Mt. Rushmore

We have stayed at Big Pine, Ft Welikit, Rafter J, Horse Thief and Happy Holiday.

They are all good choices for the southern hills area.

We try to go to different places each time we go; our favorite so far has been Ft Welikit.

Friends of ours bought out Custer Crazy Horse campground last spring. This is their 2nd year, Cullum family are the owners. Hard working, friendly, make you feel at home kind of people.

Rafter Bar J just outside of Hill City. Centrally located to all the important attractions and within striking distance of Mt. Rushmore (e.g. Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Iron Mt. Road., the Needles, Sylvan Lake, the north-south bike path through the Black Hills, Custer State Park, etc.).

We stayed there 5 nights in September, 2016. Not inexpensive, but it is a beautiful, well maintained, quiet, relaxing place to camp. A great location. In the valley below the Harney Peak lookout.

Another Rafter J fan. Beautiful campground. Make sure you attend the flag lowering ceremony at Mount Rushmore.

A couple years ago we stayed at Ft. Welikit in the city of Custer. To me it was a great park.

I can't recommend one since I've never been there. However, this summer we are staying at Game Lodge Campground inside Custer State Park.

Another vote for Rafter J

We've stayed all over the area and the Rafter J Bar is the best choice for Rushmore. Not only is it close to Rushmore, but it's also centrally located to everything in the area.

2X on the Horse Thief Campground. Nice camp with very friendly and helpful owners. Bear in mind it gets VERY busy the week of the Sturgis motorcycle rally.

Rangerman40 wrote:
Any of the campgrounds in Custer SP.

The campgrounds in the park are quite nice. Bluebell stands out. They have upgraded them to electric/water over the last 7 years. South Dakota does a good job. Be sure to take the back roads when you do the wildlife loop. It's worth it.