Mount Rushmore RV Park

[kentdavido]

Good Day, We're headed to Mount Rushmore with 2 kids and 3 corgi's. We're not traveling with a Toad so we're looking for someplace that is a great place for the kids, dogs, adults and is within walking distance to Mount Rushmore. We might rent a car in Rapid City if you can recommend a better place to stay at a distance. The kids are excited.

[Ford Idaho]

I can not suggest one CG over another as I have only been there once and peoples preferences differ greatly.

What I will suggest is no matter where you stay rent a car, you will be glad you did.

Crazy Horse.
Deadwood city.
Lead.

[SaskCampers]

We stayed at Palmer Gulch KOA Resort, it is very nice horse back riding, ATV rentals 2 pools you name it it is there. Right at the base of Mt Rushmore, I guess you could walk if you wanted but there is so much to see around there you would really be missing out if you do not have a vehicle to travel the area in. We spent 4 days there and wished we would have had another 3 or more to see everything that that entire are has to offer as there is so much history around there.

[kentdavido]

Thank you, we tried to connect up with them but they're booked.

[CAT-RN]

Campgrounds ever were out there. I definitely would rent a car. With kids a drive thru Custer State Park would be a must if I were you.

Then up the needles HWY to Mt Rushmore. Not sure what you have for an RV but there is plenty of parking at Rushmore for any size vehicle.

Russell

[elind]

Originally Posted by CAT-RN

Campgrounds ever were out there. I definitely would rent a car. With kids a drive thru Custer State Park would be a must if I were you.

Then up the needles HWY to Mt Rushmore. Not sure what you have for an RV but there is plenty of parking at Rushmore for any size vehicle.

Russell

Use a car or truck only when traveling the Needles Hwy or The Iron Mt. Road. It gets tight going the tunnels in the mountains.

[kentdavido]

We rented a car and that was always our we've rented a car and that was always our plan once we got in the area. Our kids are gonna love it. Thank you for everything.

[CAT-RN]

Originally Posted by elind

Use a car or truck only when traveling the Needles Hwy or The Iron Mt. Road. It gets tight going the tunnels in the mountains.

Yes for sure. I should of said that.

Russell

[CAT-RN]

Originally Posted by kentdavido

We rented a car and that was always our we've rented a car and that was always our plan once we got in the area. Our kids are gonna love it. Thank you for everything.

Toward the south end of Custer the donkeys are there. Might buy some carrots to feed them. I'd buy a bag of those short carrot pieces.

Russell

[elind]

Bring 'em carrots!!!

[DocP]

We stayed at the Rafter J Bar Ranch (Where the Beauty of the Black Hills begins at your site!). Very, very nice, and here's how close it it to the various local attractions:

Mt. Rushmore (8.5 miles)
Crazy Horse Memorial (7.5 miles)
1880 Train (3.5 miles)
Custer State Park (12 miles)
Hill City (2.5 miles)
Pactola Lake (17 miles)
Needles Hwy (11 miles)
Rapid City (33 miles)
Spearfish Canyon (59 miles)
Sheridan Lake (9.5 miles)
Iron Mountain Lake (9.5 miles)
Mickelson Trail (Right by it!)
Deadwood (45 miles)
Badlands National Park (82.5 miles)

I'd go back to the Rafter J Bar Ranch any time! Good luck, and enjoy the trip!

[RudysWorld]

We stayed at Flinstones Bedrock City, Custer, SD, has a amusement park attached. We did not go to park but campground was nice. I think there was a KOA that was very close, check it out. It may be walking distance or a lot of KOA's do shuttles to attractions nearby. Shuttle may be good I don't think there is flat land for miles around Mt Rushmore.

[johng4706]

Rafter J gets my vote. Very nice campground.You will definitely want to rent a car. Also go back to Mount Rushmore for their evening laser light show. The parking receipt is good multiple times, definitely the same day.

Hill City has a great restaurant, the Alpine Inn. Not open on Sundays. Very reasonable. I had a bacon wrapped filet with a salad and baked potato for under $15. You could cut the steak with your fork, it was that tender.

[camaraderie]

Gonna be staying at Custer State Park in September in the Bluebell Campground and the wildlife loop there sounds like a great ride for our scooters. Anyone stayed there?
@johng...thanks for the tip on the Alpine Inn restaurant... will give it a shot.

[johng4706]

Camraadarie,

Be careful with your scooters. Some of the Buffalo/Bison weigh in over a ton. While they look pretty lazy and docile along the road, when they want to they can move pretty quickly. A scooter doesn't give you much protection.

[fr1rd831]

Being chased by a bison while driving a scooter sounds like a scene option for the next Dumb and Dumber movie :-)

[camaraderie]

Originally Posted by johng4706

Camraadarie,

Be careful with your scooters. Some of the Buffalo/Bison weigh in over a ton. While they look pretty lazy and docile along the road, when they want to they can move pretty quickly. A scooter doesn't give you much protection.

fr1rd831 Being chased by a bison while driving a scooter sounds like a scene option for the next Dumb and Dumber movie :-)

Heh... yep...but these are more like motorcycles than mopeds...can go 55...and in any event...mine is faster than my wifes!

[fander]

No campground within walking distance of Mt Rushmore. Mt Rushmore KOA has bus service to Mt Rushmore but not my favorite campground. I like Rafter J at Hill City but kind of pricey. Check RVPark Reviews to see if the Rafter J would suit your needs. A car is necessary to see the area. Places I like are the Needles Highway (tunnels), Sylvan Lake (paddle boats and trail around lake) Harney Peak (trail to top but not easy climb) Iron Mountain Road, Custer State Park (buffalo and mountain goats), Reptile Gardens (snakes and birds and reptiles), 1880 train (ride or visit the nearby train museum), Crazy Horse (for Indian history), and Keystone (for trinkets and taffy.)

[johng4706]

Camraadarie,

Ok, you're tooling down the road on a bike faster than your wife's. Up ahead you see many cars, trucks and SUV blocking the two lane road. What is it? Why they're a herd of Buffalo/Bison. Maybe 50 or so... everyone has stopped to get their National Geographic's closeup of a Buffalo/Bison. They are everywhere, they're blocking the road. They ll walk up to and around your vehicle, checking you out. Watch out for the ones that have little camper and truck stickers on their shoulders. Sort of like the WWII flying aces with their "kills" noted under their canopies.

The really great thing is that there are no fences. Maybe some cattle crossing grates to prevent the animals from leaving the park. But you're in the so called "cage" with all the animals. They're REALLY BIG! Not much room to maneuver, at which point, you might want to get behind your wife and give her the front row seats.

[camaraderie]

Originally Posted by johng4706

Camraadarie,
They're REALLY BIG! Not much room to maneuver, at which point, you might want to get behind your wife and give her the front row seats.

Or climb on the roof of your car! You do have collision insurance right??