The Black Hills of South Dakota (SD) are one of the country’s best destinations for an RV vacation. Granite peaks and calm lakes are among the highlights to see as you create a list of what to see along the way. Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a few weeks for the roadtip, this guide tells you what to see and the best ways to see it. That’ll help you have a great travel experience!
Start with a Comfortable Home Base
One of the easiest ways to make an RV trip feel luxurious is by selecting a park that offers more than just a parking space. Full-hookup sites, dependable WiFi, clean facilities, and 30/50 amp power are among the must-haves. That makes such a big difference after a day out exploring.
If you’re looking for an RV park in Custer, SD, Bearded Buffalo Resort provides full-hookup RV sites in a location that makes it easy to explore Black Hill’s top spots. Staying near Custer reduces driving time between the places you want to see and gives you more opportunity to take a relaxed pace as you go.
Use the Scenic Routes
Some of the best memories in the Black Hills happen while driving, whether it’s summer or another time of the year. Rather than rushing between locations, plan time to enjoy the scenic routes. Driving can be relaxing, and there are great areas to travel through, including the mountain views. Iron Mountain Road, for example, features one-of-a-kind tunnels that frame Mount Rushmore in the distance.
There’s also Speakfish Canyon Scenic Byway and Neeldes Highway. Start early in the morning to get the most distance in during the day. You’ll likely get less traffic that way, too.
Go Beyond the Famous Sites
While Mount Rushmore definitely deserves a visit, so do some lesser-known sites. They’re not the busy attractions, so you have more space to check them out, making for a more luxurious environment. Custer State Park, for example, has beautiful scenery, and often there are deer you can spot.
Perhaps you’ll step out of the RV to paddle across Stockade Lake or hike trails that lead to stunning viewpoints. Plan to bring a picnic to enjoy the outdoors. Historic towns like Custer and Hill City also have plenty for visitors to see. There are galleries, quaint stores, coffee shops, restaurants, and more.
Bring Restaurant-Quality Meals to the RV
Luxury RV travel doesn’t mean dining out every day. Instead, fill your refrigerator with fresh ingredients from local markets and plan simple dishes to eat outdoors. A portable grill and comfortable outdoor seating, as well as a bottle of wine and reusable dinnerware, are all you need. The relaxed evenings at the RV park can often be the best part of the vacation.
Have Experiences You Can’t Enjoy at Home
The best luxury vacations are often remembered for their experiences. Consider booking a guided horseback ride through Black Hills or a kayak outing on one of the area’s lakes. Build your itinerary around a few activities that will make great memories to look back on.
Enjoy a Laidback Pace
Instead of trying to see everything at once, the Black Hills are best experienced slowly. Add extra time for scenic overlooks, browsing local shops, or taking an unplanned hiking trail. Instead of changing campgrounds nightly, consider staying in one location several days. You’ll enjoy less time setting up and packing down your RV, and more time enjoying what South Dakota has to offer.
Photo by Sebastian Vazquez from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/rv-on-beach-20396250/
