Highest-rated campgrounds in the Rapid City area by visitors

Camping is a favorite leisure activity among Americans of all stripes. According to KOA's 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality report, the number of camping households in the United States has increased by 67% over the last decade. As of this year, 1 in 4 leisure trips involves camping.

When planning a camping trip, many factors must be considered, including the amenities. Car camping usually means driving up to your campsite, which allows campers to haul a few more amenities to the campgrounds. These sites may offer electrical outlets, public restrooms (including showers), and a grill or fire pit for cooking. RV camping and cabin rentals may also have these amenities within their units.

On the other side, backcountry or primitive camping usually involves hiking into a campsite with few to no amenities. For example, at primitive sites, campers may need equipment light enough to carry to their campgrounds. They may also need to hang toiletries to keep wildlife away and treat their drinking water.

The National Park Service manages campgrounds inside 130 park units across the United States. Each state also manages parks with campgrounds, and there are a myriad of privately-owned campgrounds, too. According to the Camping & Outdoor Hospitality report, more than half of people tend to camp within 150 miles of their home, but there are endless options for where and how to camp.

People typically must reserve a campsite ahead of time—up to a year in advance for some of the most popular sites. To help you get a head start on planning, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated campgrounds in the Rapid City area using data from Yelp as of Aug. 19, 2025. Rankings factor in the average rating and number of reviews. Keep reading to see if your favorite spot made the list.

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Rapid City KOA

1 / 19

#19. Rapid City KOA

- Rating: 2.9/5 (56 reviews)
- Address: 3010 East Highway 44 Rapid City, South Dakota
- Categories: RV Parks, Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

Whistlers Gulch Campground

2 / 19

#18. Whistlers Gulch Campground

- Rating: 3.2/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 235 Cliff St. Deadwood, South Dakota
- Categories: Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

Beaver Lake Campground

3 / 19

#17. Beaver Lake Campground

- Rating: 3.3/5 (34 reviews)
- Address: 12005 West US Hwy 16 Custer, South Dakota
- Categories: Campgrounds, Vacation Rentals, RV Parks
- Read more on Yelp

Mount Rushmore KOA

4 / 19

#16. Mount Rushmore KOA

- Rating: 3.3/5 (123 reviews)
- Address: 12620 Highway 244 Hill City, South Dakota
- Categories: Campgrounds, RV Parks
- Read more on Yelp

Buffalo Chip Campground

5 / 19

#15. Buffalo Chip Campground

- Rating: 3.4/5 (63 reviews)
- Address: 20622 Ft Meade Way Sturgis, South Dakota
- Categories: Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

Kemp's Kamp

6 / 19

#14. Kemp's Kamp

- Rating: 3.4/5 (34 reviews)
- Address: 1022 Old Hill City Road Keystone, South Dakota
- Categories: Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

Custer's Gulch RV Park and Campground

7 / 19

#13. Custer's Gulch RV Park and Campground

- Rating: 3.4/5 (26 reviews)
- Address: 25112 Golden Valley Road Custer, South Dakota
- Categories: Campgrounds, RV Parks
- Read more on Yelp

Hart Ranch Camping Resort Club

8 / 19

#12. Hart Ranch Camping Resort Club

- Rating: 3.4/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 23756 Arena Drive Rapid City, South Dakota
- Categories: RV Parks, Resorts, Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

Deadwood KOA

9 / 19

#11. Deadwood KOA

- Rating: 3.4/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 11484 US Hwy 14 Alternate Deadwood, South Dakota
- Categories: RV Parks, Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

Rapid City RV Park & Campground

10 / 19

#10. Rapid City RV Park & Campground

- Rating: 3.5/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: 4110 South Hwy 16 Rapid City, South Dakota
- Categories: Campgrounds, RV Parks
- Read more on Yelp

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Fish N Fry Campground

11 / 19

#9. Fish N Fry Campground

- Rating: 3.8/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 21390 US Hwy 385 Deadwood, South Dakota
- Categories: Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

Fort Welikit Family Campground

12 / 19

#8. Fort Welikit Family Campground

- Rating: 3.8/5 (30 reviews)
- Address: 24992 Sylvan Lake Road Custer, South Dakota
- Categories: RV Parks, Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

Horse Thief Campground & RV Resort

13 / 19

#7. Horse Thief Campground & RV Resort

- Rating: 4.3/5 (24 reviews)
- Address: 24391 Highway 87 Hill City, South Dakota
- Categories: Campgrounds, Resorts
- Read more on Yelp

Custer Crazy Horse Campground

14 / 19

#6. Custer Crazy Horse Campground

- Rating: 4.4/5 (24 reviews)
- Address: 1116 North 5th St. Custer, South Dakota
- Categories: Campgrounds, Coffee & Tea, Propane
- Read more on Yelp

Larsson's Crooked Creek RV Resort

15 / 19

#5. Larsson's Crooked Creek RV Resort

- Rating: 4.5/5 (21 reviews)
- Address: 24184 US 385 Hill City, South Dakota
- Categories: RV Parks, Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

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Under Canvas Mount Rushmore

16 / 19

#4. Under Canvas Mount Rushmore

- Rating: 4.5/5 (33 reviews)
- Address: 24342 Presidio Rnch Road Keystone, South Dakota
- Categories: Campgrounds
- Read more on Yelp

Buffalo Ridge Camp Resort

17 / 19

#3. Buffalo Ridge Camp Resort

- Rating: 4.6/5 (36 reviews)
- Address: 245 Centennial Drive Custer, South Dakota
- Categories: Campgrounds, Resorts
- Read more on Yelp

Lake Park Campground and Cottages

18 / 19

#2. Lake Park Campground and Cottages

- Rating: 4.6/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2850 Chapel Lane Rapid City, South Dakota
- Categories: Hotels, Campgrounds, Vacation Rentals
- Read more on Yelp

Big Pine Campground

19 / 19

#1. Big Pine Campground

- Rating: 4.7/5 (66 reviews)
- Address: 12084 Big Pine Road Custer, South Dakota
- Categories: Campgrounds, RV Parks
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Madison Troyer, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 199 metros.