Need Camping Info for the Black Hills.... Revised

[L_Kilkenny]

The Wife and I are gonna head to the Black Hills for our 20th in Sept. We haven't been there since our honeymoon and at that time we didn't do any camping although I was truly wishing we had brought some gear. It's not gonna be a long trip, first night at the badlands, couple nights around Custer State Park and another couple around Deadwood.

Recommendations for the 3 areas? Generally looking for actual campgrounds but if anyone remembers a spot or two off in the boonies I'd definitely be interested if only for 1 or 2 of the nights.

BTW, we'll be in our homebrew teardrop type camper so full hook ups are not needed or wanted.

Thanks much.

[Terry Murbach]

THE BLACK HILLS.......THEY'RE OVER IN SOUTH DAKOTA YOU KNOW.....

[t.r.]

We lived near Rapid City for 11 years. Our favorite place in BH was Wind Cave Nat'l Park. But overall best camping is at Ft. Robinson State Park to the south (about 80 minutes drive)in Nebraska. Photo shows view of Ft. Robinson.

TR

[Blaine]

The Wife and I are gonna head to the Black Hills for our 20th in Sept. We haven't been there since our honeymoon and at that time we didn't do any camping although I was truly wishing we had brought some gear. It's not gonna be a long trip, first night at the badlands, couple nights around Custer State Park and another couple around Deadwood.

Recommendations for the 3 areas? Generally looking for actual campgrounds but if anyone remembers a spot or two off in the boonies I'd definitely be interested if only for 1 or 2 of the nights.

BTW, we'll be in our homebrew teardrop type camper so full hook ups are not needed or wanted.

Thanks much.

We need Pics of that Camper, please

[Don McDowell]

Go to the Custer park website and find out about the campgrounds there and just stay there for the whole deal. There are a few forest service camprounds and such around Pactola and Sheridan reservoir, there's also a handfull of KOA type campgrounds.
Black Hills National Forest Web page will be handy to look at as well.

[L_Kilkenny]

We need Pics of that Camper, please

Galley, packed up and ready for the road:

Galley and Camper in use:

Camper exterior:

I have pics of the inside but haven't loaded them to photobucket. Nothing real fancy. Stained pine walls and ceiling, maroon indoor/outdoor carpet, lots of shelves and storage compartments, sleep on two 3" self inflating mattresses.

Don, thanks for the heads up about the federal campgrounds. I had totally forgot that the black hills are a national forest. There's one close to Deadwood I imagine we'll spend a night at.

Other than that I think night #1 will be spent here:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review ... akota.html
http://camping.about.com/od/campgroundr ... pcg961.htm

[Don McDowell]

There's one other thing you can do... If you want to put up with the speel... You can call ahead to the Hart Ranch and take their 3day stay and supper, for free, and then listen to what a good deal it is to buy a membership, and tell them no thanks.... They're just out of Rapid on 16 so it's pretty centrally located...

[Blaine]

The way the back hatch provides some protection from the elements is pretty cool.

[Rusty]

FWIW I don't know if it applies here but a friend of mine just found out that if you're disabled you can get free entrance into the Nat'l Parks.

[ollogger]

I lived in Hill City at one time, the Black Hills are awesome & Custer S.P like Don said is a great
place to spend time, the Alpine in Hill City has a great steak & it use to be cheap, its a must do
if your close by, Deer Feild Lake is a nice spot & off the beatin path
Have fun


ollogger

[JHarold]

That Hart Ranch is one of the nicest RV campgrounds we were ever in. located close to everything.

[L_Kilkenny]

What's the deal with CC out there. I've heard/read some conflicting info and anyone who can clear things up would be greatly appreciated. Badlands is a national park, Custer is a state park, Deadwood is filled with many small saloon/casinos (sure I'll find myself at a card table or 2), etc. Need good info on all these places if you could.

[Don McDowell]

Badland's is a National Park, Custer is a State Park, if you just drive straight thru on hiway 14 you don't have to pay if you stop and get off the hiway, you need a park pass, Rushmore is a national monument, you don't have to pay to get into, but you do have to pay 8$ per vehicle to park. Wind Cave and Jewel Cave are also national monuments. Crazy Horse is a private deal that isn't zactly cheap to get into.
Deadwood is largely electronic machines, not alot in the way of actual dealer games. Some good places to eat there tho. Actually there are "casino's" of varying sizes all over the Hills.

