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11-15-2010, 12:38 PM
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#1
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Chico
Posts: 641
M.O.C. #6933
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Campgrounds near Custer, SD
We are planning a trip to the Black Hills area next summer. Plan to visit Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, and Devil's Postpile.
We thought we would stay someplace near Custer, SD and do day trips to the above areas. Probably will spend a week there.
Any recomendations as to where to stay and what to see would be greatful appreciated.
We are thinking we would do this July 1 to July 8 or so.
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11-15-2010, 12:45 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Santa Fe Springs
Posts: 4,189
M.O.C. #639
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There are many CG all over we stayed at Spokan Creek in SD outside of Custer NP.
has its own gas and fuel station which make it nice to do a refuel without looking prices were the same as in town and sometimes cheaper
On Edit: I found these Pictures of the place I believe they have a web site.
__________________
Pulling a 2004, 2980 RL an oldie but goodie.
Tow vehicle is a 2009 RED RAM 3500 DRW.
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11-15-2010, 01:05 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Milford
Posts: 923
M.O.C. #1918
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there are lots of campgrounds around Keystone. We stayed at the KOA at Keystone and loved it. Very close to everything.
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11-15-2010, 01:17 PM
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#4
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Unknown
Posts: 436
M.O.C. #6570
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we stayed here http://www.custersgulch.com/last July. It is between the town of Custer and Custer State Park. Sites 19-28 are the best in my opinion.
There is plenty to see and do in the area and your week will be busy if you try and do it all. Mount Rushmore is a must see but we passed on Crazy Horse since you can get a pretty good look at it from the highway.
We enjoyed visiting Deadwood, seeing Wild Bill Hickock's and Calamaty Jane's grave sites. We also left a couple of $$ in the casinos in the remodeled old buildings downtown.
Take a day trip to Wall Drug and do the scenic loop through the Bad Lands National Park.
Another day trip to Devils Tower in Wyoming was nice too.
We spent quite a bit of time exploring Custer State Park, make sure you take a tour on the wild life loop road.
Needles Highway is a very scenic drive through the mountains as well as Iron Mountain Road. The tunnels look narrow but you'll fit (barely!!).
They do have fireworks at Mount Rushmore the week end of the 4th of July. Make sure you check out which day they are shooting them off and arrive early if you go.
We really enjoyed our trip and I'm sure you guys will too. Have fun and safe travels.
Phil
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11-15-2010, 03:07 PM
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#5
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Kenosha
Posts: 170
M.O.C. #5683
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There are a ton of nice campgrounds in this area. We stayed twice at the Rafter J Bar Ranch Camping Resort. This is just above Custer 2 milles south of Hill City on Hwy 16. The sites were large and there are actually 5 different camping area's on this ranch. We loved this campground. Hwy 244 to Keystone and Mt. Rushmore almost dead ends at this campground also. Don't forget to eat at the Alpine Inn in Hill City. They only serve one thing Filet Mignon. No reservations so line up and get there early. Well worth it. Ask a ranger in Custer where the Buffalo are as they wander all over. The evening show at Mt. Rushmore is also very nice. Have a great trip!!
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11-15-2010, 04:14 PM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Forestville
Posts: 6,025
M.O.C. #496
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Rafter J Bar Ranch Camping Resort gets our recommendation. It is close to all the sites and is a very nice camping resort.
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11-15-2010, 04:27 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Apache Junction
Posts: 1,732
M.O.C. #7487
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We stayed at Rafter J when we were there a few years ago. Very nice and centrally located. We will probably be there again in July next year also, but this time we will have the grand kids and probably stay at "Flintstone's Bedrock City". While you are there if you would like to take a great tour, try this one.
http://mountrushmoretours.com/
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11-16-2010, 02:51 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2006
Location: San Jose
Posts: 728
M.O.C. #5740
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by DHenry
Rafter J Bar Ranch Camping Resort gets our recommendation. It is close to all the sites and is a very nice camping resort.
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Same here. Nice central location and nice big sites.
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11-16-2010, 03:34 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: corning
Posts: 694
M.O.C. #6635
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We stayed in Custer SP at one of their campgrounds. Clean, space between, and well kept. Got satellite reception. We were in the middle of the major attractions. Only electric hook up, water to fill, and dump station. Wildlife all over the place. Spent 10 nights there and loved it!
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11-16-2010, 04:23 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Fallon
Posts: 6,064
M.O.C. #1989
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Don't skip Crazy Horse. Their museum is wonderful. If they are blasting, they make an announcement and you can watch through the window. There is also a restaurant there. We spent a lot of time there and really enjoyed it. Custer State Park is a must. We stayed at a campground that is also a horse CG. It was fairly new when we were there. It is about 7 miles south of the main road. They are also PA. Very nice and reasonable. I can't remember the name. (It is Broken Arrow Horse and Campground) Thank goodness for pictures! Enjoy your trip, we loved SD. Every late afternoon the fields were full of deer as we drove back to the CG. If you are in to riding old trains the 1880 train was a great trip.
Happy trails....................
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11-16-2010, 10:12 AM
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#11
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Established Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Hill City
Posts: 28
M.O.C. #8602
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You've received some excellent input. I'm from Hill City and the Rafter J is an excellent campground,family run. The fire works at Mt. Rushmore are on the 3rd of July. Last year they where canceled because of fire danger. They have to make a decision early in the year to get things lined up. So check to see if there having them. Some campgrounds run a shuttle to Rushmore that evening so check your campground. I think there a PA park. As others have said there's lots to see and do.
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11-16-2010, 02:27 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Winthrop Harbor
Posts: 1,835
M.O.C. #8160
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If you tour the Badlands try and go at sunrise or sunset the colors are much more enhanced. During the day the colors are kind of washed out. Either times it's very impressive.
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12-10-2010, 05:59 PM
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#13
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Nampa
Posts: 140
M.O.C. #1027
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Sorry for the late response - don't spend near enought time on the site.
This last June, we spent 2 weeks in the Western So. Dakota / Eastern Wyoming areas.
We chose to stay in Spearfish, S.D. for the time - just because it was a great hub for all we wanted to visit. We took day trips to all the sites we could cram in and still enjoy them all. We also tried to visit all the RV parks in the area and probably would have stayed at Rafter J - but the rain was so great in June that there was lots of flooding in that area - but a beautiful park and we will stay there in the future.
Spearfish has several great RV parks - the best of them is the city park RV spaces. What a great place - but we found them booked for the window we needed. However, we stayed at Chris's RV park up by the freeway - back up the hill and in the trees - great folks there. The owners actually were up in the middle of the night one night when the wind came up fiercly - walking the park and checking awnings - saved a couple at 2:30AM - now thats service.
Anyway - a great and interesting area with lots to see. Just a few miles to Deadwood and great buffets for dinner too! All the mining sites and caves are well worth the visit.
Don't miss the Air Museum in Rapid City - as well as a great ice cream cone in Sturgis across from the Harley museum.
We will return in future and take it in again - highly recommended.
Ed
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