Mount Rushmore

**Dlgomez** · 04-05-2018, 11:12 AM

We would be going the week of July 4th

**tmrut5** · 04-05-2018, 04:11 PM

We stayed at the Rafter J Bar Ranch RV Park. Very spacious and spread out. You will be very close to Crazy Horse, and not far from Mt Rushmore

**CWSWine** · 04-05-2018, 04:25 PM

So much talk about the monuments but don't miss the drive through The Needles.

**Dick Noble** · 04-05-2018, 04:52 PM

My advice - try not to stay at the KOA that is closest to the monument. It is very pricy, and they charge for every little thing. I was not impressed with it at all.

**Canyonlight** · 04-05-2018, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by Dick Noble

My advice - try not to stay at the KOA that is closest to the monument. It is very pricy, and they charge for every little thing. I was not impressed with it at all.

The Rushmore KOA used to be (I think still is) owned by one of the largest law firm family members in SD and you know how attorneys never miss an opportunity to bill for every second......the same philosophy applies to the KOA. This said, they have owned it since it inception and have grown it into a well respected and quite active destination........it is pretty well run.

Dan

**sande005** · 04-05-2018, 09:52 PM

Kind of sad....when I was a kid, my parents took us to the Palmer Gulch Dude Ranch in the Black Hills. Working cattle ranch, with guest cabins. Trail rides twice a day, some up the back side of Mt. Rushmore. "Ranch house" and Chuckwagon meals. Bonfires and sing alongs at night, coyotes howling. But time marches on, and it is now the Palmer Gulch Resort and Rushmore KOA. Comparatively "citified" compared to what was there.

**Steve7** · 04-06-2018, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by Dick Noble

My advice - try not to stay at the KOA that is closest to the monument. It is very pricy, and they charge for every little thing. I was not impressed with it at all.

We stayed at that KOA. It is huge, and has about anything you would want. Definitely a destination KOA. We loved it! I don’t recall any fees other than the cost of the stay, which wasn’t bad for the location. Took advantage of the modest restaurant and bar, the coffee shop, and the ice cream shop. Lots for kids, fishing pond, horseback riding and atv rental with trails from the campground. Great long trails for walking dogs.

**JBPVMO** · 04-06-2018, 11:27 AM

We took this trip from Missouri about 10-11 years ago, and made Custer our 'Homebase." I think the campground was called Big Pine. It was a wonderful trip!

**Scott and Jan** · 04-07-2018, 07:14 PM

Definitely make time to explore Custer St Pk. Needles highway, Wildlife loop, Iron Mtn(?) rd are all worth the drives. If you are into hiking the trail around Sylvan Lake was nice. The hike to Harney Peak was great.
We stayed at Crooked Creek RV in Hill City. Easy access to area attractions.
On our way to Devils Tower, WY from Hill City, we really enjoyed the drive through Spearfish Canyon. A couple nice hikes there too. Not too far NW of Rushmore area.