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516 reviews
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
Based on 516 reviews
Showing 516 reviews
October 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.
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October 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.
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October 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.
Helpful
October 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.
Helpful
September 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.
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September 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.
Helpful
September 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.
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September 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.
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September 25, 2022 Stayed at: 029, Loop: WALK
The campsites were very nice, no excess trash or issues like that. Although it would have been nice if it was clearer on the website that the bathrooms were just a whole in the ground and that there weren’t showers. Also the park attendant was honestly the exact opposite of hospitable. He was condescending when we were checking in. Made us feel like we wouldn’t have enough parking even though we had paid for two campsites to ensure we would get 4 vehicles worth of parking (there were 6 of us in 3 cars). And the second day we were there and we returned from being out during the day we drove past the camp entrance and he chased us down to yell at us for coming in the “wrong way” past the front entrance even though the car in front of us did the same thing and to yell at us for driving too fast even though we were driving the posted 10 mi per hour.
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September 25, 2022 Stayed at: 029, Loop: WALK
The campsites were very nice, no excess trash or issues like that. Although it would have been nice if it was clearer on the website that the bathrooms were just a whole in the ground and that there weren’t showers. Also the park attendant was honestly the exact opposite of hospitable. He was condescending when we were checking in. Made us feel like we wouldn’t have enough parking even though we had paid for two campsites to ensure we would get 4 vehicles worth of parking (there were 6 of us in 3 cars). And the second day we were there and we returned from being out during the day we drove past the camp entrance and he chased us down to yell at us for coming in the “wrong way” past the front entrance even though the car in front of us did the same thing and to yell at us for driving too fast even though we were driving the posted 10 mi per hour.
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Forest Recreation Management, Inc, Hill City, SD 57745 United States
Elevation: 1,509 ft
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.
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.
Last updated: October 24, 2026
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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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