Visit Rapid City
Wondering whether renting an RV in Rapid City, South Dakota, is a good idea? You bet it is.
South Dakota’s state capital has a great deal to offer. The Black Hills are full of wineries, lakes, and mountains — and this town is home to a killer carnival and the site of a hot air balloon festival.
The Pennington County Museum chronicles the heritage of this great city. And the sights at St. Mary’s Catholic Church will leave you breathless in a positive way.
In fact, there are many reasons why renting an RV near Rapid City is an excellent idea for your next vacation. Apart from being a convenient, relatively affordable, and exciting city to visit, it’s also incredibly practical for families that want to do things together.
But before you start packing your bags for the Black Hills, you’re going to want to know everything there is to know before you hit the road.
South Dakota National Parks for RV Rentals near Rapid City
South Dakota is home to six incredible national parks perfect for RV rentals. Here are our top three recommendations.
The Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail is a historic site that commemorates the journey that Meriwether Lewis and William Clark took from St. Louis, Missouri, to the Pacific Ocean in 1804-1806. It’s a great place to camp out and enjoy nature, as well as learn more about the history of the area!
The Badlands National Park is home to amazing rock formations, which make it an ideal destination for those who love hiking or biking outside. This park has over 100 miles of trails for exploring, so you’ll never run out of things to do here—and there are even camping sites available!
The Wind Cave National Park offers visitors opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, boating, and more! There’s also a Visitor Center where you can learn all about how the city’s founders formed this area millions of years ago through volcanic eruptions (and even get yourself some souvenirs).
South Dakota State Parks
South Dakota has some amazing parks that are perfect for RV camping. It’s hard to pick just one, but we’ll give it a shot!
Custer State Park is a gorgeous park that sits right next to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. There are tons of hiking trails and wildlife, including bison, white-tailed deer, elk, and mountain lions. You can even go horseback riding through the park if you’re feeling adventurous!
Palisades State Park is another great choice for RV rentals in South Dakota. It’s located near Bear Butte State Park, an important Native American site. In addition, there are several lakes in the park and tons of hiking trails—some of them lead to waterfalls!
Newton Hills State Park is another excellent place to camp if you’re looking for peace and quiet. There aren’t any restaurants or grocery stores nearby (which makes it really quiet), but there are two lakes in the park that you can go swimming in during the summer months.
Rapid City Campgrounds
Several campgrounds in and around Rapid City range from rustic to luxurious, some offering full RV hook-ups and others just tent sites.
If you’re looking to stay close by, Whispering Pines Campground offers both tent and RV sites with full hook-ups and cabins and yurts. With easy access to the city’s main attractions, this is one of the most popular campsites in Rapid City.
For something more remote, Hart Ranch Camping Resort offers both tent and trailer sites with partial hook-ups near Pactola Reservoir. This site is ideal if you want to get away from it all without having to drive too far out of town.
Finally, Pactola Reservoir is located just north of town, so it’s easy to access. You’ll find many activities at this campground, including boating and fishing on Pactola Reservoir or hiking along trails that lead into nearby hillsides dotted with wildlife.
Things to Do While RVing in Rapid City, South Dakota
As the largest city in South Dakota, Rapid City offers plenty of activities and attractions for RV rental travelers. Here’s a look at a few favorite options you should try.
Popular Destinations for RV Rentals, Rapid City
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
This monument was completed in 1941 and features sculptures of four presidents carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore. You can take a guided tour or explore it on your own with an audio guide.
The Journey Museum & Learning Center
This museum has exhibits that focus on South Dakota’s Native American heritage as well as its history from prehistoric times through today. There are also educational programs and events throughout the year that are open to visitors.
South Dakota Air and Space Museum
Located at Ellsworth Air Force Base, this museum offers interactive exhibits about aviation history, space exploration, technology and more. The facility includes a reproduction Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber aircraft complete with crew stations, gun turrets and a bomb bay that you can walk through.
Top Attractions and Activities for RV Rental, Rapid City
Reptile Gardens
This is a great place to visit if you want to see some reptiles and other exotic animals. There are several different exhibits that feature snakes, turtles, lizards and other animals. You can even go on a tour of the Reptile Gardens in an open-air tram.
Dinosaur Park
If you like dinosaurs, then this is the place for you! This theme park features over 40 life size dinosaur statues that were made with concrete and steel. There are also several other exhibits at Dinosaur Park as well as an amusement park with rides for kids of all ages.
Storybook Island
This indoor amusement park has rides for all ages, including roller coasters and water slides. Located just off Main Street downtown, this family-friendly playground features a pirate ship ride where kids can climb aboard their very own boat and ride through “Pirate Cove.”
Dump Stations for Rapid City RV Rentals
The best place to dump your RV waste tanks is at a full-service RV park. However, if you need to do it on the go, there are a few options for you.
Happy Holiday Resort
Happy Holiday RV Campground is located in Rapid City, South Dakota and offers a dump station for its guests. The Happy Holiday RV Campground is located at 8990 Highway 16, South Rapid City.
Lake Park Campground and Cottages
Lake Park Campground and Cottages has a dump station on site, near Rapid City, SD. The campground is open year-round.
Mystery Mountain Resort
Mystery Mountain Resort has a dump station available for use by campers with RVs. The fee to use the facility is $15.00. This park is located at 13752 Highway 16, South Rapid City.
RV Storage Options for RV Rentals, Rapid City, South Dakota
The Storage Place, Dunsmore Road
The Storage Place is a large RV storage facility with a variety of sizes to fit your needs. They also have climate control units for those who need it. The staff here is very friendly and helpful, and they are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
Rushmore Storage
Rushmore Storage is located at 120 Mall Drive in Rapid City. Their units come in sizes from 5×5 to 10×30 and are priced based on size. They also offer climate-controlled units and on-site management to help you out if you need anything.
AAA Rapid Storage, East Watts Lane
AAA Rapid Storage is another storage facility offering climate controlled RV storage units as well as regular ones. They are open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week! Their staff is friendly and very helpful with any questions you may have about their services or rates.
Conclusion
All in all, South Dakota RV rentals are both exciting and relaxing.
You can see for yourself. Fortunately, RV rental in Rapid City, South Dakota is available through cheaprv.com/rent-an-rv.
Once you’ve chosen the perfect RV rental, you can well and truly be on your way to a travel experience to remember for a long time to come.
