For those who want to get away from civilization for a weekend, but still want the comforts of home, consider renting a cabin for your Custer camping trip. Find the best cabin camping near Custer. When you're looking for a quiet location in nature, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect cabin rental.
Anyone who has camped at Sylvan Lake campground in South Dakota’s Custer State Park knows that Black Hills camping doesn’t get much better than this. Sylvan Lake Campground is one of eight designated campgrounds in Custer State Park, and one of the best public land destinations for camping in the Black Hills of southwest South Dakota. The region’s expanse of dense forests, rolling prairies and granite mountain peaks (the very same peaks that were used to form Mount Rushmore) offer photo-snapping tourists and laced-up explorers alike a chance to dive into the ecology of the American West. For campers looking for a comfortable and convenient basecamp for diving into the region’s scenery and activities, Sylvan Lake campground is the place to be for many reasons. First, the 40-site campground offers access to the popular swimming spot of Sylvan Lake, where campers might feel inclined to spend their entire stay on the rocky beach of this scenic body of water. There’s also access to multiple hiking trails, suitable for all skill levels, including a trail that takes you to the curious and beautiful Black Elk Peak, the highest summit-able point east of the Rocky Mountains. Both a family-friendly spot and a hardcore adventurer’s playground, Sylvan Lake is Black Hills camping for everyone.
Elk Mountain Campground, straddles the edge of a ponderosa pine forest and open prairie, offering unique opportunities to view the diverse flora and fauna of the southern Black Hills. These campsites are available in both forested and open environments. Campsites may be reserved all year through Recreation.gov. Reservations may be made 6 months in advance of your stay and same day reservations are available. NOTE: This is a cashless campground. Only credit cards will be accepted through Recreation.gov or the Recreation.gov mobile app.
Hiking at Wind Cave View rolling prairie vistas, ponderosa forests, and see wildlife in its natural environment. Wind Cave National Park has over 30 miles of hiking trails on the surface and provides visitors the opportunity to view pristine Black Hills scenery. Find out which trail is the best for you. Pet Friendly Hikes If you are traveling with a furry friend, Wind Cave has two pet friendly trails. The Prairie Vista trail leaves from the Visitor Center and the Elk Mountain Trail leaves from the amphitheater at the Elk Mountain Campground. Both trails are approximatly 1 mile in length. Become a Wind Cave Junior Ranger Kids of all ages can become a Wind Cave Junior Ranger. Complete the activity book, learn about the park, and take the pledge to earn a Junior Ranger badge.
Wind Cave National Park protects two very different worlds - one deep within the earth, the other a sunlit world of many resources. Bison, elk, and other wildlife roam the rolling prairie grasslands and forested hillsides of one of America's oldest national parks. Visit Wind Cave's Natural Entrance You can still see the largest natural opening into Wind Cave without going on a tour. This small hole is one of the only known natural entrances into the cave. Lakota oral tradition speaks of how the first bison and humans emerged from this deeply spiritual place.
This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (605) 745-4600.
$12 - $45 / night
Centrally located in the park along US Hyw 16A near the Visitor Center, Peter Norbeck Outdoor Education Center, Tatanka Barn, and State Game Lodge, the Game Lodge Campground offers a bit of everything. Grace Coolidge Creek flows through the campground into a swimming beach near the playground.
Open: April 1 - November 15 with full facilities (may change based on weather conditions) Open House Weekend - October 1 with cold water laundry November 16 - March 31 with comfort station closed, vault toilets and water hydrant available
Located south of the Visitor Center, near the junction of US Hwy 16A and Wildlife Loop Road
Staffed: Camp attendant and on-site campground host.
Sanitation & Water: Flush toilets and showers (2 facilities), dump station, drinking water, vault toilets
ADA & Accessibility: Camping Cabins GL 5 or Campsites (electric hookup) 3E and 26E
State Game Lodge is ¼ mile west of the campground. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, State Game Lodge served as the Summer White House for President Calvin Coolidge in 1927. Coolidge General Store is 1 mile west of the campground.
Amenities: Full service restaurant, Buffalo Safari Jeep rides, lodging and resort cabins, gift shop, laundromat, fishing licenses, convenience store & gift shop, fuel
$26 - $55 / night
Located on the scenic Norbeck Byway away from the areas busy highways yet just one mile North of the historic city of Custer as you enter the heart of the Black Hills. Your adventure begins the minute you leave our gates. Just minutes from Crazy Horse, Sylvan Lake, The Needles, Jewel Cave, and Custer State Park. Easy access to Mt. Rushmore, Deadwood, Sturgis, and all the Black Hills Area attractions. 100 unique sites situated in the tall, cool pines that make camping in the Black Hills an experience not soon forgotten. Sites range from full service to rustic and from private to group and family friendly, so that everyone can have the camping or RV experience they desire. All the amenities with the cozy feeling of camping in a National Forest campground.
