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Old 06-26-2016, 08:48 PM   #1
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Mt Rushmore and Black Hills Trip

We are planning a trip to Mt Rushmore (from Colorado Springs) in Sept or Oct. Trip will be 4 days, with about 8 hours on the road on days 1 and 4. From what I can tell, Custer State Park looks like the best place to camp for the trip.

Are there any specific campground recommendations or particular weekends to make the trip? Any other concerns or recommendations?

We prefer public parks and forests, shaded areas - lakefront or streams are a plus. Toilets within walking distance are necessary. Flush toilets and showers are desirable, but not essential for a short trip like this.

Electric is only needed if high temps are going to be in 80s (for the air conditioning). Otherwise, hook-ups are unnecessary luxuries for us.

Fred W
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Old 06-26-2016, 08:53 PM   #2
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Fantastic trip!! We were there last year. I would recommend Rafter J Bar Ranch for camping. Right at the base of Mt Rushmore and 15 min from Crazy Horse. Really centrally located. There is great hiking and cave exploring nearby as well.

Have fun!!

Rich and Kelly
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Old 06-26-2016, 10:25 PM   #3
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We were there in June for 4 day. Had a great time. We stayed in Stockade Lake North Campground in Custer State Park. We like the location. They have Flush toilets and shower. They have ele and non ele sites. You will have to pay a park fee plus the camp fee. It was close to the town of Custer so a diner out if you wanted, if not the ice cream was good. The CG is not on the lake. I have not looked at the weather but Oct maybe a little cold.

Area Attractions
Crazy Horse: 8.5 miles
Jewel Cave: 19 miles
Mammoth Site: 32 miles
Mt. Rushmore: 25 miles
Wind Cavel: 13.5 miles
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Old 06-27-2016, 08:39 AM   #4
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We stayed at Rafter J also, great campground.
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Old 06-27-2016, 09:07 AM   #5
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We very much appreciate the suggestions so far. Both the Rafter J and Custer State Park have great reviews, overall. I always look carefully at reviews - are there real reasons for the positive or negative review? Would the same reasons apply to us and our style of camping?

For example, one of the repeated detriments to Custer State Park is that there is one central dump station for the entire park, and it's only near one campground. Our little A-frame does not have gray or black tanks, so the distance to the dump station matters little to us.

A little weather research shows snow is possible in October, and by the end of the month, the 1st snow storm is likely. We will probably aim for September, and hope to catch the aspens turning.

Fred W
2014 Rockwood A122 A-Frame
2008 Hyundai Entourage minivan
camping Colorado and adjacent states one weekend at a time
next trips - 1) Rocky Mountain National Park. 2) Mt Rushmore. 3) Utah 5.
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Old 06-27-2016, 09:43 AM   #6
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"are there real reasons for the positive or negative review? "

We were in a A-Frame at Stockade Lake North Campground in Custer State Park.

Positive or negative review, we tend to read the negative to see if the are problem that would bother us, like full timer that have a lot of junk around or loud party.

We tend to do National CG as we have the senior Pass and have had good luck with them and State park have been good. Don't do many Commercial CG, unless we are looking for Shower, Electric all the other stuff they offer we just don't use.
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Old 06-27-2016, 10:02 AM   #7
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I prefer Horse Thief campground but Rafter J is nice also. Horse Thief doesn't jack up their rates for the Sturgis rally like the other campgrounds do.

Horse Thief has full hook ups and a large shower house that is always nice and clean. The owners are there almost all the time.
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Old 06-27-2016, 10:06 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pgandw View Post
We very much appreciate the suggestions so far. Both the Rafter J and Custer State Park have great reviews, overall. I always look carefully at reviews - are there real reasons for the positive or negative review? Would the same reasons apply to us and our style of camping?

For example, one of the repeated detriments to Custer State Park is that there is one central dump station for the entire park, and it's only near one campground. Our little A-frame does not have gray or black tanks, so the distance to the dump station matters little to us.

