[Per]

Bill and Linda , In july of 2015 we stayed at Rafter J Bar Ranch in Hill City,SD

for a week.It is centerly located close to all the atractions in the Black Hills.

If You have never been to the Black Hills area your in for a treat,IMOHO one of

the most beautiful areas in the USA. There is Elkhorn Ridge by Spearfish Canyon

but not as conveniant as Hill City.I would avoid the whole area during Sturgis rally

unless that is your reason for your trip.Every thing is sure to be booked at that time.

[Raymond]

We stayed at Rafter J also, it ‘s fine for the bus and convenient to the sites Rushmore and Crazy Horse.

[Doug]

For travel planning purposes, keep in mind that the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally dates this year are August 8-14.

[Archived]

Ditto … Rafter J

[Andy]

Elkhorn Ridge in Spearfish….They’re a PC Advertiser.

[Archived]

Thanks everyone, I forgot about Sturgis we plan to be at Mt Rushmore on the 17th or 18th I would think that the crowd will have thinned out by then.

[Philip]

Hi Bill…

We like to stay in Custer, SD when we’re in the area. And it’s one of our favorites. Custer is about 30 – 40 min from Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse, depending on your route…the Needles Highway is fantastic, & we like to spend time in Custer State Park – large buffalo herd & wild burros that beg for handouts along side the road – and sometimes in the road. We like to stay a little off the beaten path at an RV/horse campground outside of Custer called Broken Arrow. Fair warning though…to enter the CG you go about a half mile on a gravel road, but in our opinion, worth it, and the owners are really nice folks. Custer also has some other attractions…Jewel Cave, a really neat wood carver museum, the Purple Pie Place (great pies & ice cream), and in the fall they have the Buffalo Roundup. They roundup the herd and cull the sick & old, vaccinate the calfs, and maintain the herd population so that overgrazing isn’t a problem in the park the follwing year. About the only place in the US that you can get some idea of what the huge herds used to look, feel, and sound like as they drive the herd toward the pens. We went last year & plan to go back again at some point.

Where ever you decide to stay, plenty to see & do. Hope you enjoy the area as much as we have.

Almost forgot…make sure you eat at the Alpine Inn in Hill City. Really great German fare. You need to go early…it fills up very quickly!!

[Jim/Chris]

Bill,

We just stayed at the Whispering Pines Campground and saw all the sites: Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custard SP, Wind Cave NP, 1880 Train, and biked the Michelson Rails to Trails bike path. Much to do!

Unfortunately, the owners of the campground informed us that we would be their last 45′ motorhome. However, after the owner saw that my Prevost had no hydraulic jacks, I think he was more at ease since he was concerned with our weight ruining their four new gravel sites with 50 AMP.

If you go to Rushmore, plan on staying for the evening program, which is highlighted by Patriotic Music and Ceremony. At the end, all Veteran’s are called to stand on the stage for the “Retiring the Colors” ceremony, and then are given the chance to furnish their name and branch of service. Hooah! Definitely memorable!

[Archived]

Thanks everyone for the info. We are really looking forward to seeing the Black Hills.