Spokane Creek sits in a valley on 24 picturesque acres just 7 miles south of Keystone. Spokane Creek offers a wide variety of accommodations from creek side tent sites (with or without water & electricity) to level, grassy RV sites (full or partial hookup) to cabins featuring multiple levels of comfort, size and convenience.
We offer an assortment of sites, ranging from Tent Sites, Tent Sites with Electricity, Elecrtric & Water Sites and 30 or 50 AMP Full service sites with Electeric, Water and Sewer, which can accomodate any Rigs Big or Small up to 45 Feet. Don't feel like roughing it, enjoy one of our Sleeping cabins, we have several cabins to accomodate
Custer State Park has five scenic lakes, each peaceful places to relax and enjoy the reflection of large granite boulders, fresh scented pines, and brilliant blue skies on the water. Out of these five lakes, Stockade Lake is the park’s largest and offers the most amenities for campers, making it an ideal location to explore the Black Hills whether in a large RV or a solo tent. Stockade Lake is also the only lake in Custer State Park that allows for all types of boats, so whether you want to make a little wake or canoe to a quiet cove, you’ll enjoy this beautiful opportunity to be out on the water.
The roughly 2-mile Stockade Lake Trail is located close to the Stockade Lake South Campground. This loop climbs up through a pine forest and offers picturesque views of the lake, as well as the famous Cathedral Spires along Needles Highway. Campers also come to Stockade Lake for its swimming beach, playground, picnic areas, and close proximity to historic points of interest, such as the Gordon Stockade, the site of the first gold discovery in the Black Hills.
$15 - $35 / night
You should see the Hills from here! Custer/Mt. Rushmore KOA is your central location for visiting all of the Black Hills. We are in the center of all five major Black Hills attractions: Mt. Rushmore National Monument, Crazy Horse Memorial, Jewel Cave National Monument, Wind Cave National Park, and Custer State Park, within 6 to 23 miles of the campground. You can arrange tours with a local tour company that picks you up at your site. After a day of sightseeing, unwind at our tranquil campground among the ponderosa pines, just 3 miles west of Custer. Eat breakfast or dinner at the Buffalo Cafe, located inside the store.The kids will love our jumping pillow and playground. Seasonal activities (Memorial Day to Labor Day) include a heated pool (weather permitting). We offer 1 and 2-room camping cabins (No Air Conditioning), a Fully equipped deluxe cabin, 30 & 50-amp pull-thru and back-in sites, deluxe patio sites, and several types of tent sites, from primitive to upgraded. Free Wi-Fi, clean restrooms, an on-site store, laundry ($), dump station, firewood ($), picnic tables, and propane ($) are available. Rates are higher on June 30-July 7 and August 6-15 (Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and Custer Cruisin' dates). No television service is provided; some sites can receive satellite reception.
$60 - $100 / night
Ranger
If you have an RPI membership, this place is a no-brainer. It’s a huge and well maintained RV resort with tons of family friendly amenities. Onsite restaurant and convenience store with gas station. Large pool with hot tubs. Tennis, basketball, pickleball, and shuffleboard courts. Mini golf and an activity center that will loan you a variety of sports gear and well as rent bikes and golf carts. A massive dog park. Our kids also attended a 2 day horse camp onsite which was very fun for them and very reasonably priced. The list of activities is endless. Tons of kids biking around and playing, so easy for kids to make friends. They also have cabin rentals and a few tent sites. There’s a weekly rodeo held onsite during peak season. It’s 15 minutes from Rapid City and close to the Black Hills. If you are looking for a base camp to explore this area, Hart Ranch is a great choice.
Legend
We fell in love with Custer State Park on a trip to see Mount Rushmore. . We opted for a camping cabin upon arrival and were pleased with the cleanliness of the cabin and facilities. The view from our cabins poach was outstanding. The wildlife was well worth the expense compared to tent camping.
LegendWe fell in love with Custer State Park on a trip to see Mount Rushmore. The vast expanse of the park is great as well as all of the great attractions and other natural areas so near. We opted for a camping cabin upon arrival and were pleased with the cleanliness of the cabin and facilities. The view from our cabins poach stellar overlooking a valley with some wildlife spotting :)
TravelerTent, RV sites as well as camping cabins . Horse stables and trail rides onsite.Walking distance to store and excellent restaurant. Wildlife includes bison, deer, birds...
Scout
We have been here 3 times. Love the quiet atmosphere. It is close to downtown Sturgis. Great place for Rally. Equal distance between Rapid City and Spearfish. Pool, hot tub basketball court.
Full hookups and a place got tents. Cabins. Bar on premises
Traveler
This is a huge campground with tons of options which is nice, it also is in a great Central location for Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, Needles Highway, Windcave National Park and Mammouth Site so be sure to book a long enough stay.
