RV Sites
Tent Sites
Michael A
VerifiedJune 24, 2021 Stayed at: 007, Loop: HORS
Campground was clean and camp host was friendly and knowledgeable about the area. This is the second time I've stayed here and will stay again. Great base camp for the black hills!
Helpful
About Horsethief Lake Campground
Located 10 mi south of Hill City, South Dakota, Horsethief Lake Campground is a delightful setting for visitors seeking recreation and relaxation in Black Hills National Forest.
This campground is 2 mi from Mount Rushmore National Memorial and adjacent to Horsethief Lake. Sites are tucked into a forest of towering ponderosa and lodgepole pine.
Available sites
22 total sitesSeasonal information
2026
(Current year)
2026 Season availability
Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - Oct 1 to Nov 1
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Picnic Table
Fire Pit
Cooking and Fire
- Picnic Table
- Fire Pit
Water Access
- Lake Access
Missing information?
Rates, Sites & Availability
Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.
22 Sites Available
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007, Loop: HORS
RV
Pet Friendly · 58 × 20 ft · Gravel
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008, Loop: HORS
RV
Pet Friendly · 39 × 16 ft · Gravel
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009, Loop: HORS
RV
Pet Friendly · 38 × 24 ft · Gravel
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010, Loop: HORS
RV
Pet Friendly · 38 × 18 ft · Gravel
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011, Loop: HORS
RV
Pet Friendly · 38 × 12 ft · Gravel
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012, Loop: HORS
RV
Pet Friendly · 46 × 14 ft · Gravel
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013, Loop: HORS
RV
Pet Friendly · 48 × 15 ft · Gravel
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014, Loop: HORS
RV
Pet Friendly · 45 × 14 ft · Gravel
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015, Loop: LKSD
RV
Pet Friendly · 49 × 14 ft · Gravel
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016, Loop: LKSD
RV
Pet Friendly · 59 × 15 ft · Gravel
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017, Loop: LKSD
RV
Pet Friendly · 48 × 17 ft · Gravel
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018, Loop: LKSD
RV
Pet Friendly · 38 × 20 ft · Gravel
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023, Loop: LKSD
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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024, Loop: LKSD
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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025, Loop: LKSD
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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026, Loop: LKSD
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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027, Loop: LKSD
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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028, Loop: LKSD
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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029, Loop: WALK
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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030, Loop: WALK
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
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031, Loop: WALK
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺
032, Loop: WALK
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
No sites found matching your criteria.
No available sites
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Site Details
Select a site to view details
22 Sites Available
Site
Price
🚐
007, Loop: HORS
RV
Pet Friendly · 58 × 20 ft · Gravel
🚐
008, Loop: HORS
RV
Pet Friendly · 39 × 16 ft · Gravel
🚐
009, Loop: HORS
RV
Pet Friendly · 38 × 24 ft · Gravel
🚐
010, Loop: HORS
RV
Pet Friendly · 38 × 18 ft · Gravel
🚐
011, Loop: HORS
RV
Pet Friendly · 38 × 12 ft · Gravel
🚐
012, Loop: HORS
RV
Pet Friendly · 46 × 14 ft · Gravel
🚐
013, Loop: HORS
RV
Pet Friendly · 48 × 15 ft · Gravel
🚐
014, Loop: HORS
RV
Pet Friendly · 45 × 14 ft · Gravel
🚐
015, Loop: LKSD
RV
Pet Friendly · 49 × 14 ft · Gravel
🚐
016, Loop: LKSD
RV
Pet Friendly · 59 × 15 ft · Gravel
🚐
017, Loop: LKSD
RV
Pet Friendly · 48 × 17 ft · Gravel
🚐
018, Loop: LKSD
RV
Pet Friendly · 38 × 20 ft · Gravel
⛺
023, Loop: LKSD
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺
024, Loop: LKSD
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺
025, Loop: LKSD
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺
026, Loop: LKSD
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺
027, Loop: LKSD
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺
028, Loop: LKSD
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺
029, Loop: WALK
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺
030, Loop: WALK
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺
031, Loop: WALK
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
⛺
032, Loop: WALK
Tent
Gravel · Pet Friendly · Campfire
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews
516 reviews
Summary
Horsethief Lake Campground offers a beautiful and peaceful setting, with clean facilities and friendly hosts, making it an excellent choice for camping near attractions like Mount Rushmore. Guests appreciate the proximity to nature trails, a lovely lake, and the surrounding Black Hills. Although some campers noted issues like lack of potable water and occasional noise from nearby highways or helicopter tours, the overall experience remains highly positive, with many expressing a desire to return.
