Sylvan Lake - Custer State Park campground
Sylvan Lake - Custer State Park
The campground offers 71 campsites and 9 cabins, with amenities such as picnic tables, fire rings, and access to potable water, restrooms, and showers. Campers can make reservations online or by phone up to one year in advance.
One unique feature of the area is that it was used as a filming location for the movie "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," and visitors can take a short hike to see the spot where the movie's treasure was buried.
The best time to visit the campground is during the summer months (June-August), when temperatures average between 70-80°F during the day and 50-60°F at night. However, visitors should be aware that this is also the peak season, and the campground can get crowded.
Overall, Sylvan Lake Campground offers a beautiful and convenient base for exploring the stunning natural surroundings of Custer State Park.
What's on-site at Sylvan Lake - Custer State Park
Key facilities Snoflo tracks for this campground. Confirm with the operator before booking -- amenities can change seasonally.
Plan your trip down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max so trends jump out at a glance.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks. Hover any point for the full breakdown.
Other campgrounds in the area
Snoflo-tracked campsites within driving distance of Sylvan Lake - Custer State Park, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvan Lake Campground | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Oreville | ✓ | ✓ | → |
| Oreville Campground | ✓ | ✓ | → |
| Rafter J Bar Ranch | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Fort Welikit | ✗ | ✗ | → |
Nearby streamflow
USGS streamgauges within reach of Sylvan Lake - Custer State Park -- pulled live from the National Water Information System.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Battle Cr Near Keystone Sd | 2 cfs | → |
| Grace Coolidge Cr Nr Game Lodge Nr Custer Sd | 1 cfs | → |
| French Cr Above Fairburn Sd | 2 cfs | → |
| Spring Cr Near Keystone Sd | 1 cfs | → |
| Rapid Cr Below Pactola Dam Sd | 79 cfs | → |
| Rapid Cr Above Pactola Res At Silver City | 27 cfs | → |
Nearby snow depths
NRCS SNOTEL stations within reach of Sylvan Lake - Custer State Park -- relevant when planning a shoulder-season or alpine trip.
| SNOTEL station | Snowpack | 24h Snowfall | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custer | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Hill City | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Custer 21.4 W | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Nohrsc North Rapid Creek (Snotel) | 0.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Nohrsc Blind Park (Snotel) | 1.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
| Blind Park | 1.0 in | 0.0 in | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest parks, lakes, boat launches, and paddle runs so a camping night can grow into a full weekend.
Parks
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- Wilderness Black Elk
- Wildlife Preserve Norbeck Wildlife Preserve Nat
- Jewel Cave National Monument
- Custer State Park
- Canyon Lake Park
Boat launches
- Bismark Lake Road Custer County
- Calvert Road Pennington County
- Sheridan Lake Road 16451, Rapid City
- Pennington County
- Fsr 450 Pennington County
- Deerfield Cove Road Pennington County
Camping essentials & Leave No Trace
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Take all trash, food scraps, and gear back with you to keep campsites clean and protect wildlife.
- Respect wildlife
- Observe animals from a distance, store food securely, and never feed wildlife to maintain natural behavior and safety.
- Know before you go
- Check weather, fire restrictions, trail conditions, and permit requirements to ensure a safe and well-planned trip.
- Minimize campfire impact
- Use established fire rings, keep fires small, fully extinguish them, or opt for a camp stove when fires are restricted.
- Leave what you find
- Preserve natural and cultural features by avoiding removal of plants, rocks, artifacts, or other elements of the environment.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Sylvan Lake - Custer State Park as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, snowpack, freezing temperatures), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Sylvan Lake - Custer State Park
Can I make reservations at Sylvan Lake - Custer State Park?
Yes -- this campground accepts reservations. Snoflo recommends booking early for peak season; check the operator (Recreation.gov / state park system / private operator) for the booking window and cancellation policy.
How fresh is the weather data on this page?
The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from the NOAA / yr.no public feeds. Streamflow data is pulled live from USGS streamgauges and snowpack from the NRCS SNOTEL network.
What's the best time of year to visit?
Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation. For longer trips, the 5-day hourly meteogram shows snow + rain accumulation hour-by-hour.
How do I get to Sylvan Lake - Custer State Park?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the campground.
Can I get alerts when conditions change?
Yes -- alerts are managed through the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this campground, set a threshold (temperature, snowpack, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
Other campgrounds near here
Snoflo-tracked campgrounds within driving distance of Sylvan Lake - Custer State Park.