South Dakota needs to be the next state you visit. Wide-open spaces? Absolutely. You’ll find 77,000 square miles of parks, indigenous culture, Wild West-style adventures, and fantastic road trips. Unpretentious towns and lodges? They’ve got you covered, with walkable villages and places to stay that appeal to all budgets. You can see bison and mountain goats, learn about the Gold Rush, shop for artisan jewelry, and taste local cuisine from James Beard-noted restaurants.
WHAT TO KNOW
Seven southeastern cities — including Nashville, Atlanta, and Dallas — fly directly to Sioux Falls Regional Airport. From there, it’s a three to four-hour drive to attractions such as Badlands and Custer State Park. As a shortcut, there are direct flights into Rapid City Airport (closer to many of the Black Hills attractions) through a connecting city such as Denver.
Regardless of which airport you travel through, South Dakota is a road trip-centric state, so you’ll want to rent a car to explore. Similar to many destinations, summers can be crowded, so consider the shoulder seasons of spring and fall or even a winter trip (it does get snowy, however). Sioux City and Rapid City have plenty of city charms, but most people head to the Black Hills for more rugged scenery.
WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT
You’ll explore parks that wow.
With six national park sites and 63 state parks and recreation areas, South Dakota is an ideal destination if you want to be outside and connect with Mother Nature. Badlands National Park is often called “other-worldly” for good reason: the canyons, striped rocks, peaks, and expanses of land look like they belong in a sci-fi novel. A 39-mile loop takes visitors on a scenic journey around the notable highlights, with 15 stop-off points.
Spearfish Canyon is one of the most scenic areas in the Black Hills and includes the popular Roughlock Falls hike, Spearfish Falls, and a lodge that can serve as a home base for the area.
Custer State Park is a must-see. The park’s Bison Center is a good starting point to learn all about these enormous animals. Then, get up close and personal (do it safely — stay in the car!) by driving along the park’s 18-mile wildlife loop or booking an excursion with a company such as Buffalo Safari Jeep Tour (starting at $59).
The exciting Buffalo Annual Round-up in September is an action-filled day of watching cowboys and cowgirls herd all the bison across the plains for annual check-ups. Mark your calendar for 2025! Make sure to drive through Needles Highway, with its stunning vistas and Mars-like rock spires.
You’ll view monuments with meaning.
Mount Rushmore was always meant to be an attraction to draw visitors to South Dakota, and it’s still a frequent starting point. Three million people make the pilgrimage annually! The faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln are the work of 400 men who carved the iconic scene into rock.
They are also chronicled in an impressive museum. Allow time to walk the trails and sample the ice cream Thomas Jefferson brought back from his European travels.
The nearby Crazy Horse Memorial will one day be the largest carved outdoor sculpture in the world. It was conceived as a monument to Native American culture in North America and honors Chief Crazy Horse. The memorial is in progress, but visitors can view the face and a pointing finger from afar (or pay for a tour that offers an up-close encounter) and visit the cultural center, which is both a museum and a gift shop of artisan wares.
You’ll see the Wild West come alive.
Ready to walk in the footsteps of Wild Bill Hickock, Calamity Jane, and Sheriff Seth Bullock? The gold-rush town of Deadwood is a National Historic Landmark, filled with late 19th-century buildings, a cemetery of famous graves, the Adams Museum (devoted to all things Deadwood), and kitschy experiences (shoot-outs, reenactments, and more) to enhance the experience. Yes, it’s touristy and filled with casinos, but it’s a memorable day trip.
Don’t miss the new Brothel Deadwood tour, a thoughtful lesson about how the women of Deadwood had to make their living. Fans of the HBO show Deadwood will enjoy seeing referenced sites and memorabilia.
You’ll discover exciting culinary and arts scenes.
South Dakota offers more than just outdoor excitement. You’ll want to dig deeper into its food scene, small towns, and artistic influences. The varied cultures who have settled here (including Scandinavian, Native American, German, and local ranchers) bring their own specialties and give it a South Dakota twist. A few dishes to try: Indian fry bread, chislic (meat kabobs), custard-based kuchen pastries, and a buffalo burger. Similarly, small towns (and the bigger ones such as Rapid City and Sioux Falls) are filled with local artisans worth checking out.
WHERE TO SHOP
Mind Blown Studio in Deadwood is part glass gallery/part coffee shop, Prairie Edge & Sioux Trading Post in downtown Rapid City is an authentic — and large — store dedicated to Native American arts, while the town of Hill City is full of artisans and Western stores.
WHERE TO EAT
The small but mighty Skogen Kitchen in Custer serves innovative food that earned it a James Beard nomination. You can also enjoy South Dakota specialties such as steaks and burgers at the Alpine Inn in Hill City and The Latchstring Restaurant in Spearfish Canyon.
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