Camping in the Black Hills region near Custer, South Dakota offers access to over 700 miles of trails within Custer State Park and the surrounding Black Hills National Forest. Most campgrounds in this area sit at elevations between 5,000 and 6,000 feet, providing cooler summer temperatures than the surrounding plains. Winter camping options are limited, with most facilities closing between mid-October and early May due to heavy snowfall.
What to do
Hike the Mammoth Site: Visit the Mammoth Site and Museum near Hot Springs, about 30 minutes from Fort Welikit Family Campground and RV Park. "Only a few blocks to beautiful downtown Custer. It was 30 minutes to Mt. Rushmore and then 30 minutes to Wind Cave," notes a visitor.
Explore town on foot: Stay near downtown Custer for easy access to local amenities. "Loved being able to walk to shops, breweries, and restaurants in downtown Custer from here," writes a camper about French Creek RV Camp, adding that they "enjoyed a quick drive south to explore Wind Cave National Park."
Bike the Mickelson Trail: Perfect for cyclists of all skill levels, this converted railroad trail offers 109 miles of gentle grades. "We came up to ride bikes on the Mickelsen trail which was fantastic and if you are a cyclist you should definitely check it out. We could have ridden from the camp to the trail but had to purchase a pass so drove into Custer and parked right by the trail."
What campers like
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds offer more room than typical commercial parks. At Custers Gulch RV Park, "They had lush green yards in between each site with gravel, level pads and plenty of yard or forest behind each RV too. After driving around, we're convinced this park was the best choice in Custer and provided a centralized location for so many outdoor activities as well as tourist attractions."
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathroom facilities are consistently mentioned. "The family style bathrooms were located just behind our site, and were cleaned daily," notes a camper. Another visitor described Fort Welikit as having "very large and very clean with private showers. There was a sign on the doors indicating they were closed for cleaning every afternoon from 1-3 but that never interfered with anything."
Wildlife viewing: The area provides opportunities to see animals right in camp. "There's wildlife to be seen daily," wrote one camper about Fort Welikit, while another mentioned "deer walk right through campground" at Horse Thief Campground and RV Resort.
What you should know
Cell service and WiFi reality: Internet connectivity varies significantly between parks. One camper notes, "We were right next to a wifi repeater but had consistent connection issues so we couldn't use the park wifi." This is common throughout the region due to the mountainous terrain.
Reservations essential: The Black Hills region sees extremely heavy tourism from June through August. Book months in advance, especially for holiday weekends. Weekend spots at popular campgrounds like Horse Thief Campground fill by January for summer visits.
Weather unpredictability: Even summer months can bring dramatic temperature swings. "We decided that it might be best for us to head back home. The day we left it snowed up to 6 inches that night and stayed in the teens for the next 3 days. Our propane tank in the motorhome would have run out the first night."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated kids' areas. "The added kids old time fort play area and the dog park area were well kept and there was plenty of room to play ladder ball and washer toss," mentions a Fort Welikit visitor. Holy Smoke Resort features a small but nice playground area as well.
On-site entertainment: Some RV parks provide built-in activities. One camper reported, "Small gathering place that put on some wine tastings and live music. Small little pool to cool off." Another mentioned, "There's a playground for kids and they said a dog park."
Check location carefully: Consider driving distances when selecting a base camp. "We would've liked to be closer to the sites The Black Hills provides but we became accustomed to hour long drives or more to Custer for all the must-do things there! Deadwood and Devils Tower were 75 min and 2 hrs."
Tips from RVers
Leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the Black Hills region require careful leveling due to the natural terrain. "Sites are a comfortable size. Lots of room for activities. Due to the topography you will have to do some leveling," advised one RVer about Heartland RV Park.
Site selection matters: Research your specific site before booking. "If we ever stayed there again we would ask for a space on a further loop, as this was a high traffic area!" warns one camper. Another mentioned, "Our site was right next to the road...way too close," suggesting looking at sites farther from main roads.
Water quality varies: Some campgrounds have mineral-heavy well water. "The water quality is awful! We went to the next site possible and flushed all water systems due to the bad quality," noted one RVer. Consider bringing drinking water if you're sensitive to taste.
