In South Dakota, the legality of sleeping in a car overnight is governed mostly by local parking and camping regulations, which generally prohibit overnight parking or camping in many public areas. According to South Dakota state law and municipal ordinances, parking a vehicle overnight in designated public parking lots, city parks, or rest areas is typically restricted or prohibited. For example, state regulations forbid camping at rest areas along interstate highways, defining camping as occupying a vehicle for temporary lodging, including sleeping in the car, with a violation considered a petty offense. Rest area parking is usually limited to short durations, such as three hours for passenger vehicles, and parking beyond that or sleeping in a vehicle can be illegal.
Specific city ordinances reflect similar rules. Several cities prohibit overnight parking on public streets or designated lots beyond a set time—often 24 hours or less—with towing enforced for violations. For instance, residential communities like Dakota Dunes ban overnight street parking between midnight and 6 a.m. and enforce escalating warnings and towing for repeated violations, effectively making sleeping in a parked vehicle on residential streets illegal. Moreover, camping or occupying recreational vehicles outside of designated commercial campgrounds or residential zones is generally not permitted, and motor homes or trailers parked on public streets for extended periods are subject to removal.
Overall, sleeping in a car overnight on public property in South Dakota is mostly illegal unless specifically allowed in designated areas such as authorized campgrounds or private property with owner permission. Temporary resting, such as brief stops within rest area limits, is allowed but does not extend to overnight stays or camping. Anyone considering sleeping in a vehicle should check local city or county parking ordinances for specific rules. Violations of overnight parking or camping regulations may result in fines, towing, or other penalties. For safe and legal options, it is advisable to use commercial campgrounds, RV parks, or private property accommodations.
Sources
(https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/south-dakota/ARSD-10-01-02-03)
(https://www.dakotadunes.com/street-parking-regulations)
(https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/hotsprings/latest/hotsprings_sd/0-0-0-1444)
(https://www.cityofpierre.org/DocumentCenter/View/205/Article-6—Parking-and-Parking-Meters)
(https://www.boondockersbible.com/learn/south-dakota-rest-area-rules/)6