These were the least nice camping cabins on our road trip but nothing to complain about. Laundry facilities were good, great camp store and restaurant on site.
Traveler
This is an unbelievable place. Very nice pull through sights, two pools, hot tub, laundry and nice bathrooms. They pay attention to details such as clean fire pits and no trash anywhere. Extremely safe for a family or a Solo Traveler. Wonderful playgrounds for children. Would definitely stay here again because there are so many ways to camp. Including teepees, cabins and glamping sites. This really is a true Resort.
Scout
Close to freeway and at intersection heading to Deadwood. All the things you could ask for in a campground: beautiful pool, great store, camping cabins, great bathhouses. Restaurants and nightlife, gambling can be had after a scenic, short drive. Can be a bit pricey, but why not splurge? You’re on vacation, after all......😉
Legend
This is a beautiful Good Sam Campground.
We really loved this campground! It was close to the Black Hills, Custer State Park & Mount Rushmore. Had basketball court, pool, hot tub, laundry & bath house. Full hookups, level concrete pad & just perfect!
Scout
Have stayed here in the Camping Cabins seven times in six years. This is the quietest campground in the entire Black Hills-- away from the highway, yet asphalt road leads to entrance. Near Stockade Lake- beach, fishing pier, boat launch. Campground shower house could use an upgrade, but is kept in very good cleanliness. Road to/between cabins can become a little dusty. upper cabins could use a modern rest room a little closer. Water good, hosts are helpful & accommodating. Cabins kept in good & clean conditions with really nice, unique decks on each cabin. Lakeside group site is fantastic area for groups/ family reunions who like to camp together , yet by themselves.
Scout
Easy to get to, pool, hot tub, showers and restrooms. Level sites, and friendly staff.
Guide
Tent sites are packed in. Great showers and bathroom. Hot Tub was a plus.
Guide
Stopped on the way back to Colorado after visiting Mt Rushmore and Wind Cave NP. This is your classic KOA. Sites are close together, but there are trees so it’s not super sunny and hot. We stayed in a Camping Cabin, and it was exactly like you’d expect. Bathrooms are fairly clean, people were respectful of quiet hours, and the laundry room and dish washing sink is nice to have on a long road trip. Pretty good option if you’re passing through or need a break from the no-showers variety of national forest/park campgrounds. Most KOAs are pretty predictable and this one meets the standard.
GuideThe staff is so friendly, easy check in, very well kept, clean bathrooms and private showers. Pool and hot tub, close to everything. Campers observed quiet hours. We got a great nights rest, they offer a breakfast menu. We didn’t try but the option was there.
Guide
This campground although small is very nice. Small pool and hot tub if you want to cool off. There is a playground for the kids and a beer garden for the adults. Entertainment on certain nights, food and fun. Was close enough to see some sites.
Ranger
We stayed at a Legion Lake cabin in Custer State Park. The cabin was fantastic - comfey beds, kitchenette and private bathroom. But the area around the cabins and along the lake shore is recovering from construction, so you may want to give the grass some time to grow. It's pretty brown around the cabins currently. The lake is still lovely though, and Custer State Park is full of views and wildlife as always. One of my favorite places.
Scout
There’s always an evening event and breakfast is available-do not miss out on the pancakes. Geared toward RVs but there are a few decent sites for small tent with trees for shade. Game room, pool and hot tub are fun but the showers make it enjoyable because they’re private.
Scout
The grounds are well maintained and groomed. It has a heated pool and hot tub, we didn’t use because a cold front came through the week we were there. If you have kids there is a big field where kids were running sound having fun next to a nice playground. The laundry room was super clean and machines all in working order.
Traveler
This was a quite campground for us. All ATVs were shut down by 10:00 pm. They have ATV rentals there and plenty of them. The main log cabin had a small bar area and kitchen, food was good. Tables, booths and center room fireplace. A small room with souvenirs. Sell trail permits there. Maps for trails that leave from camp. They have permanent camp sites as well. Spacious sites but lots of trees to pull around. Pleasant people work there. Pet friendly.
RangerLocated close to Sturgis and the Black Hills, it’s an excellent base for exploring the area. The onsite pool, hot tubs, and lounge are small but add a nice touch, while the friendly staff ensures a pleasant stay.
It’s particularly popular during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. We stayed there shortly after the rally and were surprised to find the onsite bar closed throughout our entire stay.
GuideThis campground was absolutely gorgeous and a great place to stay while visiting the Black Hills, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Devil’s Tower. We had a beautiful campsite in the “Ranch” section that had lots of trees and was a fair distance away from our neighbors. Showers/restrooms were clean and the laundry facilities and camp store were handy. Kids loved the pool, hot tub, basketball, and volleyball court. I loved the wide open feel of the campground and would definitely recommend to others visiting the area.
