Center Lake Campground
Custer State Park
Write a Review Center Lake Road Custer, SD 57730 605-255-4515 Reservations: 800-710-2267 Official WebsiteGPS: 43.8084, -103.4252
Overview of Center Lake Campground
Last Price Paid: $29
Reported by jeljohns on 9/3/2022
Longest RV Reported: 35 feet (Travel Trailer)
Reported by Our Simple Adventures on 7/19/2022
Number of Sites 71
Reservations yes
Open Seasonally May - September
Elevation 4,822 ft / 1,469 m
Max Stay 14
Tent Camping Yes
Discover a smarter way to RV with Roadtrippers
All your Campendium favorites and more are now in Roadtrippers.
Q&A - Ask the Community about Center Lake Campground
To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 605-255-4515
apro asked on 5/11/2020
Do they have a site for a 32 ft RV? How hard will it be to get camping same day over Memorial Day weekend?
Reviews of Center Lake Campground 15 people have reviewed this location.
Cell Phone Coverage
Confirmed by 3 Users
Last reported 7/19/2022
Confirmed by 1 User
Last reported 7/13/2022
“Peaceful Place ”
Reviewed 9/3/2022
| Nightly rate: | $29 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 1 |
Overall Rating
We decided to extend our stay at Custer one more day but everything was full. We were able to grab one of these same day reservation spots. Very quiet and peaceful spot. We were in the upper campground which is a very short walk to the lake and showers. Showers were impeccably clean. The staff at Custer is the friendliest we’ve ever me... more
We decided to extend our stay at Custer one more day but everything was full. We were able to grab one of these same day reservation spots. Very quiet and peaceful spot. We were in the upper campground which is a very short walk to the lake and showers. Showers were impeccably clean. The staff at Custer is the friendliest we’ve ever met. Amazing hiking trails next to this campground.
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
Verizon
jeljohns would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Peaceful and great location to get to everything. ”
Reviewed 7/19/2022
| Nightly rate: | $19 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 7 |
| Site Number: | 56 |
| RV Length: | 35' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
Arrived on a Monday and was able to get a spot. The reservation system is easy and the operator was very nice and helpful. Previous review gives accurate info on campground. Camp Host are available but can be a bit over zealous. So much to see and do in the area. Center Lake is beautiful and great for swimming, fishing, kayaking and ca... more
Arrived on a Monday and was able to get a spot. The reservation system is easy and the operator was very nice and helpful. Previous review gives accurate info on campground. Camp Host are available but can be a bit over zealous. So much to see and do in the area. Center Lake is beautiful and great for swimming, fishing, kayaking and canoeing. Minimal to no cell service.
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
Verizon 4G
Our Simple Adventures would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Quiet and secluded”
Reviewed 7/13/2022
| Nightly rate: | $20 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 2 |
| Site Number: | 67 |
| RV Length: | 30' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
This is the only first come first serve/same day reservation campground in Custer State Park. Sites are all nonelectric but generators are allowed from 8 am to 8 pm in 2 hour increments. There's a few water spigots scattered. A shower house is located between the beach and the lower loop. Showers were clean and the water was hot. ... more
This is the only first come first serve/same day reservation campground in Custer State Park. Sites are all nonelectric but generators are allowed from 8 am to 8 pm in 2 hour increments. There's a few water spigots scattered. A shower house is located between the beach and the lower loop. Showers were clean and the water was hot.
We were able to park out 30' travel trailer comfortably in 67. It is a hilly location but the paved pads were level. Our picnic table and fire ring were a little walk uphill. Check each individual site if booking online to ensure your RV/TT will fit.
This site is slightly inconvenient for sight seeing. Its located in the middle of the park with a good drive to Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, or Custer. Rushmore was about an hour away.
The beach at Center Lake was small but the sand was nice. There were a lot of people kayaking and paddle boarding.
AT&T
T-Mobile 4G
Chris would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Peaceful”
Reviewed 6/26/2022
| Nightly rate: | $19 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 5 |
| Site Number: | 66 |
| RV Length: | 18' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
Great way to find a last minute spot! I would have rated it a 5 but the showers are disgusting. The floor is always dirty and the curtains are VERY moldy!
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
Verizon
Gone Camping would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Peaceful”
Reviewed 6/22/2022
| Nightly rate: | $18 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 5 |
| Site Number: | 66 |
| RV Length: | 18' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
Great opportunity to camp last minute!
| Access | |
| Location | |
| Cleanliness | |
| Site Quality | |
| Noise |
Verizon 4G
Gone Camping would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Neat campground”
Reviewed 9/28/2021
| Nightly rate: | $24 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 2 |
Overall Rating
State park campground with basic amenities. About 45 minutes from Mt Rushmore. Showers were a little run down but better than nothing! Campsites are very nice and mostly spacious. Can walk to lake which was very pretty. Campstore (about 10-15 minutes away) closes at 7 which is where camphosts recommended to get wood. Lots of deer on gr... more
State park campground with basic amenities. About 45 minutes from Mt Rushmore. Showers were a little run down but better than nothing! Campsites are very nice and mostly spacious. Can walk to lake which was very pretty. Campstore (about 10-15 minutes away) closes at 7 which is where camphosts recommended to get wood. Lots of deer on grounds at night.
ROAD TRIPPIN’ would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Sweet spot in the ponderosa pines!”
