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Trip Planner :  USA  /  South Dakota

South Dakota

4.2
National Parks · Scenic Drive · Monuments
The State of Great Faces and Great Places
Famous for the cliffside monuments of Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse memorial, South Dakota is a land of Old West history, American Indian culture, and impressive natural wonders. Get to know the state's diverse and breathtaking landscape with a trip through Custer National Park, with a herd of 1,300 free-roaming bison, or by traversing the dramatic peaks of Badlands National Park near the Black Hills. Allow time in your itinerary to visit the state's largest city, Sioux Falls, for shopping, dining, and entertainment options, as well as a number of museums and historical attractions. Plan the details of your South Dakota holiday and any onward adventuring with our easy-to-use United States day trip site.
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    Places to visit in South Dakota

    CusterTrip planner BEST FOR: State Park, Scenic Drive, Water Body Badlands National ParkTrip planner BEST FOR: Scenic Drive, Geologic Formation, Hiking Trail Rapid CityTrip planner BEST FOR: Wildlife Area, Zoo, Entertainment Center KeystoneTrip planner BEST FOR: National Park, Theme Park, Hiking Trail Sioux FallsTrip planner BEST FOR: Park, Hiking Trail, Aquarium

    Regions of South Dakota

    Black Hills & BadlandsTrip planner Southeast South Dakota RegionTrip planner South Dakota Missouri River RegionTrip planner Glacial Lakes & Prairies RegionTrip planner

    Visit a single location or make it a multi-destination trip.

    Popular things to do in South Dakota

    Loop Road ©
    Scenic Drive
    Loop Road
    Badlands National Park
    4.9
    Duration: 2 hours
    Falls Park ©
    Park
    Falls Park
    Sioux Falls
    4.7
    Duration: 2 hours
    Mount Rushmore National Memorial ©
    National Park
    Mount Rushmore National Memorial
    Keystone
    4.7
    Duration: 1h 30 min
    Custer State Park ©
    State Park
    Custer State Park
    Custer
    4.8
    Duration: 30 minutes

    Nature in South Dakota

    Badlands National Park ©
    National Park
    Badlands National Park
    Interior
    4.9
    Duration: 8 hours
    Badlands Wall ©
    Geologic Formation
    Badlands Wall
    Badlands National Park
    4.9
    Duration: 2 hours
    Needles Eye Tunnel ©
    Geologic Formation
    Needles Eye Tunnel
    Custer
    4.9
    Duration: 2 hours
    Sylvan Lake ©
    Water Body
    Sylvan Lake
    Custer
    4.8
    Duration: 1h 30 min

    Kid-friendly things to do in South Dakota

    Mammoth Site of Hot Springs ©
    Natural History Museum
    Mammoth Site of Hot Springs
    Hot Springs
    4.7
    Duration: 1h 30 min
    Bear Country USA ©
    Wildlife Area
    Bear Country USA
    Rapid City
    4.4
    Duration: 2h 30 min
    Reptile Gardens ©
    Zoo
    Reptile Gardens
    Rapid City
    4.6
    Duration: 2 hours
    Jewel Cave National Monument ©
    Cave
    Jewel Cave National Monument
    Custer
    4.2
    Duration: 8 hours

    Hidden gems in South Dakota

    Dignity ©
    Monument
    Dignity
    Chamberlain
    4.9
    Duration: 30 minutes
    Akta Lakota Museum ©
    History Museum
    Akta Lakota Museum
    Chamberlain
    4.8
    Duration: 1 hour
    Redlin Art Center ©
    Art Gallery
    Redlin Art Center
    Watertown
    4.9
    Duration: 1h 30 min
    Big Badlands Overlook ©
    Geologic Formation
    Big Badlands Overlook
    Badlands National Park
    4.9
    Duration: 30 minutes

    Historic Sites in South Dakota

    Mount Moriah Cemetery ©
    Cemetery
    Mount Moriah Cemetery
    Deadwood
    4.3
    Duration: 2 hours
    St. Joseph Cathedral ©
    Church
    St. Joseph Cathedral
    Sioux Falls
    4.9
    Duration: 2 hours
    Chapel in the Hills ©
    Church
    Chapel in the Hills
    Rapid City
    4.7
    Duration: 2 hours
    Ingalls Homestead - Laura's Living Prairie ©
    Historic Site
    Ingalls Homestead - Laura's Living Prairie
    De Smet
    4.7
    Duration: 2h 30 min

    Museums in South Dakota

    South Dakota Air and Space Museum ©
    Military Museum
    South Dakota Air and Space Museum
    Rapid City
    4.6
    Duration: 1h 30 min
    Adams Museum ©
    History Museum
    Adams Museum
    Deadwood
    4.5
    Duration: 1h 30 min
    Prairie Edge Trading Co. & Galleries ©
    Art Gallery
    Prairie Edge Trading Co. & Galleries
    Rapid City
    4.7
    Duration: 1h 30 min
    Museum of Geology ©
    Specialty Museum
    Museum of Geology
    Rapid City
    4.7
    Duration: 1h 30 min

    Featured attractions

    Chapel in the Hills ©
    Church
    Chapel in the Hills
    Rapid City
    4.7
    Duration: 2 hours
    Downtown Rapid City ©
    Neighborhood
    Downtown Rapid City
    Rapid City
    4.5
    Duration: 2 hours
    Crazy Horse Memorial ©
    Monument
    Crazy Horse Memorial
    Crazy Horse
    3.4
    Duration: 4 hours
    Wildlife Loop Road ©
    Scenic Drive
    Wildlife Loop Road
    Custer
    4.6
    Duration: 2 hours

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