Top Things to do in South Dakota
Top Hotels in South Dakota
- 1. Best Western Plus Rapid City Rushmore
- 2. Bavarian Inn, Black Hills
- 3. K Bar S Lodge
- 4. Hampton Inn & Suites Southwest/Sioux Falls
- 5. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Sioux Falls
- 6. Deadwood Gulch Resort, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
- 7. Best Western Golden Spike Inn & Suites
- 8. Comfort Suites Conference Center Rapid City
- 9. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Rapid City
- 10. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Rapid City, SD
10 Free Things to do in South Dakota That You Shouldn't Miss
South Dakota has good golf courses, skiing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, hiking, and biking among rolling prairies, pine forests, and granite mountain peaks like Mount Rushmore. Glacial lakes and Missouri River reservoir lakes provide great fishing, boating, canoeing, water skiing, and windsurfing. The whole family will enjoy this prairie land where grain growing begat roadside attractions like the Corn Palace in Mitchell. Everything made from corn, even the popcorn, tastes better here. Where buffalo roam, roadside diners serve up buffalo and luscious homemade fruit pies. Shop for good deals on cowboy boots on the same Black Hills and Badland Main Streets where cowboys and cowgirls outfit themselves. Be near the eroded buttes, spires, and prairie grasslands of Badlands National Park in Lead, Deadwood, Rapid City, Spearfish, Sturgis, Hill City, Custer, and other nearby towns. The whole family will enjoy watching for big game like bison, bighorn sheep, antelope, eagles, and hawks. Drive the one-hour Hwy 240 loop road, with a side-trip to Robert's Prairie Dog Town. Learn about the Oglala Sioux Tribe at the White River Visitor Center, which is near Wounded Knee. Tour the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site's Cold War nuclear silos, just outside the Park's boundaries. About 90 minutes west of Badlands National Park is Mount Rushmore. Lead, Deadwood, Rapid City, Spearfish, Sturgis, Hill City, Whitetail Springs, and Custer are also very near Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Custer State Park, Wind Cave National Park, and Jewel Cave National Monument. View Mount Rushmore from the aerial tramway in Keystone, which also houses the Borglum Historical Center celebrating the artist behind the sculpting of Rushmore. Take the kids to the Dinosaur Park in Rapid City. Attend Custer State Park’s Annual Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival. Bedazzle the whole family with sparkling calcite crystals in 151-mile long Jewel Cave. Bison, pronghorn, and elk graze the grasslands of Wind Cave National Park. Central South Dakota has the state capitol, Pierre, in addition to numerous lakes along the Missouri River. Go fishing and boating in the rivers and lakes. Take the kids to the South Dakota Discovery Center and Aquarium in Pierre to see the state’s native fish. Drop by the Dacotah Prairie Museum along the James River in Aberdeen in the northeast to learn prairie history and natural history. Swing by Sioux Falls to see the USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial and special exhibits at the Old Courthouse Museum. Choose from among 10 golf courses in Sioux Falls.
Restaurants in South Dakota
1. Spearfish Canyon
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 775 reviews
This scenic 19-mile drive in the Black Hills that passes cliffs, waterfalls and the Spearfish Creek gives one the feeling they are in the rainforest.
Reviewed By yowsah1 - Lansing, United States
This drive had it all: Tree-covered mountains, picturesque waterfalls and streams, dramatic rock formations, wildlife sightings, the works! It seemed like there was something breathtaking around each bend. There were many spots where you could pull off the road - great for shutterbugs or those wishing to get a closer view of things. A rubberneckers delight!
2. Black Hills National Forest
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 885 reviews
This empty expanse where Native Americans once roamed is now a national forest.
