Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch's cabin accommodations welcome pets alongside tent and RV camping options. The campground provides drinking water, electric hookups, and shower facilities for campers with dogs. Nearby, Sylvan Lake Campground in Custer State Park offers pet-friendly tent sites, RV spots, cabins, and glamping accommodations with picnic tables and fire rings. Horsethief Lake Campground near Keystone maintains pet-friendly policies while providing trash service and toilet facilities. Spokane Creek Cabins & Campground features cabin lodging that allows pets, along with tent and RV sites equipped with picnic tables and fire pits. Most campgrounds require pets to remain leashed in public areas, though specific pet policies may vary between locations.
Black Hills National Forest's dispersed camping sites allow pets with proper permits. Trails surrounding Kemp's Kamp provide hiking opportunities for all skill levels, perfect for exercising dogs while exploring the natural landscape. Most campgrounds maintain a 6-foot leash requirement for pets in common areas. Tent sites at Kemp's Kamp include shelter houses that provide shade for pets during hot summer days. Campgrounds typically request that pet owners properly dispose of waste and prevent excessive barking during quiet hours. The proximity to downtown Keystone offers convenient access to pet supplies if needed. Wildlife encounters are common in the Black Hills region, so keeping dogs leashed protects both local animals and pets. The 1880's train line passes near some campgrounds, which might startle noise-sensitive dogs.
"Make the most of your South Dakota vacation by spending it camping. My group tented and had a great time."
"Downside is it’s a crowded and our site had the dog park behind it."
"This lake is beautiful, its one of my favorite places inside Custer state park. There are a ton of trails, all within easy walking distance. Make sure you pack plenty of water."
"We had one of the spots that was more out in the open and close to our neighbors, but the sites on the outside of the middle loop were much more private."
$30 / night
"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."
"If you're touring the Black Hills, and hitting all of the outdoor attractions, Horsethief Lake is perfectly placed to access it all."
"My Son and I stayed here while visiting Mount Rushmore and the surrounding area's other attractions. There's a lot of dispersed spots here but most spots don't have a fire ring that I could see."
"Camping area near Mount Rushmore. I was able to find a camping area without a problem. The road does have some bumps in it but overall you do not need a four-wheel drive."
$20 / night
"We stayed in the upper loop site 52 which was super spacious and had the potable water spigot nearby. Only major drawback was not having cell service but mostly bc we still had to work on our trip."
"The lake is cool and quiet, tucked away in the center of Custer park. Several trails and tons of fishing spots. There are vaulted toilets and a shower house."
$30 / night
"This campground offers over 90 sites along the shores of a lovely reservoir in the vacation wonderland of the Black Hills of South Dakota."
"So close to so many places to visit, which we never did (we loved every minute being disconnected). The weather was mostly perfect, besides some hail and rain a couple nights."
"Wrinkled Rock, near Keystone, South Dakota, is a hidden gem for outdoor lovers seeking tranquility and stunning views.🏕️ Just minutes from Mount Rushmore, this spot offers excellent tent camping with"
"Wrinkled Rock, near Keystone, South Dakota, is a hidden gem for outdoor lovers seeking tranquility and stunning views.🏕️ Just minutes from Mount Rushmore, this spot offers excellent tent camping with"
$30 / night
"There are a lot of animals and you can pet them."
"Campground Review: The Stockade Lake North Campground is located just inside the west entrance to Custer State Park in Custer, South Dakota."
"Blue Bell Campground truly captures the essence of a classic camping experience, with its beautiful surroundings and well-maintained facilities."
"This is closest to the southern entrance. We had bison herds South of us and North. We never managed to make it East where the long trail is, which seems to be known for wildlife."
"FYI- We had to get here via trucker route due to the size of our RV, we couldn't fit through some of the rock tunnels on the winding roads in South Dakota."
"Very nice park tucked away on Iron Mountain. Big Rigs BEWARE do not take 16A!!! Luckily there are a few ways to get to the park, most are tight roads, but do-able."
GuideWas a nice spot for one night. Lush and pretty. Only downside is that it’s cramped and right on the road. It’s not a busy road, so was super quiet, but if you have pets or want to ride your bike or run, there’s no shoulder so you are in the street. Pool is very clean, though we didn’t use it. Staff is super nice. 1.5-2 miles from keystone and less than 5 to Rushmore.
