We stayed for a month at the wonderful Big Pine Campground in May and June of 2014.
The campground could be classified as "classic" in that it does not have any of the bells and whistles of many modern RV resorts but given the quaint, rustic nature of South Dakota's Black Hills region in general, I couldn't imagine a more fitting place to stay.
The park is located off a main road about 2.5 miles west of the center of the little town of Custer. While the campground is located close to the road, we rarely heard any traffic noise (just the occasional truck). While we were staying here, there was some minor noise from occasional logging throughout the Black Hills National Forest (which encompasses the entire region). However, normally all we heard was the friendly hello from the hosts and our neighbors and the gentle winds rustling through the pines.
If you're still and quiet, you will see the abundant wildlife in the area. For many mornings, we were visited by a small herd of deer. They would slowly make their way up the small valley that winds up through the campground.
If you are so inclined, there are many outdoor activities to keep you occupied. Of course, there is Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Monument, the Black Hills and Badlands, Devils Tower (a bit of a drive), and Custer State Park (our personal favorite), but there are also countless day trips throughout the region.
As other reviewers have mentioned, the owners, Ron and Angie (and their puppies too), are incredibly welcoming and helpful. We would have been very satisfied with our stay even without their hospitality and friendship but their charismatic personalities pushed our experience over the top.
While Custer, South Dakota is a bit out of the way for most travelers, this is a campground we would significantly alter our plans to visit again. In short, we loved it here and will absolutely stay again!
Links:
Big Pine Campground: http://www.bigpinecampground.com/
Custer, South Dakota: http://www.visitcuster.com/
Black Hills National Forest: http://www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills
Mount Rushmore: http://www.nps.gov/MORU/planyourvisit/index.htm
Crazy Horse Monument: http://crazyhorsememorial.org/
Black Hills and Badlands: http://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/
Devils Tower: http://www.nps.gov/deto/index.htm
Custer State Park: http://gfp.sd.gov/state-parks/directory/custer/
NOAA Weather Forecast: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=43.76664916700048&lon=-103.59880685199965&site=all&smap=1#.VHIzfMm9ZK0
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