Spearfish City Campground, Spearfish SD to State Game Lodge Campground, Custer SD

October 1, 2025

When we checked into the Spearfish City Campground, the staff informed us that the water supply to all sites would be shut off starting Wednesday, October 1st. She mentioned it might happen around 8:00 to 9:00 am and that we were welcome to stay, but there would be no water available.

In the morning, Ron got an early start flushing and draining the tanks. While he worked on this, one of our campground neighbors stopped by for a chat. They owned a 2015 Bambi Airstream, and as is common among Airstream owners, we ended up talking about travel and Airstream life, among other things. During the conversation, we noticed the water had gone off, but since we were nearly done, we packed up the hoses and got ready to leave. By 10:00 a.m., we were all set to head out. Our next campsite was about an hour and a half away, with a check-in time of noon, so leaving at 10 ensured we’d arrive right on time.

With some time to spare, we decided to explore the Historic Fish Hatchery next to the Spearfish City campground. It was on our list to visit before leaving, but we hadn’t realized it was a Historic National Fish Hatchery and Archives. As you may know, due to the Government shutdown, most National Parks are either closed or offering limited services. We were able to walk around the grounds and were amazed by the trout swimming in the crystal-clear hatchery waters. There were also historic homes, a boat, a railcar used to transport fingerlings in the 1800s, and more. It was incredibly fascinating, and we wish we could have taken the full tour—maybe next time!

Game Lodge Campground is truly a top-notch destination campground and stands out among the many we’ve visited. Nestled in the Black Hills of South Dakota, it offers stunning views of mountains, hillsides, and abundant wildlife. Custer State Park, the second-largest state park in the U.S., boasts nine campgrounds, and Game Lodge is ranked the best. It features spacious campsites, fire rings, trees, a pond, trails, plenty of wildlife to enjoy, and more.

We arrived on time and got set up in site #18. There is electric at the site, but you have to fill up your water tank upon entering the campgrounds. They have a dump station to empty tanks before leaving. We read and saw videos about the Wildlife Loop at the park and decided to check it out. Before leaving a herd of Bighorn Sheep made their way through the campground and Ron was able to get some photos.

The Wildlife Loop stretches 20 miles of winding roads through vast grasslands, climbing hills and peaks that offer stunning views of the immense pine forests. There are plenty of pull-offs for enjoying the scenery or spotting wildlife. Early in our trip, we came across a large bison close to the roadside. To snap a good photo, we had to turn around and park near the enormous animal. Each year, Custer State Park rounds up the buffalo and moves them to a grassland area to manage the herd. The round-up happened the weekend before we arrived, so we wondered if we’d see any buffalo. But as it happened, we came across a large heard of several hundred roaming across the prairie.

We passed by several Prairie Dog Towns, spotted more Bighorn Sheep, saw Pronghorns—the fastest animal on the North American continent—and encountered wild Burros and deer. It was an incredible day, and we were both amazed by the stunning countryside and the abundance of wildlife. As we paused at scenic overlooks to snap some photos, we took in the pine-scented forest air and immersed ourselves in the breathtaking views. It was definitely an unforgettable day.

We’re staying at campsite #18 for four nights, then moving to site #1 in the campground for another five nights before heading home. Game Lodge is an excellent base for exploring Wind Cave National Park, Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands, Needles Highway, and other attractions in the Black Hills area.