ScoutThey advertise that they have Wi-Fi but it's almost like they shut it off at 10 o'clock at night when quiet time starts which is a great time for looking up directions or places to see, we could never connect for long and streaming- which means no Netflix its against the rules(which we never saw only overheard). They allow fires but make sure you get a metal ring because it's illegal to have a fire in south Dakota if you don't have one they have them but they don't leave them at the sites or let you know they are available. Also no petting zoo we specifically came here thinking they had one because they advertised and after we arrived they informed us it was turned into a dog park i have no pictures but there's not much to see here
TravelerSmall (20 sites) primitive campground located only one mile from Keystone SD. Great for seeing Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse Site and Custer State Park. Mostly tents as large RVs and trailers have difficulty with tight curves. Some sites small but we reserved #19, it is very large and offers best privacy. Well maintained vault toilets and potable water available. Quiet at night but some road noise and helicopter traffic during the day. Friendly hosts.
LegendWe stayed at Spokane Creek in June 2012 during our Summer roadtrip. FYI- We had to get here via trucker route due to the size of our RV, we couldn't fit through some of the rock tunnels on the winding roads in South Dakota. This was an adorable little campground located on Iron Mountain Road in the Black Hills of South Dakota. We arrived after hours and headed to our designated site # left on office. Our truck and trailer exceeded the length of our site dramatically, but a nice man on a four-wheeler relocated us to a much better site down the way, right next to the playground. We settled in for the night after speaking to our neighbors that were full-time RVers. This campground has lots of amenities: a pool, mini golf, a creek to play in, cabins, tent sites, full hook-up RV sites and a cafe with the biggest homemade cinnamon rolls you have ever seen. (pre-order the night before) The kids had a blast running around the park meeting other kids. There was so much to do in the area. We tried to map out our time for the next few days. Mount Rushmore was at the top of our agenda. We went on the perfect day. There was a ceremony at the base of Mt. Rushmore naturalizing 111 new citizens. This only happens once a year. What a cool thing to witness! There was flag presentation, singing of the national anthem, guest speakers and the oath. Each new citizen got to go up on stage and state there name and where they were from. A few even yelled out "God Bless America" as they went across. The kids thought it was funny to hear all the different languages/nationalities but I think they appreciated seeing it in the end. We also learned about G. Borglum and his vision of the monument. It was neat to see how the figures were carved. 90% of Mount Rushmore was created by dynamite blasting. They used a process called honeycombing. Borglum died before it was completed but his son took over and saw it to the end. The boys worked on their second junior ranger badge while we were there. They had to search high and low for answers in the test booklet. A ranger quizzed them to make sure they knew what a ranger's duties were and the history of Mt. Rushmore. Friday June 15th, was Nathan’s 11th birthday. We started the day with a train ride from Keystone to Hill City aboard the historic 1880’s train. It was a pretty trip lasting about an hour each way. Wesley was the most excited passenger in our family. He was happy to be on the “choo-choo”. Saturday morning, we drove into Custer State Park. On our way to Sylvan Lake, we finally saw some buffalo grazing by the road. Their heads are enormous and they don’t seem to be bothered by the visitors gawking at them. Sylvan Lake was breathtaking! There was a crystal clear Lake surrounded by huge boulders and lots of trails which lead to Harney’s peak. We also took a guided ride to a valley for a chuck-wagon supper. Along the way, our host played the guitar and we sung western songs and got to know everyone in the wagon. We saw lots of wildlife including, deer, pronghorn and prairie dogs. When we arrived, there were long picnic tables set up and a table full of catered food. Hamburgers, steak, baked beans, cole slaw, corn bread, potato salad, watermelon, cookies galore! More music was played and then came the games… Some of the men got up and acted like Elvis and yes, Jason was one of them. He never misses an opportunity to act like a fool. We also did the hokey pokey and chicken dance. On the way back to our camper, there was a herd of bison crossing the road. I could almost reach out and touch them. It was a really cool experience and a nice close to our time at Custer State Park in South Dakota.