Reviewed 8/2/2021
| Days stayed: | 4 |
|---|---|
| RV Length: | 16' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
This campground lets you book online same day at 7am. There were many spots open at that time of day - a Thursday. Campground is beautiful. No hookups and it's all shady if you want to charge your batteries with solar. A mix of tent campers and big rigs were here during my stay. With all the pine trees, it's a very still area. If... more
This campground lets you book online same day at 7am. There were many spots open at that time of day - a Thursday. Campground is beautiful. No hookups and it's all shady if you want to charge your batteries with solar. A mix of tent campers and big rigs were here during my stay. With all the pine trees, it's a very still area. If a pin drops, you'll likely hear it, and you'l definitely hear your neighbors. That was the only downside for me, though the neighbors were all relatively quiet. I very much enjoyed walking my dog around the lake every morning. I never ran into other people on that hike. The lake is lovely. The whole area is. I wasn't expecting to enjoy Custer State Park as much as I did. No service in the campground but there is a decent signal for Verizon all around the visitor center.
Verizon
FunnyBunny would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“We snagged the “last spot””
Reviewed 7/30/2021
| Nightly rate: | $29 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 1 |
| Site Number: | 68 |
Overall Rating
We headed into Custer State park to use the dump station and refill our water. The state website wouldn’t allow us to book anything (all full) so I called instead. The lady was very nice and booked us into the “last” spot in the upper section that could accommodate our trailer. Lots of really curvy roads to get back in there. But reall... more
We headed into Custer State park to use the dump station and refill our water. The state website wouldn’t allow us to book anything (all full) so I called instead. The lady was very nice and booked us into the “last” spot in the upper section that could accommodate our trailer. Lots of really curvy roads to get back in there. But really was no problem for us.
It was a site that you just pull up sideways so a little weird for our 26’ travel trailer. But it worked. The hosts came by to check on us and actually offered us a different spot at 67 b/c we could back in. We were already settled so decided not to move. They said they leave one campsite open all the time so they can move people if they need to. So even if the websites say they are empty, call them or talk to the camp host. We stayed one night before moving on to Yellowstone. Custer is one of the spots we wish we had stayed to explore longer.
HS would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Exactly what we were looking for!”
Reviewed 2/13/2021
| Nightly rate: | $19 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 6 |
| RV Length: | 22' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
It was a bit pricey for dry camping, but the location made it worth it! We actually made 4 videos in this area: Overview of Custer State Park https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt_mgwZ5u_w Center Lake Campground https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_GgM3_LvdI 3 Scenic Drives in Custer State Park https://www.youtube.com/watch... more
It was a bit pricey for dry camping, but the location made it worth it!
We actually made 4 videos in this area:
Overview of Custer State Park
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt_mgwZ5u_w
Center Lake Campground
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_GgM3_LvdI
3 Scenic Drives in Custer State Park
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-QUtNb3_D0
Must Sees at Mount Rushmore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqLzcw1_ynA
Two Tired Teachers would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Center Lake is the Best Spot to enjoy the Black Hills”
Reviewed 10/13/2020
| Nightly rate: | $35 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 5 |
Overall Rating
Center Lake campground is a same day campground booking. If you have a big rig call VERY EARLY at 7 am Central time to book a spot. They don’t take reservations but fill up right away each morning. Tent sites are more available. We had no cell service there, but if you take the hike we had cell service at the top of the hike and I’... more
Center Lake campground is a same day campground booking. If you have a big rig call VERY EARLY at 7 am Central time to book a spot. They don’t take reservations but fill up right away each morning. Tent sites are more available. We had no cell service there, but if you take the hike we had cell service at the top of the hike and I’ll admit taking more hikes than I needed just to make a phone call. Center lake had incredible trout fishing! Bathrooms were clean and the staff were incredibly nice and helpful. You could easily stay here for a week and not run out of stuff to do :). Needles, Rushmore, Buffalo all close by
Wanderingoldens would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
Page 1 of 2
Be the first to add a note for Center Lake Campground!
57 reviews
Have you written a blog post about Center Lake Campground?
Contact us to update this listing.
Amenities
Hookups
- dry camping
Recreation
- fishing
- playground
- recreation trail
- swimming beach
- water access
Site Amenities
- big rig
Facilities
- restrooms: vault
- showers
Pets
- pets
Nearby RV Rentals
In partnership with
Nearby RV Rentals
In partnership with
5 Reviews
2024 TRAVEL TRAILER
Jayco Jay Flight SLX 184BH
$110 /night | Sleeps 5 Guests
New Listing
2024 TRAVEL TRAILER
Jayco Jay Flight SLX 184BS
$110 /night | Sleeps 5 Guests
5 Reviews
2020 CLASS C MOTOR HOME
Forest River Forester 32LE
$249 /night | Sleeps 10 Guests
New Listing
2020 TRAVEL TRAILER
Heartland Mallard 26
$175 /night | Sleeps 8 Guests
2 Reviews
2019 FIFTH WHEEL
Keystone RV Montana High Country 364BH
$195 /night | Sleeps 6 Guests
5 Reviews
2021 FIFTH WHEEL
Grand Design Reflection 31MB
$225 /night | Sleeps 6 Guests
Nearby
Elk Haven Horse Camp
Better if you have a horse, but any space on July 4th! GREAT cafe/gift shop.
- Kim and Cary
Please select a reason for flagging this item: