Rushmore Shadows Resort

The Great Outdoors

Touring the western part of South Dakota can be absolutely magical, particularly if you have an RV rental fueled up and ready to go. With this newly gained freedom, you’ll have the opportunity to see places like Custer State Park, the largest state park in all of South Dakota. In addition to being the largest, Custer State Park was the first of its kind established in the state, and it enjoys a reputation for being one of the best recreation hotspots in all of South Dakota. Here you can camp overnight in your RV rental, tour historical sites and structures, hike through gorgeous landscapes, and view the largest wild herd of bison in the state.Black Hills National Forest is hard to beat, and luckily for you, it completely surrounds the campground making it unavoidable. This outdoor paradise has a bevy of creatures, like cougars, wolves, eagles, and black bears roaming around. Hundreds of miles of hiking trails, over 30 campgrounds, 11 reservoirs, and thousands of miles of dirt roads await you when you bring your motorhome rental anywhere in this majestic forest.The real stars of the show in South Dakota are the national monuments and parks found nearby. Jewel Cave National Monument and Wind Cave National Park feature some of the largest and longest cave systems in the world, with hundreds of miles of subterranean passageways winding around in the Earth’s crust. Glimmering gemstones, stalagmites and stalactites, and cathedral-like caverns can be seen when you visit these magnificent natural features below the surface. Badlands State Park is perhaps the most famous and heavily visited park in South Dakota, also considered sacred by the native people of the region. Historic archaeological sites, fantastic canyons, sprawling badlands, and other geological features populate this epic park, good for hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing.

City Sightseeing

When you need a respite from the lovely forests and parks of South Dakota, you can spend some time in pleasant Rapid City, just large enough to keep you entertained, while small enough to retain the charm of a small village. You can tour amazing museums like the South Dakota Air and Space Museum when you have time to kill in the city, especially if you enjoy learning about military history or the aviation industry. Countless decommissioned planes and fighter jets used in military conflicts throughout United States history can be seen up close and personal when you tour the facility and learn about aerial battles from tour guides at this outdoor museum.The Museum @ Black Hills Institute has more neat stuff to see, like large dinosaur skeletons dating back over a hundred million years. Two T-Rex skeletons greet you when you walk in the front doors of this converted high school gym, along with other fossils and ancient remains. There is even a gift shop where you can pick up some souvenirs for friends and family back home.One of the best reasons to book an RV in Pennington County is the world-famous monuments nearby. Mount Rushmore is only 13 miles away from your campground, known the world over for its incredible artistic display of four presidents of the United States. This massive monument is chiseled into a mountainside, with imposing size and style. The Crazy Horse Memorial pays tribute to the famous Lakota chieftain who lead his people with dignity and strength.