Visit our Popular Forums

wasafari · 01-19-2011, 09:07 PM

I've used the search function for Mt. Rushmore cg's.....looking for some more current information. Anyone have any recommendations for camping in the Custer-Rushmore area? Thanks,

Jack

ND10CentCan · 01-19-2011, 09:13 PM

We spent a few days at Palmer Gulch outside of Mt. Rushmore this last summer and had a great time. Really set up for people with kids and we had our oldest granddaughter with us, age five. She loved the water slides, jumping pillows, and ice cream vendors. Tried to get her interested in the area sights but all she could focus on was the fun she was having at the camp site.

We were there the week before Sturgis and that wasn't a great idea. Lots of bikes coming in the week ahead and lots of campers coming in hauling bikes. Got to see some interesting sights over our stay and am glad little miss didn't report all she saw on her vacation.....

Splitrock · 01-19-2011, 09:43 PM

I'd stay away from Rapid Creek. Stay away from Keystone. Custer would be a good choice. Look up Rapid City flood 1972.

ROBERTSUNRUS · 01-19-2011, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wasafari

I've used the search function for Mt. Rushmore cg's.....looking for some more current information. Anyone have any recommendations for camping in the Custer-Rushmore area? Thanks,

Jack

Hi, in October of 2009 we stayed at Crazy Horse Kampground in Custer. They have about 120 spaces and we were the only one's there. It is close to town and right up the street from Crazy Horse monument and Mount Rushmore. Check it out you might like it. We stayed there for four nights. You can also get to Wall Drug Store from there, but it's a bit of a drive.

SteveH · 01-20-2011, 05:56 AM

It's been a couple of years, but we stayed at a very nice KOA in Custer. There were so many pine trees you felt like it was a National Forest campground.

UAPachyderm · 01-20-2011, 06:03 AM

We stayed at Mt Rushmore KOA a few years ago. It's just up the road from Rushmore in Hill City. They served up a nice pancake breakfast each morning.

jdalrymple · 01-20-2011, 07:07 AM

I second the votes for Custer State Park. We stayed at the Game Lodge area and loved it. Lots of self-guided single lane dirt roads to look at the wildlife. We spent several afternoons driving and looking. Close enough to all the attractions to be handy..

grumpy · 01-24-2011, 05:22 PM

I would also recommend Custer State Park. There are many good private campgrounds in the area. Please spend some time exploring the area. The Black Hills is one of my very favorite places in the USA.

TG Twinkie · 01-24-2011, 06:07 PM

This is the WELIKIT RV Park in Custer, South Dakota. Just 1 mile north of town. Beautiful setting, clean facilities and nice folks. Open year around.

hookedonclassic · 01-24-2011, 06:12 PM

We stayed here a number of years ago and it was nice and a great location to see the local sites. Rafter J Bar Ranch - Home

Frank McFee · 01-24-2011, 07:19 PM

We visited Mt. Rushmore Sep 1, 2010 and stayed at the Sheridan Campground about 10 mile from Mt. Rushmore. This is a US Forestry campground and my Golden Age passport rate applied. There is tap water available near the toilets, but no dump. We were only there two nights and had the place pretty much to ourselves. They have clean pit toilets and nice wooded sites. As I mentioned, this was early in September and hardly anyone was around. I think there are about 129 sites.

Lori · 01-24-2011, 10:28 PM

Last September we stayed in Custer State Park at the Bluebell Campground. We loved it and can't wait to go again!

One morning we woke up to a huge buffalo enjoying his breakfast behind our trailer!

urban71 · 03-26-2011, 02:36 PM

Lori - We are planning a few days at Custer on our way from Georgia to Glacier NP. Does the campground have water available to fill up the tanks? do you have a favorite site?

au_ee · 03-26-2011, 03:28 PM

We always stay at Custer State Park. They have several campgrounds but we like Gamelodge the best. Many of the sites are very suitable for a trailer whereas some of the other campgrounds are more suited for popups or tents. Gamelodge has electrical connections at each campsite and the it has a dumpstation. There are clean showers and a washer and dryer station. Just down the road from the campground is a store for camp supplies. Gamelodge is centrally located. I highly recommend you obtain reservations.

Hiwheel Joe · 03-26-2011, 03:41 PM

We stayed at Rafter J Bar Ranch in Hill City. Very nice place. Spacious camp sites in wooded area. The road up to Rushmore is right across the street. If you like to bicycle, the Mickelson Trail runs right along the side of the camp. Very short walk or drive into Hill City.

Janie Q · 03-26-2011, 04:08 PM

Stayed at Rafter J Bar Ranch, twice.. it was that nice and close to everything.
People are great and the place is clean, clean...
Jane

Lori · 03-28-2011, 09:35 AM

Urban71-

My favorite site is 20E at Bluebell. It is towards the back of the campground (nothing but park behind you), well spaced from adjoining sites. It is a back-in site but will only accomodate a trailer up to 25' so it may be too small for you. If you go to SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Custer State Park | Campgrounds | Bluebell you can see details on each individual campsite including photos of each. There are larger sites 22E and 24E just up from the one we stayed at that also back to the park and are 30' and 44' respectively. They have electric hookups, full bathrooms that were very clean and well appointed. The campgound was very quiet and peaceful. We had our water tank full when we arrived, there was water available but I don't remember if you could fill tanks or if it was hand pump style. Since we didn't need it I didn't notice....

au_ee · 03-28-2011, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lori

Urban71-

My favorite site is 20E at Bluebell. It is towards the back of the campground (nothing but park behind you), well spaced from adjoining sites. It is a back-in site but will only accomodate a trailer up to 25' so it may be too small for you. If you go to SD GFP | State Parks | Directory | Custer State Park | Campgrounds | Bluebell you can see details on each individual campsite including photos of each. There are larger sites 22E and 24E just up from the one we stayed at that also back to the park and are 30' and 44' respectively. They have electric hookups, full bathrooms that were very clean and well appointed. The campgound was very quiet and peaceful. We had our water tank full when we arrived, there was water available but I don't remember if you could fill tanks or if it was hand pump style. Since we didn't need it I didn't notice....

Unfortunately the web site doesn't say anything about elevation of the parking pads. We stayed there in 2007. Our site was #17. The slope of the parking pad was such a steep angle (can't tell that from photos) we had difficulty parking our fifth wheel trailer. We were using blocks of wood for chocks and were afraid they wouldn't hold. Since then we have purchased excellent quality rubber chocks that we bought from an aircraft supply company.

Bill M. · 03-28-2011, 12:59 PM

We went through Mt Rushmore and then stayed at Custer State Park. Liked it a lot. One thing, pay attention to the tunnels marked on the map when traveling around in that area. Had one very tense moment, but we slipped through.

au_ee · 03-28-2011, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill M.

We went through Mt Rushmore and then stayed at Custer State Park. Liked it a lot. One thing, pay attention to the tunnels marked on the map when traveling around in that area. Had one very tense moment, but we slipped through.

Good point. If you are coming from Rapid City, take Hwy 79 to Hwy 36 to US 16 which goes through the park. If coming from the west, take US 385 through Hill City, past Crazy Horse to the town of Custer, SD. Turn left on US 16 and you can enter the park from the west. You'll have to stop at the park entrance and pay an entrance fee. THey will give you a receipt to tape onto the windshield for the duration of your stay. Don't even attempt to travel on any of the roads with the tunnels when you're towing your trailer. You won't make it. Our truck just barely makes it by itself.