We were just there the week before last. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Keystone. The hotel was okay, nothing special. One positive was that it was a block or two off the noisy main strip. I paid $139 a night.

I was also there in 2009 and stayed at the K Bar S lodge. I liked this place better but it was unavailable for our recent trip. It is a little ways out into the woods so it's much quieter but it's only about a mile out. I paid $149 a night there but the room was nicer and had a balcony with a distant side view of Mt. Rushmore. The Holiday Inn had a pool and this place didn't.

On our way to our next destination we drove through Hill City and if I were return to the area I'd stay there instead of Keystone. It's a little further but it looks a lot less tacky touristy.

We ate at Big Time Pizza and Powder House Lodge. Both were good but I don't remember what we paid. Powder House Lodge has a website with their menu.

At Mt. Rushmore we liked the ranger talk along the President's Trail and the talk in the sculpture studio. There is no charge to enter Mt. Rushmore other than a parking fee of $11, but the fee is good for a year. So you could see the monument during the day and then return for the evening lighting ceremony. There are some lovely drives through there along the Iron Mountain Highway and Needles Highway. You may also want to see the Crazy Horse monument. There is also Jewel Cave and Wind Cave but we didn't tour these because we've done lots of cave tour in other areas.

Have fun!

We also stayed at the K Bar S lodge and enjoyed the room/property very much.

A longer drive but so worth it is Custer State Park! We loved it there! We stayed at the State Game Lodge with a wonderful dining room but really enjoyed Sylvan Lake Lodge and dinner there and decided if we ever go back we would stay at Sylvan. Beautiful areas! driving Needles Hwy and Iron Mountain Rd gives amazing views.

Opps forgot to include: http://www.custerresorts.com/

If you go to Custer State Park, you'll need to check road closings, park offices 605-255-4515:

"Needles Highway (Hwy 87 between Sylvan Lake and Legion Lake): No winter maintenance. Typically gets closed for the season right around November 1 and remains closed until April 1. Dates are tentative and depend entirely on weather (i.e. early or late season snows), but November 1 through April 1 is a pretty good general assumption."

Always drive south "down" the Needles highway and orth "up" Iron Mtn Road. The views are much better going that direction.

Stop and take the short, level trail around Sylvan Lake on you way. Great photo ops & some tame rock climbing for the kids.

The cabins at Powder House Lodge are great too. Man cabinsn the Hills are little too "rustic".

One minor "warning" about Mount Rushmore -- admission is free, but there is a charge for PARKING at the visitor center. The parking lot was built entirely via free enterprise (ie, no tax money) and the people who own and operate the parking lot do so in the way free enterprise, instead of the government, would manage access to national parks. Even if you have the American the Beautiful Pass, or your father has the Senior Pass, you still get charged $11 (no credit cards accepted) per visit for parking.

Just wanted to warn you.

Hello, planning a trip to Mount Rushmore and Custer Park. Is Sylvan Lake Lodge fairly good quality and service, as I have read so many bad reviews on Trip advisor. Or does anyone know of a lodge to stay in or near the park that is of good quality? Thanks for help.

Joanada, I loved the location and views from Sylvan Lake Lodge but we only had lunch there, it was good and we enjoyed eating on the patio. I cannot speak to the quality and service of the lodge rooms. We stayed at the State Game Lodge which is nice and their dining room has good food but some rooms at the State Game Lodge do not have AC which you really need in the summer, so, if you consider staying there be sure and ask about the AC. They also have, like a motel 6 on their property and that's what we took because it had air. Wish I could be more help