Ellsworth AFB FamCamp

Very clean, nice shady trees, and very nice people. 

Nice and quiet, we stayed 4 nights and the B-1's flew only one evening. Nice free museum just off base. First night was in overflow, $15. 50 amp only great wifi, 3 more nights in the RV park were $30. per night. Bathrooms/showers are old and need work, laundry is free. We have a 35' 5th wheel and came in the main gate just fine.

This is an update to the directions. We are a 45' motorhome towing a pickup. The sign regarding 29' RVs using the commercial gate is gone. The main gate (Liberty) has 2 swing gate type barriers. The barriers can be opened if necessary. We had no problem going around the barriers and through the gate. A 45' motorhome towing a long trailer might have a problem. Previous directions from the main gate to the FamCamp are good. Services are very convenient to the campground. Good sidewalks for walkers but the mosquitoes are horrendous. Lawn maintenance around the pull thru sites seems not to be a priority as the grass was pretty long. Added: Patriot Gate (by the FamCamp) has 2 swing gate barriers at the entrance. These gates are closer together than those at the main gate and clearance for a 45’ coach with tow vehicle may be a problem. The gates can be opened if necessary.

We are a 45' motorhome towing a truck Big changes. The overflow sites are now directly across from the newer pull thru sites, just east of the child care center. Nice sites, but a big rig might have trouble getting in as the access is narrow. Changes being made to the Patriot Gate (the one next to the famcamp), but hard to tell exactly what they are doing. It looks like they are installing barriers that big rigs towing will probably not fit through. We had planned to come in the main gate, but there is now a sign saying rigs over 29 feet should use the commercial gate. We checked out the main gate and they have installed barriers that you have to curve around to get through. Big rigs will have trouble. Best way to the commercial gate if you are going East on I-90 is to use exit 63 (which has a sign saying commercial gate). Follow that road until the next sign saying commercial gate which is a left turn. After the gate watch for Spaatz Road (should be past Davis George and Eaker)and turn right. Take that to Schriever go left one block to Arnold. Go straight on Arnold to the famcamp. Other than that, past comments all apply.

The location being so close to the Black Hills and Rapid City makes sightseeing trips fairly easy. The park was clean, the staff terrific, but (I know, there's always a 'but'...) the washers and dryers really need some attention, almost half on either side are always 'out of order'. The base saw fit to place brand new dumpsters in the park, when there wasn't anything wrong with the old ones, but you can't fix your washer/dryer problem? I shouldn't complain too much, as the laundry is free, but having said, that, I am remiss as to why the base felt it was more urgent to replace dumpsters than washers/dryers. Overall, I gave the park a 3.4 rating due to the laundry facility, TERRIBLE Wifi (I don't know how that previous rater could say it was 'excellent'; it was FAR from that!), and a bit steep on the price. MWR used to charge based on rate/rank accordingly. Whatever happened to that system?

Have stayed in a few military parks and this one was fantastic. Limited experience but have not stayed in a bad military park as all have been secure, accommodating, and friendly. Ellsworth offered cement sites with easy hookups, excellent WIFI, and free laundry. Can't beat any of that. The weather however was foggy and cool which limited our vacation plans but certainly not any fault to Ellsworth AFB. BX and commissary within a mile or two. Will definitely come back to this park. Most modern I have seen.

The directions sent to us by the campground office were “misleading” but office staff said they were in the process of resolving. The Patriot Gate ( open until 6 weekdays) is the best gate to come in. The campground is on your right soon after entry. There are two sections to the park. The older part is in “wagon wheels” with all back in sites. Our site was not long enought for our 5th wheel and truck and had a tree at the back of the site that blocked our back door. The newer section is all pull thru. All sites are concrete with a patio, table and grill. Free wi-fi ( sometime spotty). Our satellite worked fine and you can get quite a few OTA channels. Small but adequate commissery and exchange. Base gas station has diesel. Bowling alley ( but don’t eat at the snack bar), movie theater, golf course and a great air museum right outside of base. Not too many stores nearby but this is a great place to stay to visit all the sites in the surrounding area. No play ground for kids but plenty of grassy area for you dog to walk. They are in the process of adding some pull thru overflow sites across from the FamCamp. I thought the price was a little high but we did get one night free with staying a week. Also, if you are looking for a "day of” place to stay try to call during the business hours. They have a board in front of the office which every night it said “no vacancy”…..but there ere empty sites every night. The office staff said they don’t change it if they just have a few sites available.

One of the nicest FamCamps we've stayed in. Quiet, clean, walking distance to shoppette, and there's a thrift shop on base with all sorts of treasures. Concrete pads, easy hookups, and nothing beats hearing reville in the morning! There is overflow area, or park in front of Dakota Club. Not far from Rapid City, and all the Black Hills attractions. Free Laundry. The grass will become 12" high before they mow it though, that's the only possible thing to fuss about with this campground. Wifi was passable, but not wonderful.