RangerThis is a great place to stay. Not far from Rapid City but close to all the attractions in South Dakota. The heated pool was NOT heated and the hot tub was NOT hot. That is why I gave the CG four stars. I was really looking forward to using them. Also, both seemed overloaded with chemicals. I have owned lots of pools with blue colored bottoms, but these looked like there was “Ty-d-bowl” added. Brilliant, stark blue. I just don’t believe it can be just the basic treatment. See what you think. ???The laundry areas (3 of them) were clean and tidy, too. $2.00 for each, but 45 minutes on the dryer, so that’s fair. 😀 Our spot was a bit difficult for us to level our rig on because the rocks kept slipping. We had to go purchase extra Xchocks. There is a nice store for basic needs, and alcohol, and an event schedule for evening entertainment. The event center serves wings (no celery or carrot sticks), pizza, etc. There is a playground for kids and they said a dog park. —-I did find a big area there, but no fence around it. ???
Scout
First off allow me to set the scene. We came into town for the rodeo so we knew it would be busy and lodging would be sparse. We liked this option for its location to downtown deadwood and the trolley. We opted for the camping cabin as we knew it would be warm. Upon arrival I received the key (this is where I should have known cleanliness was out of the questions) the key chain was SO gross! We opened the door to the cabin and bugs were everywhere! The window sills looked as if they hadn’t been cleaned in years. There is a small bathroom with a toilet in a building down by the cabins that looked as if it hadn’t been cleaned in months. We are in a post pandemic times and this is totally unacceptable. After addressing it with the front desk they shrugged and said “sorry, no refunds” we were booked for two nights. I would have been totally understanding if only one night had been refunded but their inability to recognize their wrong doing....sickening. When your livelihood is the patrons of your establishment visiting and enjoying their stay and safely at that....you meet your customer in the middle with a solution. Gross gross gross....stay as far away as possible.
LegendOur stay at Blue Bell Campground was one of the highlights of our recent cross-country road trip. With only 30 campsites suitable for tents or RVs, this was a nice spot to unwind after busy days within the park.
Unlike many of the other campgrounds in Custer, this one is not waterfront, so it is a bit quieter and more relaxed. Campsites are $21 (plus the entrance fee) for a standard tent site without hookups. Sites with electricity are $25, and camping cabins are $50 per night.
We stayed in one of the tent sites at the edge of the campground, so it was super quiet, but close to the amphitheater for ranger programs, as well as the bathhouse, and the Blue Bell Stables for trail rides.
There is so much to do in Custer State Park. We stayed for three days, but could easily have stayed longer. We hiked the Sunday Gulch Trail near Sylvan Lake, which was fantastic, drove all of the scenic drives, including the Needles Highway, The Iron Mountain Road, and the Wildlife Loop. We also swam in Legion Lake, which is the closest lake to Blue Bell, and canoed on Center Lake.
While we were there, we made friends with our camping neighbors, who all agreed that Blue Bell Campground was one of the nicest in the park. The campground hosts are incredibly nice and cell service was pretty good compared to other spots in the park.
Traveler
But already I see several children playing and laughing having a great time, very nice enclosed play area with see saws swings and slides. Log cabins, nice layout, not at all a bad vibe. Seems everyone here is very friendly which isn’t always what we have experienced. They have a dog mascot who is very friendly. I’ll definitely want to come back and stay again.
GuideThis was a wonderful campsite. It’s situated right in between Mt. Rushmore and The Crazy Horse Memorial. Plus it’s 5 minutes down the road from Hill City, SD with the normal amenities (grocery, fuel, restaurants, etc) plus wineries and breweries.
The property is absolutely massive with great views all around. We were in the Lower Ranch Camp which we enjoyed. The site was gravel and deep with 50/30/20 amp electric, water and sewer and lots of space. There are laundry facilities in the bathhouses scattered around the property. The pool is heated with a hot tub and there was a small general store.
This was a historic ranch and a stop for the stagecoaches.
We will definitely stay here again the next time we pass through the Black Hills.
GuideWe were coming in a little late and they called us to check in which was nice. When we arrived a guy took us to our spot up a small hill to a back campsite area where the “lux” spots are. We had one with a hot tub and a grill which was really nice.
The spots are not super close but there is no tree coverage or shrubbery between them. Luckily it wasn’t full so we had some privacy in that way.
They have a laundry room which was well maintained and connected to a sort of game room with air hockey which we played while waiting for our laundry
Not much else to say, morning great or nothing bad really here
Probably gets fairly busy during the bike rally but we came off season so it was pretty quiet
Experience the charm of cabin camping near Custer, South Dakota, where stunning landscapes and outdoor adventures await.
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Custer, SD is Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch with a 4.2-star rating from 53 reviews.
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