South Dakota is one of the premier RV destinations in the country — Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Wind Cave, and Needles Highway give it a density of major stops that rewards a full week or more on the road.
Price ranges. The average rental runs about $130/night. The most popular RVs rented in South Dakota are travel trailers. These units rent for as little as $80 per night, and most are deliverable to a chosen campsite for an extra fee. The Class C Motorhome is the second favorite RV rental in South Dakota. These units are more expensive than travel trailers, beginning at $185. Class A motorhomes typically run $205/night or more.
Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road have tunnel clearances as low as 8 feet 4 inches. These iconic scenic routes in the Black Hills are spectacular — but they have pigtail bridges, hairpin turns, and tunnels framing Mount Rushmore that physically cannot accommodate vehicles over 8 feet 4 inches tall or 12 feet wide. If these roads are on your list, you need a Class B campervan or small towable. A standard Class C or larger motorhome cannot make it through.
A travel trailer with a tow vehicle is the best setup for the Black Hills. The combination of tight scenic roads and large campgrounds with full hookups makes a mid-size travel trailer the most versatile choice in South Dakota. Unhitch at camp and use the tow vehicle for Needles, Iron Mountain, and the Mount Rushmore approach roads.
Book Custer State Park as early as possible. Custer State Park's campgrounds — particularly Blue Bell, Legion Lake, and Game Lodge — are among the most in-demand state park sites west of the Mississippi. They open reservations 12 months in advance and fill fast for summer and the late September buffalo roundup.
Badlands campground sites have no shade and limited hookups. The Badlands' Sage Creek Campground is primitive and first-come. Cedar Pass Campground has hookup sites through Recreation.gov but fills fast. The exposed terrain means intense sun and heat in summer, so an awning and good AC matter more here than in most parks.
It never hurts to plan ahead. The Black Hills campgrounds are among the most competitive in the country. A few specifics:
Custer State Park reservations open 12 months in advance. This is not an exaggeration — set a calendar alert for exactly 12 months before your target arrival date and book the moment the window opens. The most popular sites (Blue Bell, Game Lodge area) go within hours.
Mount Rushmore has no campground. There is no camping at the monument itself. Base camp at Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial area private campgrounds, or Rafter J Bar Ranch. Day-trip to Rushmore.
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (early August) creates state-wide demand. The Sturgis Rally brings 500,000+ visitors to the Black Hills each August. Every campground within 100 miles fills completely. If your trip overlaps Rally week, book 6–12 months in advance or plan around it entirely.
Badlands National Park campgrounds book through Recreation.gov. Cedar Pass Campground has hookup sites and fills fast for summer. The primitive Sage Creek area is first-come, first-served — good for self-contained rigs willing to forego hookups.
Tower Campground is located inside Sioux Falls within easy walking distance of downtown. Of the 50 RV sites available for temporary campers, 32 have gravel pads, and 18 are paved. Guests are escorted to their site to ensure proper placement, connection to the full-hookup service, the cable TV system, and the WiFi. The campground features planned outdoor activities, including visits to the downtown area, volleyball, and horseshoe tournaments.
Rapid City RV Park and Campground sits in the Black Hills on the south side of Rapid City. Many of the 72 full-hookup sites provide magnificent views of the countryside. With 47 of the sites allowing pull-though approaches that are 30 feet wide and 60 feet long, the park accommodates almost any rig on the road today. Situated on the shores of Canyon Lake, the park offers easy access to lake swimming, fishing, and water sports. Features like a heated swimming pool, an exercise room, and a game room attract thousands of guests each year.
One of the most intriguing places to stay in South Dakota is the Wylie Park Campground and Storybook Land. Sitting in Aberdeen on the shores of Wylie Lake, this campground features access to Storybook Land, a favorite of kids throughout South Dakota. With 67 full-hookup sites available for guests, the activities at this campground go beyond the amusement park to include fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, mini-golf, and planned activities outside the campground.
It's a good idea to know the locations of dump stations along the way to ensure your RV is clean. One of the most-used public dump stations in South Dakota is in Sioux Falls at the Camping World of Sioux Falls. It's available for use from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Speak to the service department before attempting to use the station.
South Dakota’s list of landmarks, includes Mount Rushmore, one of the most iconic monuments in the United States. It features the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelts, four of the most celebrated Presidents in United States history.
Crazy Horse Memorial is another rock carving celebrating the life of Lakota Sioux warrior Crazy Horse, who was instrumental in defeating George Armstrong Custer at the Little Big Horn. The carving is unfinished, but visitors can make out the face, horse, and torso of Crazy Horse.
Jewel Cave National Monument is home to the third-longest set of caverns worldwide. With over 200 miles of passages and rooms, the caves sparkle when lit by lights of many colors. The National Park Service provides tours of the monument above and below the ground.
On average expect to pay $179 per night in South Dakota.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in South Dakota?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in South Dakota from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in South Dakota?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
Do you need a special license to drive an RV in South Dakota?No. You don’t need a special license or CDL to drive an RV in South Dakota.