$50–100

There is something appealing on a road trip about lodging in a 1950s motel. The Rocket Motel (211 Mt. Rushmore Rd., 605/673-4401, www.rocketmotel.com, open mid-Apr.–mid-Dec., $75) fits the bill. Family-owned since 1950, it is a AAA rated hotel with 27 rooms, free wireless Internet, refrigerators, microwaves, clean rooms, and really friendly service. The owners have gone out of their way to keep the rooms authentic to the era with furniture and lamp fixtures from the 1950s and black, grey, and white checked ’50s-style carpet. All the bedding is brand-new pillowtop-style and all the linens are new as well. Several of the rooms are designed especially for families, with a queen bed in one room, one bath and a second bedroom with either two doubles or a double and a twin. It’s a great way to enjoy a family vacation that leaves mom and dad a little privacy.

The Bavarian Inn (Hwy. 16/385 N., 605/673-2802 or 800/657-4312, www.bavarianinnsd.com, open Apr. 15–Nov., $67–87) is an chalet-style property just north of Custer on Highway 385/16. The rooms are fairly standard hotel issue but come with many amenities. Every room has a microwave and refrigerator. There is free wireless Internet, a guest laundry, and free continental breakfast. The grounds include a heated pool inside and a heated pool outside. A hot tub is located next to the indoor pool. The property also sports a tennis court. The Bavarian Inn Restaurant is on-site. This is one of the best modestly priced properties in the area.

Another great choice is the Calamity Peak Lodge (12557 U.S. 16A, 605/673-2357, www.blackhills.com/calamitypeak, open May–Oct., rooms $70–100, 2-bedroom house $180), an older but well-kept property located two miles east of downtown Custer on U.S. 16A. Located just minutes from the west entrance to Custer State Park, the views are great, the rooms are clean, and the price is right. The rooms are pine paneled and cozy and evoke feelings of summer camp. Most of the rooms have kitchenettes. Free wireless Internet is included. For a historical touch, French Creek, where gold was first discovered in the Black Hills, winds through the property.

$100–150

Mid-range hotel rooms are primarily chains. The 81-room Best Western Buffalo Ridge Inn (310 W. Mt. Rushmore Rd., 605/673-2275, open May–Oct., $109–139) provides spacious and clean rooms. Amenities include a free continental breakfast, indoor heated pool and hot tub, free high-speed Internet access, microwave, and refrigerator. Many of the rooms have drive-up access.

The Comfort Inn (339 W. Mt. Rushmore Rd., 605/673-3221 or 800/424-6423, $99–110) has 83 very spacious rooms with light wood furnishings. Overall the feel is somewhat spare and elegant. Hotel amenities include an indoor pool and hot tub, free high-speed Internet, free local calls, free local newspaper, guest laundry, a small exercise room, and free continental breakfast.

The Custer Mansion Bed & Breakfast (35 Centennial Dr., 605/673-3333 or 877/519-4948, www.custermansionbb.com, open year-round, $80–130) is a great choice in this price category. Built in 1891, the Victorian-style house has been beautifully restored and is listed on the National Register of Historic Homes. There are five rooms, each named and decorated based on a different theme song, and each has a private bath. The property is located on the west side of town, at the traffic light at the corner of Mount Rushmore Road and U.S. 385 south (where U.S. 385 heads south to Hot Springs and Mount Rushmore Road continues west to Jewel Cave). Note that while the Custer Mansion is open year-round, the owners vacation now and again during the winter months. When they are gone, the inn is closed. Call first.

Over $150

The Holiday Inn Express (433 W. Mt. Rushmore Rd., 605/673-2500, open May–Oct., $150–160) is one of the newest properties in Custer. Built in 2008, it is equipped with a fitness center, pool, and hot tub. A hot breakfast is included in the room rate, as is high-speed Internet access. An interesting feature of the hotel is a nightly bonfire where guests roast marshmallows and enjoy the landscaping.

French Creek Ranch Bed & Breakfast (25042 Kemp Dr., 605/673-4790 or 877/673-4790, www.frenchcreekranch.com, open year-round, rooms $155, RV sites $35) is a beautiful, homey working ranch that has three RV camping spots next to the building and three rooms decorated with Western artifacts and Western and Native American art. Guests are welcome to bring their own horses. The property is just one street back from Mount Rushmore Road, but it feels secluded and the grounds are beautiful. The property backs into a ponderosa pine forest and granite outcroppings. There are eight box stalls for horses and two outdoor corrals. A continental breakfast is included with the room rate. A hot breakfast is available for an additional fee. Prices do not include stable fees.

© Laural A. Bidwell from Moon Mount Rushmore & the Black Hills, 1st Edition