Cancellation alerts

Pactola Reservoir Campground

We watch every site at Pactola Reservoir Campground 24/7, then email you the moment a cancellation opens up.

98% of weekends booked at top sites·Peak Jun–Aug·79 sites

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Pick your dates, pick the sites you want, we do the watching.

Park favorites

The 10 most popular campsites at Pactola Reservoir Campground

The hardest sites to book at this park, reserving 98% of weekend nights in peak season (Jun–Aug). Set up an alert and we'll email you on cancellations.

Site 034

Best here

Ranked #1 of 79

STANDARD · Sleeps 8 · Electric

Site 017

Top pick

Ranked #2 of 79

RV · Sleeps 8 · Electric

Site 016

Top pick

Ranked #3 of 79

STANDARD · Sleeps 8 · Electric

Site 039

Top pick

Ranked #4 of 79

STANDARD · Sleeps 8 · Electric

Site 033

Top pick

Ranked #4 of 79

STANDARD · Sleeps 8 · Electric

Site 029

Top pick

Ranked #6 of 79

STANDARD · Sleeps 8 · Electric

Site 035

Standout

Ranked #7 of 79

STANDARD · Sleeps 8 · Electric

Site 010

Standout

Ranked #8 of 79

STANDARD · Sleeps 8 · Electric

Site 051

Standout

Ranked #9 of 79

STANDARD · Sleeps 8 · Electric

Site 012

Standout

Ranked #10 of 79

STANDARD · Sleeps 8 · Electric

These sites rebook within minutes of being cancelled. Set an alert at Pactola Reservoir Campground and we’ll email you the moment one opens up.

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About this park

Located in western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming, Black Hills National Forest encompasses nearly 1.25 million acres of rugged rock formations, canyons and gulches, open grassland parks, tumbling streams, deep blue lakes, and unique caves. Derived from the Lakota language, the words "Paha Sapa," meaning "hills that are black," honor the dark, pine-covered hills rising several thousand feet above the surrounding prairie. Pactola Reservoir is the largest and deepest reservoir in the Black Hills, boasting 14 miles of shoreline and 150 foot depths on 800 acres. The Bureau of Reclamation manages the dam and water. Wildlife in the area abounds. Bighorn sheep navigate mountainous terrain, while elk, deer and pronghorn gather in forests and prairies. Bald eagles, hawks, osprey, peregrine falcon, and hundreds of other bird species can be found in the forest, especially along streams, lakes and rivers.

Recreation
Black Hills National Forest offers recreational opportunities for all ages. Visitors can take advantage of opportunities for hiking, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and riding off-highway vehicles (OHVs) on moderate terrain. From Pactola Reservoir, hikers can access the 2.2-mile Osprey Trail which includes two loop trails and a spur trail to an overlook. The trail is named for the ospreys that are often seen in the area. Pactola Reservoir is an ideal spot for fishing and boating. The reservoir is stocked with rainbow, lake and brown trout as well as largemouth and rock bass, kokanee salmon and yellow perch. Record lake trout are caught here annually, and large brown trout find habitat in Rapid Creek above and below the reservoir.

Nearby
Nearby Jewel Cave is the second longest cave in the world at 159.29 miles. It features sparkling calcite crystals and other rare formations, as well as some of the largest concentrations of passageways in the world. Other possible day trips include Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Monument, Devils Tower National Monument and Wind Cave National Park.