K Bar S Lodge, an Ascend Collection Hotel

The staff were friendly and efficient, and our room was very clean. The hotel sits on a scenic hill in a great spot near My Rushmore, yet it feels quiet and peaceful. We visited in the off season, starting in October, when the restaurant serves only Continental breakfast. It was excellent, and for dinner there's a great restaurant at the Powder House lodge just 4 minutes away.

We spent my birthday here, and the view of Mount Rushmore from this beautiful Black Hills location was a highlight. It's also close to the main sights. We enjoyed the fire pit in the evening and slept comfortably in the quiet setting. Breakfast had plenty of options. The espresso bar was open only one of the mornings we were there, which was a shame because the coffee was good. The restaurant's bar-style food was decent, especially the brisket mac and cheese. We'd definitely come back.

The best part was seeing Mount Rushmore from both our room and the lobby, including George Washington's side and a bit of Abraham Lincoln. At night, we watched the monument light up from our room. I was here for a weeklong tour of Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills, and the Badlands. Our room was spacious and had a balcony, but housekeeping is by request, except that longer stays get service every three days. The toiletries were ridiculously small, the soap was about the size of one for an American Girl doll. Breakfast was plentiful, though the powdered eggs, oatmeal that went cold right away, and pancakes got repetitive after six days. The pancakes were still good if eaten immediately. I appreciated having free coffee and tea in the lobby. Without a car, the walk into Keystone town center isn't very pedestrian-friendly. The hotel also doesn't run its own airport shuttle. It's still a decent place to stay if you're visiting the Mount Rushmore area.

The rooms were quiet, spacious, and relaxing, with a separate sink area and a private room for the shower and toilet. The beds were on the firm side and came with plenty of pillows. Staff were friendly and helpful, and staying here puts you close to lots of Keystone and Black Hills attractions. I had a good stay and would recommend the K Bar S Lodge. The layout takes a little getting used to. The main building, with the lobby, check-in desk, and conference rooms, is farther up the road and has a large parking lot. Most guest rooms are in two separate two-level buildings down the road. Each has an outdoor hot tub dividing the building in half, plus guest seating. Rooms facing the road have patios; the ones at the back don't. Breakfast is complimentary in the main building, so you can walk uphill or drive over. There are several options, including two kinds of scrambled eggs, toast, biscuits, fruit, cereal, milk, coffee, and OJ with condiments. Get there early, since the food goes fast. My two complaints were the TVs, which are about computer-monitor size and sit on the dresser, making them hard to watch from bed, and the bugs everywhere because the lodge is in the Hills. They're annoying and you'll be swatting them away, but tolerable.