[rjrelander]

We went the end of May, beginning of June last year and stayed at Sylvan Lake Campground on the end of Needles Highway for a week. It's nice in the Black Hills any time of year although I prefer September. If you go in August, try to avoid Sturgis dates unless that's your thing. Fire season is May through October although that has been getting earlier. There was a 2000+ acre wildfire just west of Rapid City this week.

We usually camp in older campgrounds with smaller sites so I don't have any advice for you there. We're only 21 feet long. You're probably not going to want to bring a 5th wheel into the upper hills. There is only one road in from the south that's practical for trailers (Highway 89 out of Custer) and even that road has a lot of steep sharp turns. Unhooking and driving in is your best bet, just "watch your hips" if you're driving a dually. :-)