ABOUT CUSTER STATE PARK, BLUE BELL CAMPGROUND: First, we had never been to South Dakota before. What an incredible surprise when we crossed from Wyoming into southwestern SD. The Black Hills National Forest and surrounding areas are very beautiful. One could spend weeks here and not get tired of it with all the things to do: hiking, biking, boating, rock climbing, National Monuments, Museums, great western towns, amazingly scenic roads through some of the most beautiful country we’ve seen, and the fantastic Custer State Park.
Within Custer State Park, one of the largest State Parks in the U.S., there are 9 State Park campgrounds, many resorts with cabins, a wonderful Wildlife Loop Drive (be sure to go off the paved road and drive the well-maintained gravel roads, too), several Lodges with hotel rooms, restaurants, cabins, several Visitor Centers, horseback riding on horse trails, horse campgrounds, buffalo safari jeep tours, hayrides and cookouts, the annual Bison Round-up, NOTE – some of these items are only available in-season. There are many scenic drives and the National Monuments just outside of the State Park, also.
We stayed at Blue Bell Campground, one of the 9 Park campgrounds. (We drove through many of the campgrounds – the ones that were still open – some closed the beginning of October – others are open later or close earlier.) All the campgrounds had sites that would fit the RV and Honda. We chose Blue Bell because of its proximity to the Bison and wildlife drive. Most of the campgrounds are located by a Lodge and/or cabins. Blue Bell Campground was a little bit further away from the busier areas and the road traffic was not noisy here. We tried to reserve a campsite for the annual Bison Round-up. They were full for the weekend. We stayed from Monday to Friday (4 nights). On the round-up weekend we stayed at the Custer KOA in town for 3 nights. The campground offered 31 campsites with electric hook-ups. We had site #12E. We liked it. There are several campsites that are more remote and wooded – try those! There was a potable water spigot, no dump station. A dump station which services all 9 campgrounds was located at Game Lodge Campground, off route 16A. There were showers and restrooms which the campers shared with the cabin campers. Most nights the campsites were nearly fully occupied – on the weekend they’d be full. We would stay here again. $134.90 for 4 nights. Check-in and check-out were 12 noon. There is a $20-per-week State Park pass required. The campground was 5 minutes from the entrance/exit to Lame Johnny Road, the gravel road through the Park, and only 15 minutes from the town of Custer. This campground closes mid-October.
Custer State Park, Blue Bell Campground, Custer, SD: I have no information about this campground regarding address, etc. Reservations are required. Google Custer State Park to get info on Blue Bell Campground (and the other campgrounds). That’s what we did.
- 2022 – 10/03-10/07