Mount Rushmore & The Black Hills, South Dakota RV Guide

The Black Hills pack an unusual amount of variety into a compact area: carved granite monuments, wildlife-filled grasslands, tight mountain tunnels, and the otherworldly rock formations of the Badlands within a couple hours' drive. It's a region built for a multi-day RV stay, with enough attractions to fill a week without repeating a view. If you know of an RV-friendly stop near Mount Rushmore & The Black Hills that isn't listed here, please submit it and we'll get it added to the directory.

🧭 Things to See & Do

🗿 Mount Rushmore National Memorial

The 60-foot presidential faces carved into granite, best seen at the evening lighting ceremony.

🪨 Crazy Horse Memorial

An enormous mountain carving still in progress, honoring the Lakota leader, with a cultural museum on site.

🦬 Custer State Park

Home to one of the largest publicly owned bison herds in the world, viewable along the Wildlife Loop Road.

🛣️ Needles Highway

A narrow, winding road through granite spires and tight rock tunnels.

🚐 RV Campgrounds & Resources

🏕️ Mt. Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch

Full hookups

Large, family-oriented resort with pools, horseback riding, and a shuttle to Mount Rushmore.

🏕️ Custer State Park Campgrounds

Mixed, some full hookups

Several campgrounds scattered through the park near the Wildlife Loop and hiking trails.

🏕️ Rushmore Express RV Park

Full hookups

Closer to Rapid City, a convenient base for exploring the whole region.

📘 Good to Know

Planning tip

Needles Highway has tunnels as narrow as 8 ft 4 in wide — too tight for most RVs and trailers. Plan to drive that route in a smaller towed vehicle, and check dates for the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in early August, when the region books up and prices spike.

Best season to visit: May–June, September

Continue the route to Acadia National Park, or head back to see all 10 stops.

Next: Acadia National Park → All Destinations