Ellsworth AFB FamCamp

We spent 6 nights at Ellsworth AFB FamCamp, Rapid City, SD. This was a great FamCamp. We came in through the main gate after going through the Visitor's Center. Coming in it was fine for our 43' fifth wheel and tow rig. We did exit through the commercial gate and recommend that. The staff was great, Greta was cheerful and helpful, correcting the computer information and providing us the "residency invoices" we needed to renew our drivers licenses. Just a great person to have at the check in desk. The all the main sites are level concrete pads. The overflow is gravel sites. The back in loops are paved asphalt. The pull through area are gravel roads. Utilities were handy and worked properly. Laundry was down to 3 washers and 4 dryers, They were free, but did need some attention. Dumpster was handy. Easy access on and off base. Exchange was smaller, but nicely stocked. Exchange gas station has Diesel and the lowest price in town! Great access to Mount Rushmore, Deadwood, Crazy Horse, and Sturgis (about an hour) A little further to Spearfish, Custer State Park, Badlands, and Wall Drug. About 2 hours to Devil's Tower, Wy. Nice Air Museum at the gate, but the indoor displays were shut for renovations.

The famcamp's location IVO the east side of Rapid City is the stuff of legends. We routinely(!) took a picnic lunch to Mount Rushmore where we walked the Presidential Trail and I'd film myself laughing "there goes your inheritance!" We did an overnight circle through Badlands Nat'l Park, ending back at Mount Rushmore on day #2 for the lighting ceremony. Then we did a whole day at Custer State Park and ended back at Mount Rushmore for the lighting ceremony. We visited the Crazy Horse monument and watched its lighting ceremony multiple times, and we took the $125 "hard hat" tour to see & touch the work in progress. Sturgis and Deadwood are both day trips from Ellsworth; you can take scenic state roads to get there and RTB via I-90. Sam's Club, Walmart a couple of miles down I-90 from the base. Great news: the commissary & BX staff are eager to help and the Air & Space Museum reopened just as we prepared to depart. NOW FOR THE SCUTTLEBUTT. Yes, we paid $1,620 for a month's stay. No, we didn't play "Tetris" moving the RV every few days, simply because we booked (and paid) many months ahead. Yes, there were vacancies most days of our stay, overflow open all but one day of our stay, and tenting open all throughout our stay. "Tetris" is a big thing at this famcamp, management won't do it on their end (I gave -1 for hospitality for this alone). I talked to multiple crew and they all told the same story: new management took heed of complaints about seasonal RVers hogging the spots, so they went to $54 daily w/ a 30-day limit and you must depart the base at least one night (NO parking in overflow, repeat "NO" and this comes straight from the crew's mouths). So far as I could tell, these changes really did cut down on seasonal hogs. Driving around the countryside, we pulled into similar (repeat "similar") camp/glamp sites to check on prices and found them to be roughly equal -- except during the "Sturgis Rally" timeframe when $54/day is insanely cheap! Laundry remains free and they'd just replaced a washer when we arrived. I can't attest to their internet because I brought my own.

Close to the local shoppette (0.9mile) and commissary (1.2mile). Free laundry facility. Clean restrooms/showers. Dry camp area nice for tent camping as there is no water or sewer. Other sites are hard, concrete pads, with water, sewer and 30/50amp electric. Nice area, with some pads having shade from young trees. Nice stay. Also, can hear/see at least twice a day the B1B bombers taking off as this is one of two active B1B bomber bases in the world.

$5 Dry tent site with easy access on payment to restrooms, showers and free laundry. Many grassy areas shaded/sunny with picnic tables and grills ready at all times. The base had many opportunities to do things from shopping, free movies at the theater on Fri & Sat, to an outdoor event with food, music, games and prizes. I was busy at all times when not traveling to the local sightseeing opportunities. Badlands, Custer State Park, Mt. Rushmore, Caves, everything approximately within 1 hour from base. Sarah was the best in the office with lots of advice and answers to all questions. Make sure you are here on a Friday for free donut day! By far the best experience I have had at a Fam Camp.

Follow the directions above! Don't trust your GPS! Arrived Sunday, July 3rd. GPS took us to the Commerical Gate via 225th St. GATE CLOSED! Fortunately, we could see the gate was closed and turned left on E Ellsworth that took us back to Liberty Blvd where we turned right, went past the museum, through the main gate. We are 34 feet, towing a 15 ft SUV, and had no problem navigating the barriers. The barriers at the main gate are movable, so larger RVs probably could gain access to the base on weekends and holidays. We will come back!

