South Dakota is surrounded by six states, divided into two halves by Missouri River, and home to nine indigenous American tribes. The Coyote State is one of the top five least densely populated among the 50 states. The state’s prairies, Great Plains, Badlands, and Black Hills invite exploration. It’s possible not to bump into a living soul in some areas of Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Badlands National Park, and Custer State Park. South Dakota’s cities and towns manifest the European, Western, and Native American roots of its people. South Dakota’s official language is the language of the Great Sioux Nation, while English is the common language. Learn more about SD’s cultural heritage and natural wonders. Read about the top 10 things to do in South Dakota, the USA.
1. Hike the Presidential Trail for the best view of Mt. Rushmore
The faces of four presidents carved on a mountain are symbols of South Dakota. If you’ve made your way to Mount Rushmore State for this unique memorial, you should know that you cannot scale, free solo, or climb to the summit. Still, it is possible to get up close and personal by walking the Presidential Trail. Go to Keystone in Black Hills to get started on the 0.9-mile (1.5-kilometer) loop. Expect to climb 422 stairs, encounter wildlife, and reach the trail’s end in 1 to 2 hours. It’s a relatively friendly climb, and you won’t need the stamina of a marathoner. If you can witness the changing colors on the 18-meter (60-foot) rock face at sunrise, your first attempt at Presidential Trail is going to be really magical.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Address: 13000 SD-244, Keystone, SD 57751, United States
Website: Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Opening hours: 5am - 11pm (daily)
2. Stop for a free ice water at Wall Drug Store
Thed, Bill, and Rick Hustead’s Wall Drug Store is an institution in South Dakota. People would stop at this roadside attraction, driven by curiosity. Anyone hammered by signs and billboards as they got closer to Wall would be compelled to stop by. Wall Drug is near Badlands National Park, and it’s the main attraction in a town of 800 year-round residents. Wall Drug is more than a pharmacy. It is a complex of gift shops, souvenir stores, an art gallery, restaurants, and cowboy-themed retail outlets. This unique shopping mall in a remote town has been serving tourists and locals since 1931. You’d have to pay for purchases, but ice-cold water is always free for all road-weary travelers.
Wall Drug Store
Address: 510 Main St, Wall, SD 57790, United States
Website: Wall Drug Store
Opening hours: Mon - Wed: 8am - 5:30pm; Thu: 8am - 4:30pm; Sat: 8am - 5:30pm; Sun: 8pm - 4:30pm (closed on Fri)
3. Go on a jeep safari adventure at Badlands National Park
The Lakota people called the area, now known as Badlands National Park, Mako Sica (“Bad Lands”). It has few natural water sources in the hot and dry summers. Winters are usually cold and windy. The area is uninhabitable in some months of the year. The ground turns to a sticky clay substance that makes it difficult to travel in the rain. Rugged and muddy, the Badlands are best explored on a vehicle. Sign up for a jeep safari along the Badlands Loop Scenic Byway. You will see plenty of wildlife, scenic overlooks, and not many people around. Check first if the park is open because access to vehicles is closed in certain weather conditions.
Bandlands National Park
Address: South Dakota, United States
Website: Bandlands National Park
Price: 50 USD
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4. Take artsy photos at Art Alley in Rapid City
Rapid City is the “City of Presidents” and gateway to Mt. Rushmore. Before you head to The Shrine of Democracy, look for a brick alley between Main and St. Joseph. Rapid City’s Art Alley is a side street and a dynamic art gallery with a curator. You can take a selfie in front of a wall today and find something else drawn there the next day. Every day, the alley is a witness to artists painting over someone’s wall’s graffiti. The organic nature of Art Alley has endeared it to the community. You’re welcome to contribute to its exhibit by expressing any personal or political statement with spray paint cans. Before you’re able to do that, you need to obtain a permit from Dahl Arts Center.
Art Alley Rapid City
Address: 599 7th St, Rapid City, SD 57701, United States
Website: Art Alley Rapid City
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
South Dakota Tour Guide
Stephanie Eley
I'm a graduate of ITMI, International Tour Management Institute and 17 years as a licensed Tour Director and Program Director. My expertise began in NYC and Washington, DC where I'm a licensed guide and has expanded to Europe, South America, Cuba and the Western / Southwestern National Parks of the US. I'd love to introduce you for a day or a week to Denver, Colorado and the 4 corners region of... Read more
Tours by Stephanie
5. Get the best view of Black Hills in a hot-air balloon (from USD 375.0)
Up in the air for an hour in a hot-air balloon could be your once-in-a-lifetime adventure in SD. Soaring over Black Hills National Forest at sunrise is not something you do every day, so don’t pass up on this opportunity. After the unforgettable journey, passengers toast their experience with a complimentary glass of champagne. The tour ends with an account of the history of hot-air ballooning. Pray the weather is clear and set your sights on the towering cliffs and evergreen forests of Black Hills.
