So Much South Dakota So Little Time

Shadows start to soften in the varied spires and buttes, cracks and crevices of Badlands National Park in morning light.
Handwritten So Much South Dakota, So Little Time
Life May Be Short, But the Itinerary Doesn’t Have to Be

So, are you ready for 365 days of pure adventure? Ready for an itinerary that goes off the beaten path? No matter the season, new experiences await you in South Dakota. 

With 77,000 square miles of natural beauty, South Dakota’s wilderness is a year-round playground. The serene forests and mountains of the Black Hills offer endless room for hiking, biking, camping, and climbing. There’s also prime fishing, boating, and water recreation within the Missouri River, while the scenic overlooks and rushing waters of Palisades State Park provide an escape for every kind of outdoor adventurer.

South Dakota’s Great 8 landmarks also invite you to experience something unforgettable any time of the year, from the iconic Mount Rushmore to the brilliant colors and crystals of the Jewel Cave National Monument. And with a thriving dining culture in Sioux Falls & Rapid City plus tons of diverse options for arts & culture and lodging, your itinerary will never run short of things to do. 

So, what are you waiting for? Get more travel resources like a Free Vacation Guide and sign up for our eNewsletter. Or, download a free mobile-exclusive passport that invites you to win prizes while exploring unforgettable locations. 

Discover Year-Round Adventure
Slightly transparent photo showing sunrise on the rocks and trail at Sylvan Lake with the Black Hills behind and fading into the horizon.

So Much to Explore

So you wanna see new horizons? Find a little mystery? Trek new trails? Taste new cultures? South Dakota is a hidden gem, awaiting your discovery. The varied geography – open prairies and lakes in the east to the mysterious Badlands and sacred Black Hills in the west – is just one of the combinations that make South Dakota a place like no other. Pack your bags, say goodbye to the ordinary, and go.

Woman looking through viewfinder at Mount Rushmore National Memorial with carving and mountain in the background.
Discover the Great 8
Falls Park, Sioux Falls
Surprising Urban Getaways
An American Bison (known locally in South Dakota as "buffalo") bellows in the fading light on the long-grass prairie in Custer State Park in South Dakota.
Meet Our Wildlife
Dad with daughter on his shoulders looking up at giant, life-like animatronic T.rex at the Children's Museum in Brookings, South Dakota.
Kid-Approved Attractions
Native American Wacipi–or powwow–dancers facing away and waiting in fading sunlight at the century-old Rosebud Fair, Wacipi and Rodeo.
Vibrant Native Culture
Lady and man marveling at rock outcroppings as they hike through on Cathedral Spires Trail.
Outdoor Adventure
Lone motorcyclists riding through lunar rock formations on Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway as seen from a trailing car.
Scenic Byways and Drives
The wide white brims of their hats frame a bull rider cowboys are watching from the gates at the historic Days of 76 Rodeo in Deadwood, South Dakota.
The Wild West & Pioneer History
Charming old white barn with blue trim exterior that's been converted into a cabin rental.
Cozy Cabin Stays
There's a South Dakota for Every Season
A Momma Bison (buffalo as the locals still call them) and her young calf graze on spring grasses in Custer State Park in South Dakota
Spring

Bask in the renewing energy of a South Dakota spring, where adventure blooms for you to experience. As the snow melts, the Black Hills and Badlands provide the ultimate playground for hikers, campers, and wildlife watchers alike. Meanwhile, the warm breezes invite travelers to explore hidden gems, from scenic byways to serene lakes.

Discover Spring Activities
A couple enjoying a moment on a sailboat in smooth waters with the Missouri River bluffs in the background
Summer

In South Dakota, the summer forecast shows a 100% chance of adventure. Feel it for yourself by boating, fishing, or kayaking in crystal rivers and lakes. There are also summertime fairs & festivals that provide a taste of local culture, plus camping & hiking throughout the sun-soaked wilderness.

Discover Summer Activities
Country Apple Orchard
Fall

You can’t say “autumn” without “awe” in South Dakota, and it won’t take long to see why. For the leaf peepers, there are the indescribably colorful trees. For the little ones, there’s a whole lot of apple picking. And for those who want to get lost in the switchgrass, there’s some of the best pheasant hunting in the entire country.

