Sylvan Lake Campground
Custer State Park
Write a Review 24572 Highway 87 Custer, SD 57730 605-255-4515 Reservations: 800-710-2267 Official WebsiteGPS: 43.8403, -103.5578
Overview of Sylvan Lake Campground
Due to low, narrow tunnels, large RVs or vehicles towing campers should avoid Needles Highway (SD Hwy 87N) and approach the area using SD Hwy 89 north from US Hwy 16A in Custer.
Last Price Paid: $44
Reported by TXtraveler on 10/3/2023
Longest RV Reported: 27 feet (Travel Trailer)
Reported by carollucy on 10/9/2021
Number of Sites 39
Reservations yes
Open Seasonally May - September
Elevation 6,200 ft / 1,889 m
Tent Camping Yes
Discover a smarter way to RV with Roadtrippers
All your Campendium favorites and more are now in Roadtrippers.
Q&A - Ask the Community about Sylvan Lake Campground
To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 605-255-4515
Campendium users haven't asked any questions about Sylvan Lake Campground
Reviews of Sylvan Lake Campground 11 people have reviewed this location.
Cell Phone Coverage
Confirmed by 3 Users
Last reported 8/29/2022
“amazing place!”
Reviewed 10/3/2023
| Nightly rate: | $44 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 1 |
| Site Number: | 37E |
| RV Length: | 24' (Class C) |
Overall Rating
We loved this place. Stayed in mid September. Campground is small, sites are fairly close together but many trees help. Very shady. Easy walk to Sylvan Lake which is beautiful. Electric only at site, there is water available in the campground. We found the bathrooms to be clean and modern, great showers as well. Only drawback is there... more
We loved this place. Stayed in mid September. Campground is small, sites are fairly close together but many trees help. Very shady. Easy walk to Sylvan Lake which is beautiful. Electric only at site, there is water available in the campground. We found the bathrooms to be clean and modern, great showers as well. Only drawback is there is no dump station. Black Hills are really a great place to visit with many hikes near this campground.
TXtraveler would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Very disappointed”
Reviewed 7/29/2023
| Nightly rate: | $25 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 4 |
| Site Number: | 34E |
Overall Rating
We had previously been to the Black Hills twice, camping in private campgrounds. We now camp almost exclusively in National Forest Campgrounds and wanted to experience camping in what many consider to be the best state park in the country. Arrived on Sunday July 23, 2023 for 4 nights. Very nice campground, very wooded, great amenities ... more
We had previously been to the Black Hills twice, camping in private campgrounds. We now camp almost exclusively in National Forest Campgrounds and wanted to experience camping in what many consider to be the best state park in the country. Arrived on Sunday July 23, 2023 for 4 nights. Very nice campground, very wooded, great amenities (electrical hookups, showers and bathrooms). Good spacing to our right, about 25 yards, not so much to the left. Short little nature trail to the lake. All sounds great right? Well if you are looking for peace and quiet this is not the place. Needles Highway is right behind the campsite and seems to be a favorite of motorcycle riders....and it wasn't Sturgis week. If you like the constant sounds of motorcycles and tourist helicoptors overhead than this is the place for you!!
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
Verizon
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautiful Quiet Campground For Smaller RV Units and Tents”
Reviewed 8/29/2022
| Nightly rate: | $25 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 4 |
| Site Number: | 10 |
| RV Length: | 24' (Class C) |
Overall Rating
The best state park campground in South Dakota. Quiet and relaxing. Lots of space between sites. RV pads are paved and for the most part level. They only have electrical connections. There are several water fill up locations around the campground. Easy hike to the Sylvan Lake store, lodge, and lake. Shower house is newer. Highly recomm... more
The best state park campground in South Dakota. Quiet and relaxing. Lots of space between sites. RV pads are paved and for the most part level. They only have electrical connections. There are several water fill up locations around the campground. Easy hike to the Sylvan Lake store, lodge, and lake. Shower house is newer. Highly recommend.
