RV Rental South Dakota

RV Rental South Dakota: Motorhome, Camper, & Trailer Rentals in SD

Are you ready for some fun? South Dakota RV rentals will take you there. The state has a wealth of inspiring attractions that you can see and enjoy. South Dakota RV rentals give you the opportunity to cruise to these sites and have fun—all in the comfort of a modern, fully-equipped recreational vehicle. You’re outside in nature but you have the comforts of home. What could be better? 

South Dakota offers many historic and natural wonders to explore. Perhaps the most famous is Mount Rushmore, well-known to every American since grade school. The Badlands is a natural area sacred to Native Americans for millennia. Visit towns like Deadwood that take you back to the Wild West. These are just a few of the temptations South Dakota has to offer. So get ready to “go west” where the buffalo roam, the antelope play, the skies are not cloudy all day, and you get to vacation and play.

Popular RV Destinations in South Dakota  

Mount Rushmore

Let’s start with the most famous. Conceived by a South Dakota historian named Doane Robinson, Mount Rushmore’s massive stone heads of four U.S. presidents were carved by sculptor Gutzon Borglum, his son, and a crew of some 400 helpers between 1927 and 1941. Robinson originally wanted the stone faces to be American “heroes” such as explorers Lewis and Clark, their guide Sacagwea, Oglala Lakota Chiefs Crazy Horse and Red Cloud, and Buffalo Bill Cody, but sculptor Borglum felt the four presidents would have wider appeal. The four he chose—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln—are said to represent the birth, growth, development, and the preservation of the nation. 

These details, along with many others, will fascinate you when you travel to Mount Rushmore in your RV rental and enjoy its grandeur, the beauty of the Black Hills area, and even the controversy that still surrounds this destination.

Crazy Horse Memorial

This massive stone sculpture of Chief Crazy Horse is a work in progress. Located in the same area as Mount Rushmore, the memorial was started in 1948. When completed, it will depict Chief Crazy Horse mounted on a horse and pointing with an outstretched arm into the distance. It will measure 641 feet long and 563 high with the head alone at 87 feet high (the Mount Rushmore heads are 60 feet high). The memorial foundation, which is responsible for creating the sculpture, is privately funded and has never accepted any public money. Learn about Henry Standing Bear, the Oglala Lakota chief who was the impetus for the project and the many, sometimes opposing views and attitudes about the memorial, in addition to seeing the powerful sculpture itself. 

Deadwood

This town is a destination for RVers because of its historic significance, much of it based on gold mining and its Wild West heritage. The entire town, with a current population of 1,270, is designated as a National Historic Landmark, mainly for its Gold Rush era architecture. The town was founded in 1876. When gold was discovered nearby in 1874, prospectors flooded the area, which had previously been granted to the Lakota people by the Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1868. The town became a lawless place with gambling, prostitution, and illegal land grabs. The larger-than-life famous people it attracted include Calamity Jane, Wyatt Earp, and Wild Bill Hickok, who was killed there. So gas up the RV and head to Deadwood for a dose of the old Wild West. 

Events and Entertainment in South Dakota 

South Dakota State Fair

People come to the city of Huron every year in the summer to celebrate agriculture, entertainment, and industry during the South Dakota State Fair. View livestock, including pigs, cows, horses, rabbits, and chickens; crop growing techniques; 4-H exhibits and competitions that highlight young people’s accomplishments; a rodeo; and popular, main-stage musical attractions. The midway has games and rides for every member of the family and you can enjoy a variety of food from different cultures and traditions. Your RV adventure awaits you at the South Dakota State Fair. 

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

This rally began in 1938 when it mainly featured races and stunts. Today, the event draws about 500,000 people each year with a high attendance of 739,000 in 2015. The rally begins on the first Friday of August each summer and generates about 95 percent of the revenue for the small city of Sturgis. The event attracts families, singles, and a mixture of blue- and white-collar workers. Participants enjoy music, entertainment, food, and libations. Bike riders begin coming to town before the official start of the rally every year and the town closes Main Street to four-wheeled vehicles to accommodate the large number of motorcycles of all makes that park and ride on the street. Rent an RV, travel to Sturgis, and be part of the fun!

Other Events and Venues

In Sioux Falls, you’ll find a multi-purpose entertainment center called the Denny Sanford Premier Center. It hosts concerts, sports, conventions, and other events. Seating capacity is 12,000. 

Another unusual offering from the state of South Dakota is drive-in theaters. This fun throwback to the 1950s still attracts thousands every year. Choose from six in the state—in fact, visit each one. Some have been in existence since the 1940s. 

