First time to S.Dakota

[David_and_Deb]

From Oklahoma we will leave this Saturday, Sept 15 and travel through Kansas and Nebraska to Badlands National Park in our 32' class C and Jeep tow, just hubby and me plus our dog. We have 12 days and could extend if we decide to miss a semi-important activity back home. It is around 750 miles one way.

Please help me with the best itinerary without doubling back and best RV campground with full hookups (thinking about Big Pines) to visit Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park and scenic drives, Black Hills, Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Crazy Horse. Others not to miss while here?

Should we move to Spearfish (thinking about Chris's Camp) to visit Deadwood, Sturgis, Hill City, Keystone? Others not to miss while here?

After visiting S. Dakota we want to go to Devil's Tower in Wyoming then head to Boysen State Park and back home to Oklahoma. Anything in between we should consider?

Or if we decide to stay longer, we may go to the Tetons and Yellowstone. It will be the end of September and first of October, is that too late to trek over? We aren't prepared for freezing temps or much snow. If we go, we were thinking about staying outside the park this time. Any recommendations coming in from the east and the Tetons?

One thing we may add to the beginning is the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society in De Smet, SD so would do that first, then drive west to Badlands. Any recommended places to stay in or around De Smet? Other things to see and do here?

We have no reservations nor timeline so could end up spending the entire time just in S. Dakota and circle through the Wyoming stops on the way home. We like traveling the back roads and stopping along the way, staying longer if we are loving it. That's why we are going back to Boysen. Dropped in for the night several years ago and have dreamed of going back ever since. Amazing place to sit and enjoy the beauty of our great country....gosh, we love RVing.

[ranger_dewey]

we love the black hills and usually plan 2-3 trips there every year. custer state park has their buffalo roundup the last friday of sept every year and is for us an annual don't miss event (2000 buffalo rounded up by cowboys on horseback). if you want a quiet secluded tree filled campground Big Pine Campground just outside the city of Custeris one of the best in the hills. Full hookups with plenty of space to feel all alone in the pines.

[David_and_Deb]

Great photos! Thanks for all the advice and information. We can't wait to get on the road.

If anyone else has a favorite campground with full hookups, a favorite bar or restaurant, activity, road to travel or other info you don't mind sharing, it is much appreciated.

[2gypsies1]

.. just a thought... You said you're not prepared for boondocking but why not try dry camping in national forests or national parks - at least for a couple nights? Since you seem to like that type of scenery I really think you'd enjoy it - nice and quiet. You can stay right in the midst of the areas you want to see. Your Class C has a generator. That's all you need. Fill your fresh water tank and empty the others beforehand and you're good to go! Conserve water.. no long showers. I think you'd really enjoy it - at least as an option. You can get into some beautiful quiet places.

[Horsedoc]

Spearfish SD has a city RV park that is FHU and reasonable. It is at the north end of Spearfish Canyon ( a drive you really need to experience) It will feel weird headed South from Spearfish because you are going up hill. The CGs in Custer SP have electric. They really need upgrading with water and sewer. A few don't eve haven a dump station.
Nicest is probably Game Lodge (more space, flatter, paved sites) Prettiest (IMO) is Blue Bell, set in pines and more scenic.

If I were staying from over a few days, I might go to a commercial CG with FHU for covenience

[Busskipper]

David and Deb wrote:
Thank you for that take...we like to drive so just doing day trips from one base would work. What is the best base? Near Custer? We like wooded and remote campgrounds without a bunch of amenities except full hook ups.

First picture is of our campsite in August during the Busiest time in the Area - Custer's Gulch - Custer

Hope this helps,

[BarabooBob]

Full hook ups usually mean open campsites. Take a look at Google Earth and switch to satellite view to see what the campsites look like. I do not stay at "camping resorts" because I am more comfortable in smaller, more secluded places. We have camped at Kemp's Kamp outside of Keystone. They are a small campground with some of the sites having full hookups. It is less than 10 miles from Rushmore. Chris' Camp at Spearfish has large campsites with trees for shade but you are still in a relatively open area. Chris' Camp is way up north but a good base to go and see Devils Tower.

