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Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch
Experience the Outdoors at This Camping Resort Near Mount Rushmore!
Welcome to a premier camping resort and lodge in the heart of the Black Hills. Enjoy a relaxing and fun camping adventure at the Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch, located near national memorials, breathtaking scenery, fun hiking trails, rodeos and museums. Relax and enjoy exciting activities without even leaving the campground with KOA's amenities and activities, or let KOA show you around the area via wagon rides, horseback adventures and UTV rentals.
Let Us Be Your Black Hills Destination!
Explore South Dakota at KOA for a fun and relaxing experience. Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch is in the heart of the Black Hills and right around the corner from exciting attractions the whole family can enjoy. Marvel at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial or the in-progress Crazy Horse Mountain Memorial.
Learn about the history of American Democracy at the National Presidential Wax Museum or drive along the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway. Hike trails from KOA to Mount Rushmore and Harney Peak, or walk trails in Custer State Park and the Black Hills National Forest.
Ways to Stay for All Campers
Whether you enjoy traditional tent camping, popular RV travel or cozy cabin stays, KOA has a place for every type of camper to rest their head. Tent campers can enjoy Tent Sites with or without electricity.
To enjoy RV camping near Mount Rushmore, choose KOA's convenient Back-In and Pull-Thru Sites. You can also enjoy the convenience and extra comfort of lodging options such as Deluxe Cabins and Camping Cabins near Mount Rushmore.
Convenient and Fun Amenities
The Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch offers convenient and fun amenities to help you make the most of your stay. Have a blast at the Splash Park, dive into one of the swimming pools or glide down the water slide between Memorial Day and Labor Day. If you are craving some relaxation, enjoy a nice dip in the hot tub or unwind in the sauna.
Challenge friends or family to a game of mini-golf, visit the Palmer Gulch Mining Company, traverse the exciting Climbing Wall and enjoy some fishing. Rent a bike or pick up a bike part for your own bike at the campground bike shop.
Take your kids to jump on the Bounce Pillow and let your dog roam around KampK9®, a special dog park for your four-legged camping companions. When you get hungry, enjoy breakfast at the pancake tent, grab lunch at the snack bar and enjoy dinner or on-site catering from The Peak Grill and Tap Room.
Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch also provides exciting ways to explore nearby attractions. Rent a car to explore the gorgeous Black Hills or roam the trails on a UTV. Embark on a horseback riding adventure from Palmer Gulch Stables or enjoy a Chuck Wagon Supper Show for a unique South Dakota experience. Dinner shows include a horse-drawn wagon ride or a horseback ride and a delicious cowboy meal with entertainment.
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, guests can also ride a shuttle to view the Mount Rushmore night lighting ceremony.
Recreation and Special Events
Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch hosts activities for the whole family. Build, decorate and launch rockets toward the sky on certain dates between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Use fabric and colorful dyes to create custom designs on special tie-dye days. Check the campground schedule for these activities as well as movies, wagon rides and live entertainment. You can also attend the exciting Mount Rushmore Rodeo to see some Wild West action on select dates.
Book a Stay at Mount Rushmore KOA Resort?
Explore the best of South Dakota at KOA. Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch offers convenient amenities, fun activities, special events and opportunities to visit local area attractions near Mount Rushmore. Whether you are looking for a relaxing weekend away or a fun adventure with the family, have an incredible time at the best camping vacation spot near Mount Rushmore.
Book a Stay at KOA to begin your South Dakota adventure with your hosts, Recreational Adventures Co. Reserve your site online or call 800-562-8503 today!
User Reviews
Ashley Jamison
This was my second time staying here. I love this campground! Surrounded by beautiful nature. Friendly staff like Sue made our stay even better. When we first arrived, our campsite was right out in the open so we asked to be moved to a spot that was more shady and away from the fun zone, and our new spot was great! We recommend spot 610 if you want a great spot! Can't wait to come back again!
Tia Barrett
Excited during check-in, but experience was lack luster. Upon arrival and check-in, we were asking about late checkout because we were extremely excited as the vibe really does present a resort feel. However, as we drove to our site, that excitement quickly dissipated. There were 5th wheels hanging out of their site and in the road way. Considering KOA workers escort you and help you park appropriately, we don't understand how this could happen with multiple rigs. We had to take extra care in driving down the already thin road to make sure we didn't hit anything. Granted we were there at the end of Sturgis, it was absolutely packed with trailers, extra bikes/cars/ATVs/SXS, etc. In other words, there was no free space to be had. Once we were set, we were ready to just enjoy ourselves. Enter the AWFUL pool/hot tubs/giant slide in the "FUN ZONE". They were absolutely disgusting...see the pictures of the brown and dirty water. We did not visit the pool in the upper part of the resort so no comment on that. The service up front was first class. Very helpful, full of information and ready to answer any questions. The store was well stocked and incredibly clean. Bathrooms in the front office were also great.
Catie Juday
Very close to crazy horse and mount Rushmore. Has a ton of things to do from hot tubs and pools to horse riding. The only thing that I didn't like was the turtle town restaurant. The ice cream was great but the pizza was incredibly greasy and very sparse with pepperoni. The baked beans were an off putting yellowish color and smelled like vomit. Wasted money on food that didn't get eaten do that was very disappointing. The gift shop is huge and had tons of great souvenirs. The playgrounds are nicely kept and fun. The bathrooms and showers were very clean. The dog park was also pretty great.
Travis Chappel
5 Stars – A Family Camping Paradise! Mount Rushmore KOA Resort is hands-down one of the best campgrounds we've ever stayed at! This place is huge and packed with activities for everyone. From bike rentals and mini golf to horseback rides and evening entertainment, there's always something fun to do. It's a total kids' paradise — our little ones never ran out of things to explore. The grounds are well-kept, the staff is friendly, and the location is perfect for visiting Mount Rushmore and the surrounding Black Hills. Whether you're in an RV, tent, or cabin, this resort has everything you could ever want. We can't wait to come back!
Kitt Laidlaw
We had an absolute blast at the Mount Rushmore KOA. We stayed for 3 days and both left wishing we could stay longer. We booked a simple, back-in water/power/fire pit camp site and it was great. We were a short walk to the bathrooms and showers which were extremely clean and new! You can rent golf carts to get around the property but walking to all the different activities is easy as well. The staff we encountered were all extremely friendly and helpful. The check-in process was easy and informative. The store (where you check in) and the outpost by the kids area were fully stocked with everything from ketchup to blankets to Christmas ornaments to ponchos. The little "village" area is great where there is an ice cream shop, laundry, Grapes (wine tasting) & Grinds(coffee shop), and late night bar food (closes at 10pm)...all of it was fantastic! It was very busy while we were there and I was expecting it to be noisy at night but it was so quiet..I didn't hear loud music or even a dog barking. I don't even want to "complain" but if I had to say two things..id say that the mini golf course needs some extreme attention and TLC (the kids didn't seem to mind though) and the firewood is pretty pricey for what you get...other than that we had an absolute blast and we're already looking forward to our next visit. Thank you for making our first KOA experience so fabulous!