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
Verizon 4G
TheJCrew would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautiful Sylvan Lake”
Reviewed 8/25/2022
| Nightly rate: | $30 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 2 |
| Site Number: | 23 |
| RV Length: | 19' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
We enjoyed our 2 nights at the campground. Our site (23)was small & tight but our 19’ trailer just made the turn. The electric was good & needed as the wooded site didn’t help our solar. The campground is close to the lake, the Needles Hwy & Custer. The drives are wonderful. The bathhouse was clean but small & showers were clean. No ... more
We enjoyed our 2 nights at the campground. Our site (23)was small & tight but our 19’ trailer just made the turn. The electric was good & needed as the wooded site didn’t help our solar.
The campground is close to the lake, the Needles Hwy & Custer. The drives are wonderful. The bathhouse was clean but small & showers were clean.
No Dump Station! It was miles away at another campground in the park.
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
Verizon
Aquadoc2000 would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautiful Campground. Close to Lake. Clean Bathrooms. Hot Showers. No Cell Service. ”
Reviewed 8/5/2022
| Nightly rate: | $25 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 2 |
| Site Number: | 23 |
Overall Rating
The camp ground is wooded. You site has a aluminum picnic table and there is a fire ring. Bathrooms are clean and the shower has hot water. There is a source for water in the campground but not at your site.
Ann would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautiful state park.”
Reviewed 10/9/2021
| Nightly rate: | $30 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 3 |
| Site Number: | 33 Electric only |
| RV Length: | 27' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
Our site was a bit tight with the location of the trailer and the fire ring. We did not use the facilities, but potable water was conveniently located for filling jugs. There was a nice walking trail to the lake and the campground was right on the Needles Hwy. We had to go "around" a bit to get our camper into location due to Needle... more
Our site was a bit tight with the location of the trailer and the fire ring. We did not use the facilities, but potable water was conveniently located for filling jugs. There was a nice walking trail to the lake and the campground was right on the Needles Hwy. We had to go "around" a bit to get our camper into location due to Needles restrictions, but not a big deal. The smell of pine was so enjoyable, we really loved this location, highly recommend, I think the lake and the campground were far superior to the others we saw for ambience. No convenient dump stations, but not an issue. Cell service was hit or miss.
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
Verizon 4G
carollucy would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Relaxing, serene, and peaceful ”
Reviewed 6/28/2021
| Nightly rate: | $30 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 2 |
| Site Number: | 8 |
| RV Length: | 21' (Class C) |
Overall Rating
We were here years ago and it was great. We revisited this year and are just as pleased. The moment we showed up a camp host met us and helped us get into our site. He was extremely helpful. The campsite was superb and the facilities very well maintained. My wife and I are planning on coming to this campground again soon.
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
Verizon 4G
Meander would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“We love it here so much we’ve already reserved for next year!”
Reviewed 10/29/2020
| Nightly rate: | $27 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 16 |
| Site Number: | 2 |
| RV Length: | 27' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
This is one of our favorite campgrounds, for its wooded sites, small number of sites, and closeness to Sylvan Lake. We reserved a year in advance for site 34. Beware of site 34! We arrived on the Monday of Labor Day, during the beginning of a snowfall. After many attempts to back into the site, we had to abandon the effort. The ho... more
This is one of our favorite campgrounds, for its wooded sites, small number of sites, and closeness to Sylvan Lake. We reserved a year in advance for site 34. Beware of site 34! We arrived on the Monday of Labor Day, during the beginning of a snowfall. After many attempts to back into the site, we had to abandon the effort. The host said it is a very difficult site because of its odd angling, and offered us site number 2, which he keeps out of the reservable pool so he can offer it to folks whose reserved site doesn’t work for them. We were grateful.
If you are interested in a guided fly fishing trip in the Black Hills, we arranged a half-day trip through Dakota Anglers in Rapid City. The guide met us in nearby Hill City, and provided an excellent and informative trip. We each caught several very large brown trout, rainbows, and brookies. We used some of what we learned to fish in Sylvan Lake, catching fish every time and bringing back to camp a couple dozen rainbows. We mostly fished from shore, and from our canoe a couple times. They rent canoes at the gift shop at the lake, and a trip on the lake is phenomenally beautiful.
