Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch

The Great Outdoors

Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch has an impressive offering of fun features to make use of when you arrive in your campervan rental, but when it comes time to explore the area, you can head to the Black Hills. Nearby Custer State Park is the largest and first state park in the entire state. There are old historical sites and structures, majestic landscapes, a massive campground, and a wild herd of bison living in the park.Black Hills National Forest practically surrounds Hill City, and when you're camping at Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch, you can explore over a million acres of stunning landscapes, rolling hills, and epic evergreen paradise. Cougars, wolves, black bears, ospreys, and eagles are among the creatures you’ll spot when camping or hiking in this lush forest. There are thousands of miles of dirt roads, hundreds of miles of hiking trails, 11 reservoirs, and over 30 campgrounds within the forest.As far as large parks go, South Dakota is pretty fortunate to have two exceptional national parks and one massive national monument all within driving distance. Jewel Cave National Monument and Wind Cave National Park feature some of the world’s largest cave systems, a truly exciting place to venture underground while taking notice of natural gems glimmering in the darkened caverns. Camping is allowed above ground so you can take a break in your camper rental in between subterranean expeditions.Badlands State Park welcomes over a million guests each year to see its spectacular mesas, badlands, canyons, and other rocky features. Sublime night skies and a bevy of historic sites held sacred by the local native people make this an extra special place to put on your itinerary when you rent an RV near Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch.

City Sightseeing

When you're motorhome camping at Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch, the nearby towns of Hill City and Rapid City are loaded with attractions and exciting adventures. The Museum at Black Hills Institute in Hill City is a lovely place to see lots of ancient dinosaur skeletons, showcasing the ancient predators so guests may get a feel for how large the creatures were. This converted high school gym has two giant T. rex skeletons among other species and a fantastic gift shop for souvenir purchases.The South Dakota Air and Space Museum has an epic collection of aviation artifacts and decommissioned planes used by the military throughout dozens of conflicts. Fighter jets and bombers used in WWII, the Vietnam War, and many other aerial battles can be seen at this large outdoor museum.They may not be in Hill City or Rapid City, but Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial are two of South Dakota’s most famous sightseeing opportunities, conveniently located within a half an hour's drive of Mount Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch. These stone monuments are chiseled into the mountainside, depicting four of the country’s most famous presidents, and a native chieftain who boldly lead the Lakota people with strength and dignity.