Black Hills Hot-Air Balloon Ride Experience from Custer
Duration: 2 to 3 hours
6. See Ice Age mammoths at Mammoth Site and Museum in Hot Springs
The Mammoth Site is an active paleontological dig site enclosing a sinkhole from the Pleistocene era (2,580,000 to 11,700 years ago) when the most recent Ice Age occurred. Animals and plants were entrapped and buried as sediment filled the hole. In 1974, the finding of mammoth bones prompted enclosure, transforming it into an indoor dig site. A museum was established next to the site, and now offers educational programs and guided tours. There are more than 60 mammoth remains curated at Mammoth Site in Hot Springs. The site has the largest concentration of fossil mammoth remains in the world and the first location where two mammoth species are seen together in one place.
Mammoth Site and Museum
Address: 1800 US-18 BYP, Hot Springs, SD 57747, United States
Website: Mammoth Site and Museum
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 3:30pm; Sun: 11am - 3:30pm
Price: From 9 USD
7. Go back in time with antique cars at Pioneer Auto Show (from USD 12.0)
There are enough vintage cars and old farm equipment to view and examine for days at Pioneer Auto Museum. Drop by and check out the quirky selection of antiques and memorabilia collected by the Geisler family, who founded the World Famous Pioneer Auto Show in 1954. Some of the 275 classic automobiles are rare items. There are 60 motorcycles, 60 tractors, and even a fully loaded 1900’s Prairie Town. There’s more for tourists to see at Pioneer Auto Show than old vehicles and new arrivals. They have a souvenir shop and an onsite restaurant. Sign up for a guided tour and remember to ask about any restored cars for sale.
Pioneer Auto Museum Admission Ticket
Duration: 1 to 3 hours
8. Spend hours on a lake for a refreshing morning in South Dakota (from USD 325.0)
Some people would rather spend time on a body of water than take tours of museums and historical sites. When you feel like going kayaking or paddleboarding in South Dakota, head to Rapid City and book a morning lake tour. The tour includes all the necessary equipment and starts with instructions. Don’t bother packing lunch because the tour includes a filling and nutritious repast for all. Spending five hours on one of the largest reservoirs in South Dakota is a great way to have a fun vacation away from the crowds.
Rapid City Private Half-Day Kayaking or SUP Tour
Duration: 5 hours
9. Tour around the historic Adams House Museum in Deadwood (from USD 10.0)
Deadwood was a gold rush town where Harris and Anna Franklin built a Queen Anne mansion in 1892. It was called “the grandest house west of the Mississippi” by the press. Their home became a symbol of the town’s increasing wealth and social standing. Bought by W.E. Adams in 1920, the house eventually came to the possession of a city commission for restoration. Today, the historic Victorian mansion offers visitors a glimpse of the time when Deadwood’s business leaders would dine in an opulent room and entertain in the elegant parlor. Take a guided tour at 22 Van Buren Street, and gain perspective on the life of Deadwood’s pioneers.
Skip the Line: Adams House Museum Admission Ticket
Duration: 45 minutes
10. Join a high-adrenaline zipline tour in Black Hills (from USD 89.0)
Gutzon Borglum and his son Lincoln Borglum sculpted the head of four great presidents on Mount Rushmore between 1927 and 1939 as symbols of birth, growth, development, and preservation of the USA. There’s a trail you can walk to see the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. You can also sign up for a two-hour zipline tour in Black Hills. The five-line zipline offers an elevated experience not only of Mount Rushmore (The Six Grandfathers) but also of canyons, rock formations, rivers, and pine forests. An experienced guide will supervise the tour so that you can enjoy views of The Shrine of Democracy in three of the zipline routes.
Pinnacle Zipline Tour in Keystone
Duration: 2 hours
Spend your time in the Land of Infinite Variety
In South Dakota, the blazing sun shines brightly in a blue sky. The glacial lakes, prairies, mountains, Big Muddy Missouri, and the Badlands define the lay of the land. Your American journey could start in a place that inspires people of all cultures to escape to nature.
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