RangerWe wanted to spend a couple of days in the Black Hills and also needed full hookups and laundry after about a week of boondocking - Elk Horn Ridge gave us that and more. Easy access off I-90 and super close to Spearfish, Deadwood, Lead and all this area of South Dakota has to offer. The campground is a true resort with concrete pad sites with modern full hookup connections, beautifully landscaped grounds overlooking the Frawley Ranch, and a wonderful pool, a pool-side bar, dog park, basketball and pickleball courts, coffee bar and laundry. Our rig was a dirty mess from the boondocking and Elk Horn Ridge even has local mobile companies that come to your site and clean your rig. Ours was cleaned while we hiked the Spearfish Canyon!Loved our time here and special kudos to Ellee and Jordan for their welcome at check in and drinks after dinner!
LegendThe KOA was very easy to find right off I 90 and US 85. Check-in was quick and easy and we were guided to pull in site 65 with FHUs. The utilities are smartly placed in the middle of the pad. Our pad was plenty long enough for our 39 fifth wheel and F450 truck. The staff was super nice and helpful and the campground(CG) was well-maintained. We used their laundry room with 6 washers and 6 dryers for$2 a wash and$2 to dry. A bonus was that the dryers actually dried the clothes in 30 minutes. We were right across from their small fenced dog park. We were also close to the 7.5-mile nature trail entrance from the park to the river, which was great for walking our dogs. The CG has curbside trash pick-up plus firewood& ice for sale. The WiFi was above average for a park this size. We got two bars on Verizon. There are trees in the CG, but not enough to prevent you from getting a satellite shot into the sky. Guests with dogs here do not pick up after their dogs in the dog park and especially along the back side of the CG where we were staying. We saw dog poops all over the place and witnessed several times out our back window, and in the dog park, people not picking up after their dogs. The CG doesn't seem to enforce picking up after your pet. There is a lot to see and do in the area. As we were here in October, the leaves were changing in Spearfish Canyon and we enjoyed a really nice leaf peeper drive, and then visited Deadwood, which was having its Octoberfest.
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. ???
ScoutWrinkled Rock, near Keystone, South Dakota, is a hidden gem for outdoor lovers seeking tranquility and stunning views.🏕️ Just minutes from Mount Rushmore, this spot offers excellent tent camping with peaceful surroundings, clean sites, and a true connection to nature. It’s perfect for campers who want to unwind away from the crowds while staying close to iconic landmarks. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys camping, hiking, or simply soaking in the beauty of the Black Hills! https://barberxpert.com/
ScoutWrinkled Rock, near Keystone, South Dakota, is a hidden gem for outdoor lovers seeking tranquility and stunning views.🏕️ Just minutes from Mount Rushmore, this spot offers excellent tent camping with peaceful surroundings, clean sites, and a true connection to nature. It’s perfect for campers who want to unwind away from the crowds while staying close to iconic landmarks. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys camping, hiking, or simply soaking in the beauty of the Black Hills! For more travel insights and outdoor reviews, visit https://barberxpert.com/
Dispersed camping near Keystone, South Dakota provides access to Black Hills National Forest's extensive wilderness areas. Located at elevations between 4,000 and 6,000 feet, this region experiences cooler nights even in summer months, with temperature drops of 20-30 degrees after sunset. Forest Service Road 356 offers several established dispersed sites about 7 minutes from Mount Rushmore without requiring advanced reservations.
Cliff diving at Horsethief Lake: Just a short drive from Horsethief Lake Campground, visitors can enjoy swimming and cliff jumping. "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," notes Megan J.
Horseback riding through pine forests: Multiple trails start near Blue Bell Campground in Custer State Park. "Horse stables and trail rides onsite. Walking distance to store and excellent restaurant. Wildlife includes bison, deer, birds..." explains Diane D., making this ideal for dog owners who want to experience the area on horseback while their pets rest at camp.
Flagpole hiking trail: A moderate hike with Mt. Rushmore views starts at Spokane Creek. "There is an awesome short hike up the hill to the flagpole that is well worth the effort. There were a couple of 'rough' spots but the scenery at the top is awesome. You can see Mt. Rushmore from the flagpole! Just beware of the ticks that you may pick up on your hike," advises Kimberly M.
