Where to camp at Mt. Rushmore

Things that don't fit anywhere else...

Where to camp at Mt. Rushmore

Postby Bigwoods » Sat Aug 09, 2014 11:31 pm

Does anyone have a suggestion on where to camp will visiting Mt. Rushmore? My wife wanted to make the trip in Sept.
Greg in Northern Minnesota

Image

Image
User avatar
Bigwoods
500 Club
 
Posts: 602
Images: 104
Joined: Thu May 27, 2004 10:45 pm
Location: Northern Minnesota

Re: Where to camp at Mt. Rushmore

Postby GerryS » Sun Aug 10, 2014 6:02 am

We just got back. Sylvan lake lodge campground wasn't bad. In September it aught to be quite nice...it's only down side is that it's sites were odd shaped and the people next to us were close....we were in site 6. I'd probably close another if I went there's again.

It sits right on the head of needles highway, that makes Rushmore very easy to get to, and scenic.

Be warned, it is at elevation...so if you have breathing problems. It might be worth looking elsewhere. It's at 6000 feet...didn't bother me, and I'm your average overweight middle age guy. Also note, the first real grocery store in custer...it's a little drive...but after a while out there, 30 minutes feels like a drive to the corner store :)

We did look at one other state run park, I can not recall it's name. It was off the road that goes east out of Custer, past the lakes..but it's not on the map :S

The commercial places around there are pretty bad. At least the ones we previewed. As is typical, they pack you etc.
User avatar
GerryS
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1178
Joined: Wed Apr 21, 2010 9:19 pm
Location: Central Indiana

Re: Where to camp at Mt. Rushmore

Postby Woodbutcher » Sun Aug 10, 2014 6:54 am

We stayed at Horse Thief Lake. It is about 2 miles from the Monument.
Last edited by Woodbutcher on Sun Aug 10, 2014 7:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Woodbutcher
Platinum Donating Member
 
Posts: 4187
Images: 45
Joined: Fri Mar 10, 2006 10:01 pm
Location: Chicago Suburbs
Top

Re: Where to camp at Mt. Rushmore

Postby wagondude » Sun Aug 10, 2014 2:32 pm

Jewel Cave is near by if you are into caves. There are State and Federal campgrounds all around the monuments as well as commercial. There are a number of really cool caves in the area. I stayed at the KOA Last time up there. It is the biggest KOA I have ever seen.
Bill

TnTTT ORIGIONAL 200A LANTERN CLUB
101137
User avatar
wagondude
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1535
Images: 35
Joined: Sun Jan 16, 2011 7:41 pm
Location: Land of the Jayhawks
Top

Re: Where to camp at Mt. Rushmore

Postby bdosborn » Sun Aug 10, 2014 4:56 pm

Custer State Park - Stockade Lake North Campground. They have power at the camp sites and a shower facility with flush toilets.

Linky

We used the campground as our base camp and went to all the Mt Rushmore area sites. It's centrally located, quiet and clean.

Image

Bruce
2009 6.5'X11' TTT - Boxcar
All it takes is a speck of faith and a few kilowatts of sweat and grace.
Image
Boxcar Build
aVANger Build
User avatar
bdosborn
Donating Member
 
Posts: 5492
Images: 767
Joined: Wed May 05, 2004 11:10 pm
Location: CO, Littleton
Top

Re: Where to camp at Mt. Rushmore

Postby jonw » Sun Aug 10, 2014 7:12 pm

I recently spent a night at Sylvan Lake campground. I thought it was nice, but maybe I had a nicer campsite than Gerry. You do need a reservation here as it's not that big and nicely located. Bathrooms were clean and it's close to the general store at Sylvan Lake proper.
User avatar
jonw
Titanium Donating Member
 
Posts: 525
Images: 163
Joined: Thu Oct 22, 2009 6:22 pm
Location: Marlboro, Mass.
Top

Re: Where to camp at Mt. Rushmore

Postby S. Heisley » Sun Aug 10, 2014 7:22 pm

bdosborn wrote:Custer State Park - Stockade Lake North Campground. They have power at the camp sites and a shower facility with flush toilets.

Linky

We used the campground as our base camp and went to all the Mt Rushmore area sites. It's centrally located, quiet and clean.

Image

Bruce


I stayed at Custer State Park, Stockade Lake South and was very happy there. Be aware that some of the spots on the side away from the lake, near the camp host, (ie. Site 23E) are on a hillside and those not very level. The rangers and hosts there were extremely friendly and helpful. ...Loved it and would go back again, level or not.

PS. Don't miss the Needles Hwy! It'll take your breath away in some spots.

Edited: Added a pic of Stockade Lake. (All the CG sites look about like Bruce's pic.)

Image
Last edited by S. Heisley on Sun Aug 10, 2014 8:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
S. Heisley
Super Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 8769
Images: 495
Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:02 am
Location: No. California
Top

Re: Where to camp at Mt. Rushmore

Postby working on it » Sun Aug 10, 2014 7:38 pm

This looks like a good spot
mt.rushmore.png
mt.rushmore.png (247.64 KiB) Viewed 850 times
familiar faces, too.
2013 HHRv "squareback/squaredrop", rugged, 4x8 TTT, 2225 lbs
  • *3500 lb Dexter EZ-Lube braked axle, 3000 lb.springs, active-progressive bumpstop suspension
  • *27 x 8.5-14LT AT tires (x 3) *Weight Distribution system for single-beam tongue
  • *100% LED's & GFCI outlets, 3x fans, AM/FM/CD/Aux. *A/C & heat, Optima AGM, inverter & charger(s)
  • *extended-run, on-board, 2500w generator *Coleman dual-fuel stove & lantern, Ikea grill, vintage skillet
  • *zinc/stainless front & side racks *98"L x 6" diameter rod & reel carrier tube on roof
173193172890148599
User avatar
working on it
2000 Club
2000 Club
 
Posts: 2170
Images: 457
Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:05 pm
Location: DFW Texas
Top

Re: Where to camp at Mt. Rushmore

Postby Aaron Coffee » Wed Aug 20, 2014 5:29 pm

I would second any of the Custer State campgrounds. I have stayed twice at Stockade lake north. I stayed once at a non state campground just south of Crazy Horse, and just a few spindly trees, so no real shade.
Aaron
If I could shut my brain off, I could save myself alot of time, money and effort.
User avatar
Aaron Coffee
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1000
Images: 26
Joined: Thu Jun 30, 2005 4:40 pm
Location: Elk Point, SD
Top

Re: Where to camp at Mt. Rushmore

Postby GerryS » Wed Aug 20, 2014 6:17 pm

Shade was good at sylvan. It wasn't bad...just had bad neighbors and a case of a small camp site.
User avatar
GerryS
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1178
Joined: Wed Apr 21, 2010 9:19 pm
Location: Central Indiana
Top


Return to Off Topic

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests