Where to stay when visiting Mt. Rushmore/Black Hills?
 

Hi -- We're considering the Mt. Rushmore area for vacation this summer. Do you suggest staying in one of the smaller towns, such as Custer, Hill City, or Keystone? We're looking to do all the usual tourist things in the area, so we'd like a nice, clean hotel (preferably with a pool) with a central location, if possible. Thanks.

We found Keystone the perfect place in the middle of all the goodies.We stayed at the Rushmore view inn.Paul

I spent my summers as a kid visiting family in Custer, so that's where I would choose to stay. I also like Custer because it's so close to the beautiful Sylvan Lake and to Custer State Park (with its bison and prairie dogs). But you should be able to find nice motels with a pool in any of those small towns you mention.

Several years ago, we stayed at a new Holiday Inn Express, with a decent pool, in Hill City. It was in a great location for us to visit Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore over a long weekend.

We visited SD in July 07 and it was one of our favorite vacations. Highlights of our trip included: Custer State Park (amazing wildlife), Badlands, Spearfish. Don't bother with Wall Drug (vastly overrated).

We didn't stay in 1 central location but meandered down through the hills for 3 days beginning near Wall and back up to Spearfish. Stayed overnight 1 night in Hill City at a Best Western (clean, nice pool) - it was fine since we didn't spend a lot of time indoors anyway.

Have fun!

Hill City and Keystone are centrally located.

If you are going to the evening lighting at Mt. Rushmore, Keystone is the closest.

You can also stay in Custer State park at the Sylvan Lake Lodge, the State Game Lodge (east of Custer, close to the wildlife loop), Legion Lake, or Blue Bell Lodge. However, no pools and the Lakes are cold.

It's a beautiful area, we moved here 22 years ago.

Hands down, Keystone. Well, not really. But we have found it to be the best location the three times we've been. But any of those will really do. Just don't stay in Rapid City, the others are better.

I don't know when you are going, but if it's the first full weekend of June, don;t miss out on the Volksmarch to Crazy Horse. You walk up to within 2 to 3 feet of the sculpture on the mountain. It is amazing. That is the only weekend of the year the Volksmarch takes place. We did it back in 1998.

Thanks. I'll start looking into some specific places. I appreciate all the advice!

We just booked a family vacation in the same area for late July. After doing a lot of online looking, we are staying in the Custer State Park-- all 4 lodging's look awesome (Bluebell) especially but online said they are in the process of building a brand new hotel that opens in July. (Grandview). We were quoted $180 (family of 4) but figure it is worth the price for brand new, good dining and the "chuckwagon", horseback riding etc. they offer. You have to call the 800 number to book the new property and they are 80% full as of January. We are staying one night in Rapid City at the Fairfield Inn/Marriot which has an indoor waterpark.

We stayed in Hill City at the Holiday Inn Express. It was very clean, comfortable and centrally located. It also has a continental breakfast and an indoor pool. Stay away from the "Route 16 Diner" in Hill City. It's all frozen food reheated (YUK).

If you need a break from the road you might try the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Rapid City. It is a hotel attached to a water park. Very nice for a break in traveling for the kids and adults as SD can get quite hot in the summer. It was 109°F when we were there in July '07. Again a continental breakfast is included.

Enjoy!

Thought of a few more items to see in that area of SD. There is the Minuteman Missile NHS that is interesting to tour but you need advance reservations (http://www.nps.gov/mimi/). My husband and son enjoyed it. Wall Drug is also in the area. I know some think it's a tourist trap but the kids will enjoy it. That's where we purchased our prized jackalope!