Mount Rushmore in September

JW of Opechee Shores wrote:
For those who have been there: Do you make reservations? We are going in the middle of September and I say we don't need to make reservations but the DW says we need to. Any suggestions on parks?

I've been during the Sturgis Rally and didn't need reservation (stayed in Custer's Gulch) - Plenty of good options - September will be Great.

Hope you are headed West as the Aspen will be changing in the Rockies - generally after the Middle of September. Aspen in Colorado Not to be missed.

JMHO,

We stayed a week last September at Rafter J Bar in Hill City. We had reservations but probably would not have needed them. My opinion is "Why take a chance on a destination 1200 miles from home?" Plenty of nice campgrounds within close access to all the stuff in the southern Black Hills. I believe Rafter J Bar Ranch is probably the nicest. Would stay there again.

I concur with previous poster: fall aspen in the Rockies is astounding.

I think the only time you might want to have a reservation is during the buffalo round up time. Not exactly sure of the dates, but I believe it's the end of September.

September is a wonderful month to see Mount Rushmore. The crowds are down and the weather is beautiful.

As far as campgrounds, we stayed at Rafter J which is very nice but very expensive. If we went again, we would stay right in Custer State Park. When we were there, they didn't have electric hookups but they do now. There is so much to see in the park.

you probably wont need them but being she has spoken you know what will happen.
i would get them just to be safe and not have to listen "i told you so"
even with salt and pepper eating crow is not fun.

Well if you are in that area I'd go also to the Laura Ingalls homestead in DeSmet SD. It's not "too touristy". Folks are nice and they have hookups. 3.5 hour drive or so from Rushmore.

No. You don't need reservations for your whole trip. It's a perfect time to go.

Buffalo Roundup at Custer is Sept 29.

https://gfp.sd.gov/state-parks/directory/custer/events/buffalo-roundup/

Thanks for the responses, We will go without so that we don't need to stick to a schedule. Will check out all the suggestions.

We stayed last year at Stockade Lake South. They have flush toilets, showers and electricity at site #'s that end in E. It's one of the smaller campgrounds so it might not work for everybody.

We were in site 12E and really enjoyed it.

My opinion is "Why take a chance on a destination 1200 miles from home?"

Because without reservations, you can change your schedule on the fly to stay a couple more days to see something you like or leave quicker than planned for someplace you don't.

Only time I make reservations are for Memorial Day, Independence Day, lake front in the summer time, and high demand places like Yosemite Valley. Other than that, we always find a place to stay and have never had to go to our B plan.