Mt Rushmore

[wmtire]

Although we flew up there (Rapid City then drove a rental car) last June, we would have loved to stay at Custer State Park. You have to book early as they fill up at the lodges and campgrounds. The kids really enjoyed the horse rides at Custer (again reservations are recommended for that too).

If you do travel to/thru Custer Park or bordering Wind Cave National Park, watch your speed. Luckily the US Park Ranger (yes they have radar) let me off with a warning.

[Whiteknight]

We stayed at Custer State Park for a week and the whole family is still talking about it. We only had electric hookup. My 8 year old daughter enjoyed playing with other kids, rideing her bike and especially looking for our daily visitor to the campground. We stayed at the Legion Lake Campground.

[SaskCampers]

Originally Posted by Jhawkfan44

Planning a trip here in July 2013 and looking for the best spot. Here is where we are considering:

Cabin Resorts KOA Campgrounds Palmer Gulch Resort Black Hills

Rafter J Bar Ranch

Broken Arrow Horse Campground

We have a Wildwood 26TBSS, two small boys, and a dog. We like the idea of rustic surroundings, space between sites, but also full services if possible, and some of entertainment for the kids (playground, pool, mini golf, etc).

If the campground doesn't have anything like that for kids, we need to be sure there is plenty of space around us for playing and exploring.

We're coming from Kansas and typically go to Colorado to escape the heat, so I'm hoping it won't be bad near Rushmore and the Black Hills.

Thanks for your replies.

I don't think it will be too cool in July as it was hitting 100+ the end of June when we were there 2 years ago. We stayed at Palmer Gulch and it is very nice with tons to do. ATV rentals, playgrounds, horse back riding etc. Has a restaraunt pizza and ice cream parlor, 2 pools and more. It is pricey and the pull throughs are not real wide though. I would recommend it as well but not having been to the others it is the only info I can offer. And yes we would go back.

[rkswyo]

We stayed at Palmer Gulch and were very happy with it. Lots to do for the kids and the location is perfect. I would stay there again without hesitation.

[Jhawkfan44]

Wait, it will be near 100 in July at Rushmore?

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by Jhawkfan44

Wait, it will be near 100 in July at Rushmore?

This may help.

Mount Rushmore Information - Weather

When we were up there near the end of June, the temps were in the very comfortable high 70's/low 80's and we wore jackets at night in the mountains, especially at Crazy Horse.

We were very comfortable.

The day before we left, we went to Spearfish, Sturgis, Deadwood, and areas in the flats. There was a freak heat wave that day (so the locals said) with temps pushing 100, but being from Louisiana we didn't even break a sweat. 100 up there was not the same humidity filled 100 down here. The hottest place was out in the field near Belle Fourche, which I had to go and see the actual geographic center of the United States.......and even that wasn't too bad.

I remember talking to a woman in the hotel elevator in Rapid City that night, as she was from Minnesota and said they were dying in the heat. My kids just looked at her like she was crazy, and said it wasn't hot at all to them.

[jimh]

we stayed at heritage village. our destination was Rushmore. we drove thru Custer park and we enjoyed it more than Yellowstone.
we went to a dinosaur dig in hot springs and a wild horse ranch south of there. we really like SD.
i don't expect crazy horse to be finished in my grandchildren lifetime. lots of work and a small crew working on it.

[Dodge Guy]

Originally Posted by Whiteknight

We stayed at Custer State Park for a week and the whole family is still talking about it. We only had electric hookup. My 8 year old daughter enjoyed playing with other kids, rideing her bike and especially looking for our daily visitor to the campground. We stayed at the Legion Lake Campground.

I wonder how my German Shepherd would like the visitor. actually do they allow dogs in the campground? something tells me they don`t.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by Dodge Guy

actually do they allow dogs in the campground? something tells me they don`t.

Page 4 of Custer's Park Guide does state they allow pets, but they must be on a leash no longer than 10 feet.......and you must clean up after them.

This guide also has information about other places of interest in the area, for those who may be planning a trip.


http://gfp.sd.gov/state-parks/direct...cs/tatanka.pdf

[rkswyo]

I have to say that the Black Hills area is one of my favorites. I have been there several times and have enjoyed it each time. I will probably go back again some day. There is alot of things to see and do in the area. The dinosaur dig is a must see. Crazy Horse has progressed over the years and is impressive for the fact it is privatley funded. Mt Rushmore is awesome especially at the nightly lighting.

[camper1999]

I also stayed at Rafter J we like it a lot!

[armye7]

We stayed there also, very nice lots of room.

[Oakman]

When you visit Mount Rushmore be sure to see both sides.

Front view.



The other side.

[caper]

The back side is what we see in Canada. lol

[Whiteknight]

Originally Posted by Dodge Guy

I wonder how my German Shepherd would like the visitor. actually do they allow dogs in the campground? something tells me they don`t.

Yes they do, we had our Shiatsu with us. The host recommended making sure he was inside when a bison was in the campground. We just watched from a distance.

The dog didn't want anything to do with the bison though! Somehow he knew before we did that is was in the area and wanted in the camper and usually got in his crate. When he did get a little braver, he would watch out the window, he never said a word.


We stayed at Rafter J our first trip and it was nice. Needed something a little cheaper this time and wasn't disappointed.

[TTNewbees]

I stayed at rafter J bar this past June, middle of June was 75-85 degrees. Enjoyed the whole area and would like to go back for another week in 2014 as it was only a couple day stop on the way to Yellowstone and grand Tetons.

Scene from our site.

[Jhawkfan44]

Originally Posted by Whiteknight

We stayed at Rafter J our first trip and it was nice. Needed something a little cheaper this time and wasn't disappointed.

So where did you stay on your second trip? I think I missed that reference somewhere. Where are people staying where bison are roaming through daily?

[Old car]

We went to South Dakota Labor Day week 2012. Inside Custer State Park the buffalo and other wildlife roam free. There is a loop drive (I think about 18 miles) that is inside the park where we saw all sorts of wildlife and buffalo by the hundreds. Check out my photo album on my profile. We camped right in Custer as well at Grace Coolidge campground and one morning we had six mountain goats show up for breakfast. We also saw buffalo patties right on the lawn of the campground but they never actually visited while we were there. Saw a few just up the road from the campsite.

[Whiteknight]

Originally Posted by Jhawkfan44

So where did you stay on your second trip? I think I missed that reference somewhere. Where are people staying where bison are roaming through daily?

We stayed at the Legion Lake Campground in Custer State Park.