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01-12-2014, 08:01 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 440
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Black hills and glacier
Looking to head back to black hills and glacier national park this summer. Looks like KOA will get our money in west glacier but deciding on the black hills stay. We have stayed at rafter j bar and liked it but thought the KOA looked good when we were there during our trip 2 years ago. Has anyone stayed at both that can offer a recommendation? Seems to be more action or things to do at koa. Thoughts, insights or experience at either welcome. Want to book this week.
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Mike
2012 Lacrosse 303RK
2012 F250 6.7 diesel
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01-12-2014, 08:23 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: south Kansas City area
Posts: 1,298
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We really enjoyed Grace Coolidge campground in Custer State Park. Close to everything and you might get a mountain goat or buffalo walk through your campsite.
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Randy and Patty
2015 Sabre 33 CKTS-6 Platinum Edition
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01-12-2014, 08:47 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 440
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old car
We really enjoyed Grace Coolidge campground in Custer State Park. Close to everything and you might get a mountain goat or buffalo walk through your campsite.
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Thanks, no website and bad information for Allstays says only 6 sites? Is that possible?
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Mike
2012 Lacrosse 303RK
2012 F250 6.7 diesel
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01-12-2014, 08:49 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 302
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TTNewbees
Looking to head back to black hills and glacier national park this summer. Looks like KOA will get our money in west glacier but deciding on the black hills stay. We have stayed at rafter j bar and liked it but thought the KOA looked good when we were there during our trip 2 years ago. Has anyone stayed at both that can offer a recommendation? Seems to be more action or things to do at koa. Thoughts, insights or experience at either welcome. Want to book this week.
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The KOA is better, if you have kids, and need activities for them. If not, it's more crowded than Rafter J Bar, and not as appealing if you are just looking for a nice campground in the out-of-doors.
Any of the Custer State Park Resort campgrounds are nice, too, but as with Rafter J Bar, there aren't "activities" for kids.
If you want to boondock, you camp anywhere in the Black Hills National Forest at no cost.
And if you're coming through Yankton, SD, the campgrounds at Lewis & Clark Lake are very nice. You can find information on the SD State Parks and Recreation Areas at SD GFP | State Parks | campsd.com.
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Larry, Paula & Bailey the Adorable Red Toy Poodle
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01-12-2014, 08:55 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: south Kansas City area
Posts: 1,298
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Grace Coolidge had about 24 sites and is one of many campgrounds in the state park. The restrooms were the cleanest I have ever seen. No real activities for kids although there is a good walk/bike path that covers some ground. We parked our camper and were only there to sleep. We did other things (Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, etc.) by day. No kids, just me and the wife.
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Randy and Patty
2015 Sabre 33 CKTS-6 Platinum Edition
Reese 16K Slider hitch
2015 GMC Sierra 3500HD diesel dually
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01-12-2014, 09:00 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,031
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Your info states 26 sites and 6 tent sites.
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Terry and Janet
2008 3001W Windjammer
2007 Ford F150
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01-12-2014, 09:02 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 440
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Quote:
Originally Posted by caper
Your info states 26 sites and 6 tent sites.
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Your right, eyes get tired after looking at the all stays app for hours, thanks.
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Mike
2012 Lacrosse 303RK
2012 F250 6.7 diesel
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01-12-2014, 09:04 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: south Kansas City area
Posts: 1,298
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__________________
Randy and Patty
2015 Sabre 33 CKTS-6 Platinum Edition
Reese 16K Slider hitch
2015 GMC Sierra 3500HD diesel dually
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01-12-2014, 09:13 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 440
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Thanks, I live with glampers! I could survive a week on electric these cats can't survive a day without 20 min showers and a pool. We all like the thought of being in a place with buffalo, deer, goats roaming through. We will weigh out the options and go from there. Did like amenities and open areas of rafter j bar.
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Mike
2012 Lacrosse 303RK
2012 F250 6.7 diesel
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01-12-2014, 09:28 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: south Kansas City area
Posts: 1,298
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If you don't stay in the state park at least plan the time to do the wildlife loop drive. I think it's about an 18 mile loop that takes about an hour to drive and we saw huge herds of buffalo, deer, antelope. Go about 90 minutes before sundown. Seems like the ideal time. Check out the photo album on my profile.
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Randy and Patty
2015 Sabre 33 CKTS-6 Platinum Edition
Reese 16K Slider hitch
2015 GMC Sierra 3500HD diesel dually
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01-12-2014, 09:51 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 440
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old car
If you don't stay in the state park at least plan the time to do the wildlife loop drive. I think it's about an 18 mile loop that takes about an hour to drive and we saw huge herds of buffalo, deer, antelope. Go about 90 minutes before sundown. Seems like the ideal time. Check out the photo album on my profile.