A little weather research shows snow is possible in October, and by the end of the month, the 1st snow storm is likely. We will probably aim for September, and hope to catch the aspens turning.

Fred W
2014 Rockwood A122 A-Frame
2008 Hyundai Entourage minivan
camping Colorado and adjacent states one weekend at a time
next trips - 1) Rocky Mountain National Park. 2) Mt Rushmore. 3) Utah 5.
6" of Snow in Sept.of 14 you Never know! The Stage at Rushmore was closed because of the Snow! Youroo!!
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Old 06-27-2016, 10:16 AM   #9
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There was a hail storm August of 2013 that was so deep you would of thought that it was snow lol. The weather is a little tricky up there so you have to be prepared for a little bit of everything.

This was July 2015 Parts Of Black Hills Covered In Hail 6 inches of hail
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Old 06-27-2016, 10:16 AM   #10
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6" of Snow in Sept.of 14 you Never know! The Stage at Rushmore was closed because of the Snow! Youroo!!
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Old 06-27-2016, 10:46 AM   #11
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Parts Of Black Hills Covered In Hail[/url] 6 inches of hail
Yikes!
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Old 06-27-2016, 12:33 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by Electra glide View Post
There was a hail storm August of 2013 that was so deep you would of thought that it was snow lol. The weather is a little tricky up there so you have to be prepared for a little bit of everything.

This was July 2015 Parts Of Black Hills Covered In Hail 6 inches of hail
August 6, 2008 - the day we arrived in Colorado Springs. We took the back way to our house-to-be at about 7PM and observed snow banks on either side of the road. My wife asked her favorite question, "How could you do this to me? Move me to a place where it snows in August?"

Turned out it was hail that had been plowed to clear the road. Typically hail enough to plow happens once or twice a summer here in Colorado. Daughter's car just got the the famous dented roof and hood from hail last week while she was at work.

There are very good reasons for bikers, hikers, and climbers to get down from Colorado mountain peaks before noon - and 10AM is even safer.

Have seen similar amounts of hail once in a while around Lake Tahoe.

Fred W
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2008 Hyundai Entourage minivan
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Old 06-27-2016, 12:50 PM   #13
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Roubaix Lake Campground

Simple but great. Also like Wild Bill's campground in October.
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Old 06-27-2016, 01:07 PM   #14
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We recommend Rafter J Bar, as well. Nice campground in the woods. We have camped at the Game Lodge Campground in Custer State Park and enjoyed that, too. Enjoy the Black Hills .... it's one of our most favorite places in the US .... of course we're from SD so we might be a little biased.
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Old 06-27-2016, 01:37 PM   #15
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Drive the Needles scenic drive. No RV or trailers allowed.
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Old 06-27-2016, 02:00 PM   #16
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Drive the Needles scenic drive. No RV or trailers allowed.
Ditto on the Needles Highway. Since this thread is in the A-Frame campers and you think you can do it with your A-Frame or popup camper this is why no RVs or trailers.

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Old 06-27-2016, 02:04 PM   #17
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You will have to pay a park fee plus the camp fee.
If you are a senior, the National Parks senior card is the way to go. $10 for lifetime access to the National Parks and monuments.
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Old 06-27-2016, 02:17 PM   #18
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Another positive "vote" for Rafter J!
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Old 06-27-2016, 02:19 PM   #19
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We just got back yesterday from Rushmore. We stayed at the Palmer Gulch KOA, it was very nice but it was also $72/night for a full hookup pull thru site.

The needles is a must! The sign says the width is 8'4" but it is wider than that, more like 9'2 - 9'6" at mirror height. All 6 of us (2 duallys and 4 3/4 or srw 1 tons) made it through without having to fold in our towing mirrors.
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Old 06-27-2016, 02:54 PM   #20
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Be sure to pack for cold weather -- hooded sweatshirts, long pants, sox, shoes.
Be prepared for whatever weather shows up.
Otherwise, it is beautiful there, see as much as you can. Don't miss Crazy Horse!!! I loved its story more than Rushmore.
Enjoy!!!
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