Game Lodge Campground

Notwithstanding the injustices festered here, this park is one of the most beautiful and astounding places we have ever been. Words cannot describe the majesty of this place. Game Lodge Campground itself is a gem as it provides, if desired, electricity on sites as well as the cleanest shower rooms and a coin-operated laundry facility. Our site was 51E and it cost us about $34.00 per night. We were lucky to get three nights at this site, and still wish we had more. The park’s main information center is across the street and there is a stadium seating theater inside and a beautiful but short large-screen video showing off what the park has to offer. There are also interactive displays and materials in which to get a better idea of what to do and see throughout the entire park system while visiting. The actual Game Lodge is also less than a mile away and offers very good food at reasonable prices. Game Lodge Campground is centrally located to just about everything.

Due to hardly any AT&T cell service in our Oerville Campground, no showers, no electric, and no dump station, we canceled our next reservation in the similar Bismarck Primitive Campground and luckily booked another site back at Game Lodge Campground which provides all the above. We forfeited the $22.00 we had previously paid for one night at Bismarck and spent another $39.50 for this one important night at Game Lodge, which for some of us would seem pretty stupid. But I don’t care. Our next planned adventure is for three nights, weather permitting, in the Badlands and we wanted to get better prepared for the coming unknown. We packed up early and arrived back at Game Lodge around 11:30 AM . Our site 33E was vacant so we set up camp. Next, a nice shower in their very clean restrooms and a load of laundry was completed as well in their nice little laundromat. A short nap followed and then some more relaxation in preparation for our next day of exciting travel. All worth it as Game Lodge is the best place to camp IMO in all The Black Hills.

This campsite is in the heart of Custer SP. The campsite has coin operated laundry room and RV dump station. Our campsite was very shady and quiet. The camp host was very friendly and knowledgeable. The campground is near the State Game Lodge and General Store. There are several hiking trails nearby and a nice kids playground. The campgrounds have two nice restrooms with showers.

Stayed for 3 nights. Super clean bathrooms, showers. Beautiful surroundings. Would definitely come back again. Close to all attractions. Walk to general store, visitor center.

This was the best state parked I’ve stayed at! The sites were well spaced out with a good deal of shade. The site was also level and paved with electric service. Restrooms and showers were clean. The campground has laundry facilities too. I got good 5G service on AT&T.

Just drive to your site with your reservation. Everything was excellent. Beautiful park full of wildlife. Water available next to dump station. Clean bathrooms and showers. Top notch all around. Get your South Dakota State Park annual pass for $36, $54 for two. South Dakota is a well kept secret. Custer State Park is better than some Nat Parks we have been to and way less crowded. We didn't want to leave.

AT&T cell service was excellent without the booster.

Our site 7E, was full sun, morning or night. Could not level the 20' van, the incline was subtle but pronounced. Park host offered another spot some hours after our arrival, but we were already set up. Restrooms are super clean and convenient, great shower. Sites are well cared for and park is set back from road with paved walking trails in both directions, buffalo in sight often. But $37 for a reservation ($30 + $7 non resident fee), and then $20 for a day pass to the state park made it pretty pricey for what we got. Able to walk to Game Lodge for a nice dinner, which was a whole lot more expensive but a nice meal in a pretty dining room. Lots of family campfires, which always spoil sleeping with the windows open.

The price indicated does not include a $15 entrance fee that is valid 1-7 days. This is a wonderful campground for exploring Custer State Park, Mt Rushmore, and viewing wildlife. The sites are spaced apart and staggered so you aren't looking right in your neighbor's window. Several sites are by the creek and shaded, and the rest have little to no shade. The one way road signs are strange. You either have to back up a long road to get to your site or ignore the one way road signs (which we did). I imagine it could be crazy during the busy season. The downsides? It was quite noisy starting about 8:00am as they are constructing a new visitor center and bike/walk path. Just bad timing on our part. Most of the sites are VERY unlevel especially front to back but also side to side. Easier to level for 5th wheels and trailers - we never could get level in our motorhome and satisfied ourselves with "close". The worse part for us (again probably bad timing) was the bugs! There were stink bugs, bees, flies, and other bugs we couldn't identify, and they all wanted to be inside. At one point, we counted 65 stink bugs on the outside of the motorhome. We would return but would be more picky about the site and whether it was bug season.

Lots to do in the area. Come up in the fall for the Buffalo roundup.

Excellent Verizon.
No Boost 3 Bar LTE 16.57/14.59 mbps down/up
Boost 3 Bar LTE 16.26/19.52 mbps down/up

We stayed here 3 nights. The bathrooms were up to date and clean all the time. They also have laundry facilities. The sites only have electricity so bring in your water for an rv. The campground is located right across the street from the new visitor's center and near the wildlife loop and road to Mount Rushmore. The rest of the lakes in the park are easy to get to. The park rangers came by each night and invited us to a discussion on various topics at the barn.