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Lodge at Palmer Gulch

2.0 star property
Family-friendly hotel with 2 restaurants and 2 outdoor pools

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for Lodge at Palmer Gulch

Aerial view
2 restaurants, lunch served
Front of property
2 outdoor pools
Terrace/patio
The Lodge at Palmer Gulch in the Black Hills welcomes families and adventurers. Relax in the sauna or spa tub, play basketball, go horseback riding, or browse on-site shops. Start with a continental breakfast; enjoy lunch and dinner at two on-site restaurants.

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Gym
  • Breakfast included

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 6 of 6 rooms

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed

Standard Room, 1 King Bed | 3 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, free cribs/infant beds, free WiFi

Standard Room, 1 King Bed

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(2 reviews)

Highlights

Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Mini-fridge
Flat-screen TV
3 bedrooms
Hair dryer
Microwave
Cable channels
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Standard Double Room

Standard Double Room | 3 bedrooms, iron/ironing board, free cribs/infant beds, free WiFi

Standard Double Room

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(22 reviews)

Highlights

Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Mini-fridge
Flat-screen TV
3 bedrooms
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
Microwave
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Executive Cabin, 3 Bedrooms, Mountain View

Terrace/patio

Executive Cabin, 3 Bedrooms, Mountain View

7.2 out of 10
Good
(7 reviews)

Highlights

Deck/patio
Fireplace
Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Kitchen
Full-sized refrigerator/freezer
Dishwasher
Flat-screen TV
  • 3 bedrooms
  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 8
  • 1 King Bed, 1 Queen Bed, 2 Twin Beds and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Executive Cabin, 3 Bedrooms, Hot Tub, Mountain View

Terrace/patio

Executive Cabin, 3 Bedrooms, Hot Tub, Mountain View

Highlights

Deck/patio
Fireplace
Private outdoor hot tub
Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Kitchen
Full-sized refrigerator/freezer
Dishwasher
  • 3 bedrooms
  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 8
  • 1 Queen Bed, 1 King Bed, 2 Twin Beds and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Executive Cabin, 4 Bedrooms, Hot Tub, Mountain View

Executive Cabin, 4 Bedrooms, Hot Tub, Mountain View | Terrace/patio

Executive Cabin, 4 Bedrooms, Hot Tub, Mountain View

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)

Highlights

Deck/patio
Fireplace
Private outdoor hot tub
Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Kitchen
Full-sized refrigerator/freezer
Dishwasher
  • 4 bedrooms
  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 12
  • 2 King Beds, 4 Twin Beds and 2 Twin Bunk Beds

View all photos for Comfort Double Room, 2 Queen Beds, Fireplace, Annex Building

Comfort Double Room, 2 Queen Beds, Fireplace, Annex Building | Terrace/patio

Comfort Double Room, 2 Queen Beds, Fireplace, Annex Building

Highlights

Deck/patio
Fireplace
Air conditioning
Free cribs/infant beds
Kitchenette
Mini-fridge
Flat-screen TV
3 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

About the neighborhood

Map
12620 HWY 244, Hill City, SD, 57745

What's nearby

  • Needles Highway - 5 min drive - 3.8 miles
  • Mount Rushmore National Memorial - 8 min drive - 5.3 miles
  • Mount Rushmore - 10 min drive - 6.2 miles
  • 1880 Train - 10 min drive - 7.2 miles
  • Prairie Berry Winery - 12 min drive - 6.1 miles

Getting around

  • Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) - 45 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Alpine Inn - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Bumpin' Buffalo - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Dairy Queen - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Carver's Café - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Lost Cabin Brewery and Beer Garden - ‬9 min drive

About this property

Lodge at Palmer Gulch

Family-friendly hotel near Mount Rushmore National Memorial
At Lodge at Palmer Gulch, you can look forward to free continental breakfast, free water park access, and a grocery/convenience store. Adventurous travelers may like the basketball, cycling, and fishing at this hotel. For some rest and relaxation, visit the sauna or the hot tub. Be sure to enjoy lunch, dinner, and kids' meals at the two on-site restaurants. Enjoy the gym, as well as activities like volleyball and horseback riding. Free in-room WiFi is available to all guests, along with a terrace and shopping on site.
Additional perks include:
  • 2 outdoor pools and a children's pool, along with a waterslide
  • Free self parking
  • Bike rentals, tour/ticket assistance, and an elevator
  • A vending machine, ATM/banking services, and an off-leash area
  • Guest reviews say great things about the helpful staff and location
Room features
All 61 rooms include comforts such as air conditioning, in addition to amenities like free WiFi.
More conveniences in all rooms include:
  • Tubs or showers and hair dryers
  • Flat-screen TVs with cable channels
  • Free infant beds, daily housekeeping, and phones

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Terrace/patio

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  • Hot Tub
  • Breakfast included
  • Pet friendly
9.2 out of 10, Wonderful, 1,016 reviews
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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Free self parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking and van parking available

Food and drink

  • Free continental breakfast available daily 7:30 AM to 10:00 AM
  • 2 restaurants
  • A bar/lounge
  • A coffee shop/cafe

Restaurants on site

  • The Peak Grill & Tap Room
  • Turtle Town

Things to do

  • 2 outdoor pools
  • Basketball
  • Bicycle rentals
  • Children's pool
  • Fishing
  • Free water park
  • Gym
  • Horseback riding/rentals
  • Hot tub
  • Mini golf
  • Playground
  • Sauna
  • Shopping
  • Volleyball
  • Waterslide

