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Rafter J Bar Ranch Campground: Traveller Reviews

12325 Rafter J-Bar Road, Keystone, SD 57745
Hotel amenities
Rafter J Bar Ranch Campground
4.5 of 5 stars 48 Reviews
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48 reviews from our community

    Trip type
Traveller rating
    33
    8
    4
    2
    1
Date Rating
Morton, Illinois
Contributor
18 reviews 18 reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
13 helpful votes 13 helpful votes
“Great Campground”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 5 January 2012
2
people found this review helpful

We have stayed here twice and would stay here again and again. We rented a cabin with a bathroom and air conditioning. You don't need the air because it is cool here in the summer. This is the most reasonable place to stay in the Black Hills and is right on the George S Mickelson Bike Trail. The cabins are always clean. We stay in one with a covered porch. They all have fire pits. Be sure to bring towels and bedding but it is well worth the effort.

  • Stayed July 2011, travelled with family
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Ask JEBstuart about Rafter J Bar Ranch Campground
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Kaysville, Utah
Contributor
13 reviews 13 reviews
18 helpful votes 18 helpful votes
“Great Location, Pretty area”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 24 October 2011
5
people found this review helpful

We stayed here for 5 nights in the Ranch Camp area in a tent this past June. This area is shaded and pretty and seems like a real campground...not like a KOA. The sites are well spaced, the restrooms/showers were clean. Ranch Camp is furthest from the store and pool, but with bikes you can get down there in a jif. The location is just outside of Hill City and it is close to everything you would want to do in the Black Hills. The Mickelson Trail is right on the property so if you're a biker or a runner, this a great place to take advantage of that beautiful trail. You have water, electricity and a fire pit, but still feel like your roughing it because of the beautiful surroundings. The rest of the property wasn't as shaded and pretty as Ranch Camp was and there were some areas that did seem like a KOA, but some people like that. They had campsites, RV sites, and cabins. My kids swam in the pool almost every day and other than it being cold (it was the earlier part of June) they enjoyed the pool area. The food available at the store was just basic and kind of expensive, but Hill City is not far away. Overall, I really liked it and would suggest it to people visiting the Black Hills.

Room Tip: If you like more of a true camping experience choose Ranch Camp. If you don't mind the more KOA...
See more room tips
  • Stayed June 2011, travelled with family
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 3 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
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Ask naturelover4278 about Rafter J Bar Ranch Campground
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Egypt
Senior Contributor
42 reviews 42 reviews
Reviews in 39 cities Reviews in 39 cities
33 helpful votes 33 helpful votes
“Excellent Campground, Good Cabins”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 21 October 2011
4
people found this review helpful

Stayed here for 2 nights & from the moment you enter the campground you realize that it is one of the best in the country. The campground is huge, well maintaned, clean & quiet. You get the feeling that it is well managed & that everything is in place.
I stayed in a traditional 4-person cabin & it was a very good stay. The cabin is located in an area just off the entrance from hill city side & it was among 10 or so other cabins.The cabin is very simple and very clean with 1 queen bed, twin bunkbeds, a table & couple of chairs. There is also a heater in the cabin which worked very well. However, be warned that the cabin lack any kind of beddings at all (no linens, pillows, covers) so you have to make sure to bring your own with you.
The bathrooms/showers are located at one end of the area, & they are spotlessly clean & large.

  • Stayed September 2011, travelled solo
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
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Ask Mobz11 about Rafter J Bar Ranch Campground
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Fort Worth, Texas
2 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
“Great place”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 14 October 2011
3
people found this review helpful

Great location and what you see on the web site is what you get, you have plenty of space between camp sites and your less than an hour from most of all the major sites. The bathhouse is clean and spotless and the wildlife (deer) walks thru the park almost every night, people are friendly overall a great place to stay to get away from the rat race and kick back and count the stars at night or have a campfire and relax

  • Stayed September 2011
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Ask SJones6288 about Rafter J Bar Ranch Campground
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Phoenix, Arizona
Senior Contributor
29 reviews 29 reviews
Reviews in 14 cities Reviews in 14 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
“Beautiful setting, comfy cabins, and delicious pancakes!”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 4 September 2011
2
people found this review helpful

We rented one of the traditional 4-person cabins for a 1-night stay on a cross-country road trip. The cabin is very simple, but comfortable and pet-friendly. (Not all of the cabins are pet-friendly, so make sure you confirm.) There was a queen bed, twin bunkbeds, and a little table. No linens, so make sure you bring some or have sleeping bags. The bathrooms are clean, and they also have washers/dryers available. The pancake breakfast is a great way to start your morning, and I can promise that you will be full all day! Make sure to stop by the old barn and read the history of the ranch. It's quite interesting.

  • Stayed August 2011, travelled as a couple
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Ask Mathemagic about Rafter J Bar Ranch Campground
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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