Mount Rushmore Camping for Families Who Want to See the Whole Black Hills

Who this page is for

You are planning a family trip, probably your first, and Mount Rushmore is the reason everyone agreed to go. But you also want Crazy Horse, a lake day, historic Deadwood, and a few nights around a campfire. You do not want to pack up and move camp three times. This page is for you.

The National Park Service does not allow camping or overnight parking at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, so every visitor picks a base somewhere in the Hills. Custer Crossing Family Campground sits at 22036 Hwy 385, about 33 miles from Mount Rushmore, roughly 55 minutes. That is close enough for an easy Rushmore day and central enough that Deadwood and Lead (roughly 25 minutes) and Pactola Reservoir (roughly 20 minutes) are short trips too. Distances and times are approximate, based on public map data, and change with traffic, weather, and road work.

A simple Mount Rushmore day from camp

Most families like to see the faces in the morning before the midday crowds and heat. A day that works well from camp:

• Morning: head south on US-385 toward Hill City and Keystone, and arrive at the memorial early. Walk the Presidential Trail below the sculpture.
• Lunch: stop in Keystone (roughly 45 minutes from camp) or Hill City (roughly 40 minutes).
• Afternoon: continue to Crazy Horse Memorial, about 38 miles from camp, roughly 1 hour 5 minutes.
• Evening: drive back and have dinner at Custer's Last Meal, our on-site restaurant. Fill up at the gas station on the way in.
• Check the National Park Service website for current memorial hours, parking, and the summer evening program before you go.

Why a central base works for a Rushmore trip

Campgrounds right next to Keystone are convenient for one day. Most Black Hills trips are longer than one day, though, and the attractions are spread across the whole range. Staying on Hwy 385 in the middle of the Hills keeps every day's drive reasonable in both directions.

It also helps to have the basics handled where you sleep. After a long sightseeing day nobody wants to drive back into town for dinner, ice, or gas.

What is at camp

Here is what the campground offers, based on what we list on our own site:

• About 20 full-hookup RV sites with water, sewer, and electric hookups, a fire pit, and a picnic table
• About 11 camping cabins with two queen beds, heat and air conditioning, a mini fridge, microwave, coffee maker, and a deck
• Tent sites with a picnic table and campfire ring
• Clean bathrooms, hot showers, and on-site laundry
• Custer's Last Store and Gas with fuel, 91 octane premium, propane, ice, firewood, and supplies
• Custer's Last Meal restaurant, home of the Burger Challenge
• Wi-Fi across the park
• Dog-friendly camping (details)
• On-site UTV rentals for a trail day (UTV and ATV trails)

More of the southern Hills

Rushmore pairs naturally with Crazy Horse Memorial and Custer State Park. Iron Mountain Road frames the faces through its tunnels, but it and the Needles Highway are not for big RVs, so take the car.

A sample five-day family itinerary

Day 1: arrive, set up, and eat on site. Day 2: Mount Rushmore in the morning, Keystone for lunch, Crazy Horse in the afternoon. Day 3: Deadwood and Lead. Day 4: Pactola Reservoir. Day 5: a UTV ride from camp, or a drive to Spearfish. If your trip lands in August, read about Sturgis Rally camping first, because the Rally changes traffic and availability across the Hills.

Approximate drive times from camp

• Deadwood and Lead: about 15 miles, roughly 25 minutes
• Pactola Reservoir: about 13 miles, roughly 20 minutes
• Hill City: about 27 miles, roughly 40 minutes
• Downtown Sturgis: about 29 miles, roughly 40 minutes
• Keystone: about 31 miles, roughly 45 minutes
• Mount Rushmore: about 33 miles, roughly 55 minutes
• Crazy Horse Memorial: about 38 miles, roughly 1 hour 5 minutes
• Sylvan Lake (Custer State Park): about 36 miles, roughly 1 hour

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

More answers on our campground FAQ.