Discover Fall Activities
A couple walking away from their Jeep towards Spearfish Canyon Lodge Resort tucked in the snow-covered Black Hills National Forest.
Winter

Think the winter season is no time for new experiences? In South Dakota, it’s never too cold to have too much fun. Come feel the rush of skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing through gorgeous wilderness. Or, come slow down with a relaxing spa, a cozy cabin, or some fireside sipping.

Discover Winter Activities

Featured Events

Sometimes we need an excuse. Like if you have a place with such a concentrated collection of scenic drives connecting historic places and so many hidden gems, who wouldn't want to invite hundreds of thousands of friends and have an event like the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and Races? Or, if you need to round up and check on the health of your bison herd—and fall in Custer State Park is so lovely anyway—you invite anyone who wants to see 1,300+ buffalo thundering across the open prairie. Have a beautiful historic old fort out on the Coteau des Prairies? Why not have a few festivals, from the historic to the haunted at Fort Sisseton, with a Frontier Christmas in between?

In South Dakota, so many iconic events celebrate the state's diverse landscape, culture and history. You'll surely find that perfect excuse to start planning your trip. 

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An all-new podcast that delves deep into the true heart of South Dakota, with the people and stories from this wild, free and ancient land.

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So Much South Dakota So Little Time

So, are you ready for 365 days of pure adventure? Ready for an itinerary that...

Episode 9: South Dakota on a Plate

Overhead shot of a plate of nachos on a table with a dark blue tablecloth at BiBiSol restaurant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Overhead shot of a table set with different plates of food, with a hand reaching toward a plate of nachos. Travel South Dakota.
Episode 9:

South Dakota on a Plate

With a culinary scene shaped by Indigenous people, immigrants, farmers, hunters and more, South Dakota serves up a smorgasbord of local specialties — some with names as exotic as the dishes themselves! Get ready for a mouthwatering journey through the state as we explore its distinctive flavors and one-of-a-kind dining spots.

 

This episode of Travel South Dakota Stories is a four-course road trip, and you’re invited! Our appetizer is the state’s “official nosh,” chislic, followed by a James Beard-recognized restaurant in a town of 1,800 people. For dessert, host Brian Thacker heads to Wall Drug Store to sample their world-famous (and addictive) donuts. Our meal isn’t complete without a digestif from Black Hills Contraband Distillery, although the one we try is downright dangerous. 

You’ll hear from:

available on Spotify, Apple and Amazon
 
It’s kind of a joke within the state that you can’t go from east to west river and be OK if you haven’t stopped to get donuts.
Sarah Hustead, Vice President, Wall Drug Store
Featured Locations
Wall Drug donuts
Wall Drug Store

Pretty much everyone knows about the free ice water and 5-cent coffee at this iconic roadside attraction. But have you tried their doughnuts? The heavenly scent of fried dough wafts through the hallways of Wall Drug Store seven days a week, 365 days of the year, offering a sweet respite for road-weary travelers. 

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Portrait of Skogen Kitchen in Custer's owner and chef, Joseph Raney with kitchen in the background and finished plates on a vintage green countertop
Skogen Kitchen

In 2016, Joseph and Eliza Raney traded Southern California for Custer, opening Skogen Kitchen the following year. In 2023, Joseph earned a spot on the James Beard Foundation shortlist for Best Chef: Midwest. The restaurant highlights local ingredients and global flavors in dishes like lobster steam buns and buffalo short ribs.

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A group of people in cowboy hats sit inside a chuckwagon while a man plays guitar in Custer, South Dakota.
Blue Bell Lodge Chuckwagon Dinner

During the summer, Blue Bell Lodge in Custer State Park serves up the quintessential Western experience. Jostle along on a hayride before tucking into a home-cooked meal with all the fixings, accompanied by live music around a campfire.

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Bottles of liquor from Black Hills Contraband Distillery stand in a row on a bar top. Rapid City, South Dakota.
Black Hills Contraband Distillery

Located in Rapid City, this family-run distillery boasts a recipe that has been passed down through seven generations. Their signature spirit offerings include vodkas and bourbons in flavors like root beer, gingerbread and Island Butter that truly live up to the motto: “So Good, It’s Dangerous!”

