Mt Rushmore CG's

We stayed at Rapid City KOA - worked great for us - we were during Stugis week and had no problems getting around.
Rapid City KOA
3010 East Highway 44
Rapid City, SD 57703

C Schomer wrote:
We stayed at Rafter J Bar Ranch 20 yrs ago and it was terrific. Not crowded together like most CGs. Craig

X2 :B

dmcgiffin wrote:
Rafter J - large campground with lots of room between spaces.

x3, 4, or 5 (lost count) on Rafter J. We were there for a week last summer. Best full hook-up park we'd ever stayed at. Lots of shade and room between the sites if staying in the Ranch or Island areas. Centrally located outside of Hill City, so can go south to Mt.Rushmore, and Custer State Park via the Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road, or north to Deadwood, Rapid City, etc.

Also x2 on the steam train ride out of Hill City. Really interesting and relaxed way to see a different side of the Black Hills area.

Been to Rafter J, it's a wonderful campground, with a variety of settings to camp. Planning to go back there this year for a family reunion if we can get everyone out there at the same time.

Best times, like others have said, would be in spring before school lets out, or fall when school is back in session! I've been there in the spring and it was very comfortable weatherwise, and I have no doubt that fall would be equally comfortable. Since it's in the Hill City area, the climate will be a bit more comfortable than some other locations further east or south. The Black Hills area is usually 5-10 degrees cooler than in Rapid City, But it can still get warm there. We hiked/climbed Harney Peak when the temps were in the upper 80s in Hill City, and it was still a bit warm at ~7200 ft.

Rafter J - large campground with lots of room between spaces.

Game Lodge Campground at Custer State Park.

Not a fan of KOA but we stayed at the closes KOA (don't remember the location) because they had a shuttle bus to Mt Rushmore. We could then set up our truck camper and leave it, since we wanted to go late in the afternoon and stay to see it with the lights on. Turned out to be a good move because it was a dark and stormy night and I was glad to leave the return trip driving to the bus driver.

Since we were small and self contained they let us use a tent site to save a few bucks (had electric) and it was still one of the more expensive campgrounds we stayed at. Was nice.

If you have time, ride the 1880's train from Keystone to Hill City (or visa versa) and back again. Very well worth it. The ride is narrated and you'll see such beautiful scenery!
Happy Trails, Okie

The south dakota tourism site is a good place for free info. They will send you a free package of all sorts of good info.

TravelSD.com

Consider all that you plan to do in the area when choosing a CG. You will be driving from your CG to all the various attractions. The Rushmore area is a good idea as it is sort of central. Easy driving to anywhere. Locals are great for directions. We stayed at Spokane Creek just outside of Keystone. Great folks great CG. Honestly it is hard to go wrong. They are all pretty nice.