Pactola Reservoir Campground

Forest Recreation Management, Inc, Hill City, South Dakota, United States
Check Availability
PACTOLA ENTRANCE SIGN
PACTOLA LAKE
PACTOLA CAMPGROUND
PACTOLA BEACH

About Pactola Reservoir Campground

This campground is nestled in the pine trees along the south shore of Pactola Reservoir, offering guests lake views and access to a multitude of recreational opportunities both on land and water. Pactola Visitor Center is located in close proximity to the campground, providing opportunities for conservation education and information to visitors.

Available sites

52 total sites
RV Sites 52 sites Check Availability

Activities & Attractions

Nearby

Boating

Boating

Spring Summer Fall
Fishing

Fishing

Year-round
Hiking

Hiking

Year-round
Kayaking

Kayaking

Spring Summer Fall
Swimming

Swimming

Summer

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - Oct 1 to Nov 1

Campground Amenities

Water Access

Water Access

  • Beach Access
  • Lake Access
  • Marina
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

52 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 002, Loop: RSVC RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel
🚐 004, Loop: RSVC RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel
🚐 008, Loop: RSVC RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel
🚐 009, Loop: RSVC RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 010, Loop: RSVC RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 011, Loop: RSVC RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 012, Loop: RSVC RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 016, Loop: RSVC RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 017, Loop: RSVC RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel
🚐 018, Loop: RSVC RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel
🚐 023, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 024, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 025, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 026, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 028, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 029, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 030, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 031, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 032, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 033, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 034, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 035, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Pull-through
🚐 037, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 038, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 039, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 040, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 041, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 042, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 043, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 044, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 045, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 046, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 047, Loop: PACT RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 051, Loop: RESB RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 052, Loop: RESB RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 053, Loop: RESB RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 054, Loop: RESB RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 055, Loop: RESB RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 056, Loop: RESB RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 057, Loop: RESB RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 058, Loop: RESB RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 063, Loop: RESB RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 064, Loop: RESB RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 065, Loop: RESB RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 066, Loop: RESB RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 067, Loop: RESB RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 068, Loop: RESB RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 069, Loop: RESB RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 070, Loop: RESB RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 071, Loop: RESB RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 072, Loop: RESB RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In
🚐 073, Loop: RESB RV
Pet Friendly · Gravel · Driveway entry: Back-In

Reviews

639 reviews

Summary

AI generated

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.

Based on guest feedback

4.3

Overall rating

Based on 639 reviews

Write a review
5 stars 59.9% (383)
4 stars 24.1% (154)
3 stars 5.8% (37)
2 stars 7.2% (46)
1 star 3.0% (19)

Showing 639 reviews

Verified Only
Sort by: Newest First
Newest First Oldest First

Alisha H

Verified

September 11, 2020 Stayed at: 024, Loop: PACT

Beautiful area and wonderful campground sites!

Helpful

Alisha H

Verified

September 11, 2020 Stayed at: 024, Loop: PACT

Beautiful area and wonderful campground sites!

Helpful

Alisha H

Verified

September 11, 2020 Stayed at: 024, Loop: PACT

Beautiful area and wonderful campground sites!

Helpful

Mike F

Verified

September 7, 2020 Stayed at: 030, Loop: PACT

Great campground. Staff was friendly, sites clean and restrooms were very clean.

Helpful

Mike F

Verified

September 7, 2020 Stayed at: 030, Loop: PACT

Great campground. Staff was friendly, sites clean and restrooms were very clean.

Helpful

Mike F

Verified

September 7, 2020 Stayed at: 030, Loop: PACT

Great campground. Staff was friendly, sites clean and restrooms were very clean.

Helpful

Scott H

Verified

August 30, 2020 Stayed at: 052, Loop: RESB

Bike trail out of Mystic is scenic and few people. Campground was quiet and man's many nonreservable sites were open during the week.

Helpful

Scott H

Verified

August 30, 2020 Stayed at: 052, Loop: RESB

Bike trail out of Mystic is scenic and few people. Campground was quiet and man's many nonreservable sites were open during the week.

Helpful

Scott H

Verified

August 30, 2020 Stayed at: 052, Loop: RESB

Bike trail out of Mystic is scenic and few people. Campground was quiet and man's many nonreservable sites were open during the week.

Helpful

Bruce C

Verified

August 28, 2020 Stayed at: 002, Loop: RSVC

Great central location for all of the Mount Rushmore/Rapid City/Sturgis activities with the most awesome lake and campground at the end of the day, or for all day at the lake/campground. Lake is extraordinary clear and cool, swimming or boating is excellent. Lake activities are best mid week with lighter crowds, week ends tend to be quite busy but plenty of room for everyone. Campground is like paradise but primitive, no electricity, water or sewer. Water is available at the restrooms and can be transported in buckets/etc to your campsite. Generators off at 10:00 pm. We will be back every year , our best campsite so far.

Helpful

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.

Nearest town

Hill City, SD - 18 mi

About 36 min to downtown

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.

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Nearby destinations

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Hill City

10 mi away

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12 mi away

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Last updated: October 22, 2026

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Explore Hill City, SD

Population: 834

Nearby city: Rapid City, SD

Approx. 15 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 4,980 ft

Learn more about Hill City

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Managed by the USDA Forest Service