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A Legendary Camping Resort in the Black Hills

Stay minutes from Mount Rushmore at the Black Hills camping resort built for families, road trippers and outdoor adventurers. Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch is the closest KOA campground to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, with spacious RV sites, cozy cabins, tent camping, resort-style amenities and easy access to the region's most iconic attractions. Spend your days exploring Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial and Needles Highway, then come back to pools, hot tubs, on-site dining, family activities and starry Black Hills nights. With Recreational Adventures Co. as your host, Palmer Gulch puts you at the center of the South Dakota adventure.

Bring the big rig, book a cabin, pitch a tent or plan a lodge-style stay. RV travelers can choose pull-thru and back-in sites with full hookups, while families who want a little more comfort can settle into Deluxe Cabins with bathrooms, kitchens and patios or Camping Cabins. Tent campers still get the classic Black Hills camping experience, with resort amenities close by.

  • Easy camping: hot showers, laundry, KOA store, propane, firewood, garbage pickup
  • Family fun: pools (seasonal), waterslide (seasonal), jumping pillow (seasonal), mini-golf, climbing wall (seasonal), movies, group facilities
  • Adventure access: horseback riding, UTV rentals, bike trails, nearby parks, car rentals
  • Comforts: dining (seasonal), hot tub (seasonal), pet area, pavilion, full hookups, golf cart rentals

Choose your RV site, cabin or tent site today and start planning your Black Hills adventure. Reserve online or call 605-574-2525 today to begin your South Dakota adventure!

Campground Amenities

  • 50 Max Amp
  • 90' Max Length
  • Wi-Fi
  • Pool (5/24 - 9/4)
  • Hot Tub/Sauna
  • Snack Bar ($)
  • Propane ($)
  • Kamping Kitchen
  • Fishing
  • Mini Golf
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Ways to Stay

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Campground Recreation

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KOA Resorts

KOA Resort Campgrounds

KOA Resorts offer a carefree vacation in the great outdoors. Enjoy robust recreation and staff-led activities, kick back and relax by the resort-style pool, or grab a bite to eat, all while never leaving the campground. And with plenty of RV Sites with KOA Patios® and Deluxe Cabins with full baths to meet your needs, it’s the ultimate camping getaway.

KOA Resorts Feature:

  • RV Sites with a KOA Patio®
  • Deluxe Cabins with full baths and linens
  • Premium Tent Sites
  • Resort-style pools
  • Indoor and outdoor group facilities

Latest Hot Deal

Stay 5 Nights and Save 25%!

Save on Extended Camping Trips! Book a stay for 5 nights and save 25%.

With our Stay, Play and Save deals extending your adventure not only means more memories but also more savings!

Terms and Conditions:

  • Offer based on availability.
  • Minimum length of stay rules may apply.
  • Not valid with other discounts including KOA Rewards.
  • Offer valid on new reservations only.  Offer NOT Valid on existing reservations.  
  • Management reserves the right to alter or cancel this promotion offer at any time.
  • Blackout dates may apply. 

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Campground Events

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Local Area

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Mount Rushmore is located just five miles east of the campground. Guests visit in the daytime for picture taking and to visit the sculptor's studio, new interpretive center and the concession. There is also the new Presidential Trail that allows visitors to walk along the base of the sculpture for striking views never before available. Visitors this year will also be the first to experience the new interpretive center with state of the art displays recreating the carving of the mountain and the history of the four presidents depicted. In the evening, there is a very patriotic and inspiring Lighting Ceremony in which the ranger gives a presentation, followed by a film about the four presidents, and then the monument is lighted.

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National Presidential Wax Museum

Located in the shadow of Mount Rushmore in the historic town of Keystone, the National Presidential Wax Museum is an impressive highlight on any traveler's itinerary. Featuring the works of world-famous wax artist Katherine Stubergh, the National Presidential Wax Museum features over 100 lifesize wax sculptures of some of the most iconic figures in American history. We invite you to witness the history of American Democracy from its inception.

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Crazy Horse Mountain Memorial

The Crazy Horse Mountain Memorial is located 10 miles south of the KOA. Crazy Horse is a mountain carving in progress that dwarfs Mount Rushmore. This carving is in the round with the 90' high face dedicated in June 1998, which marked the mountain's 50th anniversary since the first carving began. In addition, there is an Indian Museum and a collection of the sculptor's other works.

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Black Hills National Forest

The Black Hills National Forest surrounds the resort, which is located in the very heart of the Forest. Our trail rides go into the Black Elk Wilderness Area, just a mile from the campground. Hiking trails to Harney Peak, the highest point in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, begin right at the KOA. The Centennial Trail and the Mickelson Rails to Trails are within four miles of the KOA. Imagine the pristine views and the quiet nature that you'll enjoy right from your campsite!

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