Idiot’s Guides: RV Vacations

Visiting Mount Rushmore is a must for many. The monument itself is impressive, but the landscape surrounding it is even more stunning.

Highlights

Successfully squeeze your car through the tunnel on Needles Highway.

Take a picture with a T-Rex at Wall Drug, the ultimate roadside tourist attraction.

Spot bison, deer, prairie dogs, and wild burros on the Wildlife Loop Road.

June is the best time to visit, offering warmer weather without the crowds of July. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is in August, so plan accordingly.

Custer State Park, 13329 US Highway 16A, Custer, SD 57730. campsd.com; 800-710-2267. May to October. $25. Blue Bell: hayrides, chuck wagon cookouts; Legion Lake: fishing, boat rentals.

Looking to reconnect with nature and have no interest in playgrounds or inflatable jump pillows? Then camp at the Blue Bell or Legion Lake campgrounds within Custer State Park.

Bluebell is set in a Ponderosa pine forest and is near French Creek. Looking to do some trout fishing? This is your spot. Legion Lake is located in a mountain valley and provides many wonderful opportunities for wildlife photography.

12325 Rafter J-Bar Road, Hill City, SD 57745. rafterj.com; 888-723-8375. May 1 to October 1. $35 to $55. Playground, heated pool, hot tub, snack bar, recreation hall, volleyball and basketball courts.

Rafter J Bar Ranch is conveniently located within 8 miles (13km) of Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Custer State Park, so it serves as a terrific base camp for exploring the region.

The campground, which has sites in the sun and sites shaded by pine trees, consists of five separate camping areas. The Island and Ranch Camp sections are the best.

After spending the morning touring the area, head back to Rafter J to relax in the heated pool and hot tub. Or if you’re craving exercise and fresh air, head out for a bike ride on the adjacent trail or a hike in the national forest that surrounds the campground. Whether you’re traveling as a couple or with kids, Rafter J won’t disappoint.

12620 Highway 244, Hill City, SD 57745. koa.com/camp/mount-rushmore; info@palmergulch.com; 605-574-2525. May 1 to October 1. $35 to $115. Heated pools, spas, inflatable jump pillow, mini-golf.

The Mount Rushmore KOA is an obvious choice for families with kids who love action—don’t camp here if you’re looking for peace and quiet.

This campground was recently rebranded as a KOA “Resort,” and it’s easy to see why, with two pools, two spas, a splash pad, and an inflatable jump pillow. But you’ll also find chuck wagon dinners, guided horseback rides, and self-guided ATV tours. Plan on hitting the pancake tent before a full day’s worth of adventures in the Black Hills, and plan on returning to the on-site restaurant for dinner.

The Wi-Fi here is weak. Some campers climb onto large rocks to get a better signal.

625 St. Joseph Street, Rapid City, SD 57701. independentalehouse.com; 605-718-9492. Monday to Saturday 11 A.M. to close; Sunday 3 P.M. to close. $12 to $25. Pizza and pub fare.

This spot offers excellent beer, very good pizza, a decent wine selection, and a friendly staff. After a day of sightseeing, it’s a comfortable place to relax. It has 40 beers on tap that are constantly rotated to offer seasonal and craft brew options.

Try the Althea pizza with sun-dried tomatoes. Or order the three little pigs pizza, piled with pepperoni, sausage, and bacon.

The Mount Rushmore National Memorial is in the town of Keystone, so if you’re looking to grab lunch or dinner after your visit, this is your best bet.

The décor is meant to reference the early 1900s, with lots of velvet drapes and ornate sconces. Stick with burgers and prime rib, and you won’t be disappointed.

13329 US Highway 16A East, Custer, SD 57730. custerresorts.com; 605-255-4531. Departure time varies. $45 to $52. Cowboy cuisine.

You’ll find many chuck wagon dinner shows in the region, but this one goes far beyond the typical tourist experience. The evening starts with a 45-minute hayride through the beautiful back roads of Custer State Park and includes a sing-along and souvenir cowboy hats and bandannas to set the proper tone. Some guests bring their own drinks for the ride.

When you arrive at the dining ranch, steaks and burgers are served along with all the cowboy fixings, like beans, coleslaw, and watermelon on speckled enameled plates. Seconds are served.

Entertainment continues throughout the meal with audience interaction and participation. Chicken dances and the hokey pokey get everyone up and dancing. After returning to the lodge, an employee can take a picture of your party in front of the chuck wagon (free of charge with your camera).

2151 Avenue of the Chiefs, Crazy Horse, SD 57730. crazyhorsememorial.org; memorial@crazyhorse.org; 605-673-4681. 7 A.M. to 9 P.M. $11 per person, $5 per motorcyclist, $5 per bicyclist, $28 per car with 3 or more people, 6 and under free.

When the Crazy Horse Memorial is completed, it will be the world’s largest mountain sculpture. Korczak Ziolkowski, who had previously worked on Mount Rushmore, began this awe-inspiring project in 1948. He died in 1982, but his dream to honor the legendary leader has been carried on by his wife and children. The short orientation video is rich in human drama.

13000 Highway 244, Keystone, SD 57751. nps.gov/moru; 605-574-2523. 5 A.M. to 11 P.M. Vehicle parking $11.

The origins of the Mount Rushmore monument have more to do with commerce than patriotism. A South Dakota historian named Doane Robinson wanted to create a large-scale sculpture that would attract tourism to his beloved state. His plan worked. Almost 3 million people visit Mount Rushmore each year.

If you’re an amateur photographer and wanting to get some great shots, arrive at 8 A.M., when the light is best. If you want to walk to the base of the monument, take a 30-minute Ranger Walk on the Presidential Trail. The most popular time to visit is for the evening program, which includes a patriotic film and ends with the lighting of the monument.

The first thing many people do when arriving at Custer State Park is drive the Wildlife Loop Road. The park is home to more than 1,300 bison, so you’re almost guaranteed to come across a herd taking its sweet time crossing the road. Elk, mountain goats, turkeys, and burros also might make an appearance.

Needles Highway is another spectacular drive with views of granite spires reaching into the sky.

Iron Mountain Road offers what many people consider the best views of Mount Rushmore.

This state park has so much to offer, so it’s worth asking a ranger to help map out your visit. Check the schedule for ranger-led programs that share information about wildlife and Native American history in this area.

ITINERARIES

If you have 1 week …

Take the tour at Mount Rushmore, and prepare to be awed by the sheer size of the Crazy Horse Memorial. Navigate the Wildlife Loop Road and Needles Highway in Custer State Park. Ride the 1880 Train. Shop at Wall Drug.

If you have 2 weeks …

All the above, plus swim at Sylvan Lake and visit the Jewel Cave National Monument. Drive Iron Mountain Road. Hike the Cathedral Spires Trail. Take a day trip to Devils Tower National Monument. Reserve early to dig for bones at the Mammoth Site. Visit the Prairie Berry Winery.

If you have 3 weeks …

All the above, plus swim at Legions Lake and visit Wind Cave National Park. Rock climb at Spearfish Canyon. Take a day trip to the Badlands, and drive the Badlands Loop Road. Visit the Reptile Gardens, and mine for gold at Deadwood. Tour the beautiful Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary.