Whispering Pines Campground

The Whispering Pines Campground is a 30-minute drive from the center of Rapid City, where you’ll find supermarkets for stocking up on supplies. There are also gas stations here if you need to fill up your RV rental, together with a wide variety of fast-food restaurants, cafes, and eateries where you can dine out. Rapid City is home to several cultural and artistic institutions that include the Apex Gallery and the Dahl Arts Center, where works by local and regional artists are displayed. Admire the colorful street art in the aptly-named Art Alley, then witness the incredible architecture of Chapel in the Hills. This replica of Norway’s Borgan Stavkirke features an on-site museum detailing what life was like for early Scandinavian immigrants in the region. If you’re traveling with kids, don’t miss a visit to the Reptile Gardens, which has been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest reptile zoo in the world. Coincide your visit with one of the alligator shows and get up close to their resident Komodo dragons, then soak up the peaceful ambiance within the Tortuga Falls meditative garden. While Whispering Pines Campground camping, you'll be a 40-minute drive from the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, with this iconic sculpture depicting four U.S. presidents (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln). It was sculpted by Gutzon Borglum and his son Lincoln, whose original studio is now open to the public. Witness the 1/12th-scale model of Mount Rushmore on display in the studio, then follow one of the walking trails to admire the 60-foot-high granite faces in person. The on-site museum features a range of interactive exhibits and short films that detail the construction of the memorial and the legacy of the presidents. Whether you want to witness the presidential sculptures of Mount Rushmore or explore the wildlife-filled grasslands of South Dakota, book an RV in Pennington County and start planning your trip.