Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Hot Springs, SD

This camp is under new management and is now called Sunrise. It’s a GREAT spot for going to Hot Springs and Wind Cave National Park.

There’s a great dog park on this campground with a doggie clean up station. Plenty of sites and shade. We stayed just one night but would be back for sure.

Passing through South Dakota rests a very unique park unlike any other you will find.    The Wind Cave National Park in its own right is emoting of great majesty, a unique preserved ecosystem in the midst of a world which has moved in and managed to destroy so much of the grassy prairie lands through development.    Passing into the park is passing into a piece of history.   

While the cave itself is something of a wonder, the park itself is a ground which should also be noted.     It is a place where wild bison roam free, elk pass through and can be found thriving, prairie dogs bark adamantly and so many more unique native animals and plants can be observed and appreciated.

It is in this area that you will find Elk Mountain Campground.     

When I drove through this area I wasn't sure what to expect.   The rolling prairie plains were beautiful however did not offer much in way of shade and that somewhat concerned me as I drove closer and closer to camp, however the world began to roll as hills turned and transitioned into a forest of wonder and lush green grasses.   

The campground looked like a different world from the world which I had been driving in coming from Hot Springs.     Tall trees shaded sites and provided a soft bed for tent campers, large pull ins offered RVs options for a variety of sizes and styles of camping.    Each site was adorned with the standard fire rings and picnic tables and depending on your desire you could stay in a location which was completely shaded or had sun exposure.

Bathrooms here are flush toilets with running water, including a wash basin room for dishes and though there were not showers it didn't seem to be an inconvenience with all the beauty around.

Group sites offered large grassy knolls and in some cases pavilions for use and with winding paths around camp to differentiate the loops through sites were close together they seemed to have privacy.

Although this campground does have an honor box there is also a campground host which does keep track of campers and park rangers patrol throughout the day and evening to ensure safety.     This makes for a very secure feeling camp in such a unique location.

TIPS:

• If visiting call ahead to see if the cave is open.   When I visited the elevators were not operating and this limited access to the cave itself.
• Try hiking in the park, unlike many parks which only allow trail hiking this park encourages you to explore fully.
• Keep your distance from wildlife.    Wildlife is wild here even if it looks tame they are not!!  Bison can run up to 35 miles per hour and most incidents with the wildlife occur from people trying to encroach upon the animals for photos.

This 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. ???

More expensive than we usually pay per night but a TON of amenities. Two pools and live entertainment. Restaurants/bars/coffee/ice cream shops. Downside is it’s a crowded and our site had the dog park behind it.

stunning tall pines with lots of deer and wild turkeys walking thru the campsites. full hookups, covered wagons for rent if you don’t have a camper or tent. large playground and a dog park. laundry facilities and very nice bathrooms.

Very friendly owners. Gravel pads, most have some grassy areas. Turkey and deer walk thru. Has small clean dogpark. Town of Custer has large clean dog park within 2 mile drive. Stayed in 53 FHU 3 nights then moved to 45 W/E as we made reservations late. Both faced away from the center of the campground which was nice. Nice laundry . Okay bath/ shower..didn't use but looked ok. Great campground for folks with dogs and for super easy access to town of Custer and the State Park.

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Tammy B

Local Guide·293 reviews·337 photos

an hour ago

NEW

We were camphosts for the 2023 season.I can't say enough on how Kelly, Steve and his entire family makes sure your well taken care of..they added a second dog park for the little pups, renovated 5 site to give a better camping experience in … More

Amy Kinzler Illg

4 reviews

a month ago

Vacation | Family

Stayed two nights here and overall a very good experience. Nicely equipped campground with a little shop for necessities. We stayed in a tent site with no electricity. Was a very pretty campground with deer, turkeys, a little play area for … More

Travis Trussell

Local Guide·74 reviews·256 photos

a month ago

Vacation | Family

I can't say enough good things about this campground after staying for 6 nights. The spots are spacious and the hookups are located in a perfect spot to make things easy. Bathrooms and showers are very nice and clean. They have a nice dog … More

1

Houston & Carolynn

Local Guide·168 reviews·289 photos

a month ago

A very quiet campground. The staff are friendly and I love the showers for they are private little rooms. They have a playground, laundry and these cute little kegs you can stay overnight in. I would recommend this place. The site are very nice. Houston enjoyed the shade and met another friend. … More







RV LIFE Campground Reviews

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Fort Welikit Family Campground - Custer, South Dakota

Ft. Welikit was lovely and well-maintained. The owners are onsite and very helpful. If you are traveling with small children, this is your place! They ...

9/10(135) · $$$



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Fort Welikit Family Campground Reviews updated 2023

Oct 29, 2013 — This is a really cute family-owned campground. The staff is friendly and helpful. They shared a lot of good information about the area with us.

4.0(11) · 50



Fort Welikit Family Campground

https://www.blackhillsrv.com

Fort Welikit Family Campground: Black HIlls Campgrounds

​ · ​ · ​ · OPEN MAY 1st to OCTOBER 15th · ​ · Located on the scenic Norbeck Byway away from the aeras busy highways yet just one mile North · of the ...

