Rafter J Bar Ranch

The Rafter J Bar Ranch could easily be our favorite campground and we really enjoyed our stay there. While the campground has over 150 sites you don't feel like it's that big because of how the loops are spread out. Each of the loops has a bit of a different personality and so I highly suggest you speak with the staff when making your reservations about what you are looking for in a site. We loved the outer ring of the Ranch Camp loop, but if you were concerned about solar or satellite it would likely not be a good fit.

We felt that this campground was well positioned in the area and allowed us to easily get out and explore. The sites that we looked at were all good sized and fairly easy to get in and out of. In some of the loops with trees, some maneuvers are a bit more difficult but totally doable.

The pool and playground areas are nice and when we raised an issue with the staff they were immediately out there to address it. The Camp Store was well stocked with odds and ends and they even had hand scooped ice cream.

We would stay here again in a heartbeat, even sooner if we lived closer...

Even though we made our reservation just a week and a half before we arrived, we asked for the best covered and remote space available and were pleased to be given a spot partially in the trees with a great view. We were the end spot on a small roundabout of four campsites closest to the main buildings and close to the road, but noise and activity was not an issue. Campsites were fairly well spread-out and mostly level. Our site had a nice open grassy space, the only hitch was that our particular space was too close to a tree to use our awning- but I think we were probably the only site with that issue. Almost no cell service (AT&T was pretty much non-existent, spotty Verizon) and no wi-fi away from main building, so disconnecting is not a problem (unless you need service, which was LTE in both nearby towns).

Campground was just 8 miles from Mount Rushmore, 6 miles from Harney Peak and the Needles Highway, a few miles south of Hill City and a few miles north of Custer- great easy access to lots of attractions! Also, the Mickelson Trail (a former railroad bed converted to a 100+ mile multi-use trail) runs along the edge of the property, which was perfect for walking our dog a few miles each day (note: there is a $4/person per day user fee). Would definitely stay here again if we were in the area!

Towering pines and rolling green hills make Rafter J Bar Ranch one of the most beautiful private campgrounds we've visited. Divided into several distinct sections, this RV park offers a site to suite anyone's tastes and needs. During our stay, we opted to stay in the area known as the Ranch Camp, a wooded section at the top of a hill.

Our large, beautiful site backed up to the Black Hills National Forest lands, making it especially scenic. In addition to the natural beauty of the park, we appreciated the amenities. Our kids loved the huge pool and playground, and we enjoyed having plenty of space to walk and jog as we explored the large campground. The Mickelson Bike Trail runs along the edge of the park, and visitors can also hike into the surrounding forest lands.

The campground WiFi was not functional while we were there, but we were pleased to have an excellent Verizon signal.

Rafter J puts you in the center of many Black Hills attractions. It is close to Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, and more. It is the perfect basecamp for exploring the region or for hanging out by a campfire. If you are heading to the Black Hills, I highly recommend a stay at Rafter J. I almost shed a tear when it was time to leave this beautiful park.