GAME LODGE CAMPGROUND, CUSTER STATE PARK, SOUTH DAKOTA

Our Opinion: Rave. Beautiful, green, level campground in a gorgeous state park filled with wildlife.

Date of Stay: June 19 and 20, 2008

Weather During Stay: Wild. Sunny, clear mornings; severe thunderstorms in the afternoon with lightening, thunder and hail; cleaning just before dark. Highs in low 70’s, lows in low 50’s.

Site Description: All sites have 50/30/20 amp E, no water or sewer. Dump station. Roads and sites are paved. Many sites are large enough for a big rig. Lots of trees; sites on the south side of the campground loop are in heavy forest. We preferred the more open sites. Each site has a picnic table. Sites are large and well separated from each other by mown grass lawns and leafy trees. All sites can be reserved.

Rate: $22/night for the campsite plus a park “license” for day use, $5/person good for one week. For a two night stay, we paid $44 in camping fees plus $10 for the “licenses” - $54 total.

Phone/radio/TV: Our Verizon phones get 1 bar with the external antenna, no service without the antenna. No aircard service. Both are available in the town of Custer, 10 miles or so east. No antenna TV. Our TV satellite was unobstructed. Local NPR on 102.5.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: This campground is one of several located in a gorgeous, amazingly green, state park. Elevation is 4,200’. Views are of forested hillsides, huge expanses of mown lawn, camping cabins and neighboring campers.

Lighting/Noise: A bright light on each restroom and the laundry - too bad! Noise is moderate during the day: traffic on the park road and campers. Very quiet at night.

Favorite Sites: We liked the one we had, 12E. Good view of the daily action at the dump station! The only sites we would avoid are those on the south side of the loop as they are heavily treed.

Hiking/Walking: Great 2 mile paved bike/hike path from Game Lodge Campground to the Grace Coolidge Campground. Use it to walk to the Norbeck Visitor Center (with good bison viewing), to the Game Lodge Resort, and to the Coolidge Store and Gift Shop (ice cream). Bison are often spotted along the path, near the Game Lodge and across from the Norbeck Visitor Center. Lots of trail in the park, but plan to hike/walk early to avoid the afternoon thunderstorms.

Comments: We love this place. It is easy to spot bison a short walk from the campground, and the Wildlife Loop Drive begins right outside the campground. On a drive today, we saw several each of bison, pronghorn, big horn sheep and wild burros.