Community Forums

DSL417 · 06-22-2013, 10:20 PM

I know...it doesn't have the WOW of some other areas in the country, but we've been absolutely astounded at the great camping and the wonderful sights in the Black Hills.

Custer State Park - great motorcycle ride, bison less than 10 feet away, antelope, deer, ground hogs.

Black Hills National Forest - the Pinnacles and the Needle Eye (beware, not full size TTs or coaches...6 tunnels not very high, not very wide)

Spearfish Canyon - scenic drive, more antelope

Badlands - very little like it East of the Continental Divide

Devil's Mountain (OK it's WY, but close) - take the 1.3 mile walkway around.

Folks come here with a week or two to see the sights. What a pleasant surprise.

Oh, and there is no better interstate for smooth ride across a state than I 90.

spinn · 06-22-2013, 10:33 PM

Thanks for that DSL my wife and I are heading there mid July after we finish a photo excursion in Jackson WY. Any campground recommendations?

Steve

DSL417 · 06-22-2013, 10:44 PM

We're retired military and using Ellsworth AFB camp.

Today I saw several camps on highway 36 that looked nice. There is a campground o the West side of Rapid City (Lazy J or LJ...something like that), sits on top of the hill looking east out across the grasslands that is beautiful. Don't stay close to I-90...there are too many nice places away. We have friends that are staying with large motor coaches at Hill City. That'd be a good central location, also a lot of wineries there.

Otherwise, rvparkreviews....but make sure you are careful with anything on Sate highway 244, and 16 A as there are low clearance tunnels...and i mean low.

damdannyboy · 06-22-2013, 10:54 PM

Dave and Beth, what! You guys don't own a camera? A snap shot or two, would go a long way !

We'll be waiting

Libero · 06-22-2013, 10:58 PM

Very low tunnels and winding roads in Custer park also, did not see any sign until we were on the park road with no option to turn around for a big rig. Thank goodness we were in our toad. Stayed at KOA in Rapid City, very nice campground - did all the local stuff in the toad. Mt Rushmore is neat, but so is Custer Park and Crazy Horse.

Last time we were there was in late Apr 08, before the summer crowd.

Great area to visit.

DSL417 · 06-22-2013, 11:01 PM

DW handles the camera and computer, and it is a camping thread...I'll see if I can get her to post some. We've only taken over 300 pictures to choose from, but here's our close encounter with one of three bison herds on the motorcycle today...from about 15 feet.

spinn · 06-22-2013, 11:07 PM

Thanks Dave, and thank you all for the headsup regarding low overpasses.

Steve

damdannyboy · 06-22-2013, 11:16 PM

Thanks, Dave! Now I can see what I'm missing. Someday I get there!

doc · 06-23-2013, 07:09 AM

can't get it to post!!

doc · 06-23-2013, 07:18 AM

needles tunnel - iRV2.com RV Photo Gallery

Stagecoach West runs their buses through the Needles Eye tunnel regularly. Gotta line up just right and through he comes!! This guy is quite a character and dresses like Bill Hickock

RoadHappy · 06-23-2013, 10:05 AM

We will be there in July also. Coming from Devil's Tower and planning to stay in Hill City. Does anyone know Hwy 385 from Spearfish to Hill City for a 30' MH? Or should I stay on I-90 to Rapid City? Thanks for any advice.

DSL417 · 06-23-2013, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doc

needles tunnel - iRV2.com RV Photo Gallery

Stagecoach West runs their buses through the Needles Eye tunnel regularly. Gotta line up just right and through he comes!! This guy is quite a character and dresses like Bill Hickock

There are 6 tunnels in the area:

On US 16A: Tunnels 1-3 Min width - 13'2" Min Height - 12'2" All are single lane

On SR 87: Tunnels 4-6 Min width - 8'4" Min Height - 10'7" (copy your pic...that's tunnel five...I won't be trying my coach in that or any of them, I felt squeezed in that tunnel on my motorcycle)

My point...there are multiple ways to get to Rushmore, Crazy Horse, etc. But these two road sections must be avoided with large TT and coaches. The roads are narrow and there is NO EASY TURN AROUND. Yet the beauty of the area includes these roads. Take your toad.

Custer State Park is a must see...but do it by Toad to take it all in. We also saw large numbers of Jeep "Wildlife Safari" tours, but we found the wlidlife you come to see you can find yourself w/o spending big tour dollars.

G.G. · 06-23-2013, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSL417

I know...it doesn't have the WOW of some other areas in the country, but we've been absolutely astounded at the great camping and the wonderful sights in the Black Hills.

Well, coming from FL, it had plenty of WOW for us!. We thought it was stunningly beautiful.

JMonroe · 06-23-2013, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Gray

We will be there in July also. Coming from Devil's Tower and planning to stay in Hill City. Does anyone know Hwy 385 from Spearfish to Hill City for a 30' MH? Or should I stay on I-90 to Rapid City? Thanks for any advice.

I don't think it should be too bad for a 30' motorhome, but if you'll be in the area for a while, why not just take the quickest route to Hill City, get settled in, and backtrack a bit in the toad? You won't, for example, be able to visit the beautiful park at Rough lock falls in the motorhome (a great place to take a picnic lunch), or a number of other attractions along the route. We've been to the Hills many times and will always make a day trip from Hill City up to Deadwood and back, stopping along the way.