The campground is far from the wildlife loop, but we drove it three times, often combining it with also needing to go into Custer city on errands. We saw the most wildlife the days we drove it early morning, starting on the drive at 7:30. We saw hundreds of bison, with a couple of traffic jams.
Needles Highway was also a spectacular morning drive, driving down Hwy 89, across on 16A, and starting the Needles drive going north on 89. Put the morning light at the most dramatic angle. Try for a blue sky day as the colors are spectacular.
There is a good laundromat in Custer, and the burgers & milkshakes at Black Hills Burger & Bun are excellent (take-out re covid).
The campground sites are all electric hookups, and the bathrooms (flush toilets) were spotless. We didn’t use their showers because of covid concerns. There were water spigots around the campground. We used the dump station at Game Lodge Campground for free. We also filled our water tank there.
For us, this is the best campground in Custer SP because of Sylvan Lake, with its fishing, canoeing, hiking, and drop dead beauty. Before we left, we reserved eleven days next May; it will be great to see the baby wildlife.
We had no cell coverage (AT&T).
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
AT&T
Sue G. would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Peaceful, close to Sylvan lake”
Reviewed 9/20/2019
| Days stayed: | 1 |
|---|---|
| Site Number: | 23 |
Overall Rating
We stayed at site 23. Easy enough for our T@B 400 but probably not very easy to get a bigger trailer in. Clean bathrooms with no-pay showers. No cell service but if you hike a couple of minutes up the trail behind the campsite you get great views and cell service. There is a trail from the campground down to the lake. We had dinner at ... more
We stayed at site 23. Easy enough for our T@B 400 but probably not very easy to get a bigger trailer in. Clean bathrooms with no-pay showers. No cell service but if you hike a couple of minutes up the trail behind the campsite you get great views and cell service. There is a trail from the campground down to the lake. We had dinner at the lodge - OK but I wouldn’t bother going again. No view of the lake from the Lodge which was a big disappointment. This campground is about 1/2 mile from the top of Needles Highway - maybe that explains the constant helicopters.
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
AT&T
Moby1958 would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Fine campground, plenty of privacy”
Reviewed 6/23/2019
| Nightly rate: | $20 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 2 |
| Site Number: | SL03 |
| RV Length: | 22' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
Sylan Lake is a great campground at Custer, but off the beaten path of the other parts of the Park. Hooked up with power, water right across the road. Only negative was that the showers had very little if any hot water, but were extremely clean. Also needed to pay for a SD state park permit.
Jeffcross would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
Page 1 of 2
Be the first to add a note for Sylvan Lake Campground!
Be the first to add a video for Sylvan Lake Campground!
Have you written a blog post about Sylvan Lake Campground?
Contact us to update this listing.
Amenities
Hookups
- 50 Amp
- 30 Amp
- 20 Amp
- dry camping
- Partial Hookups
Recreation
- recreation trail
Site Amenities
- fire ring
- picnic table
Facilities
- restrooms: flush
- showers
- trash
- water available
Pets
- pets
Nearby RV Rentals
In partnership with
Nearby RV Rentals
In partnership with
2 Reviews
2020 TRAVEL TRAILER
Heartland Mallard 26
$195 /night | Sleeps 8 Guests
6 Reviews
2021 CLASS B CAMPING VAN
Dodge Ram Promaster
$185 /night | Sleeps 2 Guests
1 Review
2020 FIFTH WHEEL
Keystone RV Alpine 3711KP
$165 /night | Sleeps 6 Guests
New Listing
2019 CLASS B CAMPING VAN
Ford Transit Van
$225 /night | Sleeps 2 Guests
4 Reviews
2019 FIFTH WHEEL
Keystone RV Montana High Country 364BH
$195 /night | Sleeps 6 Guests
8 Reviews
2020 CLASS C MOTOR HOME
Forest River Forester 32LE
$249 /night | Sleeps 10 Guests
Nearby
Please select a reason for flagging this item: