RV Sites
Tent Sites
Rich H
VerifiedOctober 3, 2021 Stayed at: 032, Loop: WALK
Nice sites, great camp hosts, close to all the places that I like to see and hike!
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
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Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
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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.
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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
Rich H
VerifiedOctober 3, 2021 Stayed at: 032, Loop: WALK
Nice sites, great camp hosts, close to all the places that I like to see and hike!
Helpful
Rachel K
VerifiedOctober 4, 2021 Stayed at: 024, Loop: LKSD
The lake is beautiful, try to get a campsite next to it if you're able
Helpful
Rachel K
VerifiedOctober 4, 2021 Stayed at: 024, Loop: LKSD
The lake is beautiful, try to get a campsite next to it if you're able
Helpful
Jane P
VerifiedOctober 14, 2021 Stayed at: 017, Loop: LKSD
Beautiful lake, but does border the highway to Mt Rushmore monument so you do see and hear some traffic.
Hosts are wonderful, friendly and helpful.
The most interesting thing is that at 9 AM the first of the daily helicopters starting flying overhead, we presume for tours over the monument. This is uncalled for in a place of Nature, and can ruin the peace and quiet of such a beautiful lake.
One night, well into about 1 AM, there was a boisterous group of people on the highway side of the lake creating a huge disturbance. SD police may want to cruise that area in the future, as it disrupted the sleep of many neighboring campers that night!
Helpful
Jane P
VerifiedOctober 14, 2021 Stayed at: 017, Loop: LKSD
Beautiful lake, but does border the highway to Mt Rushmore monument so you do see and hear some traffic.
Hosts are wonderful, friendly and helpful.
The most interesting thing is that at 9 AM the first of the daily helicopters starting flying overhead, we presume for tours over the monument. This is uncalled for in a place of Nature, and can ruin the peace and quiet of such a beautiful lake.
One night, well into about 1 AM, there was a boisterous group of people on the highway side of the lake creating a huge disturbance. SD police may want to cruise that area in the future, as it disrupted the sleep of many neighboring campers that night!
Helpful
Linda H
VerifiedMay 27, 2022 Stayed at: 009, Loop: HORS
It’s a perfect place of hiking, kayaking & fishing. Enjoy it there.
Helpful
Linda H
VerifiedMay 27, 2022 Stayed at: 009, Loop: HORS
It’s a perfect place of hiking, kayaking & fishing. Enjoy it there.
Helpful
Alice S
VerifiedMay 31, 2022 Stayed at: 008, Loop: HORS
This is a very scenic campground only 2 mi from Mt Rushmore. It has put toilets, trash cans and water from a spigot but no other amenities. Generators are allowed except during quiet hours at night. The campground is adjacent to the Horsethief Lake and there is an easy paved path from the campground around the lake. More strenuous hiking is also available. We thoroughly enjoyed staying here and visiting the Black Hills sites.
Helpful
Alice S
VerifiedMay 31, 2022 Stayed at: 008, Loop: HORS
This is a very scenic campground only 2 mi from Mt Rushmore. It has put toilets, trash cans and water from a spigot but no other amenities. Generators are allowed except during quiet hours at night. The campground is adjacent to the Horsethief Lake and there is an easy paved path from the campground around the lake. More strenuous hiking is also available. We thoroughly enjoyed staying here and visiting the Black Hills sites.
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.
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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