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Thanks we did do Custer loop drive 2 years ago and would plan to do again.
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Mike
2012 Lacrosse 303RK
2012 F250 6.7 diesel
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01-13-2014, 08:20 AM
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#12
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Wanna Be Camper
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Posts: 2,420
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We stayed at the KOA and I would go back there in a heartbeat. DW loved the horse back riding. Yes the sites are a bit cramped but we only realy spend the evenings at any cg we go to anyway as we camp to go sitght seeing in the area we are in and the CG is just a place to park aour tired butts at the end of the day for the most part.
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John & Deb
2011 F250 Lariat FX4 Crew Cab 6.2
2011 Flagstaff V-Lite 30WRLS
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01-13-2014, 08:37 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Ohio
Posts: 110
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old car
If you don't stay in the state park at least plan the time to do the wildlife loop drive. I think it's about an 18 mile loop that takes about an hour to drive and we saw huge herds of buffalo, deer, antelope. Go about 90 minutes before sundown. Seems like the ideal time. Check out the photo album on my profile.
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Don't forget the Iron Mnt. Road, and Needles highway also. We did them all twice when we were ther last year. Check out Beaver Creek campground in Custer. It was nice.
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2012 F150 4x4 5.0
2011 Cherokee Grey Wolf 26bh
God Bless America
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01-13-2014, 09:06 AM
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#14
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Happy Keystone Owner
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 636
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I would not go to glacier and not go to waterton lakes. It would be a wasted trip IMO
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'15 F150 Ecoboost Maxtow Scab '19 Keystone Laredo 225MK
Days camped 2020-37 2019-36, 2018-24, 2017-46, 2016 -56, 2015-33,
2014-47,
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01-13-2014, 10:34 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 440
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dbarr
I would not go to glacier and not go to waterton lakes. It would be a wasted trip IMO
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And why is that? Is the landscape better/different than glacier/ more abundance of wildlife?
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Mike
2012 Lacrosse 303RK
2012 F250 6.7 diesel
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01-13-2014, 10:44 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Idaho
Posts: 9,839
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dbarr
I would not go to glacier and not go to waterton lakes. It would be a wasted trip IMO
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No cell/WIFI service?
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2016 F350 6.7L LB CC Reese 28K 2014 Chaparral Lite 266sab
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." 2014 19 days camping 2015 17 days camping201620 days camping
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01-13-2014, 11:47 AM
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#17
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Happy Keystone Owner
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 636
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Waterton Lakes is well worth the drive up. Always have seen bear and moose up there. Them Canucks lucked out on their scenic areas. They got the best view of Niagara and the better end of the Rockies.
You'll need,at minimum, a passport card for everyone that goes.
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'15 F150 Ecoboost Maxtow Scab '19 Keystone Laredo 225MK
Days camped 2020-37 2019-36, 2018-24, 2017-46, 2016 -56, 2015-33,
2014-47,
Years camping....55
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01-13-2014, 11:49 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 644
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I can't recommend anywhere at glacier.
We have stayed several times at Big Pines Campground in Custer SD.
This is a really nice campground off the main path. They do not have a pool nor a lot of kids stuff. The campground has big sites and the cleanest restrooms I have ever seen at a campground. They also have really good rates. Check them out if your looking for a more peaceful campground.
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Jay & Maria - Camp Dog Joplin
2018 Cedar Creek Champagne 38EL
Fulltimers since May 2018!
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01-13-2014, 12:20 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 744
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We have spent a fair amount of time at Waterton. Two years ago, this summer coming, we would go on two of the trails there every day and we would see bears close up and personal. That's 13 days of doing that. We drove beside 6 big horn sheep. Had them jump off a cliff about 20 ft high right in front of us, Lots of wild life if you take your time (Drive slow). We find it better that Banff NP. Cameron Lake is just as beautiful as Lake Louise and not nearly as many people. We stayed a few miles outside the Park gate. It can get very, very windy there. There's a lot to do and see in the surrounding area. Pincher Creek is about 25-30 miles north if you want grocery stores, Walmart, etc.
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01-13-2014, 01:04 PM
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#20
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 64
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old car
We really enjoyed Grace Coolidge campground in Custer State Park. Close to everything and you might get a mountain goat or buffalo walk through your campsite.
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Not to be picky, but you won't see mountain goats around Grace Coolidge. They are bighorn sheep. There aren't many mountain goats left in the Black Hills. The best place to happen into some would be around Mount Rushmore. If looking for critters, check out the Wildlife Loop road in Custer State Park around sunrise and sunset. Should have no problem seeing buffalo. Usually you will also see antelope, deer, turkeys and sometimes elk.
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