Hi,Please suggest what you believe is the best RV Park or Campground in relations to Mount Rushmore? Looking for resort style with many amenities. We like large or spacious wooded type sites. Doesn't have to be on a pad. We would like to avoid open field type sites. We have a short 34'ft +hitch TT so we can hopefully fit in alot site choices. We don't care about pull thru's, backing in is fine. We are 2 families, so 2 sites needed.If you have experience in any RV Park or Campground that you feel was fantastic, we want to hear from you! Mount Rushmore is our main destination but we are going to try and visit as may things close to it as well as Devil's Tower. We are open to a bit of travel to Rushmore just because the camping facility is that good, (please, nothing rundown or "party wild". We will avoid bike week).We been googling RV Parks and campgrounds in the area, and using the GoodSams site, but rather hear from you real folks that have real experience in the area!We are driving out on the Northern route from Massachusetts (I90) direction. We never camped away from the East coast. This will be exciting for us.So we would appreciate your thoughts and experience you are willing to share about where to stay.Thanks in advance!Normy

3 years ago, we did the same trip, around 2 weeks after the bike week, took 90 west and went to SD and MT Rushmore. First thing that comes to mind is that our EZ Pass was a good thing to have when it worked! It was a hit or miss situation sometimes. On our way west we stopped for lunch at The Field of Dreams movie set in Iowa. The house and baseball field and corn field is all there. The house is privately owned as is the rest of the property but open to the public ( except the house, the owners still reside there) and is free! At SD We stayed at Rafter J Bar Ranch campground, which i would highly recommend, Very nice place and close to Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse,, etc... We also took a day trip via rental car to Devils Tower. Another day we took a guided jeep tour through Custer State Park that goes off road and can get you within a few feet of the herds of buffalo in the park as well as going places you cant get to in your own vehicle. We also took the old steam locomotive ride ( i think its called the 1880's train or something) you also want to take a drive on the Needles Highway (not in your RV, cars are the only way due to tunnels etc) On our way back home we went thru Badlands National Park, and stayed the night at a great little place "The Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead" in Desmet SD. They are like a living history place, and have 4 rv sites with water and electric hookups and a dump station. It was about 3 miles off the interstate and down a dirt road ( completely doable in our Class C so no worries) and is surrounded by corn fields. Unbelievably quiet, and spectacular sunsets... you will have a great time, have a good trip! (feel free to semd me a Message if you want any more info)

A few years back I visited the Rushmore area and stayed at a great (to me) RV park in the city of Custer. It was not a "resort" style but had FHU etc. Check out Fort Welikit I do not think you will be disapointed.

I don't think you are going to find a "Resort" type RV park like you are describing. When we were there last year over the 4th of July, we traveled around the area and didn't see any RV parks that were more than a parking lot with with hook-ups. Inside Custer State Park, there are some really nice and woodsy campgrounds, but getting one of those is like harvesting gold from Fort Knox. You'll need to reserve a site way, way in advance.We stayed at Buffalo Ridge Camp Resort which is a Good Sam campground: Click here.. The sites are fairly close to each other, but you do have enough space to get slides out and awnings out. They do have some really nice amenities at the park, swimming pool, cabins, laundry facilities, TeePee camping, camp store, playground for kids, the train ride, tent camping, RV camping, and the theater. It's a large park and if you have kids, they will have fun, especially with the playground and pool. If you are staying anywhere near the Mt. Rushmore area, you won't be spending much time at your campsite. There's just so much to see and do and explore, every minute you spend at your campsite and not exploring the Black Hills, Deadwood, Sturges (yea... Full Throttle Saloon), Custer State Park, Mt. Rushmore itself, thousands of local attractions, restaurants, shops, events, and the miles and miles of fantastic scenic routes through the mountains and hills, you'll be too exhausted to actually "enjoy" your campsite. So, simply pick a spot to "park it" and use your camper as a bedroom from the night. You won't be there very much. If you don't like this one, here's a link to a list of campgrounds that you might find helpful: Click here.

try this site This is the site we use for finding rv parks.

Rafter J is this best in the area, sites are very spacious - Just the opposite is the KOAWe have stayed at both

Advice needed! Best RV Park/ Campground near Mount Rushmore

ksbowman
Explorer II
Jul 07, 2018
CharlesinGa, is correct when he says to be sure and fold in mirrors. I had forgot to pull mine in from towing mode on my Dodge 2500 and I rubbed on one side driving thru the Needles tunnel while only clearing by a couple inches on the other.
ken56
Explorer
Jul 07, 2018
If you are a Coast to Coast member then Rushmore Shadows is very nice.
Busskipper
Explorer
Jul 07, 2018
Normy wrote:
Hi,
Please suggest what you believe is the best RV Park or Campground in relations to Mount Rushmore? Looking for resort style with many amenities. We like large or spacious wooded type sites. Doesn't have to be on a pad. We would like to avoid open field type sites. We have a short 34'ft +hitch TT so we can hopefully fit in alot site choices. We don't care about pull thru's, backing in is fine. We are 2 families, so 2 sites needed.

If you have experience in any RV Park or Campground that you feel was fantastic, we want to hear from you!

