Mount Rushmore

[2cyber71]

We were there this past June-July.
We had a blast
Did all the National Parks and Custer State Park in 10 days.
Total 7 if you include Minute Man.
Here is my video playlist on YouTube
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL...8J78aT5sWdBXnj

[PeterFTH]

Originally Posted by rickemo

Anyone out there been to Mount Rushmore? We looking to go in 2021 and are wondering what is the best time of year to go. Also, suggestions on nearby campgrounds.

The only thing I can tell you about Mount Rushmore is that if you spend more than about 45 minutes looking at that cliff I would be surprised. Plan some other activities if you're going to make that trip

[Latschco]

Don’t go first 2 weeks of August. The Stirgis rally is on and it’s packed in the Black Hills area

[John Michael]

We went a couple of times. We stayed at the mount Rushmore KOA which is very nice. Custer State Park is definitely worth a visit as well. Enjoy!

[Clemson]

Originally Posted by rickemo

Anyone out there been to Mount Rushmore? We looking to go in 2021 and are wondering what is the best time of year to go. Also, suggestions on nearby campgrounds.

Late summer to Labor Day. Mt Rushmore KOA is wonderful

[The Rog]

As far as I am concerned, there is no good time to go to Mt. Rushmore or Wall Drugs. They are tourist traps. You would be so much happier if you got a picture of the Presidents and looked at it for 2 minutes as that is about all you could take of the real thing !

[Miz Dani]

I'm from up there and the very best place to stay is www.hartranchresort.com It has everything anyone could want, in a great location. Best to visit from Memorial Day thru Labor day, but open all year round. Call them exactly 60 days prior to the date you wish to stay, it's right in the middle of every place there is to see, except the Badlands, you'll want to go there on a separate trip before or after Rushmore & Custer State Park. SO much to see & do, you will love it!

[TucsonTom]

I’ve been many many times. All during Sturgis Rally in August. There are a couple of nicer RV parks around Keystone, which is the closest town to Mt Rushmore. But, please be extra careful on planning your arrival. There are a couple of tunnels you can’t get through, and no place to turn around. The KOA in Keystone is really nice, with more dining/drinking options than Keystone. It’s not very far to Rushmore either.
If you can, go before June 1. Although that might be completely irrelevant this year. After Labor Day is even better weather.

[CharlesinGA]

Originally Posted by Latschco

Don’t go first 2 weeks of August. The Stirgis rally is on and it’s packed in the Black Hills area

Sturgis 2021 is August 6 thru 15. The place clears out quick after it is over with however many people arrive early to ride the Black Hills so it is best to avoid the area from about July 25th till August 15th.(I was told this by several locals when I called about campground openings and rental cars.)

It is actually easy to get campsites right after Sturgis because everyone thinks that there will be people hanging on to ride the Hills, but mostly they are gone, so people won't reserve or try to camp the area the week following Sturgis.

I arrived in Spearfish on Tuesday after Sturgis had ended on Sunday. The campground told me on the phone they were wide open, and indeed there was one biker left and the next three days I only saw a very few individual bikers on the roads. On Monday and Tuesday as I was westbound on I-90 I saw many, and I do mean many motorhomes with cargo trailers behind them (full of bikes I suppose) and other RV's and vehicles that almost for sure had been to Sturgis, and they were all EASTBOUND.

Charles

[LarryLibby]

We stayed at Rushmore KOA last July just a couple miles from Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse ( a must see ).with lots of things to do .4 wheeling horseback riding and a really nice kids area if you're traveling with little ones

[bbill66]

We were there in June 2018. Highly recommend Custer State Park as a base of operations. Be sure to include Custer, Badlands, Wind Cave. We also did Yellowstone,

I would not go back to Crazy Horse but would be thrilled to do the rest all over again.

What you can do is largely a function of your age and physical abilities.

The elevation really affected us low landers where 380 ft elevation is called a mount.

Bill

[frizfreleng]

Originally Posted by US1

Went 2 yrs ago on the bike during Sturgis. You don’t go no where fast and sometimes can’t stop to see the sights. Avoid that timeframe.
We were on a budget, so we took the economy sight seeing tour around the backside.

At first, looking at the photo I thought 'disrespectful" Then I read the last sentence. Never saw it coming. Very good, a lot of wit. Enjoying life on the Far Side? Thank you.

[Greg Dohm]

We stayed at the KOA in Custer. Beautiful campground. 'Suggest late Spring or earlyFall. Campgrounds in Custer close seasonally. They are at 6000 feet and the climate will be cooler than the Rapid City Area (elevation 3200 feet).
Gorgeous area....not far from Mt. Rushmore....beautiful drive!!

[richguess]

We stayed in town at the Lake Park Campground, thought it was great. We were there in mid July, avoided the madness of August Sturgis. You can fish the stream creek right by the camp. Lots to do and see. I drove a class A to a fishing camp near Absarokee MT from SoCal, fished my way up. Met my wife in Billings, and off to Rushmore,etc. I thought Rushmore, Crazyhorse, Custer St park we’re great. Deadwood was pretty cool, a little touristy. Home thru Laramie, Steamboat, Ouray CO, and Vegas. A lot of fun.

Rich