Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch Blog
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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 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.
From I-90 take exit 61 onto Hwy 16 toward Mt. Rushmore. Follow Hwy 16 W 25 miles to Hill City. Continue on Hwy 16/385 3 miles then turn left on Hwy 244. Take 244 toward Mt. Rushmore 3.5 miles to the Mt. Rushmore KOA.
Please do not use GPS directions as they are incorrect.
From Custer, SD take Hwy 16/385 14 miles toward Mt. Rushmore then turn right on Hwy 244. Take 244 toward Mt. Rushmore 3.5 miles to the Mt. Rushmore KOA.
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Planning a Black Hills getaway in 2026? Here’s a great travel hack: stay at Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch and turn your favorite rodeo, festival, rally, concert or national celebration into a full camping trip.
Located near Hill City and just down the road from Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the resort gives travelers a central base camp for exploring Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park, Keystone, Hill City and Rapid City.
Guests can enjoy RV sites, deluxe cabins, camping cabins, tent sites, Wi-Fi, pools, hot tubs, a water slide, mini golf, fishing, UTV rentals, horseback riding, nightly outdoor movies, on-site dining, a chuckwagon dinner show and plenty of family-friendly recreation.
You do not have to go far for one of the best event-weekend hacks of the season. The Mount Rushmore Rodeo at Palmer Gulch takes place right at the resort on select 2026 dates, with bull riding, saddle bronc, bareback riding, team roping, barrel racing and mutton bustin’ from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Learn more.
Outdoor travelers can plan around the Crazy Horse Memorial Volksmarch, with the Spring Volksmarch scheduled for June 6, 2026 and the Fall Volksmarch scheduled for September 27, 2026. The organized hike gives visitors a rare opportunity to walk to the world’s largest mountain carving in progress, with a 5K or 10K route through the southern Black Hills. Learn more.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial will host a special Independence Day schedule from July 2-4, 2026 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. Programming includes military concerts, cultural demonstrations, interpretive programs and a ticketed fireworks celebration on July 3. Learn more.
Custer’s Gold Discovery Days returns July 17-19, 2026, celebrating the area’s gold rush history with an arts and crafts fair, Gold Panners’ Race, carnival, volleyball tournament, 5K fun run, balloon rally, car show, cornhole tournament and one of the largest parades in the Black Hills. Learn more.
Music fans can plan a Rapid City day trip around LifeLight Hills Alive Festival, scheduled for July 18-19, 2026 at Memorial Park. The free Christian music festival brings live worship, national artists, vendors, food trucks and a family-friendly atmosphere to downtown Rapid City. Learn more.
The 86th Annual City of Sturgis Motorcycle Rally runs August 7-16, 2026 and brings riders from around the world to the Black Hills for scenic rides, concerts, races, bike shows, charity rides and rally traditions. Learn more.
The Central States Fair returns to Rapid City from August 21-29, 2026 with concerts, rodeo, motorsports, carnival rides, fair food, livestock shows, family fun and nine days of big fair energy. Learn more.
Polkapalooza at Palmer Gulch | September 11-12, 2026
Hosted by the Mount Rushmore Resort at Palmer Gulch, Polkapalooza is a summertime favorite for travelers and locals alike. At only $5 per person per night for admission, Polkapalooza is a bargain. On Friday night, sample some authentic German food and drink before you show off your dancing moves. It’s so much fun, you’ll want to come back on Saturday night. Learn more.
The Black Hills Plein Air Paint Out takes place September 17-19, 2026 in Hill City, bringing artists into the landscape to paint the scenery, light and character of the central Black Hills. Visitors can enjoy the creative energy of Hill City, watch artists at work and explore galleries, shops and restaurants. Learn more.
The 61st Annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup is scheduled for September 25, 2026, with the Arts Festival running September 24-26. Visitors can watch cowboys, cowgirls and park staff drive a herd of approximately 1,300 bison across the prairie, then browse more than 100 arts and crafts vendors featuring South Dakota-made products. Learn more.
The Black Hills Powwow, also known as He Sapa Wacipi Na Oskate, takes place October 9-11, 2026 at The Monument in Rapid City. This three-day celebration brings dancers, singers, artists and spectators together to honor the traditions, culture and community of the Great Plains Indigenous people. Learn more.
The best part of staying at Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch is that your trip does not have to revolve around one event. You can visit Mount Rushmore, explore Crazy Horse Memorial, drive through Custer State Park, tour Jewel Cave or Wind Cave, spend time in Hill City and Keystone or take a scenic ride along Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road.
Ready to turn a 2026 Black Hills event into a camping getaway? Book your stay at Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch and make Hill City, South Dakota your base camp for festivals, sports, concerts, rodeos and Mount Rushmore adventures.
That doesn't mean this area has to always be empty. When you start reviewing camping options, your history will display here to help compare sites and find the best stay. You will be able to share your stay information with friends or family and save it for a later time if you have a KOA Account.
Make checkout easy by booking all your reservations at once. Add your sites from different campgrounds into your shopping cart* and then choose checkout.
