RV Sites
Tent Sites
Connor H
VerifiedSeptember 4, 2020 Stayed at: 009, Loop: HORS
Very nice campground. Close to Mt. Rushmore and the lake is a great place to relax. Clean bathrooms and campsites. Will surely be back.
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
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
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Oct
Nov
Dec
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
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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: Newest First
Connor H
VerifiedSeptember 4, 2020 Stayed at: 009, Loop: HORS
Very nice campground. Close to Mt. Rushmore and the lake is a great place to relax. Clean bathrooms and campsites. Will surely be back.
Helpful
Jorge J
VerifiedSeptember 2, 2020 Stayed at: 014, Loop: HORS
The area is amazing and close to some great hikes and obsessively close to all the main attractions. The lake is a big plus especially if you have kids our want to get some fishing in.
Helpful
Jorge J
VerifiedSeptember 2, 2020 Stayed at: 014, Loop: HORS
The area is amazing and close to some great hikes and obsessively close to all the main attractions. The lake is a big plus especially if you have kids our want to get some fishing in.
Helpful
Cheryl H
VerifiedSeptember 1, 2020 Stayed at: 007, Loop: HORS
The campground was beautiful. We stayed in #7 and the pad was paved and level; close walk to the lake, but no view of the lake. The sites are nicely separated and wooded for shade. This is a great location for exploring the area; Mt. Rushmore, Keystone, and Custer are very close. We had an excellent experience.
Helpful
Cheryl H
VerifiedSeptember 1, 2020 Stayed at: 007, Loop: HORS
The campground was beautiful. We stayed in #7 and the pad was paved and level; close walk to the lake, but no view of the lake. The sites are nicely separated and wooded for shade. This is a great location for exploring the area; Mt. Rushmore, Keystone, and Custer are very close. We had an excellent experience.
Helpful
Zeferina A
VerifiedAugust 27, 2020 Stayed at: 031, Loop: WALK
We had a marvelous time at the campground!!! Morning view from our campsite was breathtaking. If you are planning a camping trip close to Hill City or Mount Rushmore this is the place to stay :)
Aguilar family
Helpful
Zeferina A
VerifiedAugust 27, 2020 Stayed at: 031, Loop: WALK
We had a marvelous time at the campground!!! Morning view from our campsite was breathtaking. If you are planning a camping trip close to Hill City or Mount Rushmore this is the place to stay :)
Aguilar family
Helpful
Emily C
VerifiedAugust 16, 2020 Stayed at: 029, Loop: WALK
Horsethief Lake Campground is right in the shadow of Mt. Rushmore and perfect distance from other activities such as relaxing by the lake, swimming, or hiking in Custer State Park. The location is perfect. Be aware that there are no shower stations at this campground, and we only saw pit toilets. We booked a walk-in site, and the walk was VERY short (we could still see our car from our tent). A large group, maybe 25 people total, booked a set of campsites near ours, and they were very loud and obnoxious. They got into a screaming match at 6:30 am. Also the camp hosts are a little aggressive on their ATVs. Overall, this was a decent spot on our trip, but had some drawbacks.
Helpful
Emily C
VerifiedAugust 16, 2020 Stayed at: 029, Loop: WALK
Horsethief Lake Campground is right in the shadow of Mt. Rushmore and perfect distance from other activities such as relaxing by the lake, swimming, or hiking in Custer State Park. The location is perfect. Be aware that there are no shower stations at this campground, and we only saw pit toilets. We booked a walk-in site, and the walk was VERY short (we could still see our car from our tent). A large group, maybe 25 people total, booked a set of campsites near ours, and they were very loud and obnoxious. They got into a screaming match at 6:30 am. Also the camp hosts are a little aggressive on their ATVs. Overall, this was a decent spot on our trip, but had some drawbacks.
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