Mt Rushmore

Take a peek at Rushmore Shadows, it's a private Camp Ground. We spent a week there two years ago, staff and facility were wonderful!!

Also take a look at Beaverlake Campground.We stayed there 6 days in early april and enjoyed our time there.The owner and staff are 1st class imo.

We stayed at the KOA four days ago and it was great. It is a destination campground with many campers I talked to staying a week or more. It is the second largest KOA in the franchise, with over 500 sites. We have our 8 and 10 YEar old grandsons with us and they would have spent the rest of the summer there. It is very family oriented, the largest number of staff members I have seen anywhere, other than Disney's Fort Wilderness in Orlando. Most activities for kids, have a staff member present, be it the water slide, the pool, the climbing wall, mini golf, etc. they claim to have over 100 staff at the campground and it is easy to believe. If a person doesn't enjoy being around kids, this is probably not the place for them.

Wishbone51 wrote:
I really enjoyed Big Pine Campground when I was at Rushmore last summer.

Great campground, very woodsy and secluded, and the staff was friendly and accommodating.

We liked this campground also. Custer is a neat town and Hill City has a great steak house, lots to do in the whole area.

Rafter J Bar great place. We were there 2 years ago. When you pay to park at Mt Rushmore the ticked covers a long period 10 days I think. The campground is a short ride.
We had breakfast a number of times at the snack bar at Mt Rushmore since we had the parking pass, food not bad and the view (all glass front on the snack bar) as well as the people watching was good day to start the day.

Shuttle isn't free anymore--$6.00 per person. I just got back home from Mt. Rushmore KOA (Palmer's Gulch) and I didn't care for it at all! camp spots too close together and it was packed, noisy, atv's running around everywhere just didn't like it at all!

BUT--very close to Mt. Rushmore, easy 5-10 min. drive to park, people were all friendly, still has cheap breakfast--all you can eat pancakes, and lot's and lot's of things for young kids to do!

LindaAnn wrote:
I agree about the KOA--it's close to Mt Rushmore and there's a lot for the children to do...pool, horseback riding, etc. Also, they have a restaurant, a snack area--pizza, ice cream, etc. and they serve an inexpensive pancake breakfast in a huge tent.

Agree with above. It's been 9 years since we were there but our kids were about the same age as yours are now. While I know adults may prefer the "ambiance" of places like Rafter J Bar and so forth, your kids are going to remember what THEY did at the CG. The (Palmer Gulch) KOA also offers free shuttle service to and from the monument, and be sure to take in the nighttime lighting ceremony - very impressive.

An earlier reply noted the road to this KOA was curvy - it is easily negotiable as long as one observes the posted speed limits.

Another vote for the Moutn Rushmore KOA. We've been twice and love it there.

Just a suggestion -- you might think about staying in Custer -- neat little town and the drive from there to the Mt Rushmore Monument is one that is fun and Beautiful with many different route -- Custer State Park is not to be missed along with the Caves -- Jewel and Wind -- The Black Hills deserve more than just the one day stop so plan your visit to include many of the sites that are available.

We stayed at

Custer's Gultch great spot -- while many think you need a CG with lots to do -- IMHO -- there is so much to do in the area you will only sleep at the CG.

JMHO,

Bob & Ann wrote:
Last year we stayed at Rafter J Bar. Check out their webb site. It is a nice place and rig size is not a problem. Nice pool and a lot of open common areas. It is in south Hill City right at the intersection going to Mt Rushmore. It is like a 10-15 minute drive.

We were there 2 years ago and enjoyed this campground. Beautiful campsite.