French Creek Campground
Open year-round, first-come, first-served. No fees. No potable water available; campers must bring their own supply.
Freeze Warning issued October 15 at 11:48AM MDT until October 16 at 9:00AM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
* WHAT...For the Wind Advisory, northwest winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 60 mph. For the Freeze Warning, sub-freezing temperatures as low as 27 expected. * WHERE...Portions of northwestern and southwestern South Dakota. * WHEN...For the Wind Advisory, until 11 PM MDT this evening. For the Freeze Warning, from 9 PM this evening to 9 AM MDT Friday. * IMPACTS...Sudden wind gusts can cause drivers to lose control, especially in lightweight or high profile vehicles. Strong winds can cause blowing dust, reduced visibility, and flying debris. Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
Wind Advisory issued October 15 at 11:48AM MDT until October 15 at 11:00PM MDT by NWS Rapid City SD
* WHAT...For the Wind Advisory, northwest winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 60 mph. For the Freeze Warning, sub-freezing temperatures as low as 27 expected. * WHERE...Portions of northwestern and southwestern South Dakota. * WHEN...For the Wind Advisory, until 11 PM MDT this evening. For the Freeze Warning, from 9 PM this evening to 9 AM MDT Friday. * IMPACTS...Sudden wind gusts can cause drivers to lose control, especially in lightweight or high profile vehicles. Strong winds can cause blowing dust, reduced visibility, and flying debris. Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
About
French Creek Campground is the sole developed camping area on Buffalo Gap National Grassland, a nearly 600,000-acre expanse of mixed-grass prairie and badlands stretching across southwestern South Dakota. The small campground sits in a peaceful riparian meadow along French Creek, offering a quiet basecamp for exploring the surrounding grasslands. The campground is particularly popular among rockhounds, as it provides direct access to the Fairburn Agate Beds. An adjacent barren hill exposes rock layers that occasionally yield the famous Fairburn agates. Note that while casual rockhounding is permitted, collection of vertebrate fossils requires a USFS permit, and no commercial fossil collection permits are issued. Facilities are minimal but functional: each site has a picnic table and fire ring, and a vault toilet serves the campground. There is no potable water, so campers must bring their own supply. The campground is free and operates on a first-come, first-served basis year-round.
Directions
From Fairburn, SD, travel 11.4 miles east on French Creek Road. The campground turnoff is on the left.
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | — |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $0 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | — |
| Pull Through Sites | — |
Contact
| Phone | +1 (308) 432-0300 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | Yes |
| T-Mobile | None |
Useful Links
| Buffalo Gap National Grassland Recreation |
Community Posts
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