Hill City, S. Dak.

We love the Rafter J Bar. We had a spot that was several hundred yards to our nearest neighbor on the passenger side. It's a great location for exploring the Black Hills.

Horse Thief Campground is a nice place. More in the hills. Not like the campgrounds along the highway. We stayed there in a 338 Jayco Eagle so it is not tough to get larger units in there.
It is on the north end of the needles highway. Reasonably close to the center of the hills.

X2 for Rafter J.Bar.Great campground with many sites to choose from.This is one of our favorite campgrounds we have been to.

jamesu wrote:
Looking for campground recommendations in/near Hill City. Want hookups and don't want to be crammed in wall-to-wall next to neighbors. Looking for a good location to explore the Black Hills.

We always try to stay in Custer - close but not too close - Custer's Gulch has larger sites spaced out so you don't feel like you are in a tent city. Just Google maps and zoom in to see the CG's and then do a search to see if it works for you.

BOL,

X 3 on Rafter J Bar

We stayed at Hidden Valley near Deadwood in a site next to the creek, and at Camp Welikit at Custer for exploring the southern part of the area.

X4 on Rafter J Bar

We're planning to stay at Rafter J in June so I'll let you know after then. I used google map and earth to look at it to see how big it is and how far apart the spots are.

I think you got some pretty good recommendations.

However, for us it always has been Custer State Park campgrounds.
Either the Game Lodge campground or the Grace Coolidge campground. There are others in the park as well. In fact, our reservations are already in the this Fall again. It is an annual affair for us. :)

If you don't mind driving 45 minutes to Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore, then consider Chris' Campground in Spearfish, SD. Nice couple own the place, good room, excellent wifi and cable, full hook up and pull through are fine. This campground puts you closer to WY and Devil's Tower.