going "west" - planned campgrounds - anyone been there?

[new yorker]

hope to hear from some fellow travelers. We are headed to South Dakota and North Dakota. I've booked reservations at Happy Holiday Resort near Rapid City SD. Has anyone been there? would like to hear some feedback. We have a 36FL - was told the sites are for big rigs so no problem fitting. Told them we have 5 slides and 40' long. Hoping we won't be surprised! also booked KOA in Bismarck ND. have been to KOA's without problems around home (NY) so hoping this one will be fine. anyone stayed there before? ideas for site seeing? we're thinking of going to Ft Abraham Lincoln, Lewis and Clark Riverboat and perhaps the zoo? Will be there 3-4 days...anything else we should see? any information on the campgrounds or sites is appreciated.

[azandy]

Been to KOA Bismarck . Just for an overnight stop. There are some pull through sites and larger back in right as you drive in. They were pretty full so they sent me in the woods. Big mistake. Had to trim trees to get in. My advice would be make sure they know you are long and tall. Not a bad cg otherwise. Close to 94.

[new yorker]

I did tell them what we have and they reserved a "patio" spot in the front...she said it is a pull thru, full hook up. She mentioned going in the "back area". She said we'd fit there. I asked the difference in price and it was about $3/per night. I said book the "patio" in the front. Sounds like I made a good decision. Happy Camping!

[atom ant]

A little further southwest by the Entrance to Custer State park, But we stayed here at Custer Gulch Campground - private. That's the picture in my registry with the aspens. It was a nice campground.

Welcome | Custers Gulch Campground & RV Park

[new yorker]

Thank you for responding. When you were there did you visit the sites...anything in particular you found really wonderful - anything we should avoid? The campground we are going to offers a 9 hour, 100 mile tour to Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, Needles Highway, and includes breakfast and dinner (with a Cowboy Show) at Ft. Hays. That was one reason I booked there - thought we could see a lot, hubby could actually enjoy the sites while someone else drove. It's $99 pp which I thought was reasonable, then we can return another day if we want to see more. I'm curious - by any chance did you travel to Devil's Tower in Wyoming while you were there? I'm thinking of making that a day trip.

[azandy]

Originally Posted by new yorker

Thank you for responding. When you were there did you visit the sites...anything in particular you found really wonderful - anything we should avoid? The campground we are going to offers a 9 hour, 100 mile tour to Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, Needles Highway, and includes breakfast and dinner (with a Cowboy Show) at Ft. Hays. That was one reason I booked there - thought we could see a lot, hubby could actually enjoy the sites while someone else drove. It's $99 pp which I thought was reasonable, then we can return another day if we want to see more. I'm curious - by any chance did you travel to Devil's Tower in Wyoming while you were there? I'm thinking of making that a day trip.

Crazy horse is basically a museum but very cool to see. But expensive to get in. Needles highway is a must see. Custer state park. Mt Rushmore of coarse. 1800s train ride from keystone to Hill city and back is pretty nice to do. If any kids along, bear country USA in hill city is great. Lots of cowboy shows. Devils tower was ok to do. We stopped once while traveling near by.

[atom ant]

We spent a week there with 2 other couples - and there its TONS to do! The scenery is awesome in the park (Custer State Park), biking, canoeing if you are into that, gambling in Deadwood, Needles Hwy, wildlife, ATVs, Rushmore (the heads ). A cute little train museum in Hill City. I'm anxious to go back! I even got my big butt stuffed through the tunnel

I've done Crazy Horse 20 years ago, and its the same so I've never gone back.