Ellsworth AFB FamCamp

Update 9/2022... Huge price increase from $30 during peak season to $54 per night !!! Not sure how the civilian management is getting away with this? Always thought that the Air Force Base Famcamps were supposed to benefit Active Duty, Retired and Disabled Vets. No way in the world does almost doubling the price benefit this sector. Following is my original review...

I truly wish they had such a facility in or around every city! Cannot beat the rates, even though the weekly discounts have been discontinued. And the rates vary depending on the season, and if you are in an overflow area.

This is my third day here and have not ventured off post, mainly due to unseasonably raw weather that has moved in. And still, the high winds will rock you to sleep most nights. All the sites are very nice, including the new area with long concrete pads, picnic tables, and grills. No fire rings, so no open fires.

So far, the mighty roar of the B-1's have not been heard past 9pm., and when you do hear them, you will be awestruck! The staff have been exceptionally nice.. even when I went over with a question almost an hour before they opened at 9am (my time change messed me up).

There is a bathhouse and laundry in the same building, located in the older section of the campground. I've seen several reviewers' making harsh remarks about the laundry facility. While it could be better, remember that it is FREE! True, they mention having four washing machines, and six dryers.. and only three dryers work. Two of the dryers were older coin models that have been taking up space for a very long time, and one other marked out-of-order. And the laundry room is so small that there is no folding table, and if more than two people are in there, you will be bumping butts! But, it's FREE.

and Free Wi-Fi that is basic, 6-7Mb download, but it works. Peak usage periods make it difficult for basic streaming, like the news channels on Pluto.

The well-rounded commissary is nearby, and to the best of my knowledge, the only place to buy packaged beer is a convenient store right down the street, but prices are high.

So much to do and see in the area, and right here at the base as well, just waiting for better weather.

Great campground a few miles East of Rapid City, SD, providing an excellent spot to base when visiting the Black Hills area. Because it is on an active US Air Force Base, campers must have appropriate identification with base access rights. Active and retired military, with ID, qualify. Though it is on an active military base, aircraft noise is very low, and practically non-existent on weekends. All sites are well maintained, clean and level, with main loop sites all being nice wide concrete pads with picnic tables and charcoal grills. Other RV sites are also level, but gravel. Tent sites are all no-shade, but also have picnic tables and charcoal grills. On-base gas station right across the street, and commissary 0.5 miles away. Be aware that due proximity to Sturgis, SD, (and the massive Sturgis motorcycle rally) this campground is difficult to get reservations last week of July to mid-August annually. Also, during the rally, there are often 300,000+ visiting motorcycles in the Black Hills. If you ride, great; if you don’t ride, recommend picking another time to come. Will DEFINITELY stay here again!

$ 1620 for a 30-day Stay ! Be prepared to empty your wallet..
This is not a commentary that reflects upon the Staff at Ellsworth FamCamp. It is a very sad commentary on the Civilian Powers that be, to raise seasonal rates 1 May - 30 Sept, from $30 daily to $54 daily ! ($39 daily for active duty).

$54 daily ! The Campground itself is basic, but nice. Free showers and laundry is a good thing. (the free Wi-Fi is all but useless)But it is located directly across from a child-screaming Daycare, and next to a very noisy, ongoing construction site.. not exactly $54 per day Resort quality!

Due to affordability on my disability income, I have typically made use of the Over-flow sites, (electric only) which are only $15 daily. Now told that I can no longer use overflow, that the Powers that Be want their $54 daily !

Well guess what.. I found a much nicer Campground nearby with a monthly rate of $550 ($18 per day), with full hookups, free showers, paid laundry, no screaming daycare or load construction noise.

It's a shame really.. a Campground on a Military base supported with Tax Dollars, pricing itself out of range to Military and Vets.

Pros: quiet (ish), safe, sidewalks to walk on. Decent site sizes (through pull throughs are much smaller than backins and you dont get to choose.)

Cons: staff forgot our reservation and we spent an hour trying to figure out where to go on arrival. No camp host, no one works on weekend.
-They don’t give you the site number before you come in.
-Will let you book on a Sunday but you can’t actually get on post if you’re over 35 ft on a Sunday (must use commercial gate) you also can’t leave on a Sunday (so we basically paid an extra hundred dollars for two days we can’t use..)
- Couldn’t tell me if water was going to be on or not (we’ve been camping in 6 degree weather for months and had water so idk why it wouldn’t be on…)
-39 a night for active, but they don’t allow package pick up. 39 a night doesn’t feel unreasonable until I remember that we just paid barely 20 a night at buckley which was a significantly nicer post than this. - The commissary on this base is pathetic, exchange is a joke.
- the campground individuals are quiet. However… you’re right next to the housing and there are non stop dogs barking for the entire day. Lots of construction behind the campsite.
- if you have kids there’s no playground.

Sites are pretty level. Full hookups. People are courteous and quiet.

The WiFi is absolutely terrible. Like, does not work. You will not be able to work from home here, let alone use any sort of streaming service. I couldn’t even get a laptop to surf the web.

Commissary and Exchange are not great. Very small and minimal options. Shockingly, the Commissary doesn’t have an online pickup service like most of the DoD.

Verizon is LTE service only.