To check out the Black Hills region of South Dakota and visit Mount Rushmore and the Badlands, many people set up camp in Rapid City. There are quite a few RV parks in Rapid City, as well as some public campgrounds to choose from. Camping in the area offers a great opportunity to spend more time out in nature and have affordable accommodations when you go out exploring.
Here are the best campgrounds and RV parks in Rapid City, South Dakota to choose from.
Rapid City South RV Park
The Rapid City South RV Park is located five miles from downtown Rapid City and 20 miles from Mount Rushmore. It is a convenient home base with 30/50-amp full hookups for RVs. The campground has dog walk areas, a small playground, and good Wi-Fi. Ot0her features are coin laundry facilities, TV reception, and a dump station. The nightly rate ranges from around $60 to $90 depending on the site size. There are some breed restrictions for dogs and a two-dog limit. Overall, there are 92 full hookup sites, with some back-ins and others are pull-throughs.
Rapid City RV Park & Campground
You can stay at the Rapid City RV Park & Campground when you’re exploring South Dakota and have a comfortable place to stay in your motorhome, tent, or one of the cabins or rooms onsite. It’s just south of Rapid City and minutes from the downtown stores and restaurants. Mount Rushmore is about 20 miles from the RV park. Features of the camping spot include a heated swimming pool, coin-operated laundry machines, and a convenience/gift shop. Other amenities include a dump station, full hookups, BBQ facilities, and a playground.
Rapid City / Black Hills KOA Holiday
There is also a great KOA campground in Rapid City called the Rapid City / Black Hills KOA Holiday. It is easily accessible off of I-90 and makes it convenient to get to all the local landmarks in under an hour. There are RV sites here and also cabins you can rent. In addition to being close to numerous parks, you can also spend time at the campground in the large heated pool, hot tub, two playgrounds, and dog park. The pool is open from late May through early September, while the campground itself is open from mid-April through mid-October. Tent sites with no hookups are available at the KOA as well.
Black Hawk Creek RV Park & Cabins
You’ll be just minutes from the attractions in Rapid City and also close to Sturgis, Deadwood, and the Black Hills when you stay at Black Hawk Creek RV Park & Cabins. This camping destination was previously called Little Jon Memorial Park before it was bought by Custom Skirting LLC and changed its name in 2020. The RV park offers 30/50-amp hookups and welcomes long-term stays. It’s a family-friendly campground that welcomes pets. There are bathhouse facilities onsite, dry camping options if you just want to stay for one night, tent camping sites, and rustic cabins too.
Happy Holiday RV Resort
At the Happy Holiday RV Resort, you’ll be between Rapid City and Mount Rushmore for your sightseeing activities. This is a full-service RV park that also has motel rooms available to rent. There is a reunion hall onsite for large gatherings. This RV park is open year-round and has a pool and convenience store onsite. Other perks of staying here are the free Wi-Fi, cable TV, covered patios, picnic tables, and fire rings. In addition to the 258 campsites for RVs, there are also tent sites available, a playground, basketball court, laundry facilities, and clean restrooms.
Lake Park Campground & Cottages
People traveling to Rapid City also camp at Lake Park Campground & Cottages, which has 20/30/50-amp electric service and level sites for RVs. The RV sites also come with access to free Wi-Fi, hot showers, 24-hour laundry, TV reception, and shade trees. There is a pet fee required to have a pet in the RV or tent sites. Additionally, you can stay in a cottage or vacation home when you come to this place and don’t feel like roughing it.
American Buffalo Resort
The American Buffalo Resort is situated on 35 beautiful acres of land in the Black Hills country of South Dakota. This is a great home base for attending the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and has a heated swimming pool and hot tub that are open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Other onsite amenities are mini-golf, a playground, basketball court, horseshoe pits, and walking trails. The camping resort is less than 15 minutes from both Rapid City and Mount Rushmore. There are pancake breakfasts offered here in the summer for $3 per person. You can choose from several different RV campsite options or stay here in a tent or cabin as well.
Hart Ranch Camping Resort Club
Also located in Rapid City, South Dakota is the Hart Ranch Camping Resort Club, a five-star RV park with a sense of community. This park has 459 full hookup sites, 24 tent sites, and 73 cabins in which you can stay. There are pet-friendly options here at this family-friendly, membership-required campground. There are different membership levels that you can choose to stay and get all the benefits the park has to offer. The recreational facilities onsite include a pool, mini-golf, tennis courts, and bike rentals. There are also youth programs that include archery, horseback riding, and other activities.
No Bad Days Campground
When you stay at the No Bad Days Campground, you’ll be in a new campground in the Black Hills area and just 20 minutes from Mount Rushmore. For RVs, there are 30/50-amp hookups with water and sewer facilities. The sites also have Wi-Fi, picnic tables, and fire rings with grills. Pets are allowed here with some breed restrictions and if they are kept on leashes. This is a nice place to be if you want to check out lots of outdoor recreation, such as hiking, rock climbing, and mountain biking.
Pactola Reservoir Campground
There are also public campgrounds available in the Black Hills National Forest that you can reserve in advance, such as the Pactola Reservoir Campground. This campground is near Rapid City and nestled among the pines along the south shore of the reservoir. It accommodates RVs, trailers, and tents. The campground has picnic tables, vault toilets, drinking water, and campfire rings. However, there are no electric hookups here. You can get to the beach within easy walking distance from the campground and also access the two boat ramps and full-service marina nearby. Definitely check out Jewel Cave in this area, which is the second-longest cave in the world at 159.29 miles long.
Whispering Pines Campground
For a small, family-oriented campground, consider the Whispering Pines Campground near the best Black Hills attractions. There are 30/50-amp full hookup sites here with gravel pads, grassy areas, and picnic tables. Partial hookup sites with just water and electricity are also available, with a dump station located nearby. Amenities provided include Wi-Fi, clean bathrooms, and a heated saltwater pool. In addition to RV sites, there are also cozy cabins that sleep between four and eight people. Tent camping is also an option at Whispering Pines.
Rushmore Shadows
Rushmore Shadows is a Midwest Outdoor Resorts-brand RV park that’s just minutes from Rapid City, Custer State Park, and Mount Rushmore. It is on Highway 16 and has full hookup RV sites, tent sites, and cabins. Family-friendly activities include a pool, mini-golf, hiking trails, sports courts, and a playground. There are 193 RV sites at Rushmore Shadows and also new glamping wagons to give you a rustic and nostalgic experience. The atmosphere here is quiet and private, with a camp store on site and ponderosa pine foothills surrounding the park. Check the campground’s website for the current activity schedule.