[SteveR]

THE BLACK HILLS.......THEY'RE OVER IN SOUTH DAKOTA YOU KNOW.....

I think Terry wants you to visit him.


Steve

[L_Kilkenny]

THE BLACK HILLS.......THEY'RE OVER IN SOUTH DAKOTA YOU KNOW.....

I think Terry wants you to visit him.


Steve

Actually MAJ. OBVIOUS (recently promoted from CAPT., Congratulations TERRY ) is more than likely pokin fun at me but being that we're gonna be camping for two nights at Custer, TERRY is more than welcome to stop on by for some tall stories, beverage and some good Iowa meat.

[Retro]

Meanwhile I'm also building a teardrop... small world This one's for going to Etosha though, I think the Black Hills are a bit too far a drive

[Alan Wood]

So for those who find the teardrop camper mentioned earlier in this thread interesting. Or are looking for something more than a tent but less than a camper. Let me introduce to you a like minded web site. http://www.tnttt.com
These people are into camping but for the most part want more than a tent but less than a camper. Kind of hard to define this web community but it is for campers that want more than a tent but don't want a travel trailer.

[SteveR]

THE BLACK HILLS.......THEY'RE OVER IN SOUTH DAKOTA YOU KNOW.....

I think Terry wants you to visit him.


Steve

Actually MAJ. OBVIOUS (recently promoted from CAPT., Congratulations TERRY ) is more than likely pokin fun at me but being that we're gonna be camping for two nights at Custer, TERRY is more than welcome to stop on by for some tall stories, beverage and some good Iowa meat.

Oh, lol. maybe Terry will stop by, I bet that would be some good times talking around the fire and swapping stories and such. Enjoy your time there, I hope to get out west next year. I am looking to stop by Arizona and see some forum members there.

Steve

[Batman1939]

Meanwhile I'm also building a teardrop... small world This one's for going to Etosha though, I think the Black Hills are a bit too far a drive

You surely see some great game in Etosha. Wish I could visit there again.

[Hobie]

The Wife and I are gonna head to the Black Hills for our 20th in Sept. We haven't been there since our honeymoon and at that time we didn't do any camping although I was truly wishing we had brought some gear. It's not gonna be a long trip, first night at the badlands, couple nights around Custer State Park and another couple around Deadwood.

Recommendations for the 3 areas? Generally looking for actual campgrounds but if anyone remembers a spot or two off in the boonies I'd definitely be interested if only for 1 or 2 of the nights.

BTW, we'll be in our homebrew teardrop type camper so full hook ups are not needed or wanted.

Thanks much.

We need Pics of that Camper, please

Yeah, I like the teardrops, wish I coulda talked the wife into one of those...

[L_Kilkenny]

Change of plans folks, still heading to badlands and Deadwood but heading into Wyoming and Montana after that. Devils Tower, Fetterman fight and Little Big horn on the menu. Custer State Park is having their buffalo round up that week and campgrounds were pretty full. While it might be a neat attraction(the buffalo round up) to see it gets a lot less interesting with 15,000 not so close friends.

So being said what else should I be looking to see in NE Wyoming? Anything left over from the Johnson County War? What else?

As for the teardrops and similar campers some folk just have a hard time getting their minds wrapped around the idea. A lot of folks seem to think that they be like sleeping in a coffin and way too small. Completely understandable. But truth be told once you're bedded down they feel plenty big (my wife is a little claustrophobic and loves our camper) and the outside galley is great (so much so many new full size campers are including outside galley's in their packages) and teardrops require very little maintenance.

[Don McDowell]

You'll want to check out the Jim Gatchel museum in Buffalo and King Ropes museum in Sheridan.

[bigbore442001]

If you have time you could take a ride to Sundance Wyoming where there is some Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid stuff. I did take a ride to Kaycee and took pictures of Hole in the Wall Canyon.

[t.r.]

Plan to go horse back riding at Ft. Robinson State Park, Nebraska. Just 80 miles south of Rapid City.

TR

[JerryB]

When we stopped at Sheridan to visit friends he took me down to the site of the Wagon box fight. That was an erie spooky feeling,like they were still there watching us that evening. I think it is in Johnson county.