East Entrance in Badlands National Park.

South Dakota

Gently rolling prairies through shallow fertile valleys mark much of this endlessly attractive state. But head southwest and all hell breaks loose – in the best possible way. The Badlands National Park is the geologic equivalent of fireworks. The Black Hills are like opera: majestic, challenging, intriguing and even frustrating. Mt Rushmore matches the Statue of Liberty for five-star icon status.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • The Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota.

    Corn Palace

    South Dakota

    The Corn Palace is the king of roadside attractions, enticing more than half a million people to pull off I-90 each year. Close to 300,000 ears of corn…

  • From its humble beginning as a small drug store, Wall Drug has grown into an international tourist attraction for an otherwise small town in rural South Dakota.

    Wall Drug

    South Dakota

    Wall Drug is a surprisingly enjoyable tourist attraction of the old school. It really does have 5¢ coffee, free ice water, good donuts and enough…

  • Falls Park along the Big Sioux River in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

    Falls Park

    South Dakota

    Stroll along the grass-lined paths to Sioux Falls' star attraction – its rambling namesake waterfall – at this picturesque park. Popular with amorous…

  • Eroded rock formations at Badlands National Park.

    Badlands National Park

    South Dakota

    Pinnacled rock formations with vivid color bands, sharp-edged cliffs with tiptoeing bighorn sheep, and sprawling colonies of feverish prairie dogs are…

  • Badlands Loop Road in Badlands National Park.

    Hwy 240 Badlands Loop Rd

    South Dakota

    Badlands National Park's North Unit gets the most visitors; this stunning road is easily reached from I-90 (exits 110 and 131) and you can drive it in an…

  • Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center

    Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center

    South Dakota

    This engaging museum and cultural center at St Joseph's Indian School has Lakota cultural displays and contemporary art from numerous tribes. Check the…

  • Buffalo grazing on the prairie along the Sage Creek Rim Road, Badlands National Park, Black Hills, South Dakota.

    Sage Creek Rim Rd

    South Dakota

    The portion of the Badlands west of Hwy 240 along this gravel road is much less visited than the sights of the Badlands Loop Rd. There are scenic…

  • Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

    Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

    South Dakota

    In the 1960s and '70s, a thousand Minutemen II intercontinental ballistic missiles, always at the ready in underground silos spread across the Plains,…

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Articles

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Destination Practicalities

A first-time guide to South Dakota

Jun 13, 2024 • 8 min read

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