We made Ellsworth AFB our base camp while exploring the Black Hills. The directions to the FamCamp the office sends you are spot on. You would expect the famCamp to be at the end of one of the runways or the other side of the base, but it's smack-dab in the center of base. Check in was easy and our campsite was easy to locate and back in. The campground, bathhouse and laundry (free) are clean and well maintained. There are trees on lots providing some shade. Water, power and sewer were stable. The base has all amenities including a gas station close by so you can top off your fuel for the next leg of your trip. This is a B-1 bomber base so there is some jet noise, but the jets are a sight to behold. Wi-Fi is ok at times depending on how many people in camp are using it at the same time. Cell phone coverage was good for AT&T.

Older review, but I wanted to share. We stayed overnight while traveling from Alaska to Kentucky. Very impressed with the CG. If I was back in the area I would stay again. No issues with power or water. Easy to access and close to BX.

Despite all of the "best campground" awards they have on display, the staff was less than helpful. We were there with three other couples and we had sites together when we made reservations but when we showed up they had moved all of us. The reason given was to support Active Duty people PCSing there but at least 1 of our original spots was empty during our entire stay. We were all charged different amounts even though were were there the exact same days. We did get that sorted out after some lengthy conversations with the staff. We also did a video review of this place posted above.

Called several times for reservation. No answer and no call back. Other guests same problem. Arrived after after hours, sign indicated "no vacancy ". No less than 10 places open w only 2 packets in vestibule for late arrivals. Spoke to sqn commander--hopiing for improvement.

Weekend Arrivals Be Forewarned: We have stayed in military famcamps across the U.S. This camp is well maintained, sites are paved, clean and the grass is cut. However, the directions on the website are deplorable and INACCURATE... BE ADVISED: the commercial gate is NOT OPEN on weekends or after working hours. If you get to the commercial gate and it is closed, you will be stuck on an incline, with no where to turn around or backup. The only way out is to drive across a field. Which is dangerous and unsafe. This is a simple problem to fix: edit famcamp directions and have booking staff tell weekend arrivals the commercial gate is closed on weekends. (Editors Note: The directions provided came from other campers. If they are incorrect, please provide correct and detailed directions to share with other website users. Thanks!)

We are currently camped at Ellsworth AFB FamCamp in Rapid City SD site #8. When we got to our site and hooked up water the pressure was so low we could not get water in the rv. We contacted the office and was informed that there was a water leak affecting sites 6, 7, 8. They reduced our fee from $30 a night to $15 a night and we proceeded to fill our fresh water tank so we could use on board water. It took nearly 10 hours to fill the tank. When we asked when the leak was going to be repaired we were told that the skipper of the base said they did not have the funds to repair the leak which had been on going for over a month. Talking with campers in site 6 and 7 they told us the same thing. I find it unacceptable that they would rather pay the huge water bill that is seeping into the ground than repair the pipes. We love this FamCamp and with how difficult is to even get a space shows that this place makes good money. I hate that they will not repair the issues and are willing to let this beautiful campground fall into disrepair.

This was our second stay at Ellsworth AFB Famcamp and it's just a nice park. There are some areas that are in a wagon wheel formation and there is a section that has pull throughs. There is plenty of room between the sites and it feels very comfortable. The roads are paved and the sites are concrete. (I think the pull through roads are gravel but sites are concrete). The back in sites in the wagon wheels are easy back in's because they are slanted so you can almost do a straight back in. Utilities are placed well and are in good repair. There were about 4 or 5 sites in our area that were having water pressure issues. They worked on it while we were there but never got it resolved. Everyone else had good pressure. The base is large and "Air Force" neat. Rapid City has anything and everything you'd need in eating out and/or shopping. Then, of course, there is Mount Rushmore, Black Hills, The Bad Lands, Custer State Park. There is no doubt it is a beautiful area to visit. Our only complaint is wind. It is relentlessly windy, which is annoying!

This was our 2nd time staying here at Ellsworth AFB. The check-in was easy and the sites had cement pads, were level and the water/power/sewer hookups were all good. There was no problem coming in the commercial gate and it was a short drive to the RV park. There is a gas station/mini mart within walking distance from the park. We stayed here in a 30' Class C motorhome and will be back on our next adventure!

What a pretty park. Later in the evening the deer came down to graze! Did not use the facilities (bath/shower). Pleasant stay will come again!

Nice place and convenient to the Black Hills. High season rates are slightly higher than listed here, $30 per night FHU, $180 week. Level and wide concrete spaces with scattered trees and BBQ grills. We prefer the pull-thru spaces for our 40 ft with toad, but have used the back-in spaces with no problem as well. Overflow sites are well spaced, a little bumpy and uneven but hey, the price is right at $15! Gate entry after hours and on weekends must be thru Liberty gate. Patriot Gate is now open during duty hours, we had no problem navigating thru with the toad. Laundry is free, a small picnic table outside and one inside if you want to hang out watching the spin cycle. If you have to do several loads be advised there are a couple rolling baskets to help carry your laundry, because some sites have a bit of a hike to the laundry room!