Top Of The Mountain Dispersed Camping Above Deadwood, South Dakota

Located in the Black Hills National Forest of South Dakota high above the historic western town of Deadwood you will find some amazing dispersed camping.

Run by the US Forest Service you can boondock here for 14 days for free. Campsites are on a first-come, first-served basis and it is open year round.

Commonly referred to as Top Of The Mountain Dispersed Camping, this spot draws in campers because of its amazing views and proximity to the tourist town of Deadwood.

Camping can be found on Mt. Roosevelt Road and the GPS coordinates I provided above are for the trailhead for the Mount Roosevelt Friendship Tower (which is very cool and you should check out).

There are a couple of spots to camp before the trailhead, but most can be found after it. After you pass the trailhead 6-7 more spots are located along the road.

A couple of these spots can fit multiple rigs and a few can accommodate larger vehicles.

This road is a bit steep and has some sharp curves so be careful while driving up it. There are some washboard parts as well, but take it slow and you should have no issues.

Now this is a very popular area and it gets full on a regular basis. You may want to scout it out before heading up to see if there are open spots.

If you do head up and there is nothing available you will be able to turn around (it may take some work if you’re in a bigger rig).  A 4-way at Mt. Roosevelt Road, Spike Lane, and Tetro Rock Road will allow you to turn around.

Personally, if you’re in anything bigger than 25 feet though I would scout ahead first.

There are a couple of spots right after where Mt. Roosevelt turns into Tetro Rock.

We stayed at this location in 2021. In 2020 we found a spot earlier on the road with pretty epic views. Many of these camping spots are located right next to the main road so please keep an eye on your pets and little ones.

This is true boondocking so no amenities are available here. No trashcans, water, hook-ups are restrooms are available for use.

Remember to follow the pack it in, pack it out principles. We thought it was pretty clean considering how many people camp here throughout the year.

Absolutely no campfires are allowed here.

Rangers do patrol the area and I’ve heard it’s a pretty hefty fine if they catch you with a fire. The wind here can be pretty intense at times as well.

If you’ve spent any time in South Dakota though you know that wind is pretty much the norm.

I know our Verizon service was really good here and got better with our booster. It’s been a while, but I believe our AT&T worked here as well, but don’t quote me on that. Leashed pets are allowed and please pick up after them.

There are some spots that provide a bit of tree coverage for shade as well as multiple spots fully open to the sun. We had no problems powering up our solar panels during our stay.

The town of Deadwood is only 10-15 minutes away and there is plenty to do there. There are tons of places to eat and souvenir shops.

If you’re into gambling you will have your choice of casinos.

Hit up the Adams Museum or Days of 76 Museum for some history on the town. See where Wild Bill Hickok died and where he’s buried. Play a round of mini-golf or participate in a little scavenger hunt with the #WildBillMe Challenge.

They also have live gunfights right in the middle of town multiple times a day.

Somehow in both our visits we still haven’t caught that show yet. Maybe this year!

Be sure to stop at the Welcome Center for all the information you can find on the town and surrounding area as well as some cool exhibits.

The town of Lead is just 10 minutes from Deadwood and is neat all on it’s own. Check out the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center, and the Black Hills Mining Museum and grab a slice at the Pizza Lab. The Mural Project Walking Tour should not be missed either.

The town of Spearfish is about 30 minutes away and has all your shopping needs.

A Walmart is located in the town as well as many places to eat. Be sure to check out the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery while in town. It’s a very cool spot that’s free and pet friendly.

You will be taking the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Drive on your way to Spearfish and this drive is gorgeous (especially in the fall). On the way, you can stop and see Spearfish Falls, Roughlock Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls.

Also, take the hike to the Devil’s Bathtub for a little adventure.

You will be able to find multiple hiking opportunities all within an hour of this camping area. Even Deadwood has a little hiking trail located above the city you can check out.

We love the Top Of The Mountain Dispersed Camping area and plan to hit it up again in a couple of months making this our third year in a row.

Depending on the spot you get there are some absolutely breathtaking views of the surrounding Black Hills and the city of Deadwood below.

The road can get busy at times, especially on the weekend.

ATVs are frequently driving up and down the mountain road. This place gets quite a bit of snow in the winter so I doubt it’s ideal for winter camping. A lot of businesses in the area seem to run on a seasonal basis.

If you have the opportunity to camp here I would highly recommend it.

If the area is all full up try parking at The Lodge at Deadwood which can be found at the beginning of Mt. Roosevelt Road. We always saw campers parked there, but don’t know if there’s a fee. I’m sure a quick call would answer any questions.

Maybe an overnight stay in the parking lot and a quick check the next morning on the mountaintop means a spot has opened up for you to move to. If you prefer hook-ups there are a few campgrounds in or near town as well.