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
Tabitha B
VerifiedSeptember 18, 2025 • Stayed at: 025, Loop: LKSD
The camp host was incredible! So friendly and helpful. We had a tent only site and while the setting was beautiful there wasn’t a tent pad area or great spot for the tent. But otherwise a lovely campground.
Tabitha B
VerifiedSeptember 18, 2025 • Stayed at: 025, Loop: LKSD
The camp host was incredible! So friendly and helpful. We had a tent only site and while the setting was beautiful there wasn’t a tent pad area or great spot for the tent. But otherwise a lovely campground.
David H
VerifiedSeptember 15, 2025 • Stayed at: 026, Loop: LKSD
We had a fantastic stay at Horse Thief Lake Campground. This is a fantastic, small campground with a handful of awesome lakefront tent sites. The camp host was fantastic, and I could not possibly recommend her higher. She was the difference between an ordinary stay and an outstanding stay. Tent sites are very close together. We could hear the gentleman next to us snoring but we could also hear the fish jumping in the lake. We made friends with all of our neighbors while we were there, and there was never an issue with the sites being close together. The eagles each morning were awesome, like the owls in the evening hooting. It's super close to Mount Rushmore.
David H
VerifiedSeptember 15, 2025 • Stayed at: 026, Loop: LKSD
We had a fantastic stay at Horse Thief Lake Campground. This is a fantastic, small campground with a handful of awesome lakefront tent sites. The camp host was fantastic, and I could not possibly recommend her higher. She was the difference between an ordinary stay and an outstanding stay. Tent sites are very close together. We could hear the gentleman next to us snoring but we could also hear the fish jumping in the lake. We made friends with all of our neighbors while we were there, and there was never an issue with the sites being close together. The eagles each morning were awesome, like the owls in the evening hooting. It's super close to Mount Rushmore.
Monty D
VerifiedSeptember 8, 2025 • Stayed at: 025, Loop: LKSD
This campsite is very beautiful, and the grounds keeper was very friendly.
Monty D
VerifiedSeptember 8, 2025 • Stayed at: 025, Loop: LKSD
This campsite is very beautiful, and the grounds keeper was very friendly.
Sarah M
VerifiedSeptember 6, 2025 • Stayed at: 018, Loop: LKSD
Beautiful spot, welcoming host. There was an RV with a noisy generator on pretty late at night.
Sarah M
VerifiedSeptember 6, 2025 • Stayed at: 018, Loop: LKSD
Beautiful spot, welcoming host. There was an RV with a noisy generator on pretty late at night.
Lindsay A
VerifiedSeptember 5, 2025 • Stayed at: 032, Loop: WALK
Great location, peaceful and beautiful campground, had it all to ourselves!! If other tenters had been there would have felt a bit crowded
Lindsay A
VerifiedSeptember 5, 2025 • Stayed at: 032, Loop: WALK
Great location, peaceful and beautiful campground, had it all to ourselves!! If other tenters had been there would have felt a bit crowded
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 4, 2026
