About Horsethief Lake Campground
Number of accommodations: 22
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Rates, Sites & Availability
22 Sites Available
No sites found matching your criteria.
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.
Site Details
Select a site to view details
22 Sites Available
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 (434)
What Guests Are Saying
Horsethief Lake Campground is a small, clean, and peaceful site located near Mount Rushmore with beautiful lake views and trails. Campers appreciate the friendly and helpful camp host, Tina, who enhances the overall experience. While some sites may lack leveling and vault toilets can be a bit smelly, the campground’s serene atmosphere and convenient location make it a favorite among visitors.
What Guests Are Saying
Horsethief Lake Campground is a small, clean, and peaceful site located near Mount Rushmore with beautiful lake views and trails. Campers appreciate the friendly and helpful camp host, Tina, who enhances the overall experience. While some sites may lack leveling and vault toilets can be a bit smelly, the campground’s serene atmosphere and convenient location make it a favorite among visitors.
Review Summary
Douglas K
VerifiedJune 2, 2023 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: LKSD
Best time at a campground.
Douglas K
VerifiedJune 2, 2023 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: LKSD
Best time at a campground.
David H
VerifiedOctober 6, 2022 • Stayed at: 014, Loop: HORS
Mt Rushmore is just around the corner. Iron Mtn. Rd. is amazing with great views of Mt Rushmore. Custer State Park will cost you $20.00 to enter, while choose not to pay that fee, any of the roads surrounding the park will not disappoint you. These roads can be found on brochures available throughout the National Park.
Our stay was short but there are many more activities to be had in the area.
Jane C
VerifiedOctober 6, 2022 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: HORS
The hosts were great. But the so-called improvements to the campground or not appreciate it. The sites are too close together and you can’t drive down to the lake and fish any longer. I won’t be going back.
David H
VerifiedOctober 6, 2022 • Stayed at: 014, Loop: HORS
Mt Rushmore is just around the corner. Iron Mtn. Rd. is amazing with great views of Mt Rushmore. Custer State Park will cost you $20.00 to enter, while choose not to pay that fee, any of the roads surrounding the park will not disappoint you. These roads can be found on brochures available throughout the National Park.
Our stay was short but there are many more activities to be had in the area.
Jane C
VerifiedOctober 6, 2022 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: HORS
The hosts were great. But the so-called improvements to the campground or not appreciate it. The sites are too close together and you can’t drive down to the lake and fish any longer. I won’t be going back.
Heather M
VerifiedSeptember 30, 2022 • Stayed at: 017, Loop: LKSD
We LOVED this campsite. Our site was 017, LKSD. Our campsite had a path down to the lake where we sat and stargazed for hours. This site is at the end of the campground so there was not a lot of disruption. Vault toilet, no sink, no running water.
Heather M
VerifiedSeptember 30, 2022 • Stayed at: 017, Loop: LKSD
We LOVED this campsite. Our site was 017, LKSD. Our campsite had a path down to the lake where we sat and stargazed for hours. This site is at the end of the campground so there was not a lot of disruption. Vault toilet, no sink, no running water.
Lenore J
VerifiedSeptember 26, 2022 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: LKSD
No cellphone service here, so complete your calls before you leave Mt. Rushmore.
Beautiful area and great campground.
Lenore J
VerifiedSeptember 26, 2022 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: LKSD
No cellphone service here, so complete your calls before you leave Mt. Rushmore.
Beautiful area and great campground.
Location Horsethief Lake Campground
Address:
Forest Recreation Management, Inc
Hill City, SD, 57745
United States
From Hill City, take U.S. Rt. 16/385 south 3 miles to State Rt. 244. Turn left onto Rt. 244. Travel 5.9 miles to campground sign. Turn right at sign into campground.
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.
Latitude & Longitude: 43.8951 / -103.484
Elevation: 1509 feet
Nearby Campgrounds
Last updated: June 5, 2026