Reviewed By CrankingChick - Tucson, United States
The Black Hills Forest covers a vast area of western South Dakota - more than 1.25 million acres! It's an excellent vacation destination because of the wide variety of attractions and recreation opportunities. One could easily spend a week exploring this beautiful area; we were there for four days and did not do everything, we could have easily filled two more days. We explored the historic main street at Deadwood, visited the DC Booth Fish Hatchery at Spearfish, drove through Spearfish Canyon and were enchanted by three waterfalls, learned about mining at Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center, gawked at the enormous carved faces of four presidents on Mt. Rushmore, drove the scenic Needles Highway through imposing stone pinnacles, navigated the unique pigtail bridges and stone tunnels of Iron Mountain Road (Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway), took a peaceful morning hike around Sylvan Lake, spotted wildlife like deer, prairie dogs, bison and pronghorns at Custer State Park, marveled at the fossilized bones of extinct animals at The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, visited Wind Cave National Park, and took a ride on the vintage 1880 steam train between Hill City and Keystone. We didn't visit the Crazy Horse Memorial or Jewel Cave National Monument this trip. (The above attractions all have separate Tripadvisor pages.) The Black Hills Forest hosts numerous campgrounds and picnic areas, plus there are lakes and streams for fishing, swimming and kayaking. There are many hiking trails of various lengths and difficulties, and also the 109-mile George S. Mickelson Rail-Trail for walking or biking. For those who like a more thrilling adventure, there are zip-lines, water parks, horse stables, and helicopter rides available. Food and lodging are available at the towns of Deadwood, Lead, Keystone, Hill City, Custer and Hot Springs. There is no charge to enter the forest, but some of the above attractions charge a parking or admission fee. Some roads, services, and attractions may be closed in winter.
3. Iron Mountain Road
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,646 reviews
Reviewed By Jake48009 - Detroit, United States
You need to do it twice one-way then reverse to get Mount Rushmore framed in the tunnels as you pass through -- Absolutely spectacular! Fantastic ride between Custer State Park and Keystone with amazing views of Mount Rushmore as you pass through several cool tunnels and fun twisty roads. Make sure you sound the horn before entering the tunnels! Bring a jacket and some binoculars. Ride the road during the week. If you are visiting the Custer State Park area, Iron Mountain 16A is absolutely a "must see"... This road has to be one of the most scenic highways in America!
4. St. Joseph Cathedral
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 337 reviews
Reviewed By csarchibald - San Marcos, United States
If you love beautiful Catholic Cathedrals, this is a must if you are in Sioux Falls. The interior is every bit as beautiful as many of the great cathedrals of Europe we have visited. We were fortunately to get there as noon mass was beginning. Congregation members were very friendly.
5. Sioux Falls Bike Trails
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 153 reviews
Reviewed By KFLAM - Eden Prairie, United States
Found this little trail gem with help from Dana at the Hilton Garden Inn South! Nice, quiet trail with pretty view. Off the 229 Minnesota Ave exit.
6. Black Hill National Cemetery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 45 reviews
Reviewed By 218brendau - Kansas, United States
A beautiful and peaceful place to show respect for those who have fought for our freedoms. Always a somber and sad moment to see families at the graveside of a loved one. Definitely a time to pray not only for our soldiers but for the family members who also pay the ultimate sacrifice with the loss. Prayers for all military and their families.
7. Roughlock Falls State Nature Area
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 121 reviews
Reviewed By CruisinSarah - Casper, United States
We loved visiting this beautiful area while riding the hills in our ATV! A must-stop attraction in the Black Hills.
8. Dignity
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 286 reviews
Reviewed By annettesN9225UP - Milwaukee, United States
Beautiful statue, info on Lewis and Clark, and hiking trail with amazing views.Just the break we needed.
9. Mount Coolidge
10. Falls Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,265 reviews
Park with waterfalls where the river flows over many tiers of Sioux quartzite.
Reviewed By 935kristieg - Saint Peter, United States
This is the second time I’ve been there but I didn’t realize you must walk to the right to see the amazing falls. Last time we went, we had fun climbing on the rocks and didn’t realize the amazing falls and paths and cool historical artifacts. We always park in the first lot so I guess this is how we missed it the first time. My pics probably don’t do it justice, but it was a beautiful winter day and it was cool to even get to walk across the frozen Sioux River to get from one side to the other.
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