Keystone, South Dakota, is close to the Mt. Rushmore Monument and Custer State Park, and serves as a gateway to the Black Hills. The area offers visitors many trails and historical sites. There are numerous camping options in the area from full-service RVs to tent sites.
Campgrounds
Kemp's Kamp and Spokane Creek Resort are private campgrounds in Keystone. Kemp's Kamp is located between the town and Mt. Rushmore. Kemp's has tent and RV campsites. Amenities include a heated swimming pool, laundry facilities, indoor restrooms, showers and electric, water and sewage hook-ups. Each site also has a fire pit and wireless Internet.
Spokane Creek Resort features spacious, grassy campsites with an option for utility hook-ups. The campground also features indoor showers and restrooms as well as a dump station for RVs.
National Forest Campgrounds
Keystone is near several campgrounds in the Black Hills National Forest. The closest campground is Horsethief Lake Campground, two miles west of Mt. Rushmore. The campground has toilets and drinking water, and is near area hiking trails. The campground provides access to Horsethief Lake, where you can swim, fish and canoe. Horsethief is open from May to September and has 36 sites. The sites fill up quickly in the summer, so make a reservation ahead of time to guarantee a spot.
Cabin Camping
Kemp's Kamp has five cabins with one or two bedrooms, air conditioning, maid service, a kitchen and wireless Internet. Spokane Creek Resort offers 22 cabins of varying size and seclusion. All cabins are furnished and have bathroom facilities either inside or nearby.
Horse Camping
Elk Haven Horse Camp is the only horse-friendly campground in the Keystone area. The camp is located on miles of horse trails that lead through Custer State Park, the Black Hills State Forest and to Mt. Rushmore. A general store, café, shower house, laundry facility and gas station are available on-site for your convenience. Elk Haven has cabins, RV sites, tent pads and corrals placed at campsites that will fit two to three horses.
Backcountry Camping
Dispersed camping is permitted throughout the Black Hills National Forest backcountry. Camping away from the developed campgrounds is sometimes more work than car camping, but is quiet and secluded. When camping in the backcountry you must keep your campsite away from developed areas including other campgrounds, roads, hiking trails and otherwise indicated locations. The maximum stay in the backcountry is 14 days within a 60-day period.
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