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Mt Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch
Overview
The Mt Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch is far more than a typical campground; it is a sprawling mountain resort destination nestled in the heart of the Black Hills. Located at the base of Black Elk Peak, this facility combines the rugged beauty of South Dakota with extensive guest services. Visitors will find a vibrant community atmosphere centered around the historic Palmer Gulch ranch heritage, offering a high-energy basecamp for exploring the region’s iconic national monuments and scenic landscapes.
Location & Surroundings
Situated just minutes from the charming town of Hill City, the park is surrounded by the dense ponderosa pines of the Black Hills National Forest. This location provides a cool, elevated climate during the summer months and places guests in the center of the region's most famous attractions. The proximity to Mount Rushmore allows for quick commutes to the memorial, while the surrounding granite crags and timbered valleys provide a stunning, natural backdrop for every campsite.
Amenities & Park Features
This resort is packed with premium facilities designed for comfort and entertainment. Guests can enjoy several key features during their stay:
- Two heated swimming pools and a large splash park featuring a waterslide.
- On-site horse stables providing guided trail rides through the national forest.
- Executive pull-through RV sites that include paved patios and upgraded outdoor furniture.
Additional conveniences include a dedicated shuttle to the Mount Rushmore evening lighting ceremony, multiple on-site dining options, and a well-stocked general store to ensure a seamless travel experience.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Beyond the resort gates, the wonders of South Dakota await. The park serves as a perfect hub for visiting the Crazy Horse Memorial and driving the scenic loops of Custer State Park. Nature lovers can hike the trails of the Black Elk Wilderness or take a nostalgic ride on the 1880 Train. For those seeking adventure, the Needles Highway offers narrow tunnels and breathtaking overlooks just a short drive from your RV.
Who This Park Is Best For
This KOA is ideal for active families and large groups who appreciate a resort-style environment with constant activities and social opportunities. Because of its vast size and diverse amenities, it is perfect for those who want a lively experience and plenty of on-site entertainment for children. RVers looking for a full-service home base near the national memorials will find that the convenience and high-end features here are unmatched in the region.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- Internet
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
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!
CJ Caulk
June of 2017. The park was very clean, easy to navigate, beautiful views, and plenty of activities for everyone to enjoy.
Shawn Maurer
Not a bad place but no phone service and no internet and, No! well life just shows down
Rick Gruber
Loved it. Friendly staff and nice facilities for showering and cleaning up.
JT
Top of the line rv park. Has so much to offer for adults & the kiddos. Highly recommend
Scott Snuverink
Beware! Alot of RV routing apps take you to the rear entrance which is a service road only. No RVs allowed. Make sure your routing app takes you to the front entrance off of highway 244