3 South Dakota KOA Campsites You Should Visit

There are so many amazing places to visit in South Dakota. Some of our favorite places include the Badlands National Park, Custer State Park, and Mt Rushmore. Driving through the Black Hills is a peaceful, beautiful experience. No matter if you are passing through or staying for vacation. Camping in South Dakota will be a memory you will enjoy looking back on. Here are 3 South Dakota KOA Campsites that are worth a visit.

Badlands/White River KOA

This is the KOA that set the standard of what we would expect for all KOA sites to be going forward. Some have lived up to this expectation, some have not, and some have exceeded our expectation. I will always tell you the honest truth of what I experienced no matter if it is good or bad. You deserve that, and I want somebody telling me the truth when I research my family vacations.

Large mature trees shaded much of the campsite! This actually allows you to enjoy being outside without further roasting in the sun. We pulled into the KOA and was very surprised with just how close was are to the Badlands National Park. I do not believe you will find a closer campsite to the park and if you are planning on staying a few nights and exploring the Badlands National Park, I would highly suggest choosing this KOA for your base campsite in order to keep any wasted travel time back and forth from the park.

The Badlands/White River KOA offers up to 50 amp service, cable TV including 24 channels, they can offer up to 120’ max length, and they sell propane on site. They have a beautiful pool that is open from 6/23-9/8. The offer a mini golf course and bike rentals. You can enjoy a Kamp K9 park for your fur babies as well as a free pet shower. Hungry? Run up to the snack shack and enjoy a small snack while soaking up some Wi-Fi. A unique amenity they offer is a motorcycle care area, that offers a motorcycle lift so you can clean your bike. They will even supply the bucket!

We had a nice back end site that was tucked under a large tree. It is a gravel, flat, level site that was very easy to back into. We parked easy enough and hooked up. Cranked the AC as high as it would go, since our generator had giving out a few hours before we got here. While the camper cooled off we went into the store and did some shopping. Of coarse we then had to go and visit the playground, as that is the most important activity of all vacations for my children.

After a while we headed back to the site to make dinner and enjoy the small amount of time we are spending at this site. The next morning, we headed out stopping by the store to fill up on propane knowing that we are heading to the mountains of Yellowstone National Park and will be needing the furnace on some cool mornings.

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Hot Springs/ Black Hills KOA

We stopped at Hot Springs/Black Hills KOA in Hot Springs South Dakota for the purpose of visiting Wind Cave National park and Custer State Park. I would love to write about how amazing the cave was. Unfortunately, we were not able to enjoy any cave experience due to the elevator not working. We were not able to enter the cave nor was their any tours of the cave.

The only real thing we got to experience was a vent hole for the cave that was blasting out ice cold air and some really awesome prairie dogs that was just too cute to pass by without pulling over and taking pictures of them.

The Hot Springs/Black Hills KOA offers full hookups with a 50-amp max service, water, sewer, Wi-Fi, and cable TV. It offers a pool that is open from 5/26-9/4. Your fur babies will enjoy a fenced in dog run where you can unhook the leash and let the dogs burn off some energy from the drive. They offer a nice playground that we spent majority of our time at, as well as a mini golf course and snack bar.

Sights are close together, they gravel, and they are not level. There are some large mature trees that we were able to park underneath, that is always a nice surprise.

The Hot Springs/Black Hills KOA is very relaxing and quiet. While visiting the staff was nice and helpful. We also got to meet a nice couple that were full timers next to us.

The campsite is out by itself off the highway and there is not much going on there. I really enjoyed that. We only stayed a single night here, but it was a peaceful one.

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Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch Resort

This campsite is the granddaddy of all South Dakota KOA. At least all campsites we have been to thus far. When pulling into Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch Resort in Hill City South Dakota you’re going to immediately understand that you are not pulling into just another campsite. They call this a resort, and that is exactly what this is. It is a RV RESORT and it is a grand one at that.

This place is huge, nestled in the valley of the black hills it is a beautiful resort unlike any other campsite we have seen. Pulling into the parking lot you immediately will come to a multiple lane check in station allowing a whole lot of RV’s to get in off the road and get checked in.

