How to Establish Residency in South Dakota as a Full-time Traveler

Posted on October 15, 2018 by Dan+Yi

With midterm elections just around the corner, we thought it timely to dedicate a post to explaining how we became residents and registered voters in our new home state of South Dakota. This will also answer the oft-made questions: how do you get mail and do you even have an address?

“The address is wherever it is parked” – Ron Swanson
Parks and Recreation, Season 6, Episode 3

South Dakota is one of a few key states that many full-timers call home (Texas and Florida being the others). Choosing South Dakota was a no-brainer for us. Our connection to the state started back in 2012 when we visited the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore on our first road trip. That trip and our time in the state made such an impact on our relationship that we decided to double down and get married there in 2017. On top of that, it made sense logistically since we were taking a northern route across the country to Seattle at the outset of our full-time journey.

Dan+Yi circa 2017
(photo credit: Henry Roy Photography)

South Dakota explicitly allows and facilitates full-time travelers to become residents and voters and has these great perks:

No state income tax
Relatively low vehicle registration fees
Relatively low cost of insurance
You only have to return to the state once every five years to renew your license (though we think it’s worth spending more time there!)

Our mail forwarding service / home address

Very appropriate gear sold at the DakotaPost office

As a lawyer, I consumed many articles and videos on how to establish residency as a remote traveler to make sure everything we did was above board. From my research and experience having completed the process, I will try to boil it all down into as straightforward a list as possible. The steps we took were as follows:

Mail Forwarding: Sign up for a mail forwarding service in the state.
1. We chose DakotaPost, a well established business based in Sioux Falls, where we would also be able to take care of the other to-dos on this list. (Please mention that “Dan and Yi” referred you if you sign up!)
2. In addition to completing and emailing the DakotaPost forms, you also need to complete and have notarized USPS Form 1583, and mail it to DakotaPost, 3916 N. Potsdam Ave., Sioux Falls, S.D. 57104.
3. DakotaPost provides the Private Mail Box (PMB) address, receives our mail at their facility, and forwards it to us upon request wherever we choose. We elected the Virtual Mailbox option, so they scan the outside of each piece of mail and we can view through an online portal to request shredding of unwanted junk and request mail when we actually receive something we need.
One Night Stay Requirement: Stay at least one night at a hotel/motel/RV park/campground in the state and keep the receipt showing your name(s), your new South Dakota PMB address, and the address where you stayed.
1. We stayed at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park of Sioux Falls on a Thursday night and completed the residency process on Friday.
Driver’s License: Obtain driver’s licenses at the Department of Public Safety (DPS) Driver’s License Station (similar to the DMV) with the required documentation.
1. We used the following documents:
  1. Social security cards (original documents, no photocopies)
  2. U.S. passports (original documents, no photocopies)
  3. Completed Residency Affidavit (provided and completed at DPS)
  4. Receipt from #2 above as proof of one night stay within the last year
  5. One document, no more than one year old, proving your personal mailbox (PMB) service address (DakotaPost provided this document to us)
  6. Prior state licenses to surrender
2. The DPS was actually pretty efficient, and we were in and out with our new South Dakota driver’s licenses (Mt. Rushmore watermark and all) in about an hour.
3. You can also elect to register to vote on the DPS forms. We did this, but then had to call to correct our voter registration later. While your driver’s license will have your PMB forwarding address, your voter registration must use the physical address of the hotel/camp where you stayed. To avoid this issue, you can simply register to vote at the Minnehaha County Auditor’s office (more below).
4. Sioux Falls DPS is located at 2501 W Russell St, Sioux Falls, SD 57104.
Vehicle Registration: Register vehicles and obtain plates at the Minnehaha County Treasurer’s Office with required documentation.
1. The requirements differ depending on how long you have owned your vehicle. We had owned both our car and RV for more than six months, so we used:
  1. Title
  2. Completed Vehicle Registration form for each vehicle
  3. Documentation of Unloaded Vehicle Weight for the RV
    1. We called Winnebago Support at 1-800-537-1885, and they emailed us the documentation the same day (don’t forget to print this out).
  4. Tax Payment Verification (basically an affidavit stating how much tax you paid to the state where you purchased the vehicle)
  5. Payment in cash, credit (nominal fee), or cashier’s check/money order (no personal checks)
2. For brand new vehicles and those owned less than 6 months, you also need other documents. DakotaPost provides a breakdown and relevant forms (note that we did not use all of these, and some forms may not apply to your situation).
3. You will be provided with new plates and a receipt, and your new title will be mailed to you within six weeks.
4. Minnehaha County Treasurer is located at 415 N Dakota Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104.
Voter Registration: Once you’ve obtained your SD driver’s license, simply fill out the Voter Registration Form and submit it to the County Auditor.
1. Be sure to use the physical address of the hotel/camp where you stayed (not your PMB address).
2. Minnehaha County Auditor is also located at 415 N Dakota Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104 (same address as the Treasurer).
VOTE!
1. Assuming you are not going to be present in the state for an election, request an absentee ballot by mailing the Absentee Ballot Application along with a copy of your South Dakota driver’s license to the County Auditor.
2. Visit the South Dakota Secretary of State’s official page for more information about voter registration and absentee voting.

There is so much that goes into transitioning to full-time travel life. I hope this post can help you get on your way! What are you waiting for?

