Mark and Kristen Morgan are experts at finding and booking hotels. They have been traveling the world non-stop for over 6 years, staying at more than 500 hotels across 4 continents.
They only write about places they have personally visited themselves, which means every article you read is created directly from first hand experience.
Are you looking for the best hotels in Keystone SD? Perfect! We are going to show you the 8 top rated cheap, mid range and luxury hotel options available in the small town of Keystone near Mount Rushmore in South Dakota’s stunning Black Hills.
Instead of trawling through randomly listed hotel search engine results, use our research and data driven guide to find the best hotels in Keystone SD based on location, value, previous guest ratings and our own personal experiences in the city.
Here’s how we will break down the best hotels in Keystone South Dakota to help you find the perfect place to stay:
- Our experience in Keystone
- Why stay in Keystone?
- Keystone SD hotels map
- 8 best Keystone SD hotels
Let’s find you the perfect Keystone hotel for your trip to South Dakota!
*Please note this guide contains affiliate links. If you click on one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the free content we provide! Read more in our disclosure policy.*
Our Experience In Keystone
We have been fortunate enough to stay in Keystone on two separate occasions. The first was in the fall of 2018 and the second was in the spring of 2022.
During our first trip we watched a spectacular sunrise turn the sculpted faces of Mt Rushmore from a cool granite color to a warm pink and a glowing orange hue.
The weather was much colder during our second stay in Keystone and we even had snow on the ground at Mount Rushmore.
Both times we have stayed in Keystone it has been shoulder season, which resulted in hotels with low occupancy rates and very low prices. Mount Rushmore was also very quiet both times.
The downside to our April and October trips to Keystone was that many of the restaurants and amenities were closed for the off season.
Want to visit Mt Rushmore? Read our Mount Rushmore vacation guide on our travel site Where Are Those Morgans next for all the details!
Why Stay In Keystone?
Keystone is the closest place you can stay to Mount Rushmore National Memorial and it is also a fantastic base to use for exploring further into the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Most visitors to the Black Hills either stay in Keystone for one night before moving on to Custer, Hill City, Deadwood and Spearfish or book one hotel in a place like Keystone or Custer for their entire trip.
We personally move hotels each night for the most efficiency. So we have stayed in Keystone for one night during two separate South Dakota road trip itineraries through the Black Hills.
From Keystone you can easily drive the awesome Iron Mountain Road and the picturesque Needles Highway to Sylvan Lake, which is where you can hike Black Elk Peak trail to a special summit viewpoint.
The popular Custer State Park wildlife loop is also an easy drive from Keystone. You can also reach Crazy Horse, Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave within one hour by car.
Badlands National Park is definitely worth visiting when you are in the Black Hills and you can reach the park in around 1 hour 30 minutes from Keystone.
In summary, there are so many fun things to do near Mount Rushmore and Keystone is one of the best places you can stay to explore the region.
What Are The Best Hotels In Keystone?
The term best can be interpreted in several ways and it has a different meaning for everyone.
Does best simply mean the highest rated? The highest quality? What about price and location?
In this guide we strive for inclusivity when we show you our version of the best hotels. Our list is based on the highest guest ratings and our own experiences but crucially we include every budget category so that every type of traveler can find the best hotel available.
Are you curious about the best hotels in Keystone SD based purely on ratings?
Here are the top 3 hotels in Keystone according to thousands of reviews from several popular online sources (with at least 100 authentic guest reviews – correct as of September 2023 but subject to frequent changes):
Booking
Hotels (Expedia)
Tripadvisor
Ratings are good to use as a guide but they are subjective and will fluctuate over time. Look for hotels with high scores and a high number of ratings. That is the sign of a quality hotel.
One thing to note is that hotels with the best ratings often translate to hotels with the highest nightly cost. And that is why we do not simply list hotels with the highest ratings in our guides.
Are Hotels In Keystone SD Expensive?
Hotels in Keystone SD are more affordable than you might imagine considering it is so close to Mount Rushmore. We have been surprised both times we stayed at how low the nightly prices were at hotels in Keystone.
If you book a Keystone hotel during a weekend in summer or a holiday weekend you can naturally expect the prices to be inflated.
