Black Hills Visit Guidance

[TFB176602]

Hello Fellow GDRV'ers,

The wife and I are planning a weeklong trip to the Black Hills with our 310 and neither of us have ever been there before. I did some thread searching and came across three campground names and want to know what the consensus is these days as some of these threads dated back about 5 years. We do want to make this not only a sightseeing trip but incorporate some hiking as well

1. Black Hills Trailside RV Resort
2. Horse Thief Campground and Resort
3. Rafter J Bar Ranch

Now my own take after doing a lot of reading and reviewing on all three was Rafter J seems to be the place to go.

Please drop in and offer your thoughts and what you would recommend for first timers to do. I know the obvious is Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse but beyond that it is wide open. In reading, I see there is so much to do, it takes many trips to begin to see even a decent amount of it.

Please let these first timers in their mid-50's know your insights.

 

[tortise]

Hello Fellow GDRV'ers,

The wife and I are planning a weeklong trip to the Black Hills with our 310 and neither of us have ever been there before. I did some thread searching and came across three campground names and want to know what the consensus is these days as some of these threads dated back about 5 years. We do want to make this not only a sightseeing trip but incorporate some hiking as well

1. Black Hills Trailside RV Resort
2. Horse Thief Campground and Resort
3. Rafter J Bar Ranch

Now my own take after doing a lot of reading and reviewing on all three was Rafter J seems to be the place to go.

Please drop in and offer your thoughts and what you would recommend for first timers to do. I know the obvious is Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse but beyond that it is wide open. In reading, I see there is so much to do, it takes many trips to begin to see even a decent amount of it.

Please let these first timers in their mid-50's know your insights.

We stayed at the KOA a few years ago, likely wise to avoid that. Nice enough but they pack you in. The monuments are a nice stop but Custer State Park and the Needles Highway were great. Needles can be tight but we did see dually trucks make it through. Drivers may have suffered from soiled,underwear. A side trip to the Badlands is recommended and stop there for “Indian tacos” at the visitor center. Lots of hikes throughout the area. Sturgis is nearby if your into it.


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[Bungy]

Hello Fellow GDRV'ers,

The wife and I are planning a weeklong trip to the Black Hills with our 310 and neither of us have ever been there before. I did some thread searching and came across three campground names and want to know what the consensus is these days as some of these threads dated back about 5 years. We do want to make this not only a sightseeing trip but incorporate some hiking as well

1. Black Hills Trailside RV Resort
2. Horse Thief Campground and Resort
3. Rafter J Bar Ranch

Now my own take after doing a lot of reading and reviewing on all three was Rafter J seems to be the place to go.

Please drop in and offer your thoughts and what you would recommend for first timers to do. I know the obvious is Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse but beyond that it is wide open. In reading, I see there is so much to do, it takes many trips to begin to see even a decent amount of it.

Please let these first timers in their mid-50's know your insights.

I always stay here: http://www.nemoguestranch.com/ when I go for the rally. Nice place, has a restaurant on site.

 

[MN-Mark]

Hello Fellow GDRV'ers,

The wife and I are planning a weeklong trip to the Black Hills with our 310 and neither of us have ever been there before. I did some thread searching and came across three campground names and want to know what the consensus is these days as some of these threads dated back about 5 years. We do want to make this not only a sightseeing trip but incorporate some hiking as well

1. Black Hills Trailside RV Resort
2. Horse Thief Campground and Resort
3. Rafter J Bar Ranch

Now my own take after doing a lot of reading and reviewing on all three was Rafter J seems to be the place to go.

Please drop in and offer your thoughts and what you would recommend for first timers to do. I know the obvious is Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse but beyond that it is wide open. In reading, I see there is so much to do, it takes many trips to begin to see even a decent amount of it.

Please let these first timers in their mid-50's know your insights.

We have stayed at both Rafter J Bar and Horse Thief several times. I would recommend either of them. Rafter is a much larger campground and more open. At Horse Thief you feel more like you are in the mountains. Rafter is closer to Hill City and Rushmore. Horse Thief is closer to Needles.

