Horsethief Lake Campground
Black Hills National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Hill City, SD, SD
Price: From $30 per night
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (217 reviews)
Season: Memorial Day through Labor Day
Located 10 miles south of Hill City, South Dakota, Horsethief Lake Campground is a delightful setting for visitors seeking recreation and relaxation in Black Hills National Forest. This campground is 2 miles from Mount Rushmore National Memorial and adjacent to Horsethief Lake. Sites are tucked into a forest of towering ponderosa and lodgepole pine.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): moderate signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups, Camp Host, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/horsethief-lake-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Horsethief Lake Campground offers picture-perfect camping in Black Hills National Forest, just 2 miles from Mount Rushmore National Memorial and adjacent to a scenic, trout-stocked lake. Campers consistently praise the beautiful setting, friendly camp host, and excellent recreation opportunities.
Wildlife alert: Prairie Rattlesnake, Bald Eagle, Mountain Goat, Mule Deer, Yellow-bellied Marmot, Western Painted Turtle
Insider tips for Horsethief Lake Campground: Book early — this is a popular federal campground First-come, first-serve campsites available If arriving with a trailer, ensure you pull into the designated camping side Lake is stocked with trout for fishing Located only 6 minutes from Mount Rushmore evening light-up and movie
Skip Horsethief Lake Campground if: You need full RV hookups — campground has no hookups at most sites, suitable only for self-contained RVs. You plan to visit outside Memorial Day through Labor Day — seasonal operations only.
Best time to visit Horsethief Lake Campground: Memorial Day - Labor Day — Only operating season per verified data.
Nearby campgrounds: Grizzly Bear Campground (Keystone, SD), Willow Creek Horse Camp (Hill City, SD), Iron Creek Horse Camp (Custer, SD), Sheridan Lake (Rapid city, SD).
Cell Phone Coverage at Horsethief Lake Campground
Cell signal at Horsethief Lake Campground (Hill City, SD): moderate overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Located 10 miles south of Hill City, South Dakota, Horsethief Lake Campground is a delightful setting for visitors seeking recreation and relaxation in Black Hills National Forest. This campground is 2 miles from Mount Rushmore National Memorial and adjacent to Horsethief Lake. Sites are tucked into a forest of towering ponderosa and lodgepole pine.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a popular federal campground
First-come, first-serve campsites available
If arriving with a trailer, ensure you pull into the designated camping side
Lake is stocked with trout for fishing
Located only 6 minutes from Mount Rushmore evening light-up and movie
Only operating season per verified data
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: Verizon.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Hill City, take U.S. Rt. 16/385 south 3 miles to State Rt. 244. Turn left onto Rt. 244. Travel 5.9 miles to campground sign. Turn right at sign into campground.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Black Hills National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Black Hills National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Horsethief Lake Campground cost per night?+
What season is Horsethief Lake Campground open?+
Does Horsethief Lake Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Horsethief Lake Campground?+
How do I make reservations at Horsethief Lake Campground?+
What is the cell service like at Horsethief Lake Campground?+
What season is Horsethief Lake Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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