The Garage

Where to ride

Where to ride in South Dakota

Official riding areas and the permits South Dakota asks for, each from the managing agency's own page, quoted and dated. Areas close for fire, weather, seasons and repairs, so check the page before you go.

Public areas
1
On the map
0
Quoted facts
3
Reviewed
2026-09-30

Areas

Public land the managing agency describes for off-highway riding. Each card quotes the place’s own page on the riding, vehicles, season, ride days, fees, camping and size; what the page does not print is named on a hatched line. The Forest Service and the BLM publish motor vehicle use maps for public land not listed here.

No page we checked gives coordinates or an address, so there are no pins yet. Outline: U.S. Census Bureau.

  1. 1. Oahe Downstream Off-Highway Vehicle Area

    State South Dakota Game, Fish and Parksnear Fort Pierre

    The Oahe Downstream Off-Road Vehicle Area features almost 400 acres of hilly grassland, river bluff and vegetated shale slopes for you to explore.

    Riding
    Boundaries are marked, but there are no designated trails. source
    Vehicles
    Motorcycles, Motocross Bikes
    Size
    In the quote above
    —
    Not on the pages we checked: Season, Ride days, Fees, Camping
    • Names motorcycles
    • Trails

    Oahe Downstream Off-Highway Vehicle Area, official pagechecked 2026-09-30

Permits and stickers

What the state's own pages say riders need on public land, quoted word for word. South Dakota Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division runs the program; its page is below. Private tracks set their own rules, entry forms and gear requirements.

  • Residents

    Off-road vehicle title and registration (county treasurer)

    Off-road vehicle titling and registration fees are processed through your local county treasurer's office under the current Motorcycle and Off-Road Vehicle Fee Schedule.

    Official pagechecked 2026-09-30

  • Non-residents

    Non-resident off-road vehicle permit

    Non-resident off-road vehicle permits are available for purchase and are valid for one year.

    Official pagechecked 2026-09-30

  • Everyone

    Black Hills National Forest Motorized Vehicle Use Trail Permit

    A Motorized Vehicle Use Trail Permit is required for any motor vehicle traveling on motorized use trails in the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota.

    Official pagechecked 2026-09-30

The state program

Off-Road Vehicles (titling, registration and non-resident permit), run by South Dakota Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division.

An off-road vehicle is any self-propelled, two or more wheeled vehicle designed to be operated on land other than a highway.

Off-Road Vehicles (titling, registration and non-resident permit), official pagechecked 2026-09-30

Before you go

Each place's own page has its current status, seasons, fees and which trails take which vehicles. Rules differ between places and change with fire danger, weather and race schedules, so read it on the day. Tracks set their own gear, age and entry rules.

Official maps

Near a state line? The nearest-places finder looks across every state.

Nothing on this page says anyone may ride anywhere: it points to the agencies that decide. A tag such as “Camping” means the quoted page says so, not that we have been there. Reviewed 2026-09-30.