Custer state park

I'm starting my long anticipated road trip on Tuesday, first stop is gonna be needles/custer SP.  Wondering if anyone could share some camping beta on the area please.  Is there dispersed camping in or around custer or by rushmore?  I'm trying to stay away from campsites (especially after trump's COVID contamination fireworks celebration on the 4th).  Or are campsites my only option?  

Also what's a good area to climb with some easy terrain for my gf but still sendy for me? (Old burner dog with so no long or hot approaches, preferably shady)

Thanks all

wrinkled rock climber campground is an awesome and free campsite

Wrinkled Rock campground is nice and free, but is often full.  My friend went climbing in the Mt. Rushmore area a few weeks ago said the Wrinkled Rock campground outhouses were closed.  He said the Breezy Point outhouse was closed too.  The regular (pay) campground bathrooms were open.  

I really like Horse Thief Lake campground, especially the sites right next to the lake.  It's a pay site with running water, picnic tables, fire rings, etc.  It's pretty and only a few minutes drive to easy access (short approach) climbing areas like Chopping Block, South Seas, Wrinkled Rock, Emancipation, and Breezy Point.  Good stuff in all of those areas.

Camping: Wrinkled Rock campground, 1.5 miles west of Mt. Rushmore. Or Bismarck Lake Campground, 2 miles east of Custer, on highway 16A. Both locations are about the same distance to Sylvan Lake and the Cathedral Spires.

You can climb around Sylvan Lake, the Cathedral spires, behind Mt. Rushmore, all are easy to access, and easy climbs. The spires are fund and easy and beautiful. I'd recommend the spires. It's about a mile hike up to it, but it's worth it. If you don't want to hike, camp at Wrinkled Rock, and just walk over to the formations behind Mt. Rushmore.

Have fun, double check your knots.

I stayed at Wrinkled Rock for 2 weeks last July and it never got full. Horse Thief is great, but pricey and some of the sites suck, the 3 days I splurged for it we got stuck next to a group site with a boy scout troop. Either way, I took advantage of the little roadside cliff jumping spot on the daily.

No water at Wrinked, but my beta was to hit up the KOA down the road and pretend like I belonged there. They’ve got ice cream too.

And for unsolicited climbing beta, check out the route American Life. Seems somewhat seldom done, but one of the best moderate bolted routes anywhere IMHO.

They should rename Custer State Park.
#MNPGA

Free/dispersed camping on all National Forest land. Just be sure to get a 100ft or more for the road.

Lastly,ment above mentioned easy climbs on the granite in the Hills. That is true. But there is also lots and lots of hard stuff, most rathers heads up. Be careful. Not a bad idea to first top rope before a lead. Beware of the granite, tho. It will coreshot a rope if incorrectly rigged for top rope.