Going inside the resort to check in you are greeted by a large store and a check in desk ran by multiple KOA staff resembling the check in desk setup of a lodge. Once checked in you can return to your camper and a staff member will eventually come and take you to your site. I say eventually because this took about 20 minutes after we checked in for a staff member to come on a golf cart and take us to our site. This was the first thing that I did not like about this KOA.

After finally getting taken to our spot, we were in a very cramped location that had zero trees. This was the second thing I did not enjoy about this location. I have to admit that what it lacked in trees, the KAO made up for with Amenities.

The Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch Resort offers 20-amp, 30-amp, and 50-amp service. Full hookups including water, sewer, and cable TV. The campsite can accommodate a 90’ Max length. The KOA offers a pool with a water slide that is open from 5/26-9/4. The pool is done on time slots so there is never an overcrowding issue. Everyone will get their time to enjoy.

Not only do they have the water slide and the pool, they offer a Splash park for the small kiddos. There is a Zero depth splash park. There are plenty of water jets, water cannons, and dumping buckets that all kids can enjoy. This is where my boys wanted to spend the entire day. Want to go to Mt. Rushmore…. nope just the splash pad. Want to eat dinner…. nope jus the splash pad. It was exhausting but it was a lot of fun!! We were blessed to be just a hundred yards from the splash pad. The boys where able to really enjoy themselves being so close.

Want to relax while the kids are at the splash pad? Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch Resort even has a hot tub and sauna for your enjoyment. After a long day of traveling. Sitting in the drivers chair with your back killing you, your bottom, and legs going numb. There is nothing like soaking in a hot tub to unwind and relax.

By the pool there are a few sand volleyball courts, basketball court, a mini golf course, a HUGE bounce pillow, bike rentals, a large playground, and snack bar with small store. The little store sells pool items, drinks, snacks, and sun screen. Head over to the water slide and you can find a large gem panning, a mining experience, and some all you can eat pancake breakfast.

One of the unique amenities that you will find at Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch Resort is the large store that is located where you check in. They have not only the usually things you may need while “glamping” but they also offer food, drinks, and a lot of souvenirs.

I had to run inside the main store to purchase a new water hose. After finding a good fresh water hose. I found myself standing at the cash register, clearly displaying I am ready to purchase this hose so I could get my family some water. I guess the staff members conversation with his buddy was more important than my time. He noticed me waiting but did not care enough to end his conversation, nor to check me out. This lasted for 10 minutes before a young lady got in line behind me. Finally prompting him to end his conversation and come check me out. This was the third thing I did not like about this location. Long story short, the campsite is amazing, the staff was not.

The kids will surely enjoy some very unique activities you can have while at camping. This KOA even has rocket launch’s. Your astronaut aspiring kids can enjoy building, decorating, and launching there very own rocket. Maybe the kids will enjoy the 26’ climbing wall with over 300 sq. ft of climbing surface. They can make their own tie dye fabric, or maybe they would rather make their own teddy bear.

Do you have a little mini firefighter in the family? You can go on a fire truck ride through the park. Need some catering done? The Ponderosa Restaurant can give you on site catering for any size group. Love ice cream? Head on up to the horse stables and get some ice cream or pizza…….

Yep, I said horse stables. There is horse stables and horse riding on site here at Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch Resort. Not only can you ride some horses through the black hills, you can also do a cowboy chuck wagon dinner show. Take a chuck wagon through the forest and have a steak, potatoes, beans, and dessert meal. Don’t want to ride a horse? Maybe a UTV is more your speed? Well you can rent them on site and take them through the black hill trails.

There is a lot of helpful amenities offered for your family as well. This KOA offers a bike shop, allowing you to repair your tire tube, or get some chain lube. Do your bike a favor and bring it by the shop. It will thank you later on the bike trails!

Need a car? Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch Resort even offers car rental so you can head out to Mt. Rushmore yourself. If you don’t want to rent a car, or a bike and would still like to enjoy Mt. Rushmore the KOA offers a Shuttle. It is a cost-effective way to visit the monument and surrounding area.

Don’t worry, even if you do not have a RV this South Dakota KOA has you covered! They have a hotel offering 61 rooms. They offer mountain cabins as well if that is more your speed.

You will pay a premium for camping here, but it is worth every penny spent. We only spent a small amount of time here and that is a shame. I want to go back one day, spend a good three or four days here. It will allow us to really enjoy and experience everything this resort has to offer.

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