Measure three numbers before you reserve anything: total length from front bumper to the back of whatever you're towing, height at the tallest point including the air conditioner, and width with the slides out. Write them on a card and keep it in the door pocket. Most booking problems we see at our campground near Sturgis SD aren't about the site being too small — they're about a driver guessing at 38 feet when the real number, with the hitch and a towed Jeep, is 57. Our pull-throughs run longer than 100 feet, so there's room for a big motorhome and a toad left connected, but you still want the real figure in front of you when you call.
How do I measure total length the right way?
Park on level ground, hitch everything the way you'll actually travel, and run a tape from the forwardmost point to the rearmost point. Include the spare tire carrier, the bike rack, the ladder, and the tongue of a bike trailer. If you haul motorcycles behind the coach, that trailer counts toward your length even though we don't charge extra for parking it. Knowing the number also tells you whether you can stay hitched at a fuel island on I-90 or whether you'll be dropping the toad in the lot.
What about height and width?
Height matters more in the Black Hills than it does on the interstate. The tunnels on Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road have posted limits that stop plenty of fifth wheels and tall Class A coaches, so plan to ride or take a smaller vehicle on those loops rather than driving the rig through. Around our sites, watch for tree limbs along the edges of the Forest Service land that surrounds us. Width is simpler: measure with slides extended and the awning out, since that's the footprint you'll actually occupy once you're parked.
How do I know if my turn radius will work?
Turn radius is the number people skip. If you've never swung your rig through a tight 90-degree turn, find an empty lot at home and try it before the trip. Coming off I-90 Exit 34, you'll head south on Pleasant Valley Drive for about two miles, and the approach is straightforward even when Rally week traffic is heavy through town — that's the main reason drivers of 40-plus-foot coaches pick this spot over places closer to Main Street. Long rigs with short wheelbases and heavy tail swing need more room on the back end than the front, so give yourself extra clearance from parked bikes and trailers when you pull in.
What lengths of cord and hose should I pack?
On a long site, your utilities aren't always right where you'd like them. Bring a 25-foot sewer hose plus a 10-foot extension, at least 50 feet of fresh water hose, and a 30-foot power cord with both 30 and 50 amp adapters. A few leveling blocks help on grass and gravel. If you'd rather dump before you roll out, there's a dump station here, along with sanitation service for sites. Hot showers and coin laundry are in Miss Suzie's Bath House, so you don't have to run your own tanks dry during a long Sturgis rally camping stay.
What if my rig is bigger than I thought?
Call and tell us the numbers. We'd rather sort it out in advance than have you backing up on a Tuesday of Rally week. If towing isn't something you want to deal with at all, we rent RVs here, which takes the measuring problem off your plate entirely. The same site works just as well for families using this as a Black Hills campground in June, with Mount Rushmore, Spearfish Canyon and Custer State Park all within day-trip range.