However, we can tell you from years of experience that midweek prices and off season prices at hotels in Keystone SD are extremely affordable when compared to other popular areas around the US.
Not sure where to stay in the Black Hills? Read our guide to the best hotels near Mount Rushmore which also covers more nearby towns such as Hill City, Rapid City and Deadwood.
Hotel Tax In Keystone
Bear in mind when booking your hotel in Keystone that you will pay tax on top of your base rate. Usually we notice a city wide or area wide hotel tax, but Keystone hotels seem to have slightly different tax rates.
You will be required to pay anywhere between 6-10% in taxes at most hotels in Keystone SD. Some may also add on resort fees or property service fees.
So let’s say the basic nightly room cost at a cheap Keystone hotel is US $130.00 for one night, your actual total cost could be as much as $143.00.
- When booking your hotel using Booking.com look under the price for includes taxes and fees. This means the price you see is final and will not be subject to further add ons.
- Conversely, if you see text reading something like +$10 for taxes and fees, that means you will pay the hotel room cost + the additional 10% tax.
Taxes are just something to be aware of so you avoid any nasty surprises when you come to pay.
Keystone Hotels Map
Let’s take a quick look at an interactive Google Map showing the locations of our 8 best Keystone SD hotels featured in this guide.
Map key:
- Green stars – Cheap hotels in Keystone
- Red stars – Mid range budget hotels in Keystone
- Blue stars – Luxury hotels in Keystone
Click or touch the map to activate.
Zoom in and out, move around the Keystone area to see exactly where each lodging option is located. We have also included a yellow star icon to show you the location of Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
8 Best Hotels In Keystone SD
OK, let’s take a look at each of the best Keystone hotels.
We have hand picked the top 8 Keystone hotels by compiling and comparing previous guest ratings, location, value for money and our own experiences in the area.
Featured hotels are listed in order of average nightly cost within three price range categories; cheap, mid range and luxury.
We selected three future dates in different seasons and collated prices in order to list with a degree of accuracy.
You will find 3 x cheap hotels, 3 x mid range budget hotel and 2 x luxury hotels. Each represents a top rated hotel within its price category.
Let’s kick things off with the best cheap hotels in Keystone South Dakota!
1. Rockerville Lodge And Cabins Keystone
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.7 / 10
- Google – 4.6 / 5
- Price: Cheap $
- Amenities: Free WiFi, fire pits, BBQ, breakfast included, on site restaurant
- Location: 8 miles northeast of Keystone
Rockerville Lodge and Cabins is the best cheap hotel in Keystone SD. It has excellent guest ratings, several room types which can also include kitchens for longer stays and most importantly it is extremely affordable. This is by far the cheapest high quality Keystone hotel.
Reviewers rate staff, cleanliness, value for money and location the highest at Rockerville Lodge and Cabins. The score for staff in particular is very high. One of the only downsides is the location, which is around 8 miles from central Keystone and 11 miles from Mt Rushmore.
>> Book Hotel: Rockerville Lodge And Cabins Keystone
2. Roosevelt Inn Keystone
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.3 / 10
- Google – 4.4 / 5
- Price: Cheap $
- Amenities: Free WiFi, laundry, breakfast included, pet friendly, indoor swimming pool, games room
- Location: South side of Keystone
Roosevelt Inn is a popular cheap hotel in Keystone SD with a central location and low nightly rates. The hotel is a little dated but it is just 2 miles from Mt Rushmore, pets are welcome and it has plenty of games to keep the kids entertained.
Reviewers rate staff and location the highest at Roosevelt Inn Mount Rushmore. This is the cheapest hotel you will find with the central Keystone location and higher guest ratings. There is a breakfast included and comments are very positive about the staff.
>> Book Hotel: Roosevelt Inn Keystone
3. Powder House Lodge Keystone
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.4 / 10
- Google – 4.6 / 5
- Price: Cheap $
- Amenities: Free WiFi, pet friendly, laundry, on site restaurant and bar, fire pits, outdoor pool
- Location: 1.5 miles northwest of Keystone
Powder House Lodge is the most upscale cheap Keystone SD hotel. You can choose to stay in motel rooms or lodges which can accommodate couples, groups and families easily. The location is just over a mile from Keystone in a picturesque forest setting.
