City: Custer, SD
Category: Accommodations
Address: 35 Centennial Dr.
2. American Presidents Cabins & Camp
City: Custer, SD
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (605) 673-3373
Address: US 16A
Description: A serene country setting makes American Presidents a popular place for family reunions. There are 45 cabins on 50 acres, all with private bathrooms, although a few are sleeping cabins. The more luxurious cabins sleep from 10 to 12 people, have several bedrooms, two bathrooms, and their own decks. Other cabins vary in size; ask which will best suit you. Guests can use the 60-foot-by-40-foot heated pool and hot tub, surrounded by a 5,000-square-foot deck, then hit the convenience store for snacks. One cabin is wheelchair accessible, as is the shower house on the grounds. American Presidents has a campground (see the Campgrounds chapter), and the facility is open from approximately Apr through Oct 1.
3. Blue Bell Lodge And Resort
City: Custer, SD
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (888) 875-0001 (reservations)
Address: Custer State Park SR 87
Description: The expanded Blue Bell Lodge houses the dining room, with family-style dinners, a lounge, and a small meeting room. Around the lodge are 29 log cabins, including sleeping cabins, a honeymoon cabin with one room and fireplace, and housekeeping cabins that accommodate four, six, or eight people. The Commissioner’s Cabin has four rooms, a full kitchen, and sleeps eight. Some cabins are open in winter. Blue Bell is favored for its stables and trail rides. You’ll also find a new general store with gifts and supplies.
4. Calamity Peak Lodge
City: Custer, SD
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (605) 673-2357, (800) 591-5949
Address: US 16A
Description: If you stay here, you’ll be just 2 miles east of the town of Custer and look out on French Creek and Calamity Peak, a craggy granite mountain across the highway, all surrounded by the beauty of Black Hills National Forest. You have your choice of accommodations. A house that sleeps 10 is available. One cabin sleeps four people, the other sleeps six; both have a kitchen and private bath. Motel units are also available, including two that sleep six people and have fully furnished kitchens. Grills and picnic tables are outside, and each unit has free satellite TV and Wi-Fi. An extension of the popular Mickelson Trail runs through the property. Calamity Peak Lodge is open only from May through Oct.
5. Custer Mountain Cabins & Campground
City: Custer, SD
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (605) 673-5440, (800) 239-5505
Address: US 16A
Description: The eight rough-hewn log housekeeping cabins at this well-run resort has two or three bedrooms, private baths, and decks. They also offer two small camper cabins, an alternative to camping but you still bring your own gear and bedding. A three bedroom house is available and sleeps up to 10 with two baths and a full kitchen. You can hike on the adjoining forest service land, and you’ll be near both the city of Custer and Custer State Park. There’s a campground on the property, too, and you’ll find information about it in the Campgrounds chapter.
6. Legion Lake Resort
City: Custer, SD
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (888) 875-0001 (reservations)
Address: Custer State Park
Description: Another pretty little spot in Custer State Park, Legion Lake has a store, a gift shop, and dining room, plus 25 houskeeping and sleeping cottages, some with kitchens. The lake is small and great for families who want to swim, fish or rent a paddle boat. Get your coffee fix at Starbucks in the lodge.
City: Custer, SD
Category: Accommodations
Address: Custer State Park
8. ✵Sylvan Lake Lodge
City: Custer, SD
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (888) 875-0001 (reservations)
Address: Custer State Park
Description: Thirty-one one-room sleeping cabins on the lodge grounds have fireplaces and television. Housekeeping cabins have televisions, and the Senator’s Cabin accommodates up to 10 people. It has four rooms, full kitchen, fireplace, three beds, and two sofa beds. The Honeymoon Cabin is a favorite of many guests. The view is spectacular. All of the cabins were completely renovated in 2008. You can also stay in the lodge’s guest rooms; see the Resorts and Lodges section.
City: Custer, SD
Category: Accommodations
Address: Custer State Park
10. Sylvan Lake Lodge
City: Custer, SD
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (605) 574-2561, (888) 875-0001
Address: Custer State Park
Insider Pick:
Description: This is a cozy lodge next to picturesque Sylvan Lake, close to the trails to the summit of Harney Peak, and on the way to both Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Crazy Horse Memorial. Enjoy cocktails on the veranda, sit by the pleasant fireplace in the lobby, or have dinner in the dining room. The lodge has 35 rooms that vary in configuration and size and accommodate from one to six people. Read about the cabins on the grounds in the Cabins and Cottages section of this chapter.
City: Custer, SD
Category: Accommodations
Address: US 16A
City: Custer, SD
Category: Accommodations
Address: US 16
City: Custer, SD
Category: Accommodations
Address: US 16A
14. Flintstones Bedrock City Campground
City: Custer, SD
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (605) 673-4079, (605) 673-4664
Address: US 16 West
Description: You’ll especially want to consider staying here if you have little ones who will appreciate the adjacent Flintstones amusement park (see the Kidstuff chapter for more about that). For one thing, your stay allows you unlimited entries to the park once you’ve paid admission. In addition to 127 tent and RV sites—52 with full hookups—the 30-acre campground on the edge of town has laundry facilities, a game room, outdoor heated pool, nine holes of miniature golf, plus volleyball, basketball, and horseshoe courts. The campground is open mid-May to Labor Day. Prices range from $20.50 to $27 for two people. Six cabins are also available at $43 for two people.