Happy Trails,

Dan

Disclaimer: The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information.There is no attorney-client relationship between you and the blog/website publisher. The blog/website should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.

On the Road to Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Posted on September 5, 2018 by Dan+Yi

From Friday-Saturday, August 17-18, we made our way from from Sioux Falls, South Dakota to North Dakota. We went a little out of our way to visit the astonishing Dignity statue in Chamberlain. We’re so glad that we did, not only because the statue is a powerful addition to South Dakota’s collection of monuments and sculptures, but also because the road north traced part of the Native American Scenic Byway and the historic Lewis and Clark expedition, flanked by spectacular views of the Missouri River.

South Dakota rest stops’ signature teepee

It was nice to get off the interstate and take the scenic route as we cut a relatively straight path through South Dakota.

Driving along the Missouri River on the Native American Scenic Byway

After a one-night stop at a camp right off of Route 83, just south of the border with North Dakota, we finally made it to our 41st state! We were determined not to leave the Northern sister state of our cherished new home state of South Dakota for last. Interestingly, so many people on the road to 50 states leave North Dakota for last that there are specific souvenirs made for the occasion and even a “Best for Last Club” based in Fargo.

Adding North Dakota to our cross-country trip was a no brainer. We were taking the northern route (mostly I-90) across the country to Seattle, and wanted to visit as many new places and national parks as we could on our way. North Dakota is home to Theodore Roosevelt National Park and, as we witnessed along the route before reaching I-94, home to many sunflower farms — at times creating a sea of yellow as far as the eye could see. We later learned that sunflower viewing is something the state officially promotes, and the Route 83 we took north from the state line to Bismarck is listed on this official ND tourism map.

So many sunflowers!

Another goal we have for our travels is to visit state capitals, and Bismarck was squarely on our route to Teddy Roosevelt. Admittedly, I wasn’t very excited about seeing this one because my quick google search had shown images of what appeared to be a fairly bland office building – quite different from the typical domed structures. However, we were very pleasantly surprised to find that, while there was no dome in sight, the Capitol Building perched over a sprawling green field and floral arrangement of the state name, overlooking a campus reminiscent of the National Mall that included the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum, the state’s largest museum.

After a walk around the campus, we visited the Heritage Center and Museum, a modern and intriguing location offering exhibits covering the state’s history from the earliest geologic formation 600 million years ago, to the early Native American people, to the present day. It was a lot of history to take in, but we tried to experience as much as we could in an hour before hitting the road again!

North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum

From there, we drove about 100 miles to North Park Campground in Dickinson, our base camp for our time in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park area. We were greeted by Holly, a friendly campground staff member who kindly offered a golf cart ride around the campground so that we could select our site. Holly was formerly a schoolteacher in Utah for four years, and recommended visiting the state in the Fall because the weather is still great. We were glad to hear that since we’re already planning to spend time in Utah in the coming months! After choosing a nicely shaded site, we settled in for our first “extended” stay of our journey – a whopping four nights – and prepared for our visit to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. More on the park later, and as always, follow our Instagram for daily updates and join our email list for the latest blog posts.

Happy Trails,

Dan

Our Road Trip Planning Basics (with itinerary template)

Posted on August 31, 2018 by Dan+Yi

In the summer of 2012, Yi and I planned our first road trip together from New York City to Mt. Rushmore. Neither of us had ever planned or taken a road trip of this magnitude (3400+ miles roundtrip), so like any member of modern society, I turned to the all-powerful Google. Using a basic Google Sheet, I plotted out our route with the basic details laid out for each day: date, day, origin, destination, travel time, lodging, and a goal. Looking back at the spreadsheet now, I’m pleasantly surprised at how functional – though sloppy – it was for an initial effort.

Of course, we couldn’t iron out all the details from the outset. There were a lot of blank spaces under “lodging,” and on day one we decided to drive considerably farther than planned (to Cedar Point in Ohio – no regrets). But that’s part of the magic of road trips; you have the flexibility to shift things around spontaneously depending on where the road takes you on any given day. That’s also why it’s good to have a plan laid out to provide a framework and make sure you’re able to reach your “must see” destinations during the time allotted for your journey.

Cedar Point: The Roller Coaster Capital of the World, a worthy addition to any itinerary

Over the years, we’ve used this same basic template, with some modifications, to plan road trips ranging from a few days (Turbo Northeast Loop!) to several weeks, all over the United States, as well as in Australia and New Zealand. I’m not going to say this is the absolute “how to” template, but it has certainly worked for us. Right now, there are at least some people who, like us in 2012, are thinking of going on their first over the road adventure and wondering where to start. In the hopes that this can be of value, I’ve put together a simple template with a sample itinerary excerpted from our most recent travels. Click Here to View/Copy

Our Jucy “Campa” at the Wanaka, New Zealand campground (August 2016)

Start with the basic framework of your trip and ask some initial questions:

1. How much time do you have for your trip?
2. What is the farthest place you can reach in that time frame?
3. Where can you visit along the way?
4. If taking a round trip, is there a different route you can take back to see new sights?

Use another familiar tool, Google Maps, to plot out potential routes. You can then fill in the other details from there. You can even fill in details as you go. Planning and taking a successful road trip requires effort, especially for longer itineraries, but I promise that it is much simpler than it might seem and totally worth it!

Happy Trails,

Dan