Reviewers rate staff and location the highest at Powder House Lodge. The on site restaurant has hundreds of positive comments and the seasonal outdoor pool is a great place to relax for a few hours in the afternoon. Definitely one to consider at the cheaper end of budget.
>> Book Hotel: Powder House Lodge Keystone
4. Comfort Inn And Suites Mt Rushmore
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.7 / 10
- Google – 4.6 / 5
- Price: Mid Range $$
- Amenities: Free WiFi, indoor swimming pool, hot tub, terrace, laundry, breakfast included
- Location: Center of Keystone
Comfort Inn is the top rated mid-range budget hotel in Keystone SD. It has clean and comfortable rooms, excellent guest comments and a great breakfast. We spent a night at Comfort Inn in 2022 and it was excellent value for money.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness and location the highest at Comfort Inn. It has a fantastic location just a few steps from the boardwalk running along Winter Street in town. We think this is one of the overall best Keystone SD hotels.
>> Book Hotel: Comfort Inn And Suites Mt Rushmore
5. Rushmore Express Inn Keystone
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.1 / 10
- Google – 4.4 / 5
- Price: Mid Range $$
- Amenities: Free WiFi, fitness center, indoor pool, hot tub, breakfast included, laundry
- Location: South side of Keystone
Rushmore Express Inn is a solid mid range alternative hotel in Keystone SD. The pool area, location and larger rooms have excellent guest comments. However, the ratings aren’t quite as high and it sounds like there might be an issue with parking during busier periods.
Reviewers rate staff and location the highest at Rushmore Express Inn. From what we can see, this hotel has the same price for each night of the month so you might be able to pick up a bargain rate if you time it right. It is just 5 minutes drive to Mount Rushmore from the hotel.
>> Book Hotel: Rushmore Express Inn Keystone
6. Battle Creek Lodge Keystone
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.2 / 10
- Google – 4.7 / 5
- Price: Mid Range $$
- Amenities: Free WiFi, fire pits, BBQ, laundry, breakfast available
- Location: Center of Keystone
Battle Creek Lodge is an independent and locally owned Keystone SD hotel with a superb central location just steps to the main boardwalks in town. It has fewer reviews online but so far so good and it could become a very popular place to stay in Keystone.
Reviewers rate staff and location the highest at Battle Creek Lodge. The score for staff in particular is very high. This is where to stay in Keystone SD if you want to avoid the typical chain hotels and instead support a local business.
>> Book Hotel: Battle Creek Lodge Keystone
7. K Bar S Lodge Keystone
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.8 / 10
- Google – 4.6 / 5
- Price: Luxury $$$
- Amenities: Free WiFi, breakfast included, gym
- Location: 0.5 miles west of Keystone
K Bar S Lodge is the highest quality Keystone hotel with excellent guest ratings and a superb secluded location near the town center. There are very few amenities here but the views are great and the overall quality scores much higher than other hotels in the area.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at K Bar S Lodge. It is perfect for solo travelers and couples who want a quieter experience in the Black Hills, but it might not suit families who are looking for more amenities to keep the kids busy.
>> Book Hotel: K Bar S Lodge Keystone
8. Under Canvas Mount Rushmore
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 9.0 / 10
- Google – 4.7 / 5
- Price: Luxury $$$
- Amenities: Free WiFi, pet friendly, on site restaurant, breakfast available,
- Location: 2 miles south of Keystone
Under Canvas is the most unique place to stay in Keystone SD. Have you ever wanted to try glamping? Why not stay in a luxury tent under the stars near Mt Rushmore, immerse yourself into nature and enjoy a completely different experience?! Comments are incredibly positive about this place.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at Under Canvas. It has by far the highest scores overall of any Keystone SD hotel and it will be a memorable experience. However, it is also quite a bit more expensive, especially if you want a private bathroom.
>> Book Hotel: Under Canvas Mount Rushmore
Best Hotels Near Keystone
- Custer – Best places to stay in Custer SD
- Deadwood – Where to stay in Deadwood SD
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We hope this guide to the best hotels in Keystone helps you book the perfect hotel for your visit to South Dakota!
Please let us know if you have any questions about any of the hotels in our list of best places to stay in Keystone SD by commenting below.
Happy Booking,
Mark and Kristen
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