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Fort Welikit Family Campground - Custer, SD

Aug 30, 2016 — It is a very nice place to spend your evenings. Deer and turkeys in the campground everyday. Has a fenced dog park and a small playground for ...



The Dyrt

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Fort Welikit Family Campground and RV Park Camping

Absolutely loved our stay here!! Our check in was easy and the staff super pleasant. This is a family oriented campground with a great play area for the kiddos.



4.4(20) · $



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Fort Welikit Family Campground | Custer SD

Fort Welikit Family Campground · Page · Campground · (605) 673-3600 · blackhillsrv.com · Rating · 4.4 (388 Reviews).



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Feb 20, 2019 — We are planning a visit to Mt. Rushmore in May and are thinking of staying at Fort Welikit Family Campground. They have some good reviews but



Good Sam

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Fort Welikit Family Campground

It was very quiet and peaceful even though we were there during a peak summer period. The campground is well maintained, family owned and well run. The ...



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Tammy B

Local Guide·293 reviews·337 photos

an hour ago

NEW

We were camphosts for the 2023 season.I can't say enough on how Kelly, Steve and his entire family makes sure your well taken care of..they added a second dog park for the little pups, renovated 5 site to give a better camping experience in those sites. If you need something they are on it..they have the best options for camping.. cabins, teepees, barrel kegs, tent, electric tent, w/e 30 amp, 30 amp full h/hu, 50 amp f/hu, and big rig sites..they have worked endlessly to supply you with the best experience. The campground is not your typical parking lot camping..each site is individually unique..it was made around hills, tons of shade trees,and rock formations. Each site is as level as possible. Restroom are individual with shower sink and toilet.. they are very clean. There is a fort playground for the kids that's fantastic. There is a pavilion that can be used for family gatherings. Several reunions are hosted every year..You will have local wildlife visit daily including deer and turkeys. In the spring the new fawns and chick turkeys are born and are adorable. They are centralized to all attractions..perfect location to everything. The several clients that have been repeat customers for years..staying for 6 to 8 weeks..that speaks for it self..everybody loves it. It's very quiet, the store has everything you need. Michelson trail is approximately 1 mile away which can be walked or ride bikes the 114 miles through the mountains. The hospital is 1 mile away. If your in the area, and you need an excellent place to stay..at the best price.. this is where you want to be.. It's very family friendly including your dogs and cats.

Campground Review:

If you are looking for a family and pet friendly place to camp while visiting the Black Hills South Dakota area, look no further!! We started planning our family trip 6 months ago, and booked the Fort Welikit Family Campground and RV park based on reviews we read online. We wanted to be in between Custer State Park (Kids choice) and The Badlands (Dad and Moms choice)

There are 100 sites nestled in gorgeous tall pine trees. The tent sites are located on the south two loops, and the Tipi and Cabins sites are mixed in with the RV sites. We stayed 9 days in site 20 that is a RV 50 Amp Pull through site. Check in time is 1:00pm, and check out time is 11:00am. **Very important to know: The trees are fighting the Pine Beetle, so they DO NOT allow you to hang anything like clothes line or hammocks on them. ALSO they DO NOT allow you to bring in out of the area firewood. They do sell approved firewood at the office for $4.50 for a small bundle. The family style bathrooms were located just behind our site, and were cleaned daily. (If we ever stayed there again we would ask for a space on a further loop, as this was a high traffic area!!) The offer a laundry room with washers and dryers as well, but bring our quarters as a wash cycle was $1.75 a load, and the dryer is .25 for a 6 minute cycle. 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. We would highly recommend this campground to anyone looking for a family/pet friendly area. If you are looking for solitude, this would not be the place for you.

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Product Review:

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time. I tested the OOlala Slide Sandal from OOFOS Footwear https://www.oofos.com/ that I won in the West North Central Review Contest in June. Let me begin by saying I was a little nervous when I thought about what size to order (I am an 8 & 1/2 Wide ladies) I went to the website, and immediately drawn to the OOlala Slide Sandal. When I went into the description, under the "pick your size" button is a handy little "sizing" tab. When you click the tab it reads "If you normally wear a whole size: order the same whole size OOFOS. If you normally wear a half size: Order a half size UP for best fit. (MEN: Order a half size DOWN for best fit) Problem solved!! I ordered the sandals on July 1st and they were delivered on my doorstep on July 5th. Talk about FAST shipping for a holiday week to boot!!

When I took the sandals out of the package I was very impressed with the shape and styling of the shoe. I put them on and know that this was no ordinary pair of slip on sandals!! The arch support immediately took pressure off the ball of my foot, and the cushion put a springy bounce in every single step I took. I couldn't wait to take them on our 10 day family vacation to see how they performed!!

