Mt Rushmore / Black Hills

[gmarker]

We are thinking of taking a few days this spring or summer to see the area around Mt Rushmore. Any suggestions about the best time of the year to visit would be appreciated.

[campswithcritters]

Having been there twice, I would go in the late spring as in before schools are out and during the week it is not as crowded. It is very popular and can become very crowded in "the season". Great destination, be sure to go to Rushmore one evening for the lighting ceremony!

[gmarker]

Thanks for the suggestion Bruce. We are so used to coming and going whenever we want that I had completely forgotten about the school year.

[Traveler II]

Also after Labor Day is a great time--nice weather and the crowds are way down. Make sure to see Crazy Horse;

[snoking]

Visit Devils Tower also. Have a "close encounters of the third kind". It is in the same general area.

Chris

[Mike and Jo Anne]

We were there in Sept, after school's were back in session and it was great. We love the Black hills area, so much to see there. We stayed at Rafter J Bar Ranch RV resort, by Hill City. Very nice park, lots of room. They have a stable for horse back riding also, nice store etc. The location is not far from Crazy Horse monument, a must see, one of the best museums around. Also ofcourse Mount Rushmore, Custer national Park and Keystone. We moved up to Elk Ridge Campground close to Spearfish and Deadwood (take a tour of Boot Hill) and Kevin Costners Casino and Totanka museum. That campground is one of the best we've ever stayed in. We drove up Spearfish canyon also which is where part of the movie Dances with Wolves was made. Its just beautiful. If you like museum's don't miss the Journey Museum in Rapid City and the Heritage Museum in Spearfish. Rapid City is very interesting, its called the city of Presidents because there is a bronze statue on almost every corner of a president. If you like American Indian Art work go to the Prairie Edge Store. Its 3 stories of beautiful art work. I could keep going on and on because there is so much to see there. Just remember that the Sturges motorcyle rallie is going on in August. Might be hard to get a camp site then. Have fun and we can't wait to go back there too.

[gmarker]

Thanks to everyone that responded! All good suggestions. Will send copies on to Texas to my brother who is planning to meet us there and we can then make a decision. YOU FOLKS ARE GREAT

[Shields]

Well, not able to go to Rushmore area except in July. All of our kids, my sister and son are meeting there for a week. So we are looking for a good, clean campground with wi-fi. Any experiences with that time of year?

[Mike and Jo Anne]

The campground we stayed in Rafter J Bar Ranch, Hill City, SD, does have Wi Fi, but you do have to go to the Rec room to use it. Nice place for kids too. Make sure you tell them the size of your rig. We stayed in a area that had full hook ups. Also if your going during a holiday time make your reservations now, they fill up pretty fast. Have fun.

Jo Anne and Mike

[kcheese62]

I also recommend Rafter J Bar. It has been a couple of years sense we stayed there but it was great then. Big sights with lots of room in between campers.