Based on guest feedback
4.5
Overall rating
Based on 516 reviews
5 stars
69.2% (357)
4 stars
18.8% (97)
3 stars
8.3% (43)
2 stars
3.3% (17)
1 star
0.4% (2)
Showing 516 reviews
Verified Only
Sort by: Oldest First
Michael A
VerifiedJune 24, 2021 Stayed at: 007, Loop: HORS
Campground was clean and camp host was friendly and knowledgeable about the area. This is the second time I've stayed here and will stay again. Great base camp for the black hills!
Helpful
Karen B
VerifiedJune 27, 2021 Stayed at: 029, Loop: WALK
I return to Horse Thief Lake every year with a school group going to the Pine Ridge Reservation for a mission trip. We stay at Horse Thief Lake from 5 to 8 days depending on the year and scheduled reservation service work. The campground hosts are amazing, are very attentive to campers needs, quiet time is strictly enforced, and the sites are all beautiful and well-maintained. We tend to choose the sites at the top, as the view of the lake is spectacular. I have been coming to Horse Thief Lake many years prior to beginning to take students on mission trips. When I’m in the Black Hills, I will camp nowhere else!
Helpful
Karen B
VerifiedJune 27, 2021 Stayed at: 029, Loop: WALK
I return to Horse Thief Lake every year with a school group going to the Pine Ridge Reservation for a mission trip. We stay at Horse Thief Lake from 5 to 8 days depending on the year and scheduled reservation service work. The campground hosts are amazing, are very attentive to campers needs, quiet time is strictly enforced, and the sites are all beautiful and well-maintained. We tend to choose the sites at the top, as the view of the lake is spectacular. I have been coming to Horse Thief Lake many years prior to beginning to take students on mission trips. When I’m in the Black Hills, I will camp nowhere else!
Helpful
Linda W
VerifiedJune 29, 2021 Stayed at: 014, Loop: HORS
Campground hostess : friendly, helpful. Clearly loves her work and it shows!!
Helpful
Linda W
VerifiedJune 29, 2021 Stayed at: 014, Loop: HORS
Campground hostess : friendly, helpful. Clearly loves her work and it shows!!
Helpful
Brandon P
VerifiedJune 30, 2021 Stayed at: 009, Loop: HORS
Such a beautiful place to camp. We loved it. Quiet, friendly campground hosts, clean toilets, close to Mt. Rushmore, Keystone, Custer. Hope to return!
Helpful
Brandon P
VerifiedJune 30, 2021 Stayed at: 009, Loop: HORS
Such a beautiful place to camp. We loved it. Quiet, friendly campground hosts, clean toilets, close to Mt. Rushmore, Keystone, Custer. Hope to return!
Helpful
don d
VerifiedJuly 1, 2021 Stayed at: 024, Loop: LKSD
the campground is wonderful as usual. we have been coming here for 20 years now. the camp hosts were the only sore spot. we were treated quite poorly while there. Camp host walked into the bathroom without even a knock, when told that the light didn't work, they just replied that it wasn't a light but a heater, and they already knew about it (but did nothing I guess) and were told that the lock didn't work to which they also replied that they knew about it. Very poor care of us as we never saw them. they even paused to fight with each other while we were buying ice. I guess we have been spoiled by the wonderful and friendly hosts we have had in the past. Sorry.
Helpful
don d
VerifiedJuly 1, 2021 Stayed at: 024, Loop: LKSD
the campground is wonderful as usual. we have been coming here for 20 years now. the camp hosts were the only sore spot. we were treated quite poorly while there. Camp host walked into the bathroom without even a knock, when told that the light didn't work, they just replied that it wasn't a light but a heater, and they already knew about it (but did nothing I guess) and were told that the lock didn't work to which they also replied that they knew about it. Very poor care of us as we never saw them. they even paused to fight with each other while we were buying ice. I guess we have been spoiled by the wonderful and friendly hosts we have had in the past. Sorry.
Helpful
Location & Directions for Horsethief Lake Campground
Forest Recreation Management, Inc, Hill City, SD 57745 United States
Elevation: 1,509 ft
Getting There
From Hill City, take U.S. Rt. 16/385 south 3 mi to State Rt. 244. Turn left onto Rt. 244. Travel 5.9 mi to campground sign. Turn right at sign into campground.
Highway access
Horsethief Lake Campground is accessible via U.S. Route 16/385 and State Route 244, with the closest major road being U.S. Route 16/385 located about 3 miles north in Hill City.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
Last updated: October 24, 2026
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Explore Hill City, SD
Population: 834
Nearby city: Rapid City, SD
Approx. 18 mi away (straight-line distance)
Elevation: 4,980 ft
Hill City, SD
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Managed by the USDA Forest Service