Camping near Mount Rushmore

[clinthia]

Looking at Rafter J Bar Ranch and Horse Thief Campground and RV Resort. Which would you recommend?
Thanks, Clint

[minn_camping_fa]

dodge guy wrote:

minn camping family wrote:
You asked for an opinion between Rafter J and Horsethief. Of those I would choose Rafter J. Much more convenient to use as a homebase.

Horsethief is just down the road to the east of Rafter J. Same area.

Rafter J is right off the main highway (Hwy. 16). Horsethief is a couple of miles off of Hwy 16 down a curvy mountain road (Hwy. 87- which is the start of the Needles Highway scenic drive). Of the two Rafter J would be the easier to access.

[Itching2go]

If it's between Rafter J and Horsethief, I'd take Rafter J any day. Were there in July and thought it was one of the best FHU campgrounds we'd ever stayed at. A previous post observed that it was a 'big field'. Not true. Rafter J is made up of several camping areas, and only one is out in the open. We chose the Upper Ranch area as it was wooded with very large sites. Was as far away as you can get, though, from the pool and camp store. Didn't bother us, but...

[KarenS144]

We just got back a week ago from a month long trip that included a 3 night stay at Grace Coolidge in Custer State Park. No water but electric. Beautiful campground with it's own bison bull that strolls through in the mornings.

[mister_d]

The area has so much to offer that you probably won't spend much time at the CG.

[dodge_guy]

minn camping family wrote:
You asked for an opinion between Rafter J and Horsethief. Of those I would choose Rafter J. Much more convenient to use as a homebase.

Horsethief is just down the road to the east of Rafter J. Same area.

[minn_camping_fa]

You asked for an opinion between Rafter J and Horsethief. Of those I would choose Rafter J. Much more convenient to use as a homebase.

[CT_WANDERER]

We stayed in Custer SP at Game Lodge CG. It has electric and a dump station. We made our runs from there to Rushmore & Crazyhorse

[nohurry]

Are the sites in Custer SP full hook up?

[RGar974417]

We stayed at Rafter J and liked it.But if I did it again,I would definately stay in Custer State Park.Location,location,location.

[Drippin]

We really liked Grace Coolidge in Custer SP. Power/Water sites. Dump station down the road at Game Lodge.

[pappcam]

We camped at the Mt. Rushmore KOA this summer. It's pretty busy, quite large and not cheap but it's perfect if you have kids as there's so much to do right at the campground. A co-worker stayed at the Rafter-J a week after I was there and said it was alright but didn't rave about it and the wifi didn't work.

YMMV

[LRBill]

Rafter J

The KOA is an absolute madhouse.

[dodge_guy]

We really liked Horsethief resort. very nice place on Needles hwy. beautiful views and surroundings of the Hills. I`m sure Rafter J is nice, but it is located in a field, I can get that here in IL!

BTW, I see you live in Falthead county. my cousin lives in just outside Kalispell (Kila), in the foothills. we stayed there years ago, beautiful area!

[Norskeman]

We stayed at the Rapid City KOA - had a nice pull through site - we were there during Sturgis bike week and it was not as bad as I thought it would be.