Quiet camping despite tourist proximity: Many dog friendly campgrounds near Keystone maintain tranquility even during peak season. "Horsethief Lake Campground in Black Hills National Forest was surprisingly peaceful and serene though it is close to Mount Rushmore. The traffic to and from the monument doesn't disturb the 'atmosphere'," writes Shelly S.
Walk-in sites for privacy: Sylvan Lake Campground offers secluded options for those willing to carry gear a short distance. "My family camped at a walk in site. It was about .15 miles uphill to the site. A bit of work to get everything up the hill but it was worth it. The views and seclusion were amazing. There are huge rocks my kids enjoyed scrambling up," reports Daniel S.
Free dispersed camping with views: For pet owners seeking budget-friendly options, RD 356 Dispersed Site offers no-cost camping with natural surroundings. "Camping area near Mount Rushmore. I was able to find a camping area without a problem. The road does have some bumps in it but overall you do not need a four-wheel drive... Some of the camping spots seem to support larger vehicles. Also had a good view," shares Ben H.
Fire restrictions vary by location: Not all sites permit campfires, particularly during dry periods. "Free dispersed camping is nice. Fire is not allowed. I had issues with the tent pad being about a foot too short for my tent (3 person tent) but that's more a personal issue," notes Emma K. about Wrinkled Rock.
Limited cell service throughout region: Many campgrounds lack reliable connectivity. "There is no service at the campground but they do have a reservation phone," explains Molly A. about Center Lake Campground, while at Sheridan Lake, campers report "No cell service in the campground. Found one area where I could get cell service while walking the dogs and that was on the main road overlooking the beach area."
Weather changes rapidly: The Black Hills experience significant temperature fluctuations and sudden storms. "We definitely had an intense hail/thunderstorm so ended up sleeping half the night in the car," recounts Emma K., highlighting the importance of proper rain gear when camping with pets.
Reservation strategies: Some campgrounds offer ways to extend stays without additional fees. "Making a profile for their site feels like doing taxes so plan ahead and get your account set up the day before. Skip the app. It's just a window to their online portal. Get your first night online. It'll be your site fee plus $7 reservation fee," advises Molly A.
Mini-golf and playground access: Spokane Creek Cabins & Campground provides multiple kid-friendly amenities. "Plenty of activities; the pool was not open yet while we were there, but they have a fun mini-golf course which was a great place for the kids to go while hooking/unhooking everything. Nice playground area," recommends Brandon S.
Junior Ranger programs: Children can earn badges at Mount Rushmore and nearby parks. "The boys worked on their second junior ranger badge while we were there. They had to search high and low for answers in the test booklet. A ranger quizzed them to make sure they knew what a ranger's duties were and the history of Mt. Rushmore," shares Christy C.
Creekside exploration: Many pet-friendly sites feature small waterways perfect for kids and dogs. "The campsites are a little close but overall we loved our experience here. The bathrooms were clean and all sites had one relatively close by. Fire pits and picnic tables were great!" reports Karen S. about Center Lake.
Narrow access roads require caution: Several campgrounds have challenging approaches for larger vehicles. "Not really the fault of the campground, but even the 'best' route to get to the campground (via Playhouse Road) is a bit nerve-wracking. Very narrow & winding roads, as is common in the Black Hills," cautions Brandon S. about Spokane Creek.
Unlevel sites common throughout area: Be prepared with leveling blocks at most campgrounds. "We were in site #32E, and the campground was relatively empty. Our site was a bit unlevel, but very scenic and shady," notes Kari T. about Stockade Lake North Campground.
Tent boxes at Custer State Park: Special platforms at pet-friendly campgrounds provide flat surfaces for larger tents. "We stayed in a tent site which had a wonderful tent box that accommodated our 17'x8' tent rather well. Metal picnic table and fire pit were well maintained with ample room on this large site," explains Kathy M.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Keystone, SD?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Keystone, SD is Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch with a 4.2-star rating from 55 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Keystone, SD?
TheDyrt.com has all 195 dog-friendly camping locations near Keystone, SD, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