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Ingalls Homestead, De Smet

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Experience the

South Dakota Chislic Festival

Two women wearing green t-shirts serve chislic at the South Dakota Chislic Festival in Freeman, South Dakota.

Find your way to Freeman in southeastern South Dakota for this annual celebration of the official state nosh. Chislic consists of seasoned cubes of lamb or mutton, skewered and fried to tender, juicy perfection. Vendors from around the state bring their best, and it’s up to festivalgoers to decide which chislic rules them all.

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A man twirls a woman on the dance floor of Saloon No. 10 in Deadwood, SD.
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#HiFromSD

See how others explored South Dakota's culinary scene and use the hashtag #HiFromSD to share your dining discoveries.

START PLANNING YOUR NEXT TRIP TO SOUTH DAKOTA
A family interacts with friendly burros at Custer State Park.
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A bargoer in a cowboy hat twirls a woman on the dance floor of Saloon No. 10 in Deadwood, South Dakota.
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Episode 9: South Dakota on a Plate

This episode of Travel South Dakota Stories is a four-course road trip, and you’re invited...

Episode 8: Where Bad is Good

A man wearing a cowboy hat rides on horseback in the foreground while look out at the South Dakota Badlands in the distance. Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
A man wearing a cowboy hat rides on horseback in the foreground while look out at the South Dakota Badlands in the distance. Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
Episode 8:

Where Bad is Good

The Lakota people call it Mako Sica — “bad lands.” With its sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires, it’s easy to see why. But just how "bad" is Badlands National Park? Join us as we venture into this legendary land of stone and light to unearth its many wonders, past and present.

 

With a name like “Badlands,” you might think that Badlands National Park is a desolate and forbidding landscape. But as we discover in this episode, the Badlands are as ecologically and geologically rich as they are eerily beautiful. Join host Brian Thacker as he hikes through a colorful tapestry in search of the park's prehistoric past. Along the way, he becomes an unwelcome visitor in a prairie-dog town and goes horseback riding under the shadows of rocky buttes straight out of a Western movie. 

You’ll hear from:

available on Spotify, Apple and Amazon
 
The first fossil was described here in 1846, the giant jawbone of an animal called a brontothere. To put that into context, [the word] 'dinosaur' was invented in 1842 ... So we can point to this area and say, this is where paleontology begins in the American West.
Ed Welsh, Education Specialist, Badlands National Park
Featured Locations
SUV driving along the Badlands Scenic Loop.
Badlands National Park

The Badlands became a national park in 1978, but their story spans millions of years. Fossils of rhinos, camels and saber-toothed cats lie within the park's unique formations. Hike its trails, drive the Badlands Loop Scenic Byway and camp under some of the planet’s starriest skies.

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A group of people ride on horseback in Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
Hurley Butte Horseback

This working ranch near Interior offers guided horseback rides through the prairie of Badlands National Park. New to horseback riding? Beginners can practice in the corral before hitting the trail. Saddle up and play cowboy for a day on one of the most unforgettable ways to experience the Badlands!

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A man wearing a cowboy hat rides on horseback in the foreground while look out at the South Dakota Badlands in the distance. Badlands National Park, South Dakota.

Check out the trailer now!

Experience the

Badlands Astronomy Festival

Stars and Milky Way Badlands National Park South Dakota

This summer event gathers amateur astronomers, scientists and park visitors under the pitch-black skies of Badlands National Park. Enjoy nightly telescope viewings, evening presentations by special guests and a range of family-friendly activities. You truly haven't seen the Badlands until you've seen them at night!

Read More
A man twirls a woman on the dance floor of Saloon No. 10 in Deadwood, SD.
Win a Trip. Be Part of the Story!

Your South Dakota story starts here. Enter for your chance to win a FREE trip to South Dakota filled with unforgettable adventures.

Enter Now
#HiFromSD

See how others explored Badlands National Park and use the hashtag #HiFromSD to share your South Dakota discoveries.

START PLANNING YOUR NEXT TRIP TO SOUTH DAKOTA
A family interacts with friendly burros at Custer State Park.
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A bargoer in a cowboy hat twirls a woman on the dance floor of Saloon No. 10 in Deadwood, South Dakota.
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Episode 8: Where Bad is Good

With a name like “Badlands,” you might think that Badlands National Park is a desolate...

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