1. Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch
Around 3 million people visit Mount Rushmore every year to see the presidential head carvings and monument. Can you name all four presidents represented? From left to right they are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. The summer is the most popular time to visit with many guests choosing to camp nearby. One of the resort-like campgrounds near Mount Rushmore is the KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch, just 10 minutes NW of the park. It really is a vacation by itself with waterslides, splash pad, hot tubs, playground, horseback riding, and even an onsite rodeo! There is everything from tent only camping to Deluxe cabins and everything in between.
2. Badlands National Park: Cedar Pass Campground
The Badlands are an area spread out across South Dakota and North Dakota with layered rock formations and unique spires that make for some interesting hiking and photography. It is also home to large bison herds as well as big horn sheep and a few prairie dog towns. You can check out the maps online to find the best wildlife viewing areas. Remember to keep your distance from all wild animals to help keep you safe. There are two main campgrounds in the Badlands, Cedar Pass and Sage Creek (which is a first come first serve free campground that fills fast). You can also go back-country camping as long as you stay a half mile from any road or trail and are not visible. For camping at Cedar Pass you can make reservations and there are 96 sites. Be ready for some of the darkest night skies for star gazing. Definitely one of the best places to camp in South Dakota this summer!
3. Mitchell South Dakota: Corn Palace, Lake Mitchell Campground
You may have heard about the South Dakota Palace made entirely of corn! It is a tourist attraction but it is free so visitors love to stop and get their pictures taken at the “palace”. If you are road tripping from any of the states east of South Dakota, this is a popular stop on the way to Mount Rushmore. After picking up a dozen ears of corn to grill up at your campsite, head to the Lake Mitchell Campground located right on the lake. The campground has 48 RV sites that have full hookups and 9 tent sites. There is a swimming beach on Lake Mitchell and a boat ramp with rentals for canoes, pedal boats and paddle boards. Fish for crappie and bluegill and maybe catch one big enough to fry up to make some fish tacos! A fun campground on the shores of the lake for some classic camping.
4. Custer State Park: Lake Sylvan Campground
Custer State Park is just south of Mount Rushmore and is one of the best places to camp in South Dakota this summer. You can drive on the Needles Highway scenic drive to see the needle-like rock formations. The “Wildlife Loop” is one of the highlights of the park where you most likely will see a herd of bison. There are also elk, coyotes, hawks and bald eagles to keep an eye out for. For camping in Custer State Park there are 9 campgrounds to choose from. One of the favorites is Lake Sylvan Campground due to its location right by the lake. The campsites are basic with some having electric hookups. This is a campground for smaller RV’s due to the constraints of the Needle’s Highway leading up to the park. You can walk the ¼ mile to the beach for a swim or take out a paddle board. The fishing is pretty good in Lake Sylvan as well. A great place to camp in South Dakota!
5. Hot Springs: Hidden Lake Campground and Resort
After days of hiking, mountain biking and swimming you might want to relax a little so taking a trip to Hot Springs is a great idea. Soak in the crystal clear springs at Evans Plunge Mineral Springs or Moccasin Springs Natural Mineral Spa. Hot Springs is also home to the largest collection of Colombian Mammoths where you can watch paleontologists at work uncovering more fossils. Did you know wooly mammoths were about the same size as our modern day African elephants? One of the best campgrounds in Hot Springs is the Hidden Lake Campground and Resort. It is in northern Hot Springs right on a small lake that you can swim, fish or paddle in (no motorized boats). A nice trail goes all the way around the lake for an easy hike. Choose from one of the 23 RV sites or the two tent sites which are primitive but right next to the RV sites. There are also 10 cabins, some with a view of the lake. A nice friendly place to camp!
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