RV South Dakota Camping Offers More Than Mount Rushmore

By RA Manseau

South Dakota camping is not just for hunters. True, the outdoorsman would call South Dakota paradise. However, the state has so much more for you and your family to see and do then you ever imagined.

Mt. Rushmore monument, RV South Dakota

Mount Rushmore, one of the most famous mountains in the world is located in the Black Hills of western South Dakota. This magnificent monument has the faces of four United States Presidents carved into the southeast face of the mountain. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln gaze down from the granite mountainside as a tribute to American history. The actual carving of this monument started in 1927 and work continued through 1941 when it was halted because of a lack of funds. Even though the finishing details of the sculptures were never officially finished, they are magnificent. If you would like to receive more information on Mount Rushmore, tours available or parking fees at the monument consult the Mount Rushmore National Park website. The area has lots of hospitable South Dakota Campgrounds.

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Five Tips & Hints to RV South Dakota

Plan ahead and book your South Dakota campsite online!
South Dakota is in the Central Time Zone in the eastern part of the state and Mountain Time in the west.
The Black Hills, reaching an elevation of 7,242 feet, are the highest mountains east of the Rockies. Grades in the Black Hills are sometimes steep. Vehicles pulling trailers may experience overheating or transmission problems. Use first or second gear when driving up or down long, steep grades and use your brakes sparingly.
South Dakota camping is perfect for the RVer who loves history because it lays claim to one of the largest concentrations of monuments and memorials in the world. The most famous being Mount Rushmore, that gazes out over the Black Hills National Forest.
One popular past time of South Carolina campers is rock hounding. For more information contact Museum of Geology, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Badlands of South Dakota, South Dakota Campgrounds

The beautiful Rushmore Cave is the closest cave to Mount Rushmore and it is the area's largest stalactite cave. The big-room is believed to have started forming 60 million years ago. The Black Hills cave system is the second largest in the United States. For information on tour times and prices, consult the Rushmore Cave website.

When you RV South Dakota in the Black Hills, take the family to Four Mile. This old west town is situated just four miles from Custer, which is how it got its name. This historic town has about 50 businesses and homes that are furnished and open for you to walk through and experience what life was truly like for the pioneers. Many of the artifacts have explanations attached explaining what the item was called and what it was used for. The town even has original wagon wheel ruts in the streets.

Crazy Horse Memorial, while not yet finished, is still magnificent. Located just 17 miles southwest of Mount Rushmore, the monument and museum are both educational and fascinating. This will be the largest sculpture in the world when it is finished (563 feet high and 641 feet long.) For information about tours and fees consult the Crazy Horse Memorial website.

Getting away from the Black Hills and their many attractions, take your South Dakota RV camping trip to the Missouri River and visit the town of Mobridge. If you love fishing, you will love Mobridge. Lake Oahe has great fishing. The lake is famous for its walleye fishing tournaments. After you spend your day at the lake, you can head into the Grand River Casino and try your luck. There are plenty of hospitable South Dakota campgrounds in the area.

As you follow the Missouri River south to the Nebraska border, you come to the section of the river that is rightly called the Missouri National Recreational River. If you like to canoe or kayak, this is the place for you to try your skill. Even though the river has no whitewater to speak of, this section it is definitely not for beginners. The current is strong, the unseen obstacles in the water are many, and in some areas the river is 20 feet or more deep. For more information about this powerful river trail, and to download a free brochure called South Dakota Guide to 59 mile reach, visit the Missouri National Recreational River website.

Bust of Ronald Reagan, South Dakota Camping

Bust of Ronald Reagan, South Dakota Camping

Sioux Falls is the largest city in South Dakota. This great city has so much to do and see. The best place to start your visit, after you get settled in one of the many South Dakota campgrounds in the area, would be the Falls Park Visitor Information Center and Observation Tower. The Observation Tower is open whenever the Visitors Center is operating. From the top of the Viewing Tower you have a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view of the falls and the city. The tower is equipped with an elevator. The friendly staff is enthusiastic and ready to answer questions about Falls Park and Sioux Falls the city.

The Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls, is a great outing for the family. The zoo is home to over 850 animals from around the world and covers 45 acres of simulated natural habitats. Its Children’s Zoo also gives visitors an up close and personal opportunity to interact with some of the animals. This is just one of the many marvelous attractions the city has to offer.

South Dakota camping can be as fun as it is educational. The Black Hills' enormous monuments, beautiful scenery and friendly campgrounds could take up your whole South Dakota vacation, but the state has so much more than just enormous monuments on the hillside.