Custer State Park Travel Forum

We are planning on going to the buffalo roundup in Sept. Does anyone know if the campgrounds are packed full during the roundup? We would like to stay at Center Lake campground but, if I understand correctly, you can't make reservations ahead of time at Center Lake campground. Is that correct?

Any info on the roundup and camping would be appreciated. Thanks.

Go right to the website for the Buffalo Roundup. See website: http://gfp.sd.gov/state-parks/directory/custer/events/buffalo-roundup.aspx

Check out the following webpage to make sure about the reservation system at Center Lake Campground. See:
http://gfp.sd.gov/state-parks/directory/custer/campgrounds/

The time of year is extremely important as to camping. after labor day, all campgrounds usually shut down. This is because of the altitude and lack of revenue by owners. It can snow at any time after this. Center lake campground sets at about 6,000 ft altitude. It's cold camping there in the summer. As a rule In the Black Hills: later in the season:; A lower altitude would be much warmer. There are many places in the black hills that are close enough to drive to the park for the roundup, and at reduced cost or no cost in what is considered "winter" here. If you are not so concerned about heated showers and bathrooms; All forest service roads are for public camping, but fires are subject to closure in high fire times. If you don't mind doing without, then you can camp on any forest service land within just a few miles of a town or the park itself. Most of this land is on the west side of the parks within the black hills. The maps are very inexpensive and can be obtained at any forest service office. This is true for any forest service land, not only the Black Hills.