Driving in October

This may seem like a silly question to some of you, forgive me, but here in the UK snow is rare these days! I%26#39;m going to be renting a car for the last 10 days of October to tour the Black Hills area, and was wondering if snow tyres or chains are required ( I have read somewhere that in inclement weather some roads are access only to vehicles with them) and whether they are an optional extra for car rental. Not that I would know what a snow tyre looked like if it jumped up and bit me......but I like to be prepared!! We will be based in Rapid City.

Many thanks.

Driving in October

We%26#39;ve never changed to snow tires and don%26#39;t have chains. Only one of our vehicles is all wheel drive.

If there is a heavy snow, most highways are cleared in a timely manner and Needles %26amp; Iron Mountain highways are closed. October snow in Rapid City usually melts away within days.

Driving in October

This certainly isn%26#39;t a silly question. Late October can be borderline for the possibility of snow. While anything is possible, I would guess you won%26#39;t have any big storms to deal with--maybe a day of lighter snow if anything.

You won%26#39;t be able to rent a car with snow tires--at least the traditional studded variety. But you will be able to rent an SUV with four wheel drive. Rental SUV%26#39;s don%26#39;t seem to cost a lot more than regular cars anymore.

I believe the ';official'; closing date for the Needles Highway is usually Nov. 1 but if there%26#39;s a big storm, they could close it earlier. For this reason, I%26#39;d make the Needles and northern Custer State Park one of your first stops.