Dakotas, Black Hills and Badlands

[Hawkeye]

I want to start planning for our trip to the Dakotas next year. Does anyone have any recommendations on campgrounds or sites to see?

[JamieGeek]

LOL I put a recommendation on your engine failure thread but I'll put it here too:
Black Hills Lodging | South Dakota Camping | Fun Family Vacations | Palmer Gulch

We've stayed there twice. Its a nice campground and resort lodge (if you have people that want to vacation with you there is a really nice lodge on the grounds). The sites are relatively close together and its a bit busy other than that its a really nice resort.
RV Park Reviews about it:
Mount Rushmore KOA - Hill City, SD - RV Park Reviews

[Marine By Choice]

The KOA in Interior, South Dakota is at the top of our list!!

Beautiful level tree lined spaces. Full hookups. Fantastic people!!!

[Mr Sunshine]

Check out a 3 day sales stay at Hart Ranch Camping Resort Club. They'll try real hard to sell you a membership, and it is one of the absolute nicest RV resorts anywhere!

A favorite drive is the Spearfish Canyon road. It's a short drive, but very worth it, with three small waterfalls. It's between Rapid City and Devils Tower.

[larry.chenkin]

Stayed at big pine outside custer sd, nice campground, nice owners. Absolutely loved custer state park. Devils tower was worth seeing. The badlands were awesome. Also loved the minuteman missile sites, especially the underground launch center.

[Mr Sunshine]

Besides those mentioned, ya gotta see:
Mt Rushmore- the night show is inspiring
Iron Mtn Road, with the pigtail bridges, view Mt Rushmore thru the tunnels
The Journey museum, relatively new and very well done, for all ages
Crazy Horse monument, they'll still be working on that for generations
Sylvan Lake and the Needles, breathtaking scenery
Deadwood, if you are into Old West history and/or casinos
You'll wish you had allowed more time there!

[Marine By Choice]

Deadwood, if you are into Old West history and/or casinos

There are 2 museums in Deadwood. The Adams Hiuse & Museum and The Custer County 1881 Courthouse Museum. Both excellent!

The KOA south of Deadwood is great. Nice owners and a free shuttle into and return from Deadwood.

[Tneagle]

We stayed in Custer State park for 7 days. Then made day trips to see all the above. You may even wake up with a herd of buffalo in your campsite! Awlsome experience.

[Maverick]

Rafter-J-Bar, just south of Hill City, SD will be one of your most pleasant campgrounds you'll visit. Get sites, and location, location, location. You are central to so much of what the Black Hills has to offer.

[vkb]

We have been to the area several times...
agree with every recommendation...we bring a motorcycle with us and do alot of riding...beautiful...
all of the RV campgrounds recommended are good...
Do the drive through Custer State park...the Buffalo roam free and are amazing. We have been to the Buffalo Roundup in September..spectacular.
If you go to Deadwood and Sturgis...go to
Tatanka .. it is the memorial/ museum to Buffalo created by Kevin Costner..
he had grand dreams..which did not materialize..however. the trail around the grounds and the small museum is very interesting.
The museum at the base of Mt. Rushmore is very interesting..it was
Borglums office during construction work...
We saw Crazy Horse, in the early 80's .. when it was .. not even noticeable what they were doing !

[Mr Sunshine]

We're planning to meet #1 son and his family out there this summer. He was at Crazy Horse 20+ years ago, and I told him we'll take his kids to see it this time. Those kids can probably take their grandkids to see it and it still won't be finished! We'll be staying at Rushmore Shadows CG.

[vkb]

Originally Posted by Mr Sunshine

We're planning to meet #1 son and his family out there this summer. He was at Crazy Horse 20+ years ago, and I told him we'll take his kids to see it this time. Those kids can probably take their grandkids to see it and it still won't be finished! We'll be staying at Rushmore Shadows CG.

I think you are correct...when we were, first, at Crazy Horse in 1980, and there was just a tiny hole where his arm extends out to the horses head/neck ..
4 yrs ago we were drove by when at the Buffalo Roundup and sadly, did not see as much progress at one would think in 30 years!

Regardless...it is an awesome area...we enjoy the trip.

Have also, been to Glacier Nat'l Park and Yellowstone, and area.

[Maverick]

At $5.00 per person for walk-in and 3 million people per year, that equates to $15 million TAX FREE dollars... Why would you expect them to finish. Not in my lifetime!

$28.00 Per car – more than 2 people
$22.00 = 2 people in car
$11.00 = Per person
$5.00 = Per person on motorcycle,
$5.00 = Per bicycle
Free = Children 6 and Under