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
Things to do in South Dakota, United States: The Best Water & Amusement Parks
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. Mitchell Aquatic Center
2. Storybook Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 803 reviews
We are a non profit childrens park. 8 1/2 acres of outdoor fun! We have a train, carousel and Bippity Boppity Bounce, the cost is $2 per person for each of these. We have concessions on site as well as a gift shop. We are free admission in the summer, a $1 per person donation is recommended. We DO NOT allow outside food, drink or pets. We open for the summer season on Memorial Weekend and Close on Labor Day.
Reviewed By desiprincess
If you are ever in South Dakota, do not miss an opportunity to visit Storybook Island! Although this is not one of the commonly noted tourist attractions, it is one of the best things to do with children in the area. Storybook Island is a colorful, intricate, deeply detailed playground full of every fairy tale character you can imagine. Disney characters, Cat in the Hat, Sesame Street characters, Wizard of Oz, and more fill this space with wonder! A carousel, train ride, numerous slides, play houses, a tree house, and various vehicles including a boat, helicopter, and train are only some of the play structures on Storybook Island. Ice cream, slushies, and other quick, fun snacks are available for purchase. If you are in the process of planning your itinerary for a South Dakota trip with children, consider planning at least 3-4 hours here. You will be so glad you didn’t rush through this magnificent, magical park! There are many incredible things to do in South Dakota. Storybook Island is sadly missed by many tourists who prioritize other attractions. Take my advice- go to Storybook Island and enjoy a kids’ paradise!
3. Rush Mountain Adventure Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 680 reviews
At Rush Mountain Adventure Park, you will find fun on all levels! Rush Mountain is the home of famous Rushmore Cave. Come and explore the stalactite-filled caverns of this amazing natural wonder on a fun and educational cave tour. Spend the day enjoying great amusement rides. You can soar through the sky on the Soaring Eagle Zipline Ride or try your skill at the Gunslinger 7-D Interactive Ride. Feel the rush as speed down the hill on the area's only coaster, the Rushmore Mountain Coaster. Climb on the Wingwalker Challenge Course, or the Sky Tykes Challenge Course is perfect for the younger adventurer. You are sure to have a great time, full of affordable family fun. It's a total must-do attraction for anyone coming to the Black Hills. Cave and attractions are open daily May-October and weekends in March and April. Check website for hours and admission prices.
Reviewed By 345hansc
Beautifully preserved and maintained natural limestone cave deep in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Breath taking stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and caverns. Our tour guide was the young son of one of the owners of the cave and he was well versed on giving specific and accurate details on the history of the cave’s formation, discovery, and development. A definite stop when touring the beautiful South Dakota landscape besides Mount Rushmore.
4. Miner's Maze Human Maze Adventure
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Get Lost and have a great time doing it in this human maze adventure. Race against the clock in search of G-O-L-D and win a prize everytime. Also featuring Finder's Keepers Gemstone Panning.
5. Rushmore Tramway Adventures
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,341 reviews
Rushmore Tramway Adventures offers a little bit of something for everyone. From action-packed adventurers to enjoying the beautiful Black Hills with breath-taking views of Mount Rushmore National Memorial, people of all ages and abilities can find their inspiration. You just can't seem to go wrong with this family getaway during your summer vacation!
Reviewed By 330evanw
On our way through Keystone, we decided to stop at this local attraction, to try the aerial ropes course Although the tickets for the course are a quite pricey, I would say that if you going to spend at least 1.5 hours, you will be getting your money's worth. The ropes course includes around 6-8 routes of varying degrees of difficulty from quite easy to very challenging. The ropes course of almost entirley in the trees, meaning that while you are climbing around, you can take in the beauty of the Black Hills forests while you are at it.
6. Spearfish Rec & Aquatics Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 43 reviews
The Spearfish Rec & Aquatics Center is good for the whole family! Rec Center, Fitness Center, Group Fitness Classes, Cardio Room, Weight Room, Gymnasium, Outdoor Seasonal Water Park, Water Slides, Concessions, After School Activities, and much more. We are open year round as the perfect place to get in shape, stay in shape, play, and soak up the sun.
7. Roosevelt Swim Center
8. Thunder Road Family Fun Park
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 48 reviews
Thunder Road Fun Park is a small amusement park with 12 attractions for all ages. There is something for almost anyone with 2 Go-kart tracks, Rookie Karts, a Family Roller Coaster, Tilt-A-Whirl, Adventure Mini-Golf, Laser Maze, Laser Tag, Euro-Bungy Trampoline, Water Wars, Human Foosball, Bumper Boats, and Batting Cages. Free Parking, No Admission, and Free picnic areas. Remember the Fun!
Reviewed By 91elijaha - Parker, United States
Great mini golf, the new indoor place is awesomely fun. I would definitely recommend this place to future visitors.
9. Wild Water West
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 132 reviews
The areas only inclusive Slides and Rides destination! With a 500,000 gallon wave pool, slide tower, Go-Karts, Mini Golf, Splash park, Bumper Boats, Swim-Up Bar and so much more!!
Reviewed By lezlik2019 - Sioux Falls, United States
We picked a 94 degree day to visit the water park and we were not dissapointed!! There are so many fun things for all ages to do!! Five water slides a lazy river, wave pool mini golf and go karts. Two different childrens pools with really fun looking toys. The food prices were not horriable. The beers are 7 dollars for a 16 ounce domestic, but 3.00 for a 20 ounce pop. The website is great and lists all the prices.
10. WaTiki Indoor Waterpark Resort
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 521 reviews
Grab your friends and family and come "slide in" to WaTiki Indoor Waterpark Resort! Guests and visitors are invited to enjoy over 30,000 square feet of pools and water-slides. The waterpark is open year-round and is conveniently located right off I-90 on Elk Vale Road at Exit 61. WaTiki is connected to Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, La Quinta Inn & Suites, Residence Inn by Marriott, and Home 2 Suites by Hilton which means we can accommodate every one in your pool party! We got a huge arcade, Starbucks, Sliders Bar and Grill, and Perkin's Restaurant all connected indoors to our waterpark! See you guys soon!
Reviewed By mkdenver1 - Westminster, United States
My wife, 3 boys, and I recently enjoyed an afternoon at Watiki Water Park. We were greatly impressed! I never expected a place like this to be in a place like Rapid City! We stayed at Residence Inn and all hotel guests do get discounted admission to the water park and free use of the hot tub anytime within hours. My boys had an absolute blast. They loved the 3 big water slides the best and even my 3 year old liked those better than the kiddie ones in the kiddie area. They especially liked the water basketball court. Adults can really enjoy this place with the large water slides and also adult beverages are allowed in the hot tub and the main seating area. So you don't have to go far to enjoy the slides and also food and drinks. I didn't interact with any staff personally. But it seemed everyone is well trained and very much enjoy what they do. If you're in Rapid City or the Black Hills and have kids, I highly recommend Watiki. We had a great time and really nothing to give any demerits about!
