Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [64]
Roubaix Lake Campground, off U.S. 385 on FDR 255, nestles in a ponderosa pine forest next to scenic Roubaix Lake, which offers great fishing and swimming. Elevation is 5,500 feet. Spaces fill fast; some can be reserved.
COMMERCIAL CAMPGROUNDS
A variety of privately operated campgrounds provide all the usual RV hookups and other services.
American Presidents Resort, 1 mile east of Custer on Hwy. 16A, P.O. Box 446, Custer, SD 57730 (☎ 605/673-3373; www.presidentsresort.com), is a perfect home base for touring the southern Black Hills. The campground's 40×60-foot heated pool and Jacuzzi are popular, as are its free miniature golf and horseshoes. The campground, with 70 sites, also has a store and fishing nearby. A 10% discount applies to reservations made before May 15. Also available are 45 full-service cabins, some with kitchens, that sleep 2 to 12 people, as well as a 15-unit motel (call for rates).
Berry Patch Campground, 1860 E. North St. (I-90 at Exit 60), Rapid City, SD 57701 (☎ 800/658-4566 or 605/ 341-5588; berrypat@rapidnet.com), is the easiest campground to reach on and off I-90; it's also clean and friendly. Full hookups and drive-throughs complement its heated pool, store, and game room.
Big Pine Campground, R.R. 1, P.O. Box 52, Custer, SD 57730 (☎ 800/ 235-3981 for reservations, or 605/673-4054; www.bigpinecampground.com), secluded from traffic noises, offers level, naturally shaded sites; fireplaces and wood; and a store, game room, playground, hiking, and horseshoes.
Miners RV Park, P.O. Box 157, Keystone, SD 57751 (☎ 800/727-2421 or 605/666-4638; www.blackhills.com/ minersresort), in the heart of the former mining town of Keystone, is close to numerous attractions and only a stone's throw from Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The campground and its adjacent 43-unit motel offer cool shade and a gurgling brook, as well as a store, gas, ice, gifts, restaurant, heated pool, and hot tub. Take a fun walk down Keystone's Main Street while you're here.
Mount Rushmore KOA, P.O. Box 295, Hill City, SD 57745 (☎ 800/562-8503; www.mtrushmorekoa.com), part of the Palmer Gulch Resort, is among the best campgrounds in the region. With 500 sites and 55 Kamping Kabins, two pools and spas, a water slide, American Indian dancers, movies, miniature golf, fishing, hayrides, a restaurant, tours, and car rentals, this is what many commercial campgrounds want to be when they grow up.
Rapid City KOA, P.O. Box 2592, Rapid City, SD 57709 (☎ 800/KOA-8504 or 605/348-2111; rckoa@aol.com), is conveniently located on Rapid City's eastern flank. This large KOA offers a grand pool and spa, and rates include a pancake breakfast. Bus tours and car rentals are available, and great shopping, sightseeing, and Rushmore Plaza Civic Center are nearby.
Whistler Gulch Campground, 235 Cliff St., Hwy. 85 S., Deadwood, SD 57732 (☎ 800/704-7139 or 605/578-2092; www.deadwood.com/whistler), sits in one of Deadwood's famous mining gulches. The campground offers 100 full-service RV sites and secluded tent sites. Facilities include a heated swimming pool, a sports court, and a small store. The town trolley takes visitors to Deadwood's casinos and historic sites.
Where to Stay
There are no accommodations at Mount Rushmore, Wind Cave, or Jewel Cave. Inns, hotels, motels, lodges, and bed-and-breakfasts are plentiful in nearby Black Hills communities and parks. Custer State Park has four popular lodges; reservations are strongly recommended, especially in summer. In fact, for popular destinations such as Custer State Park, it's best to call 6 to 12 months in advance. In addition to the properties listed below in Rapid City, Nemo, and Deadwood, you'll find accommodations in Keystone and Hill City (especially convenient to Mount Rushmore), as well as in Custer and Hot Springs (more convenient to Jewel Cave and Wind Cave, respectively). If you're continuing