Sitting just outside Custer State Park and just down the road from Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota, we’re the best place to stay while you enjoy the area’s best attractions! Please feel free to ask us at the desk for ideas, or browse our available brochures. You can also refer to the Custer Chamber of Commerce website or Black Hills and Bad Lands Visitor Guide. You can book your stay now to optimize your visit to the Black Hills!
Things To Do While Camping in the Black Hills
Mount Rushmore
MOUNT RUSHMORE is 22 minutes northeast from Beaver Lake Campground on Hwy 16 and SR-244. Our central location makes our campground one of the best options for camping near Mt. Rushmore. Be sure to sttop by our main office before you go, we will show you a very scenic route to approach Mt. Rushmore. The route highlights the beauty of the Black Hills, it will take you on the Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road, and the Wild Life Loop Road where you may see buffalo, elk, prairie dogs, antelope, the begging burros and other wildlife. Mt Rushmore has a lighting ceremony from Memorial Day through the end of September. The mountain is illuminated every night throughout the year and stays open all year. Call 605-574-2523 to find out times for the lighting ceremony as they change throughout the season. It’s good to go early, dress warmly and maybe even take a blanket.
Custer State Park
CUSTER STATE PARK is just 13 minutes east of our campground, encompasses 71,000 acres in the Black Hills and is one of the largest state parks in the country. It’s home to abundant wildlife and adventure; camping, hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, or relaxing, there’s something here for everyone. The park features towering granite peaks and rolling plains, clear mountain waters with Sylvan Lake and Center Lake, and wide open ranges. It’s also where you can attend the annual bison roundup, and where you’ll find the “begging burros” – donkeys who have no problem approaching you for some tasty treats! Bring your family to Custer State Park, immerse yourself in nature and make friends with local wildlife!
Rocky Knolls Golf Course
Located just 4 minutes from Beaver Lake Campground, ROCKY KNOLLS GOLF COURSE offers 9 holes with 3,094 yards of precision golf from the longest tee. Scenic views and natural landscape lined with Ponderosa pines makes for a great golf experience. The course rating is 35.9. Enjoy the pro shop and the grill for lunch, dinner and a full service bar. Reservations can be made up to 14 days in advance.
Crazy Horse Monument
CRAZY HORSE MONUMENT is just 10 minutes north of Custer on Hwy 16. It has a wonderful display of Native American Artifacts and showcases how the natives lived. They also have a wonderful gift shop and do a night time laser light show and stays open all year.
Jewel Cave National Monument
JEWEL CAVE NATIONAL MONUMENT is 9 minutes West from the campground, 15 minutes from the center of Custer. There are several tours every day and it’s open all year. There are no reservations so go early early to get your ticket. It.s a pretty strenuous tour which involves over 700 steps.
1880 Train
THE 1880 TRAIN is the oldest continuously operating tour railroad in the nation. It’s a 2 hour narrated 20 mile round trip from Hill City to Keystone, South Dakota through the beautiful Black Hills. Special trips are available. Covid precautions in effect. Just a scenic 17 miles from Beaver Lake Campground. Book your reservations early, (605)574-2222
Wind Cave National Park
WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK and Visitors Center is 25 minutes south-southeast from the campground, south on Hwy 385. The cave is know for its rich honeycomb shaped formations and the vast wind cave. The park also offers an extensive network of trails with views of the Black Hills.
Custer
CUSTER is the oldest town in the Black Hills, getting it’s start in gold mining in 1874 and becoming a town in 1875. At an elevation of 5315 with a population of only 2282 Custer has a lot to offer with plenty of space for activities. From buffalo safaris to balloon & helicopter rides, 4000 miles of area trails, caves, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, restaurants, shops, and much more all in a safe, small town atmosphere.
Rapid City
RAPID CITY is 50 minutes North-northeast from the campground on Hwy 16. On the way to Rapid City you can see Old McDonalds Farm, Bear Country, Cosmos, Reptile Gardens and various other attractions, with the newest being The America’s Founding Fathers Exhibit which is a replica of Independence Hall.
Deadwood
DEADWOOD is where you can go gamble and look at buildings that have been kept original 1880 standards. There are many places to eat and while a way a few hours. Buildings all have to adhere to historic standards.
Lead
LEAD is an hour North-northeast from the campground and is where you can see the Open Cut and a surface tour of the closed down Homestake Mine which is now host to the Sanford Lab where they are searching for neutrinos.
Spearfish
SPEARFISH is 1 1/2 hours North-northeast from the campground. The drive through Spearfish Canyon is very scenic any time of the year. There is also Roughlock Falls, Spearfish Falls and Bridal Veil Falls to see. Cheyenne Crossing and Savoy are great places to stop for refreshment.
Sturgis
STURGIS is 1 1/2 hours north of our campground and the drive goes right through the black hills. It’s home to the annual week-long Sturgis Motorcycle Rally beginning on the first Friday in August, which brings over 500,000 attendees.
Hot Springs
The city of HOT SPRINGS with its Mammoth Site, Evans Plunge which is an indoor natural hot springs water park and Angostura Reservoir is 45 minutes from our campground. Outside of Hot Springs you can find the Wild Horse Sanctuary and Cascade Falls.
Devil’s Tower and the Badlands
The main attractions that are located two hours away are DEVIL’S TOWER & BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK. Devil’s Tower is northwest of the campground and the Badlands and Wall Drug Store are East of the campground.
Enjoy the video as Robert Merz rides through South Dakota’s incredible Badlands. Starting in the town of Interior, at the edge of the Badlands, he rides Highway 240 as it twists its way through the otherworldly landscape, eventually leading him to the little town of Wall, South Dakota.