TexasShadow
Spring Branch, TX USA
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Custer State Park, for sure.
Bison hang around Legion Lake campground and along the road.
Wild sheep hang out at Game Lodge campground.
TexasShadow
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punkaccountant
Ohio
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Thanks everyone for your posts. I was debating between Custer and Rafter J and it seems like a campground in Custer State Park is more our speed.
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Executive
California/Arizona/South Dakota
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IMHO, There's a whole lot more for the kids to do at Bar Rafter J than there is to do at Custer. They have the buffalo roundup in September at Custer which is very interesting. Also, Rafter J is closer to all the other "stuff" there is to do in the area...1800s train ride, Bear Canyon, Mt. Rushmore etc....Dennis
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ExRocketScientist
Laurel, MD
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The problem with Bison is they have a short fuze. Never know when you are going to set them off.
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DaSu
St. Cloud Mn.
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Executive wrote:IMHO, There's a whole lot more for the kids to do at Bar Rafter J than there is to do at Custer. They have the buffalo roundup in September at Custer which is very interesting. Also, Rafter J is closer to all the other "stuff" there is to do in the area...1800s train ride, Bear Canyon, Mt. Rushmore etc....Dennis Totally agree with this opinion. Life is Good.
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punkaccountant
Ohio
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DaSu wrote:Executive wrote:IMHO, There's a whole lot more for the kids to do at Bar Rafter J than there is to do at Custer. They have the buffalo roundup in September at Custer which is very interesting. Also, Rafter J is closer to all the other "stuff" there is to do in the area...1800s train ride, Bear Canyon, Mt. Rushmore etc....Dennis Totally agree with this opinion. Life is Good.
Thanks again everyone for your input. We definitely want to see Mount Rushmore and those other attractions plus take a drive to Devil's Tower. My original thought was that we could drive there because on the map it doesn't look like it is that far but maybe the map is deceiving. Is it a long haul from Game Lodge to Mount Rushmore? Unfortunately, we will only have about 5 nights and we can't see everything but we definitely wanted to go to Mount Rushmore, drive the Needle's, etc. Thanks again!
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Executive
California/Arizona/South Dakota
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You're going to be mighty busy during those 5 days, my friend. Roads on maps can be deceiving. The loop road through Custer State Park is one full day, IMHO. Of course we stopped, took pictures, marveled at the tunnels and bridges, had a picnic, watched the Bison from afar.....scared some deer and a lot of other wildlife along the way. Custer State Park is at the south end of the "activity" area. I would stay at Rafter J, make the loop a one day trip, starting with Mt. Rushmore in the morning, ending with the Crazy Horse memorial then head back to Mt. Rushmore for the evening lighting......Dennis
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kren250
Iowa
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We stayed at Blue Bell campground in Custer State Park two years ago. A few bison wandered into the campground one evening, and we also saw two near the restrooms in the early morning a few days later. Obviously, you'll want to keep your distance from them but I personally don't feel camping there is quite as dangerous as a few posters may have implied;-). Just use common sense. In addition to the bison, we also had deer walking through the campgroud in the evening and early morning.
We did do a day trip from Bluebell campground to Devil's Tower. It was about two hours each way. We took the scenic Spearfish Canyon drive on the way up, which was beautiful. There was also a fish hatchery we stopped at as well, but I can't remember the name of the town it was in. It was a fun little stop, and free.
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truepath
Minnesota
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Mount Rushmore is about a half hour or so from the north end of Custer SP. You get there by taking the Needles highway which is itself a drive not to be missed (you can't do it though with a large RV). Devils Tower is a long way from Custer SP. If memory serves me it's about 150 one way on mostly two lane mountain roads. It would be a nice day trip, but I'd count on spending a long day doing it. Another option is to move to another campground in the north end of the hills. There are several very interesting places there including the town of Deadwood. The north end of the Mikkelson bike trail starts in Deadwood and is well worth riding if you are at all into bike riding. The trail is also available both directions from the town of Custer.
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DaSu
St. Cloud Mn.
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If Devils Tower is on your agenda , I would make a one night stay in Spearfish do an early morning drive to the Tower and then take in the Passion Play if that would be of interest to you. Also , as someone mentioned the Spearfish Canyon road is another free attraction of its own and well worth the ride . As also mentioned , it is better done without the rig ( unless you have a truck camper). Life is Good.
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