RV Sites
Tent Sites
Barry B
VerifiedJanuary 16, 2020 Stayed at: 007, Loop: HORS
Very clean beautiful area! Very close to Mt,Rushmore and Crazy Horse.
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
Sep
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
No sites found matching your criteria.
No available sites
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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
Robert L
VerifiedJanuary 16, 2020 Stayed at: 007, Loop: HORS
Very scenic, clean, camp host was friendly and helpful
Helpful
Barry B
VerifiedJanuary 16, 2020 Stayed at: 007, Loop: HORS
Very clean beautiful area! Very close to Mt,Rushmore and Crazy Horse.
Helpful
Robert L
VerifiedJanuary 16, 2020 Stayed at: 007, Loop: HORS
Very scenic, clean, camp host was friendly and helpful
Helpful
jacques g
VerifiedJanuary 15, 2020 Stayed at: 030, Loop: WALK
Really nice place, except for the campground host who gave us a kind of glacial reception. No smile or kind word. All business.
So 4* instead of 5.
No shower or hot water around.
Helpful
Natalya O
VerifiedJanuary 15, 2020 Stayed at: 016, Loop: LKSD
We stayed at the camp in August on our way to Yellowstone. The camp was beautiful and very close to Mount Rushmore. We enjoyed early morning hike around the lake. It was very peaceful and views of the lake and mountains were gorgeous. Our site 16 was leveled and had a lake view. Amenities (bathrooms) could have been better. Overall, I would stay their again.
Helpful
jacques g
VerifiedJanuary 15, 2020 Stayed at: 030, Loop: WALK
Really nice place, except for the campground host who gave us a kind of glacial reception. No smile or kind word. All business.
So 4* instead of 5.
No shower or hot water around.
Helpful
Natalya O
VerifiedJanuary 15, 2020 Stayed at: 016, Loop: LKSD
We stayed at the camp in August on our way to Yellowstone. The camp was beautiful and very close to Mount Rushmore. We enjoyed early morning hike around the lake. It was very peaceful and views of the lake and mountains were gorgeous. Our site 16 was leveled and had a lake view. Amenities (bathrooms) could have been better. Overall, I would stay their again.
Helpful
Hank T
VerifiedJanuary 14, 2020 Stayed at: 031, Loop: WALK
I am loath to write any review that causes my ability to reserve a campsite at Horse Thief Lake Forest campground be impeded. Because if I told the truth and gave it the reviews it deserves, my chances of getting a campsite every year decrease...and that would make me sad. This place rocks. That's all I will say, because if I start telling you how much this place is the best place in the Black Hills, I won't be able to stop myself. STAY AWAY!!! (so I can keep staying here! :) )
Helpful
Hank T
VerifiedJanuary 14, 2020 Stayed at: 031, Loop: WALK
I am loath to write any review that causes my ability to reserve a campsite at Horse Thief Lake Forest campground be impeded. Because if I told the truth and gave it the reviews it deserves, my chances of getting a campsite every year decrease...and that would make me sad. This place rocks. That's all I will say, because if I start telling you how much this place is the best place in the Black Hills, I won't be able to stop myself. STAY AWAY!!! (so I can keep staying here! :) )
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.
Nearby Campgrounds
Nearby destinations
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