Mount Rushmore is our main destination but we are going to try and visit as may things close to it as well as Devil's Tower. We are open to a bit of travel to Rushmore just because the camping facility is that good, (please, nothing rundown or "party wild". We will avoid bike week).

We been googling RV Parks and campgrounds in the area, and using the GoodSams site, but rather hear from you real folks that have real experience in the area!

We are driving out on the Northern route from Massachusetts (I90) direction. We never camped away from the East coast. This will be exciting for us.

So we would appreciate your thoughts and experience you are willing to share about where to stay.

Thanks in advance!

Normy

Custers Gultch

Fits your criteria - We've been during Bike week and other than things being a little slow, was not a big issue.

Lot's to see and Do,
Anonymous
Jul 07, 2018
MawMaw and PawPaw wrote:
Another fan of Rafter J. Make sure to go to the flag lowering ceremony at Mount Rushmore at dusk. Very moving and beautiful .

That sounds wonderful, we didn't read about that. That's a great idea, thanks for suggesting it!

Rafters J again, we watched the video on their site, it looks really nice. It's definitely in my top 5 after all these suggestions.

Also from other choices mentioned, it's seems like there are many nice places that you almost can't go wrong.

Thanks
Normy
MawMaw_and_PawP
Explorer
Jul 07, 2018
Another fan of Rafter J. Make sure to go to the flag lowering ceremony at Mount Rushmore at dusk. Very moving and beautiful .
Anonymous
Jul 07, 2018
donkeydew wrote:
beaver lake campground near custer

Saw their video, looked pretty good! :)
Anonymous
Jul 07, 2018
CharlesinGA wrote:
JAC1982 wrote:
This year Sturgis is August 6-12. Next year it's August 5-11. I'd say avoiding the week before and the week after is a good idea as well.

Last year in the spring I asked this very thing. Was planning an eclipse trip to Alliance Nebraska and wanted to see the Black Hills. The responses I got, and one was from someone who had lived in Sturgis almost all their life, was that the bikers show up one to two weeks early to tour the area, and are gone as soon as its over.

I talked to Spearfish City Campground on the phone and got the same info. I arrived in Spearfish on Tuesday afternoon (after the ending Sunday of bike week) after watching Eastbound RV's on I-90 both monday and tuesday, all pulling enclosed trailers (with bikes inside???). When I arrived in the campground on Tuesday afternoon there was one biker left, and the rest of the week I saw very few out touring.

I spent four nights at Spearfish, and used a rented car to tour the area, and one night at the KOA at Hot Springs and then off to Alliance where I spent the night in a nice grassy area I paid $50 for the opportunity to park with about four other motorhomes and a camper van.

This is my brief trip report, My Black Hills, Badlands and Solar Eclipse trip in August 2017

Hopefully the OP has a TOAD or truck to drive the Needles and Iron Mountain highways with (very small one lane tunnels that you have to fold mirrors on some trucks to clear the sides)

Spearfish City Campground is a good choice, has a very nice city park adjoining it and another small park and playground about a block away, plus the fish hatchery adjoining it, and laundrymat and food places such as pizza and such very close by. All good when you are unwinding after a day of touring and walking.

Charles

Thanks for your info. I also enjoyed your trip report, you definitely put some thought into your travel days and especially appreciate the links you provided.

Yes, have a truck and watching YouTube videos of people driving the needles, we learned to keep the TT away from the area.

Thanks
Normy
Anonymous
Jul 07, 2018
JAC1982 wrote:
This year Sturgis is August 6-12. Next year it's August 5-11. I'd say avoiding the week before and the week after is a good idea as well.

Makes sense, I agree
CharlesinGA
Explorer
Jul 07, 2018
JAC1982 wrote:
This year Sturgis is August 6-12. Next year it's August 5-11. I'd say avoiding the week before and the week after is a good idea as well.

Last year in the spring I asked this very thing. Was planning an eclipse trip to Alliance Nebraska and wanted to see the Black Hills. The responses I got, and one was from someone who had lived in Sturgis almost all their life, was that the bikers show up one to two weeks early to tour the area, and are gone as soon as its over.

I talked to Spearfish City Campground on the phone and got the same info. I arrived in Spearfish on Tuesday afternoon (after the ending Sunday of bike week) after watching Eastbound RV's on I-90 both monday and tuesday, all pulling enclosed trailers (with bikes inside???). When I arrived in the campground on Tuesday afternoon there was one biker left, and the rest of the week I saw very few out touring.

I spent four nights at Spearfish, and used a rented car to tour the area, and one night at the KOA at Hot Springs and then off to Alliance where I spent the night in a nice grassy area I paid $50 for the opportunity to park with about four other motorhomes and a camper van.

This is my brief trip report, My Black Hills, Badlands and Solar Eclipse trip in August 2017

Hopefully the OP has a TOAD or truck to drive the Needles and Iron Mountain highways with (very small one lane tunnels that you have to fold mirrors on some trucks to clear the sides)

Spearfish City Campground is a good choice, has a very nice city park adjoining it and another small park and playground about a block away, plus the fish hatchery adjoining it, and laundrymat and food places such as pizza and such very close by. All good when you are unwinding after a day of touring and walking.

Charles
donkeydew
Explorer
Jul 06, 2018
beaver lake campground near custer