Day #1 we hiked the Black Elk Peak (formerly Harney Peak). It is the highest summit in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. After our 7 mile hike, I couldn't wait to put my OOFOS sandals on and let the recovery begin!! I wore them while showering and walking back to the campsite. My feet did not slip or slide in them, and they were dry within minutes!! The next day we headed to The Bad Lands, and I wore them all day long. They kept my feet comfortable and energized while putting on another 7 miles of walking!! After returning home from our vacation I have worn my OOFOS gardening, fishing, and even washing my SUV. I am 100% hooked on OOFOS!!

I stayed here with my mother, sister, her fiancé and three kids. We had three dogs with and the dog park area was great. It is down some stairs so it is not accessible for some but the views of the city at night and the forest during the day were great. The staff was very friendly and helpful during my stay. I enjoyed it so much after a day of site seeing I came back and stayed for an extra unanticipated night. Only thing was the sites are a little small but even I had no issue parking my 33’6” motorhome and I had only stayed at two other locations prior to this visit.

Stayed for 2 nights to explore Custer State Park and Mt Rushmore. Nice size campground (not too big) with wooded sites. Friendly hosts. They have a dog park and 24 hour laundry. One of our party is in a wheelchair and there was one accessible shower. Had to bring own shower chair though. There is a camp store where they sell firewood and a limited selection of other camping needs. I would normally give 4 stars for the limited ADA bathroom access, except that they were very accommodating in choosing a site for us that would be easy for a wheelchair to get around and were so friendly overall. Also it is very quiet yet convenient to see the local sites. I would stay here again.

We were told through an email from the campground(CG) that there was road construction in town with length restrictions. Between the CG instructions and looking at Google Maps, we found an easy route around the construction and arrived with no issues. Check-in was quick and easy. There’s a$3.50 CG fee along with tax. This is a small CG so finding pull-through site 5 with FHUs was not an issue. There was however a tree on our door side that was a potential problem for our slide-out, but the camp host came by and made a suggestion to place our 39’ 5th wheel at the back of the site so slides etc. did not get involved with the tree. The site was plenty long enough for our RV and F450. The water and electric are towards the back and there are two sewer connections, one in the middle and the other at the back that’s handy. Currently, there is no WiFi or cable television. There are essentially no OTA channels but we had a clear shot of the southern sky for satellite. We got 2 bars each on Verizon and T-Mobile. The sites here are very close together. The back-ins do provide a little more site spacing but in the big scheme of things not enough to make a difference. There is no formal dog park but plenty of areas to walk your dog to include an off-leash area on the other side of the small lake. You can also fish(catch& release) in the lake if you purchase a CG license. There’s a flock of wild turkeys that wander around the campground plus mule deer here and there.

Campground is clean but very close quarters and crowded. lots of amenities for families especially during summer months. Awesome views from some campsites. lots of areas for pets.

We called around to campgrounds in the area same-day. Good thing we called in advance, because their pet policy forbids any "pit bull" breeds. Our dog is a senior mixed breed that we rescued from an LA shelter. During our cross-country roadtrip from Southern California to Massachusetts, this was the only campground that discriminated against a dog by their breed, rather than by their actual witnessed behavior. We've never had an incident at any campground during the dozen of times we've camped with our dog; in fact he usually becomes friends with other neighboring camp dogs and interacts with them very well off-leash (where allowed). I understand that campgrounds are trying to ensure the safety of all guests, but dog aggression is better detected by observed behavior, not breed. (For example, I was bitten by a black lab while biking in northern Minnesota). This policy is not KOA-wide, but rather on a site-by-site basis. If you are traveling with large dogs, there were a few other breeds on their restriction list, so make sure to check before you make a reservation.

This is one of my favorite state parks... ever! We stayed 3 nights ($87) for an electric back in site. The site was a concrete pad with a fire pit, picnic table and a little bit of grass that my dog enjoyed. The bathrooms were clean and the campground was nice to walk around. From there, we went to Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Hot Springs, Mount Rushmore, Sylvan Lake (must see) and took in a play at the Black Hills Playhouse. There's a gift shop, small restaurant, and firewood across the street.

This campground is one of the closest to Mt. Rushmore. Situated on a small lake, you can cliff-dive here, fish or visit the needles hiking trail. The campsites are nice, but fill up quickly. I'm a local and the prices seem very high to me for the area - $40 for a tent site and the pet fee was very high also.

This place was filled with kids and was really fun associating with them . Y=there are ranger programs and the sites are the one of the best. The rangers were really friendly and the night wasn't too cold. The sites are a little difficult to get because this is a pretty popular place to camp. There are a lot of animals and you can pet them.

Wish we could have stayed here longer but South Dakota weather was saying otherwise. We will definitely come back again! Many things for kids of all ages to do and we loved the campground dog, Shimmer!!!

This campground is located in Wind Cave National Park and hardly ever fills to capacity. It is first-come, first-serve and $9 a night until they turn the water on and it increases to $18, but it’s a nice serene area with bison just outside the gates! You are surrounded by wildlife, and they have wonderful trails, 2 of which are pet-friendly. I stayed overnight to camp and got in line early to get tickets to the Entrance Cave tour. The tour was wonderful!