Devils Tower Camping Experience at Belle Fourche River Campground

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Our Devils Tower camping experience at Belle Fourche River Campground began about half an hour before we got to Devils Tower National Monument.

It started when the Tower appeared in the distance. I pointed the Tower to our son who asked “Where? Where?” from the back seat. Then my husband and I started humming the famous tune from Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Weird, huh? Haha..

Then my husband rekindled the memory of him camping in Devils Tower and woke up with a view of the Tower from his tent. “It’s a really cool experience! Let’s stay there,” he said.

We just left South Dakota in the morning on our road trip from Texas to the states above us. Our first stop for the road trip was Wichita in Kansas. Then we visited Scottsbluff National Monument in Nebraska before we visited Custer State Park, Badlands National Park, and Deadwood in South Dakota. As we combined hotel stay and camping on the trip, we had no problem with camping gear.

The problem is, Belle Fourche River Campground doesn’t have showers. I enjoy camping, but I prefer a campground with showers. I don’t like starting my day without showers. So, I didn’t say yes right away.

After my husband talked about his experience again, I finally said yes. I kind of agree that it would be cool when I can see the Tower from inside the tent. Picturing camping images on Instagram. Haha..

But, Belle Fourche River Campground occupation is on a first come first served basis. We were visiting during summer holidays, where the campground sometimes gets full.

Devils Tower Camping at Belle Fourche River Campground

Fortunately there were three empty sites when we got there. However, those were not the sites without trees in the way when you looked to the Tower. I walked to the available sites and looked towards the Tower. Just wanted to make sure we would wake up to the Tower’s view. Not just the tip of the Tower or half of the Tower.

After looking at the available sites, I picked site number A8. But, we pitched the tent closer to A7 to get the full view of the Tower. Fortunately the couple on site A7 who stayed in their RV didn’t mind.

Here is the view from inside our tent. Awesome, right?

A few minutes later someone with a trailer came and put a paid sign on the empty site across ours (A9), then he left. I was upset because they could cover our view from the tent. There wouldn’t be a wake up to the Tower in the morning. Luckily they didn’t stay there until we left the next morning.

Then I went to check the restroom that wasn’t too far from our site. Wow! It was sparkling clean. Immediately I didn’t regret my decision to spend a night at Belle Fourche River Campground. “This Devils Tower camping experience will be wonderful,” I talked to myself.

After everything was set, we went to enjoy the Devils Tower. It is located about 2.3 miles from the campground.

Belle Fourche Campground Basics Information

Number of sites: 46

Belle Fourche Campground is a 2-loop campground with 4 accessible sites and 3 tent-only group sites. The other 43 sites are available for RVs or tents. You will find large cottonwood trees all over the campground that provide shades for campers. A picnic shelter and tables are available north of the campground.

Check-out is 12 p.m. and generators are allowed between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. From 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. are quiet hours where idling of motor vehicles is prohibited. Collection of firewood in the park is prohibited and you are not allowed to tie or attach things to trees.

One of the things we like about Belle Fourche Campground, it is a pet-friendly campground. We visited with our dog Snoopy so it was a wonderful time. Snoopy was on leash at all times and we never left him unattended, just like the park’s rules. 

Reservations

Unfortunately you can’t reserve a site on this campground. It’s based on a first come first served only. Typically there are sites available until 6 p.m. every day. However, there are days between June and September where the campground is filled before 6. Also, you can stay here for up to 14 days.

Devils Tower Camping Fees

There are 16 sites on A Loop and 30 sites on B Loop. All of the 46 sites but 3 include pull-thrus with room for RVs up to 35’. No hookups available. If you drive a long vehicle or a trailer, they recommend you to stay at B Loop. 

– Individual Sites: $20. It can accommodate up to 8 people. A maximum of two vehicles (or four motorcycles) are permitted at each site. The nearby picnic area may be used for overflow parking.

– Group Sites: $30. It can accommodate up to 20 people. A maximum of four vehicles are permitted at each site. You may use the overflow parking at the nearby picnic area.

– Accessible Sites: $20. Two sites on A Loop (A2 and A4) and two sites on B Loop (B11 and B25) are ADA accessible. Each site can accommodate up to 8 people. A maximum of two vehicles (or four motorcycles) are permitted at each site. The nearby picnic area may be used for overflow parking.

ADA Information

Besides the four accessible sites, the campground restrooms, the outdoor amphitheater, and the picnic area restrooms and drinking fountains are wheelchair accessible. Two of the picnic tables will accommodate wheelchairs.

People with wheelchairs should be able to navigate around the campground, picnic and amphitheater areas with little difficulty. Although the roads are paved, most areas have gravel parking with grass and dirt camping areas. But the accessible sites have cement areas and raised platforms for tents.      

Campground Amenities

– Cell phone reception: it is said yes, but we didn’t get a connection during our stay. We use AT&T.

– Internet: No

– Trash pickup: seasonal

– Food storage lockers: No

– Camp store: No

– Ice for sale: No

– Firewood for sale: No

– Staff on site: Yes, seasonal

– Amphitheater: Yes, seasonal

– Laundry: No

– Dump station: No

– Potable water: seasonal

– Flush toilets: seasonal

– Showers: No

– Fire: Only when there are no fire restriction and on a designated fire ring

Operating Hours & Seasons

May 15 – October 15

Closures: 

– New Year’s Day

– MLK Day

– Washington’s Birthday

– Memorial Day

– Independence Day

– Labor Day

– Columbus Day

– Veterans Day

– Thanksgiving Day

– Christmas Day

Directions

From the entrance station, travel along the park road approximately one mile. Then turn left at the Administration Building. Stay left at the fork, and the campground is at the end of the road.

Our Devils Tower Camping Experience

Our campsite at A8 was nice and big. There’s a cottonwood tree at one end. I felt safe walking by myself to the restrooms at night. It was cool overnight and we slept well until morning. No wild animals came to the campground.

In the evening of our stay, there’s a ranger program held at the amphitheater. It’s a walking distance from the campground, so it’s really comfortable. Don’t forget to bring a flashlight when you plan to do the same.

Then the next morning we walked to the Sacred Circle of Smoke that is not too far from the amphitheater. A sculpture created by Japanese artist Junkyu Muto in 2008. It is one of three sculptures of Muto’s International Peace Project. The Circle of Sacred Smoke represents a puff of smoke from a ceremonial pipe used by Native American people.

So, when you plan a trip to Devils Tower, think about experiencing this Devils Tower camping. Imagine you see the Tower from inside your tent. If your time is right, you might see the Tower canopies by million of stars.