OutReserve

Horsethief Lake Campground

Horsethief Lake
Rock with hole in it
Toilet
Lake Overview
Info Kiosk

About Horsethief Lake Campground

Located 10 miles 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 miles from Mount Rushmore National Memorial and adjacent to Horsethief Lake. Sites are tucked into a forest of towering ponderosa and lodgepole pine.

Number of accommodations: 22

Seasonal 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 - Apr 15 to May 15

Sites & Availability

22 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 007, Loop: HORS
No Hookups
$30.00
/ per night
🚐 008, Loop: HORS
No Hookups
$30.00
/ per night
🚐 009, Loop: HORS
No Hookups
$30.00
/ per night
🚐 010, Loop: HORS
No Hookups
$30.00
/ per night
🚐 011, Loop: HORS
No Hookups
$30.00
/ per night
🚐 012, Loop: HORS
No Hookups
$30.00
/ per night
🚐 013, Loop: HORS
No Hookups
$30.00
/ per night
🚐 014, Loop: HORS
No Hookups
$30.00
/ per night
🚐 015, Loop: LKSD
No Hookups
$30.00
/ per night
🚐 016, Loop: LKSD
No Hookups
$30.00
/ per night
🚐 017, Loop: LKSD
No Hookups
$30.00
/ per night
🚐 018, Loop: LKSD
No Hookups
$30.00
/ per night
023, Loop: LKSD
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$30.00
/ per night
024, Loop: LKSD
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$30.00
/ per night
025, Loop: LKSD
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$30.00
/ per night
026, Loop: LKSD
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$30.00
/ per night
027, Loop: LKSD
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$30.00
/ per night
028, Loop: LKSD
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$30.00
/ per night
029, Loop: WALK
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$30.00
/ per night
030, Loop: WALK
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$30.00
/ per night
031, Loop: WALK
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$30.00
/ per night
032, Loop: WALK
8 guests · Campfire · Pet Friendly
$30.00
/ per night

Reviews (217)

What Guests Are Saying

Horsethief Lake Campground is a charming and well-maintained site near Mount Rushmore, praised for its clean facilities, beautiful lake views, and helpful camp host. Campers enjoy the peaceful atmosphere, hiking trails, and the opportunity to see wildlife, making it a favorite spot in the Black Hills. While some sites may be close together and noise from other campers can be an issue, the overall experience remains positive with many expressing a desire to return.

Review Summary

4.5
217 reviews
5
69.1%
150
4
19.4%
42
3
8.3%
18
2
2.8%
6
1
0.5%
1

Mike M

Verified

September 3, 2021 Stayed at: 014, Loop: HORS

4

It is a small quiet campground around a beautiful little lake. We completely enjoyed our one night there when visiting Mt Rushmore. No RV connections but the vault toilets were very clean and not much odor.

Nicol M

Verified

September 1, 2021 Stayed at: 009, Loop: HORS

4

Spacious camp area with lots of trees. Primitive toilet but thankfully not too stinky.

Breck T

Verified

September 1, 2021 Stayed at: 012, Loop: HORS

4

nice clean campground. Friendly campground host

Victoria R

Verified

August 31, 2021 Stayed at: 017, Loop: LKSD

3

The campsite was spectacularly perfection.

Of all the campgrounds I have ever used, of which there are many, the bathroom was the single most disgusting thing I have ever experienced.

I used it once and vowed never, ever, to step foot in it again.

I understand port a potties are not 'perfect' but this was horrific.

It is a shame since we loved our site so much.

Mark D

Verified

August 28, 2021 Stayed at: 007, Loop: HORS

5

Beautiful location. Helpful camp hosts.

Erika S

Verified

August 17, 2021 Stayed at: 032, Loop: WALK

2

The campground is loud, compared to the many I’ve stayed at.
My bloodhound, I was told by the hosts that she was not allowed to bark although many other dogs barked throughout the day and night. Along with very loud folks and kids screaming. She is a very good camper and I feel she was singled out due to her size and breed.
The campground is beautiful. Very clean, but if you’re looking for quiet I would not recommend this one. I had a negative and not friendly experience and will not return to this particular campground.
Campground is close to trailheads which was nice and just a hop skip and a jump to Mt. Rushmore.

Itzel F

Verified

August 16, 2021 Stayed at: 029, Loop: WALK

4

We enjoyed our stay in this campground, the campsite was super clean, big, a little close to the next one but not bad, the pit toilets where not very clean and didn’t had hand sanitizer.
The lake was a few steps away, the camp host was nice, and you can get ice and wood there.
The closest place with Verizon coverage was Mt Rushmore and Keystone.

Kim W

Verified

August 10, 2021 Stayed at: 024, Loop: LKSD

5

Loved camping here. We had site 25 by the lake and it was spacious and relaxing!

Martin M

Verified

August 5, 2021 Stayed at: 009, Loop: HORS

3

This is the second time I stayed at her safe campground. Both times the old house smelled so bad and this time I actually gagged twice from the smell. Please try to improve upon this as it is unbearable

Gerry W

Verified

August 1, 2021 Stayed at: 007, Loop: HORS

4

Perfect location, great sites. You can’t fill your water there. You have to go to the nearby KOA. The water is free but there’s a $10 fee to enter. So RVers arrive with water. There is a water pump for basic use but not for your tank.

Location Horsethief Lake Campground

Address:
Forest Recreation Management, Inc
Hill City, SD, 57745
United States

Latitude & Longitude: 43.8951 / -103.484

Elevation: 1509 feet

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