Wouldn’t have a problem going to either of them. Tortise is right about KOA. I’d avoid that.

The Black Hills a great spot, have fun!

Mark

 

[BobinICT]

Black Hills is on the top of our list for this year as one or the one of our first "far" from home spots to go to. We're two days easy drive from there being in nearly the middle of the USA in KS.

 

[MountainFolk]

Hello Fellow GDRV'ers,

The wife and I are planning a weeklong trip to the Black Hills with our 310 and neither of us have ever been there before. I did some thread searching and came across three campground names and want to know what the consensus is these days as some of these threads dated back about 5 years. We do want to make this not only a sightseeing trip but incorporate some hiking as well

1. Black Hills Trailside RV Resort
2. Horse Thief Campground and Resort
3. Rafter J Bar Ranch

Now my own take after doing a lot of reading and reviewing on all three was Rafter J seems to be the place to go.

Please drop in and offer your thoughts and what you would recommend for first timers to do. I know the obvious is Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse but beyond that it is wide open. In reading, I see there is so much to do, it takes many trips to begin to see even a decent amount of it.

Please let these first timers in their mid-50's know your insights.

Stayed at Beaver Lake RV in Custer. Very nice park, centrally located for lots of the sights in the area.
We also saw Wind Caverns, nice little side trip.

 

[The_Duke]

We stayed at Rafter J Bar twice, you can't beat it.

 

[Canyonlight]

X3 on Rafter J Bar. We have stayed there a few times over the years when we could not get into Custer State Park CGs. The spacious sites; various camping areas, amenities, location just outside of Hill City, and their ever present upgrading of the property makes RJB and top base camp.

There area number of good publications (both paper and online) explaining the numerous hiking opportunities and which best suit your abilities, desire, time, etc. Hiking to Harney Peak (now called Black Elk Peak), the Cathedral Spires, Legion Lake trails, and the Sylvan Lake area are top rated and most often busy right away in the AM.

You are correct that there is SO much to do in the Hills area both tourist things and not. Conduct your search key areas for your interest and load up on the various publications to read up and learn. If you have any specific questions, share those and we all will be happy to help.

Dan

 

[D2Reid]

Be mindful of the tunnels on 87 west of Custer State Park and Alt 16, Needles highway. You are going to need more days there....

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

We stayed at Lazy J a number of years ago - nothing special... It's on the hillside just outside Rapid City. Haven't been to any of the three you mention but remember looking at Horse Thief and thinking it looked like a nice spot as we drove by.
If you are coming from the east, spend some time at Badlands NP. Wall Drug just at the entrance/exit is an interesting tourist trap as well.
As mentioned previously, Custer and Needles are must do's in my opinion. (Don't try it with your trailer). Awesome views.
Deadwood was a fun day. Saloon Number 10 is a good place to start. Might even find yourself in a gun fight. I believe the players are called the Deadwood gunslingers.
We wanted to check out Jewel Caverns but equipment problems kept them closed to visitors when we were there.

 

[MikeRC]

We have been a few times and really enjoyed ourselves. The first time I was alone on a long motorcycle trip and stayed in Rapid City to be able to go to both Badlands and into the Black Hills. It was over 100ºF every day (mid-July) but the riding was good and I picked up a number of National Park & National Historic Site stamps. Second time was in September with the wife and we stayed in a cabin at Bluebell Campground in Custer State Park in mid-September. Just missed the September Buffalo Roundup (which we will try to get back for in the future). The last visit was also in July (2018) and we stayed at the Palmer Gulch KOA because we were with a large group. I wouldn't recommend it unless it is a "last choice" or you need lots of activities for kids/grandchildren. The weather the last visit was great - mid-70'sF and rained every few nights to keep the dust down.

There are some really good places to eat in both Hill City and Custer. If you aren't vegetarian you have to have a buffalo burger when you are there. If it is really hot then that's the day to go to Jewel or Wind Caves (book ahead). Ooops, just checked and the Jewel Cave tours will be closed most of 2021 for elevator reconstruction.

