Devil's Tower campground

[TravelSolo]

Anyone been to the Belle Fourche River Campground inside the park there?

I am hoping to spend 2 days at the tower, arriving on a Monday in June. Since it's officially summer travel time then I was wondering how likely I would be to find a spot at the first-come first-served campground there.

I'll be coming in after a 5 hour trip from my previous spot so I am curious if I should leave extra early to get there before noon, or wait and arrive after the noon check-out time on a Monday after the weekenders have hopefully left.

I have never done a FCFS campsite so I am not sure if you just queue up and wait for an opening or what. I always disperse or do reservations at a paid place.

I can't find any info on the the best times for camping there

Thanks in advance

[vseasport]

We stayed at Devils Tower KOA 5 months ago just outside the entrance to the park. The location was fantastic but without a doubt the worst campground we have ever stayed in. Not only was it horrible but expensive. To add insult we arrived an hour before check in time and they wanted an extra 10 bucks to let us in. On principle we waited the hour outside and then found out our site had been vacated in the morning. If their crew was working and grooming I could kind of understand but it wasn't the case. We had a premium site that was just dirt, not a blade of grass and not close to level.

We didn't stay in the park campground because according to their rules our 38DP was too big. It turned out to be a mistake because they are flexible and it would not have been a problem. The park rangers were very friendly.

The park is open 24hrs but in the morning (8 or 9 I don't recall) a line starts to form down the highway at the ranger station. It can be a long wait to pay and gain admittance. My national park pass would have been acceptable but we just walked from the KOA. Can't say for certain but mid day it shouldn't be difficult to find a spot in the public campground.

[Old-Biscuit]

First Come -- First served CG

Early best time.
Call a ranger to learn more about this camp at 307-467-5283

Photos of sites....Loop A & B
https://www.campsitephotos.com/campg...fourche-river/


We ended up staying at the CG just outside....no room inside the park

[twogypsies]

We've stayed in the park with our 40' motorhome. Beautiful campground. We got there around noon and plenty of sites. Enjoy!

[CharlesinGA]

Google Street View of the campground

Charles

[Mike8253]

When we did Devil's Tower a number of years ago, we stayed at the Mountain View RV Park & Campground in Sundance. It's about 16 miles from the monument, but an easy drive on good road for a full day's trip to the monument. Nice park and good services and amenities. The additional thing I liked about staying there was the closer proximity to I-90 for what at that time was the continuation of our trip westward to Cody and then Yellowstone. Worth considering.

[scbwr]

When we were there, we stayed at the KOA which is located very near the main entrance. You could always make a reservation at the KOA and just cancel it if you can't get into the campground at Devil's Tower, but check the cancellation policy before you do so as it could be only a $10 fee, or one night's site fee...or possibly more since it is at a tourist attraction.

[TravelSolo]

Originally Posted by scbwr

When we were there, we stayed at the KOA which is located very near the main entrance. You could always make a reservation at the KOA and just cancel it if you can't get into the campground at Devil's Tower, but check the cancellation policy before you do so as it could be only a $10 fee, or one night's site fee...or possibly more since it is at a tourist attraction.

Already checked. 48 hour notice required

[vseasport]

Originally Posted by Mike8253

When we did Devil's Tower a number of years ago, we stayed at the Mountain View RV Park & Campground in Sundance. It's about 16 miles from the monument, but an easy drive on good road for a full day's trip to the monument. Nice park and good services and amenities. The additional thing I liked about staying there was the closer proximity to I-90 for what at that time was the continuation of our trip westward to Cody and then Yellowstone. Worth considering.

This would be a good option but I bet on a Monday mid day there will be space at Belle Fourche River Campground.

Anything is better than staying at the KOA hell hole at Devils Tower. That experience was the only time in my life time I was motivated to leave a negative review.

[USMCRET]

Originally Posted by vseasport

We stayed at Devils Tower KOA 5 months ago just outside the entrance to the park. The location was fantastic but without a doubt the worst campground we have ever stayed in. .