A uniquely South Dakota attraction is the Arts and Sculpture Trail. This is an art museum that is free and open to the public. It crosses the entire state and gives visitors the opportunity to experience numerous one-off art pieces and to visit the communities that help keep art alive in South Dakota.

Campgrounds and Parks in South Dakota 

Rush No More RV Resort

This resort offers a range of RV sites, from basic to luxury. The luxury sites have barbeque grills, a concrete patio, and a hot tub. The resort has a beer garden, too, where you can enjoy a cold one and something to eat. And there’s more: Check out their open mic night at the indoor/outdoor bar and the annual car show. But the owners want you to know that when party time is over, an enforced quiet time kicks in so you can get a good night’s rest before going on the following day’s adventures. 

Badlands National Park

No stories about South Dakota would be complete without mention of the Badlands. The 243,000 acre Badlands National Park includes lands considered sacred by the Oglala Sioux people where they hunted and inhabited the lands long before Europeans arrived. The rugged land included in the park acreage is also joined by rolling prairies. Many opportunities for hiking and observing wildlife beckon visitors. Wildlife includes buffalo (the American bison), bighorn sheep, badgers, pronghorn, bobcats, and prairie dogs. Hiking is a prime endeavor where you can observe the varied landscape up close. Hike through prairies and the uphill badland geological formations for a genuinely inspiring adventure. There’s also opportunities for backcountry camping and for bicycling. This is an area you won’t want to miss as you RV on your travels. 

Custer State Park

This is a 71,000-acre park near Custer that has so much, including a clear, mountain-water lake, rolling plains, and granite peaks. Camp, bike, hike, swim, fish, or just relax. It’s all here. You can kayak and canoe on Center Lake, camp at one of nine camping areas, including Blue Bell Campground, or horse camp at French Creek Horse Camp. The park also features four privately-owned historic resorts that have accommodations to rent (hotel rooms and cabins), great restaurants, and guided wildlife activities. Cowgirls and cowboys drive 1,300 head of buffalo herd each year at the Buffalo Roundup. It’s healthy for the herd and a powerful sight to see. Check out the annual Buffalo Roundup Arts Festival, where 150 vendors present their arts and crafts for purchase.

RV Storage and Dumpstations in South Dakota 

You might find yourself wanting to store your RV for a few days (or longer) on your travels. In case you want to camp, bike, or stay at a resort, you can store your RV conveniently and securely, and at a reasonable cost, at one of the following locations:

• U-Haul Moving & Storage of Rapid City
• Rapid RV Storage in Rapid City
• Blue Door RV & Self Storage in Tea
• Blue Door RV & Self Storage in Sioux Falls

Sooner, rather than later, you’re going to need a dump station to lighten the load and to rid your RV of black and gray water. Check into one of these dump stations, clean up, and clean out—and you’re ready to travel another day.

• Three Flags RV Park in Black Hawk
• Love's Travel Cent #602 in Box Elder
• Echo Valley Park and Fort Welikit 
• Family Campground in Custer
• Trout Haven Resort in Deadwood

FAQs

1. What are RV rentals?

You rent an RV and you get to use the vehicle to travel to your destination. But you also use the inside of the vehicle as a hotel. It has a kitchen, toilet, sleeping facilities, and maybe even a shower. This can save you money on hotel rooms, airline flights, and car rentals. Look for special RV campgrounds that accommodate RV travelers. 

2. Do I need to be a certain age to rent an RV in South Dakota?

You must be at least 25 years old to rent an RV in South Dakota.

3. Do I need insurance when I rent an RV?

Yes, as with any vehicle rental, you need to have insurance in South Dakota. RV rental companies make insurance available to you at the time you rent the RV.

4. Do I need to return my rental RV with a full tank?

Normally, yes. When you return the RV with a full tank, you have the advantage of buying gas where you want to and at the lowest price. Many times when you return the rental to the company, they fill it, but also charge you a premium price.

5. Are RVs pet-friendly in South Dakota?

Usually they are. But you need to check with the RV renter before you sign the agreement. While you can rent an RV for you and your pet from many places, most charge an extra fee.

6. Are there RV rentals with unlimited mileage?

Yes. The listing tells you whether the rental is for unlimited mileage or not. If not, the listing tells you what’s included in the base rate and how much the mileage will cost.

7. How many people can sleep in an RV?

Small campervans and travel trailers usually sleep two to four people. The mid-sized motorhomes and trailers sleep between four and eight people, while big rigs can sleep as many as 10 people.