Our favorite things to do:
Go up to Devils Tower and watch the climbers.
Some of the more obscure drives: Spearfish Canyon on your way to/from Devils Tower, Vanocker Canyon & Nemo Road, Playhouse Road, Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park.
Some memorable places to visit: Minuteman Missile NHS and South Dakota Air & Space Museum at Ellsworth AFB. When we were leaving there was a B1-B doing "touch-and-go"s.

Mike C

 

[offtohavasu]

We stayed at the Trailside Resort! Loved it! Ask for spot 10. You won't be disappointed. There's a creek that runs through the park you can fish from. Kids also ride tubes down the creek, which is fun to watch.

 

[sande005]

We stayed in Custer State Park at the Game Lodge Campground last spring. A great place to be. If you get an edge site near the main road, buffalo within feet of your camper window most days! (Separated by a fence). The loop drives are very scenic. But, it is a longer trip to the hard core tourist locations like Hill City, etc.

 

[Canyonlight]

We stayed in Custer State Park at the Game Lodge Campground last spring. A great place to be. If you get an edge site near the main road, buffalo within feet of your camper window most days! (Separated by a fence). The loop drives are very scenic. But, it is a longer trip to the hard core tourist locations like Hill City, etc.

Yes, lots of Buffalo - kinda like these pictures just outside the Game Lodge CG in July 2015 when we camped there and up the road a couple miles at Grace Coolidge CG for a week or so. Don't worry folks, we were stopped when taking pictures like 50 or so other vehicles, RVs, motorcycles, etc.



Dan

 

[Dick Noble]

This is not a joke -- do not piss-off the buffalo. If you see a female with a baby leave them alone. They do not have a sense of humor.

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

Ooops, just checked and the Jewel Cave tours will be closed most of 2021 for elevator reconstruction.
Mike C

Interesting. The reason the Jewel caves were closed to visitors when we went there was the elevator was broken.

 

[Silverark]

I lived in Rapid City when in the Air Force back in the the seventies. Rafter j Bar has been there a long time. It would be my preference. Hill City is central to all the sites in the Black Hills. The 1880 train, Mount Rushmore, Needles Highway Deadwood,Lead and Spearfish Canyon. Spent many weekends hiking, exploring the area. We used to icefish on Stockade Lake outside of Custer. Custer State Park. Keystone is a tourist trap but the drive from Keystone to Custer is awesome. Enjoy the tunnels and look back to some frame Mount Rushmore. Enjoy your trip and be safe.

 

[Randystewart]

Don’t forget about the northern black hills. Lead,deadwood, spearfish etc. I have to say the town of spearfish has an RV park down by spearfish creek that is one of the nicest parks you’ll ever experience. Plus it is walking distance to downtown, the hatchery is there, etc. we go there to walk because of the beautiful area. Spearfish canyon another gorgeous area. Don’t come anywhere near the hills during rally!! Elkhorn RV park at exit 17 is a excellent park also with lots of local ranch history. Want to see real cowboys and ranchers take in belle fourche. Have a good trip. If you have a RV snafu northern hills rv in whitewood will help you

 

[Richard Orton]

Any of the campgrounds in Custer State Park offer a great Black Hills camping experience. Spacious sites, electric only. Tough to reserve a spot on short notice due to popularity. DO NOT try to take Needles Highway with your camper in tow.

 

[Kaybee92]

We stayed at Custer’s Gulch 2 years ago and loved it! Custersgulch.com
Right outside of Custer, so close to shops and restaurants, centrally located to all the sites and Custer State Park. Very clean and well- maintained, spacious lots. Had no trouble parking our 42’ Reflection 5th wheel. As others recommend, Needles Highway, South to North has better vistas. We rented a side by side UTV for the day in Custer, it was the most fun part of our trip! Hundreds of miles of public trails to ride on without much traffic. Great German restaurant in Hill City.