General Campground Information

Come explore the Badlands!

We are taking reservations for the 2025 camping season.  Please call 1 (800) 562-3897 or visit koa.com/campgrounds/badlands to book.

Check-in and Check-out Times

You can check in as early as 1 PM for RV and Tent campers, 3 PM for Accommodations. 
Check-out  is at 11 AM.

Night Registration

The office closes in the evening. If you arrive after the office has closed, find the self-check-in counter to the left of the front door. If you have a reservation, there will be a map/packet for you, showing how to find your site. Please stop into the office in the morning to make sure we have all the information we need for your registration. 

If you DO NOT have a reservation and you arrive after the office is closed, find the self check-in counter to the left of the door. There will be maps showing which sites are available, by type (RV, or Tent). No lodging accommodations are available after hours without a reservation. Fill out the "night registration" envelope . Include your payment and deposit it into the mail slot, and take the  map showing how to find the open site with you. The clerk will have your receipt ready for you, along with any change due for overpayment in cash.

Wi-Fi

Our new Wi-Fi, supported by fiber-optic service, is blazing fast and available all around the campground. The password is 20190917.

Store Hours

In season, the Campstore hours are 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Labor Day through the end of season hours are 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Quiet Hours

You're an early riser, your neighbor is a night owl.  Or the other way around.  Let's all agree to keep it quiet between the hours of 10 PM and 7 AM. Please be especially careful if arriving late or leaving early.

Please to not idle your vehicle in the early hours for excessive amounts of time, or rev the engine.

If you arrive late, try to shut down your vehicle and generator as soon as you arrive at your campsite.

You are welcome to enjoy your campfire after 10:00 PM, but noise cannot carry outside your campsite.
Loud music any time of day is not appropriate and is not allowed in this campground.
Please, respect your neighbors and the quiet sanctity of a beautiful experiences at Badlands/White River KOA

Campfires and Firewood Policy

We have firewood for sale at the camp store for $9.00 per bundle unless there is a weather-related burn ban. It is against South Dakota law to bring firewood from off site, to avoid the transportation of pests and tree disease.  It is also against campground policy to collect firewood within the campground. We also sell fire starters in the camp store because the use of gasoline or other liquid accelerants is prohibited at our KOA.

NEVER leave a campfire unattended. Before leaving your campsite or retiring for the evening, put it out with water using the buckets at the water faucets in the tent area. If a fire is unattended, the staff will extinguish it immediately.

The fire pit is not for trash: do not burn trash or use the fire pit as a dump. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our campground and campers safe.

Swimming Pool

Pool is unattended. It will open Memorial Day weekend and will close for the season sometime after Labor Day. Call us for season availability.
Pool is open from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m,.
Guests under the age of 14 MUST be accompanied by a responsible adult.  This does not imply someone 14 or over can accompany those under 14. It means a responsible ADULT.
Pool will be closed immediately if thunderstorms are in the area.  Be patient with us, safety is paramount.
No diving from the sides into the pool.
ALWAYS USE HANDRAILS WHEN ENTERING OR EXITING VIA THE STAIRS.

Visitor Policy

ALL VISITORS AND EXTRA VEHICLES ARE REQUIRED TO STOP AND REGISTER, WITH LICENSE TAG INFORMATION, AT OUR FRONT OFFICE
Fees and license plate information apply to all persons staying, visiting or "just having a look" at the campground.  This is for everyone's safety and security.
We do everything we possibly can to control access to our park to help protect your belongings and our facility.

Trash Disposal

We work very hard to keep the campground impeccably clean. Please do your part to keep your site clean and orderly. 
We do trash collection every morning from 8am to 10am. 
DO NOT LEAVE TRASH BAGS OUT OVERNIGHT: the critters might get it.
Guests are encouraged to deposit bagged trash in the dumpsters. These are located behind the central bath house, across from the west equipment shop door, and behind the A-Frame.

Restrooms

There are three restroom facilities at Badlands/White River KOA, in the main A-Frame building, in the Central Bath/Laundry building and in the new East Bath/Laundry which has ADA Family Style bathroom/Laundry in the tent area. Dish washing is strictly prohibited in the restrooms for sanitary reasons, outdoor dishwashing sinks are available at each bathhouse area.

Laundry

Laundry facilities are located in three areas of the campground: at the main A-Frame building where the office is located, at the Cental Bath building and at the new East Bathhouse located in the tent area. Washers cost $2.75 per load, dryers are $1.00 for 20 minutes, and use quarters. Quarters are available at the main office when we are open. Laundry soap, bleach and dryer sheets are also sold in the main store. Laundry facilities are open 24 hours a day.

Meet Your Hosts

Thor Elliott

Come see the beauty of the Badlands!

We are ideally situated to be your base camp to explore this fantastic area. The Badlands National Park is our backyard. Let us host your stay in your RV or tent, or book one of our accommodation choices. Thor Elliot is the General Manager and truly cares about the guest experience. Thor graduated from KOA University, completed the Outdoor Hospitality Management Course, and received his OHM certification from OHI. He is also obtaining his Outdoor Hospitality Professional Certification. He has forged excellent relationships with members of the KOA corporate team, as well as campground owners and operators around the country.

Blue Water Hospitality owns and operates Badlands / White River KOA Holiday. The Ocean City, Maryland-based company, was founded in 2002 by father and son team, Jack and Todd Burbage, and specializes in hospitality properties. Our goal is to provide memorable experiences, as we appreciate the time you have chosen to spend with us. Kick back and relax with us at one of our properties; we can't wait to see you!