While in the area, make sure to get reservations and visit either Wind Cave or Jewel Cave. Both are really nice.

The one thing that I have a hard time doing is to just park somewhere and sit an enjoy nature. I usually try to see everything and miss so much in the process.

[David_and_Deb]

Thank you for that take...we like to drive so just doing day trips from one base would work. What is the best base? Near Custer? We like wooded and remote campgrounds without a bunch of amenities except full hook ups.

[Busskipper]

David and Deb wrote:
Everyone has been so helpful...cannot thank you enough.

Any thoughts on choosing an RV park for better access to the southern sites then moving to a more northern RV park for Sturgis and Deadwood?

You can do as you wish - but the drives are all so good that when we stayed in Custer we would pick up way out and one way back and still never saw it all. So much to see and Never enough Time.

Watch out for the Wild Buffalos;



Few Pic's from and old Post.

Great spot to spend a vacation.

Enjoy your trip,

[RV_boy]

We are heading there next week. Plan on see the buffalo round up.

https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/things-do/events/custer-state-park-buffalo-roundup

We have reservations at Grace Coolidge campground in Custer State park for four night 9/26/18 thru 9/29/18. There is also an arts show that weekend in the park.

We have been to SD several times and really like the drives through the Black Hills. As you come into Rapid City on I90, stop at the Black Hills visitor center. They have great relief map and lots of info on the area. The restaurant in the old fire house has a nice lunch.

Other stops we plan to make are Wall Drug (again wife's choice) and the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. Get some of their popcorn in the store across the street.

We are in a dark gray Winnebago Travato class B. If you see us, stop and say hi. Our rig is called "The Wayward Wind", as we like to wander.

[badsix]

interesting we are going to go there next summer. just got back from Alaska, not impressed. so what's a good time of the year to be there? we plan to make a loop from the Oregon coast up to Montana, down through North Dakota and South Dakota then Wyoming back to Oregon.
Jay D.

[David_and_Deb]

Everyone has been so helpful...cannot thank you enough.

Any thoughts on choosing an RV park for better access to the southern sites then moving to a more northern RV park for Sturgis and Deadwood?

[rbtglove]

We lived in Rapid City for a few years and go back often. While we were there Jul and August were the only months you could depend on being warm so take a coat. When you go to the Badlands you might want to stop at Wall, a complete tourist trap but worth a stop and they have RV parking. Another tourist trap is Deadwood, was really an interesting place until they allowed the casinos to take over. But still worth a look. Crazy horse has become very commercial but a must see, they do allow dogs on patio but not inside. You won't have any problem finding things to do.

[ppine]

Great place. I have been going there since the 1960s. I went on two deer hunts about by Wasta on the breaks of the Cheyenne River. The secret to visiting So Dak is to get off the main tourist spots and visit the quiet places. Take some hikes, boondock camp and feel the place. The Native American presence is everywhere. I used to visit the Rose Bud and Pine Ridge Reservations all the time.

[Busskipper]

David and Deb wrote:
I should have mentioned we like secluded RV parks with lots of trees and quiet surroundings. Don't need any amenities except do enjoy full hook ups. Somewhere you could sit outside and enjoy a cigar and a glass of whiskey at the end of the day without having visitors. We aren't prepared to boondock in the wilderness yet but do like that kind of privacy if that makes sense. This is our down time.

Custer Gulch - Close but Private This is what I'd guess you are after - not by the pool but over by the lake.

Map just click and zoom

Needles Highway

Jewel Cave NM

Sylvan Lake, SD

Custer

Custer SP

Mt Rushmore in the evening,


.............on and on ,

Hope this is of some help,

[randyshanks]

We just got back from 2 weeks at Beaver Lake Campground in Custer, SD
Great service and great people.
We stayed at Rafter J the last time we were in the Black Hills, it was a nice campground, but no better than Beaver Lake and almost 50% higher rates.
Convenient to all attractions.
Don't miss the Black Hills Institute dinosaur museum on main street of hill city.
Randy