Where can I camp on the Mickelson Trail in Hill City, SD?
Black Hills Trailside Park Resort sits at 24024 US Hwy 16/385 on the edge of Hill City, and the 109-mile George S. Mickelson Trail runs right through the property. You can roll your bike from your site straight onto the trail without loading a car. Stay in one of 46 full-hookup RV sites, 9 tent sites, 9 cabins or the 8-person Mickelson Trail Suite. Downtown Hill City is about a 5-minute walk down the same trail.
How far is Black Hills Trailside Park Resort from Mount Rushmore, and can we get back for the Lighting Ceremony?
Mount Rushmore is about 10 miles from our Hill City campground, roughly a 20-minute drive, which makes the evening Lighting Ceremony easy to fit into a day. Many guests tour the memorial in the morning, come back to camp for dinner and a shower, then drive over again for the ceremony after dark. Because you are only 10 miles out, the late return to your RV site or cabin is short.
Do the RV sites have full hookups and 50-amp power?
Yes. All 46 RV sites at Black Hills Trailside Park Resort in Hill City are full hookup, with 20/30/50-amp power, water and sewer at the site, plus upgraded Wi-Fi across the park. That means big rigs running air conditioning do not have to ration power, and you can dump and fill without moving. Clean, lockable shower houses are on site if you would rather not use your own tank and water heater.
Where can I rent an e-bike for the Mickelson Trail in Hill City?
We rent e-bikes right here at Black Hills Trailside Park Resort, and the Mickelson Trail runs through the property, so you start riding where you pick up the bike. Rental rates and time blocks are listed on our booking page, and we recommend reserving in summer because bikes go out quickly. E-bikes make the long, steady grades between Hill City, Mystic and Rochford much easier for mixed-ability families and older riders.
Are there cabins with bathrooms and kitchenettes near Mount Rushmore?
Our 9 cabins in Hill City each sleep 4 to 5 people and include a full bathroom and a kitchenette, so you are not walking to a bathhouse at night or cooking every meal outdoors. They sit about 10 miles from Mount Rushmore and a 5-minute walk from downtown Hill City restaurants and shops. If you want to know exactly what bedding and kitchen items are provided before you pack, ask us when you reserve.
Is there a campground near Hill City that sleeps 8 people in one unit?
Yes, our Mickelson Trail Suite at Black Hills Trailside Park Resort sleeps 8 people in one unit, which works well for two families traveling together, a group of riders or a multi-generation trip. It is the largest option we offer, alongside 9 smaller cabins that sleep 4 to 5. The suite is a popular group cabin rental in the Black Hills, so book early for summer weekends and Sturgis rally week.
Can you fish for trout at the campground?
Yes. Spring Creek runs through Black Hills Trailside Park Resort, and guests catch brown and rainbow trout in it, with the occasional brook trout. Bring a South Dakota fishing license and your own gear. If you want bigger water, Sheridan Lake and Pactola Lake are both a short drive from Hill City for trout and other species, so you can fish at camp in the evening and head to a lake for the day.
How much does an RV site or cabin cost per night?
Nightly rates at Black Hills Trailside Park Resort vary by what you book and when, so current prices for RV sites, tent sites, cabins and the Mickelson Trail Suite are listed on our reservation page. Peak summer and rally dates cost more than spring and fall. Fall is often the best value in the Black Hills: cooler riding weather on the Mickelson Trail, leaf color and lower shoulder-season rates once the crowds thin out.
Do you have tent sites, and what are the showers like?
We have 9 tent sites at our Hill City campground, separate from the RV rows, with the Mickelson Trail and Spring Creek right there. Tent campers use our shower houses, which are cleaned regularly and lock, so you are not showering in an open building. Upgraded Wi-Fi reaches the campground, and downtown Hill City is a 5-minute walk if you want a hot meal instead of cooking on a camp stove.
How close is the 1880 Train, and can we walk into downtown Hill City?
The 1880 Train depot is 4 blocks from Black Hills Trailside Park Resort, and downtown Hill City is about a 5-minute walk along the Mickelson Trail from your site. That means you can leave the truck or RV parked and walk to restaurants, shops, galleries and town events. Crazy Horse Memorial, Needles Highway and Custer State Park are all a short drive south, which makes this an easy basecamp for a multi-day Black Hills trip.