Custer State Park Campgrounds Review

Absolutely YES for sites 1-30 at Sylvan (directly facing the spires and lake). The sunrise view alone is worth the premium. Sites 31-50 don't have views and aren't worth the extra $4 - book Game Lodge instead. Pro tip: Sites 9, 14, and 22 at Sylvan have the BEST views. If those are taken, Game Lodge is more convenient (restaurant, store, showers) and $28/week cheaper. Both fill up 90 days out at 7 AM Central - set three alarms and be ready to click 'reserve' the second they open.

You're mostly cut off. Verizon gets 1-2 bars at Game Lodge and Blue Bell (enough for texts/calls, not data). AT&T is useless everywhere except the visitor center. T-Mobile forget it. At Sylvan Lake, Legion Lake, and Stockade Lake, you have ZERO service - truly off-grid. Download offline maps (Google/Apple Maps), AllTrails app, and any info BEFORE entering the park. Emergency: Drive to Game Lodge visitor center or Sylvan Lake Lodge for WiFi. This is a feature if you want digital detox, a dealbreaker if you need connectivity.

Maybe at Game Lodge or Center Lake, definitely NOT at Sylvan. We tried this in late June (Wednesday) - arrived at Game Lodge at 10 AM and snagged site 47 (someone just left). By noon, all sites were full. Sylvan Lake had a 2-hour wait list with 8 RVs circling. Your best bet: Book Blue Bell or Stockade Lake (less popular, more first-come sites). Or arrive Sunday-Monday when weekend warriors leave. Don't risk July-August without reservations unless you have backup plans (KOA in Hill City 25 miles away).

We saw 40+ bison within 50 feet of our car at multiple spots on Wildlife Loop Road (18-mile scenic drive). Early morning (6:30-8 AM) is KEY - bison graze near the road before heat drives them to shade. We also saw pronghorn, prairie dogs, wild turkeys, and burros. One bison walked 10 feet from our truck and we got incredible photos. Late afternoon (5-7 PM) is second-best time. Midday (10 AM-4 PM) you'll see distant herds but not close encounters. CRITICAL: Stay in your vehicle or 100+ feet away - a tourist got charged in 2023 and was lucky to survive.

DO NOT attempt Needles Highway in anything over 25 feet long, 8 feet wide, or 10 feet tall. The tunnels are INSANELY tight - some are literally 8 feet wide and 10 feet tall with sharp turns. You WILL scrape your RV or get stuck (saw a 28-footer wedged in a tunnel requiring a tow-out). Drive Wildlife Loop in your RV (totally safe, wide road), then rent a car in Hill City ($40/day) to experience Needles Highway. Iron Mountain Road is equally dangerous for RVs (low tunnels and hairpin curves). Your RV will thank you.

The Creekside Lodge restaurant is a 3-minute walk from sites 1-50, 8-minute walk from sites 51-100. Showers are in the same building (bring quarters - $1 for 5 minutes of hot water). Restaurant is overpriced ($18 burgers, $14 breakfast) but decent quality and VERY convenient when you're tired from hiking. Store sells firewood ($9/bundle), ice cream, and basic groceries at markup prices. Worth using 1-2 times for convenience, but stock up at grocery stores in Custer (15 miles) before entering the park.

Depends on your battery setup and weather. June-August nights are 60-70°F - you can skip AC and save $70-126/week going basic. May or September nights drop to 40-50°F - electric heat is worth it. We stayed 5 nights in basic sites at Center Lake (mid-June) and ran off solar + propane furnace just fine. But friends at Game Lodge with electric ran AC daily in July heat and needed shore power. Calculate: $126/week savings buys a LOT of propane. If you're boondocking-capable, basic sites are 50% cheaper.

Safeway in Custer (15 miles from park entrance) sells bundles for $6.50. Gas stations on US-385 have bundles for $7-8. You CANNOT gather wood in the park (illegal and $200 fine). Stock up before entering - if you're staying a week, buy 10-14 bundles in Custer and save $25-35 total. Only buy at Game Lodge store if you arrive late and forgot. Also grab groceries in Custer - milk and beer are $2-4 cheaper per item than park stores.