangers were helpful and polite. Hope to get back again soon.
Jim Stark
Golden, CO
Wendi R
VerifiedJune 26, 2022 • Stayed at: 051, Loop: RESB
Nice, well kept campground with a very professional and helpful staff!
Wendi R
VerifiedJune 26, 2022 • Stayed at: 051, Loop: RESB
Nice, well kept campground with a very professional and helpful staff!
Wendi R
VerifiedJune 26, 2022 • Stayed at: 051, Loop: RESB
Nice, well kept campground with a very professional and helpful staff!
Darla M
VerifiedJune 25, 2022 • Stayed at: 034, Loop: PACT
The vaults are by far the cleanest we have ever experienced! We did give the camp host a nickname - Sir NopesALot. His wife had the same attitude. The simplest requests or questions were met first with several "nope"s before they could understand. Yikes. Who trains these people?!? Other than that, we love the lake.
Location & Directions for Pactola Reservoir Campground
Forest Recreation Management, Inc, Hill City, SD 57745 United States
Elevation: 1,429 ft
Getting There
Drive 17 mi west on State Highway 44 from Rapid City, South Dakota. From
Highway 44, turn on 385 south. Campground located 2 mi off US Highway
385.
Policies & Rules
Cancellation policy
- Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
- Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
- Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
- Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
- Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
- Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
- Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.
Site types & loops
- These campsites do not have electric service.
- Some sites are available on a first come, first served basis without reservations.
Safety & rules
- Inspect and clean all gear before using the lake or trails to avoid spreading invasive species.
Fees & deposits
- There is a $2 fee per pet per night.
- Senior and Access discounts apply only to the site of the card holder, and additional fees may apply for other sites.
General
- Click here for more information about Black Hills National Forest.
Fires & fuel
- Firewood should be sourced locally and burned on-site to prevent pests.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: October 22, 2026
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Population: 834
Nearby city: Rapid City, SD
Approx. 15 mi away (straight-line distance)
Elevation: 4,980 ft
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