
South Dakota built the great American family road trip — Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, Wall Drug's billboards counting down for 300 miles — and it remains one of the best states anywhere to do by RV. South Dakota has 69 Harvest Hosts locations offering overnight stays at working cattle ranches, auto museums, and Black Hills wineries along the way. Member-favorite stops include Authentic Western Working Cattle Ranch, Classic Auto & Antiques Museum, and Boutique Winery & Brewery Streamside Retreat — the state's three most-booked hosts. Members can choose from 22 farm stays, 5 wineries, and 8 breweries statewide.
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Learn MoreThe Black Hills combine forested drives, mountain lakes, wildlife and some of South Dakota's most visited attractions. Custer State Park is known for its bison herds and scenic routes, while Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument offer guided underground experiences. The region is also culturally significant to Indigenous peoples. Visitors interested in Native history and contemporary culture can explore Crazy Horse Memorial, the Indian Museum of North America and the Native American Educational and Cultural Center.
The Badlands Loop's striped spires belong on every itinerary, timed for early or late light, with Wall Drug's gloriously earnest roadside empire at the exit. Ranch stays out here mean sunsets that use the entire horizon. Badlands National Park offers layered rock formations, fossil history, open prairie and some of the state's most striking sunrises and sunsets. Wildlife may be close to the roadway, so visitors should drive carefully and remain at a safe distance. The landscapes of this region are closely connected to Lakota history and culture. Travelers can deepen their understanding by visiting Indigenous cultural exhibits in the area and learning the original names and stories connected to the land. The Lakota name Mako Sica, commonly translated as "bad lands," reflects a history that began long before the area became a national park. Important Native American cultural sites in the region include the Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center, Dignity: of Earth and Sky, the Crazy Horse Memorial and Cultural Center, Bear Butte State Park, and Wounded Knee.
Mitchell's Corn Palace, the Missouri River crossing at Chamberlain, and Sioux Falls' namesake cascades pace the eastern run, with prairie winery stays breaking up the miles toward Minnesota.
Crossing state lines? Browse hosts in neighboring North Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Minnesota.