Family friendly

  • 2 outdoor pools
  • Children's pool
  • Free water park access
  • Grocery/convenience store
  • In-room crib
  • Laundry facilities
  • Mini golf
  • Playground
  • Pool gate
  • Waterslide

Conveniences

  • ATM
  • Gift shop/newsstand
  • Grocery/convenience store
  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Business services

  • 4 meeting rooms
  • 500 square feet of conference space
  • Business center

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • In a national park
  • In the mountains
  • Picnic area
  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Elevator
  • Pool hoist on site
  • Stair-free path to entrance
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible lounge
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
  • Wheelchair-accessible path to elevator
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible restaurant
  • Wheelchair-accessible van parking

More

  • 1 building
  • 3 floors
  • Banquet hall
  • Fireplace in lobby

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Free crib

Bathroom

  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV with cable channels

More

  • Air conditioning (climate-controlled)
  • Free local calls
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3 PM; Check-in end time: midnight
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours), key retrieval

Pets

Pets allowed for an extra charge of USD 25.00 per pet, per day
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
Specific rooms only, restrictions apply; pet-friendly rooms can be requested by contacting the property at the number on the booking confirmation
An off-leash area is available

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
3 children, up to the age of 1, can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 10.00 per day
Free cribs are available on request at the property

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • Pet fee: USD 25.00 per pet, per day
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 10.00 per day

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted

We should mention

The seasonal pool will be open from May to September

Property is also known as

Lodge Palmer Gulch Hill City
Lodge Palmer Gulch
Palmer Gulch Hill City
Palmer Gulch
The Lodge At Palmer Gulch Hotel Hill City
Hotel At Palmer Gulch
At Palmer Gulch Hotel
Lodge at Palmer Gulch Hotel
Lodge at Palmer Gulch Hill City
Lodge at Palmer Gulch Hotel Hill City

Frequently asked questions

Does Lodge at Palmer Gulch have a pool?

Yes, this property has 2 outdoor pools and a children's pool.

Is Lodge at Palmer Gulch pet-friendly?

Yes, dogs are allowed at this property. There's a fee of USD 25.00 per pet, per day. Service animals are exempt from fees. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much is parking at Lodge at Palmer Gulch?

Self parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at Lodge at Palmer Gulch?

Check-in start time: 3 PM; Check-in end time: midnight.

What time is check-out at Lodge at Palmer Gulch?

Check-out is at 11 AM.

Where is Lodge at Palmer Gulch located?

Located in a national park, this family-friendly hotel is within 6 mi (10 km) of Black Elk Peak, Needles Highway, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Mount Rushmore and Black Hills National Forest are also within 6 mi (10 km).

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Lodge at Palmer Gulch Reviews

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 519 out of 910 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 247 out of 910 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 96 out of 910 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 29 out of 910 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 19 out of 910 reviews

8.8/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Staff & service

8.4/10

Amenities

8.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.6/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Levi

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Great accomodations & wondeful helpful staff!
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

L

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place to stay on vacation. It was easy to get to and easy late check in. Very friendly staff & clean.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It was a beautiful place and the location was great. We enjoyed our stay very much and would highly recommend to others.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Autumn

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great amenities for kids and family.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ron

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Christina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location and has everything you need to keep the family fed and busy.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ronald

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Breakfast was just cereal, granola bars and muffins. We were not informed until we arrived the bar and restaurant's were closed for the season.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Steve

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
The staff was very friendly and the room was clean, but had brown water come out of the shower.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Perfect for traveling with kids!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Patricia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great for kids
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Waylon

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great staff and kids activates
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Barbara

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Lovely location. Staff were wonderful, excellent customer service! Lodge is older but clean.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

8/10 Good

Michelle

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I was under the impression that I was booking a room in the lodge. Actually it was a separate multi-cabin. (One long cabin with 4 separate rooms) We were quite a ways from the pools and were no longer part of the free breakfast. Overall, the room/cabin was good, just not what I was expecting.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Crystal

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
On site dining was great!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rita

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Its a great place for a family reunion.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lisa

Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very clean and bed was comfortable staff was friendly
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Renea

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Awesome place
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Shonna

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Perfect family spot for Mt. Rushmore visit!

The rooms in the lodge are really nice! Was expecting something more worn/rustic and was pleasantly surprised. Continental breakfast was really pared down... we chose to pay for the pancake breakfast in the tent. Pool near the lodge and hot tub are heated, great on cold nights. Only a 10 minute drive to the Mount Rushmore entrance and Keystone came in handy b/c the weather wasn't great during our stay and we had to stop multiple times at Mount Rushmore before the fog/mist cleared.
Stayed 1 night in May 2025

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The location is excellent and beautiful. The facilities have a ton of amenities, and great family features (pools, playgrounds, laundry, etc.).
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ben

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
I loved the stay at the Palmer gulch lodge .
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Carol

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Very clean and friendly staff.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Amanda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place to stay with kids. Stayed in the lodge with a balcony. Lots of things to do
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Adam

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
My family really enjoyed the Lodge. We had fun in the pools, rock climbing wall and mini golf. The breakfast options at the lodge were lacking a bit but did the job. Beautiful area and very close to all the Rushmore Activities
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Clarence

Liked: Cleanliness
This lodge has a lots of amazing activities and amenities for the kids.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The cleaning in our room could have been better but the facilities were great and the place is definitely on our visit again list!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

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