It's best to call six months to a year in advance. Near Mount Rushmore Keystone and Hill City are the nearest communities with guest rooms and campgrounds. Rapid City, the area's largest community, is just 20 minutes from the memorial. Custer is another popular stopping place, especially for those exploring the southern Black Hills. 87 and 89, overlooks beautiful Sylvan Lake and offers 67 sleeping rooms, a dining room, and a cozy lounge.
Guest cabins with fireplaces and kitchenettes are available, as is a large meeting hall.
Favored activities include swimming, paddleboating, fishing, hiking, and rock climbing. The seven-room lodge and adjacent motel units and cottages are still popular today, as is the Game Lodge restaurant, which offers regional specialties such as pheasant, buffalo, and rainbow trout. The lodge is close to hiking, fishing, and wonderful summer stock theater at the Black Hills Playhouse. A pretty alpine lake and 25 quiet cottages set the scene at the quaint Legion Lake Resort. A general store has fishing equipment, camping supplies, souveniers, and gifts.