Mark, what exactly made it the worst? I have plans to stay there this summer.

[StephenW]

We stayed at Belle Fourche River CG at Devils Tower in late Sept 2021. Arrived around noon on a weekday, CG was about 2/3 empty, pretty much filled by 6pm. Pull -thru site with great views, plenty of shade, easily handled our total 55' length. Drive in, pull into a site, then walk back and register at the iron ranger kiosk. Lots of wildlife and the prairie dogs are hilarious to watch. Quite the beggars!

[vseasport]

Originally Posted by USMCRET

Mark, what exactly made it the worst? I have plans to stay there this summer.

Originally Posted by USMCRET

Mark, what exactly made it the worst? I have plans to stay there this summer.

We were at Elkhorn Ridge RV Part in Spearhead, SD and the campers next to us said they Just came from Devils Tower and highly recommended it. It was not on our radar but after a little research it looked liked an interesting place.

It appeared our rig was too big for the public camp ground in the park so I made reservations at the KOA just outside the entrance. It seemed a little pricey for a KOA so I thought it must be nice (within reason price is not a factor for us).

The following day when getting to the location there was a long line of vehicles down the highway entering the park. We had to wait in that line in able to get up to the entrance of the KOA. There was a very nice lady at the KOA check-in stand that explained we were an hour early and would have to pay an extra $10 for early entrance. It was only an hour so we decided to wait in overflow and have lunch.

After lunch I walked up to check-in and ask what our space number was assigned to us so I could walk in and check it out. The woman drove a Mini Cooper and so is our toad. After a brief discussion she looked both ways, handed me our paperwork and said just go ahead and don't say anything.

We entered the park and found our assigned spot was occupied. I walked back and told the check-in woman. Then she remembered the spot next to ours had an electrical problem and they moved the people to our spot. She said to pull into the empty spot with trash bag over the electrical pesdistal and the electrician would be there any minute.

After waiting and hour and half I walked back up and asked "how about that electrician?" She called the office and said the park owner would come out and plug us in. After waiting another two hours I took off the trash bag and plugged in. We lit up and everything seemed fine. We walk up to check-in again, explained what we had done. She said that was okay and to go have a good time. She also asked what we drink. We walked into Devils Tower park and on to where the prairie dogs were supposed to be. Sure enough the rodents were running around. They are a crack up to watch and it was amusing.

Shortly after returning to our RV the nice lady from check-in showed up with a couple of one shot bottles of Crown Royal for our troubles. It was a very nice jester. It was getting dark and I was on the couch reading. All of a sudden there was a POUND, POUND, POUND on our door. When I opened it there was a guy outside just melting down. I put on my flip flops, went outside. This guy was babbling something about the electric. I tried to calm him down enough to understand. He squared off and me and I truly thought he was going to take a swing. I'm 72 and was thinking I don't need to get in a brawl. Finally he calmed down enough to tell me that the electrician was there.

I walked around to the pedestal where the electrician asked me to unplug. It took him about 5 minutes to determine there was nothing wrong with the electric. In our conversation he told me he had driven 5 hours from Montana at high speed to get there. He also told me the maniac that got me out there was the park manager. In the middle of all of this the manager said he was going to get the owner. I expressed it was a very good idea. He finally left.

In the morning the folks next to us said they had a run in with the manager and he was jerk. He went off on them for lighting their barbecue not knowing it was a no fire zone. He also lectured that they shouldn't be smoking cigarettes.

It is my opinion that the owner is reaping the benefits of his great location, has no people skills, doesn't properly maintain the facility or live up to the standards or spirit of a KOA.

On a positive note, visiting Devils Tower was worth the hassle.

[USMCRET]

Thank you for that amplification, Mark. I’m sorry you had to put up with that. It would put a bad taste in my mouth as well. So unnecessary.

[Viking257]

We stayed at Devils Tower KOA in September and enjoyed it.

Only issue was we had a tree that blocked our satellite, but we were only there for 2 nights.