Things To Do on an eBike in Brookings County
Brookings is flat and compact, and the documented riding is a connected set of shared paths through parks and the university campus.
Shops are on the eBike shops in Volga and eBike shops in Brookings pages. The county has no listing filed as an eBike rental, so use the Visit Brookings rental note for bike access.
Where to ride in Brookings County
The documented riding in Brookings County is a city trail network that links Dakota Nature Park, Hillcrest Park, Indian Hills Park and the SDSU campus.
Riding in Brookings County, South Dakota.
The paths are paved shared-use trails in town and narrower trails inside Dakota Nature Park, so a relaxed pace suits both.
1. Allyn Frerichs Trail and the city shared-use paths
The shared-use paths are concentrated south of the railroad and along Interstate 29, and the city owns and operates most of them, though the Indian Hills Homeowners Association controls some. Visit Brookings describes the trails as winding through green spaces, quiet neighborhoods and recreation areas, with directional kiosks along the way.
Distance: 14 miles of shared-use paths in the Bicycle Master Plan; nearly 24 miles of trails per Visit Brookings; start: Many hotels are steps from paved trails; the city's printable trail map shows the connections; surface: Paved shared-use path, generally 8 feet wide.
eBike access: The pages we read do not name eBikes, so the state path rule applies: Class I and II may use the paths unless the city prohibits it. Etiquette and planning: Ride with the pace of walkers and joggers, since the plan describes the paths as shared with rollerbladers too. Managing source: City of Brookings, Parks, Trails and Facilities Map.
2. Dakota Nature Park
A city park with shared-use trail sections that the Bicycle Master Plan says are narrower than the city's 8-foot standard in places. Visit Brookings lists it among the places the trails reach.
Distance: Not published by the managing source; start: Dakota Nature Park in Brookings, shown on the city trail map; surface: Shared-use trail, narrower in places.
eBike access: The pages we read do not name eBikes, so ask Brookings Parks and Recreation before bringing a Class III. Etiquette and planning: Slow down on the narrow sections and expect walkers and runners. Managing source: City of Brookings, Bicycle Master Plan.
3. SDSU campus paths
Many of South Dakota State University's shared-use sidewalks through campus are 18 feet wide, though the plan says they are not officially a path. Visit Brookings points to bike rentals at the Miller Wellness Center on campus.
Distance: Not published; start: SDSU's Miller Wellness Center for rentals; surface: Wide campus sidewalks.
eBike access: Campus rules are set by the university, which the pages we read do not describe for eBikes. Etiquette and planning: Expect student foot traffic between classes and slow down accordingly. Managing source: Visit Brookings, Brookings by Bike.
Planning a Brookings County ride
A good first ride is a loop that links your hotel to Dakota Nature Park and Hillcrest Park by the shared paths, with a stop at the Dairy Bar that Visit Brookings mentions.
Half-day and full-day eBike plans
Half day: Ride the shared paths from SDSU to Dakota Nature Park and back, keeping speed down on narrow sections.
Full day: Add Hillcrest Park and Indian Hills Park, using the printable trail map from the city.
What not to ride
Narrow Dakota Nature Park sections at speed: The plan says parts are under the 8-foot standard.
When to ride Brookings County
Summer afternoons can run hot, so a morning start in Brookings is the comfortable choice, and spring and fall open longer windows.
Shop hubs
The directory lists 2 towns in Brookings County. Each town page lists addresses, phone numbers, and claim links.
Rental and tour operators
No rental or tour operator appears in this county's directory. Phone the shops on the Brookings County eBike shops before you count on renting.
South Dakota eBike rules snapshot
South Dakota sorts eBikes into three classes in SDCL § 32-20B-9. An electric bicycle is a bicycle or tricycle with a seat or saddle, operable pedals for propulsion, and an electric motor of 750 watts or less. A Class I motor assists only while you pedal and stops assisting at 20 miles an hour. A Class II motor can propel the bike without pedaling and also stops at 20. A Class III motor assists only while you pedal and stops at 28. Since 2020, § 32-20B-10 has required a permanent label showing class, top assisted speed, and motor wattage. Section 32-20B-11 says the motor must disengage when you stop pedaling or apply the brakes, wording that sits awkwardly beside the Class II definition. An electric bicycle is left out of the moped, motorcycle, and off-road vehicle definitions in § 32-20-1.
The path rule is § 32-20B-12. Unless the governmental entity in charge says otherwise, you may ride a Class I or Class II on any bicycle path or multi-use path. A Class III is barred from those paths unless the path is within or next to a roadway or the entity expressly permits it, though a Class III may use a natural-surface trail designated non-motorized if the entity has not restricted it. The George S. Mickelson Trail is stricter. A 2025 law, Chapter 178, amended § 41-17-27 so that only a Class I eBike may use the trail; Class II and Class III are not exempted, and a violation is a Class 2 misdemeanor. Under § 32-20B-13, a Class III operator must be at least 16, though a younger child may ride as a passenger on a Class III built for one. A Class III also needs a working speedometer.
A helmet is required only on a Class III, for operators under 18 and for every passenger of any age (§ 32-20B-14). We found no statewide helmet rule for Class I or II, no eBike driver license, no registration, and no insurance requirement. On the road, a rider going slower than traffic keeps as close as practicable to the right edge (§ 32-20B-5), and a rider on a sidewalk has a pedestrian's duties and must yield and signal before passing. Cities, state parks, and federal land add their own rules. Read our South Dakota eBike laws guide, then check the sign at the trailhead.
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks manages the Mickelson Trail and Custer State Park trails, and its Mickelson Trail policy page lists electric wheelchairs and Class 1 eBikes as the motorized exceptions. State park pages we read for other areas do not mention eBikes, so ask the park before riding a state park trail.
Federal land follows different rules. The Forest Service manages eBikes as motor vehicles under its travel rules: all three classes are allowed on motorized trails and roads, and a non-motorized trail opens to eBikes only if the local forest designates it. National parks decide for themselves. Look up the specific unit before you load the bike.
The sources disagree on how big the network is, with the Bicycle Master Plan at 14 miles of shared-use paths and Visit Brookings at nearly 24 miles of trail, and neither names eBikes. Treat the mileage as approximate and the eBike rule as the state default.
Frequently asked questions
How wide are the Brookings paths?
The Bicycle Master Plan says the general standard on the Allyn Frerichs Trail is 8 feet, and the city's future standard is 10 feet.
Who owns the shared-use paths?
Most are owned and operated by the city, but some are controlled by the Indian Hills Homeowners Association.
Where are free trail maps?
Visit Brookings says free maps are at its office, the City-County Government Center and online.
Is there an eBike rental in Brookings?
Our directory has none, and Visit Brookings points to SDSU's Miller Wellness Center and the Larson Nature Center for rentals.
How many streets have bike lanes?
The plan counts 2 miles of standard bike lanes and 6 miles of shared-lane streets.
Are eBike helmets mandatory in South Dakota?
Passengers on a Class III need one at any age, and so do operators under 18, under § 32-20B-14. The sections we read set no helmet requirement for adults on Class I or II bikes. See the South Dakota eBike laws guide.
Does a South Dakota eBike need a license or registration?
We found no license, registration, title, plate, or insurance requirement for an electric bicycle. Section 32-20-1 leaves electric bicycles, as defined in § 32-20B-9, out of its moped, motorcycle, and off-road vehicle definitions.
All shops in Brookings County
Browse the whole directory, 3 listings across 2 cities, on the Brookings County eBike shops page.