Weekend Getaways & Day Trips in South Dakota

Are you a SoDak local looking for a refreshing staycation? South Dakota offers a diverse array of short-term travel gems, from the bustling energy of our largest cities to the serene landscapes of our national and state parks. This guide serves as a hub for finding the perfect one-day adventure or weekend itinerary. Make the most of your trip, whether it's a day trip, a weekend getaway near you, or a staycation.

Jump to a section:

• Sioux Falls Staycation
• Rapid City Weekend Getaway
• Wilderness Weekend-ing
• Staycations for History Buffs
• Family-Friendly Day Trips
• Small-Town Weekend Getaways

Where to Stay in Sioux Falls

Built in 1918, Hotel On Phillips was once the Sioux Falls National Bank. Today, it stands as a historic boutique hotel, featuring luxury suites and a bar built inside the bank’s vault. Got the kids in tow? There’s a perfect family-friendly lodging in Sioux Falls. Check out the Ramada by Wyndham Sioux Falls Airport-Waterpark, equipped with a pirate ship and water slide. Epic family fun. Experience romantic views of the Big Sioux River, downtown proximity for city exploration and elevated comfort at the Canopy by Hilton Sioux Falls Downtown.

Award-Winning Dining in Sioux Falls

Start with Sanaa’s Gourmet, a James Beard Finalist in both 2023 and 2024, where Syrian roots and Parisian training come together in standout Mediterranean dishes. For something more classic, Crawford's Bar & Grill delivers prime steaks and creative cocktails inside a century-old downtown building with atmosphere to match. Cap the night at HK, a chef-owned gem where multi-course American menus built on local seasonal ingredients make every visit feel like a special occasion. Reservations recommended. 

Still hungry? Find more dining worth the stop.

Things to Do in Sioux Falls

Dinner and a show? After fueling up on some of Sioux Falls' best dishes, catch a showing at the newly restored 1920s State Theatre. Visit Falls Park and take in the stunning, multi-tiered waterfalls of the Big Sioux River. Discover community at downtown Sioux Falls’ First Friday, which hosts art receptions, live music, and special deals from local retailers and restaurants on the first Friday of every month. Stroll the SculptureWalk along Phillips Avenue, where more than 70 large-scale works line the streets and rotate annually. 

Spend an afternoon at the Washington Pavilion, home to visual arts galleries, a science center and a performing arts venue all under one roof. For a slower pace, the Butterfly House & Aquarium makes for a charming stop, especially if you're bringing kids or just need an excuse to spend an hour surrounded by tropical butterflies. Cap the day with a walk across the Arc of Dreams, the swooping pedestrian bridge spanning the Big Sioux.

Check out our two-day itinerary in Sioux Falls

Places to Stay in Rapid City

Hotel Alex Johnson has anchored downtown Rapid City since 1928. This landmark hotel blends historic character with modern comfort. Bringing the whole family? Comfort Suites Rapid City offers spacious rooms and a central location that makes early morning drives to the monuments a little easier. For sweeping views of the surrounding Black Hills, the Cambria Hotel Rapid City delivers upscale amenities and a rooftop experience worth an extra night.

Gateway to the Black Hills

Kick off your weekend with the City of Presidents walking tour, where life-sized bronze statues of every U.S. president line the downtown streets. Mount Rushmore National Memorial is just 25 minutes south, and Crazy Horse Memorial®, a work-in-progress for more than 75 years, sits just a short drive away. 

Dedicate a day to Badlands National Park, where jagged fossil-rich buttes rise out of the earth like nothing else on the planet. Custer State Park is worth a full day of its own, with bison herds, open rolling prairie and wildlife around every bend. Back in Rapid City, The Journey Museum & Learning Center brings South Dakota's deep history to life, from the first peoples of the Plains to the present day.

Rapid City Dining

Tally's Silver Spoon has been a downtown staple since the 1930s, blending diner charm with an upscale New American menu. South Dakota's oldest brewery, Firehouse Brewing Co., serves craft beer and hearty American classics in a historic downtown setting. Minervas is the go-to for hand-cut Midwest steaks, fresh pasta and house-made desserts, perfect for celebrating something special or wrapping up a big day in the Black Hills. For fine dining, Delmonico Grill delivers expertly prepared steaks and fresh seafood for special nights out.

Spend a Day in Downtown Rapid City

A Day in Badlands National Park

The Badlands’ jagged spires, layered buttes and painted canyons stretch as far as the eye can see, making it one of the most dramatic day-trip ideas in the region. Start early on the Badlands Loop Road to catch the soft morning light on the formations, then lace up for the Door Trail or Notch Trail before the midday heat sets in. Pack a lunch, keep your camera ready, and plan to linger.

Hiking the Black Hills

From easy creekside walks to summit climbs with sweeping panoramic views, Black Hills hikes are the perfect getaway in the outdoors. Spend the weekend working your way through Custer State Park’s French Creek Natural Area, tackling the Cathedral Spires Trail or wandering the quieter paths around Sylvan Lake. If you only have one day-trip idea on the agenda, the Sunday Gulch Trail delivers big scenery with a manageable distance.

Wildlife Watching in Custer State Park

Bison have the right of way here. Custer State Park is home to one of the largest publicly owned bison herds in the world, and spotting them from the Wildlife Loop Road is a travel experience that genuinely lives up to the hype. Beyond bison, keep an eye out for pronghorn, elk, mountain goats and the park's famously friendly burros looking for handouts. 

Fall and early spring are especially good for wildlife activity, making this a standout weekend getaway for nature lovers who want to slow down and watch. Stay the night and experience some morning birds.

Discover Our Epic One-Day Itinerary in the Black Hills

Exploring Indigenous Heritage

South Dakota is home to nine tribal nations, and their cultures, traditions and histories are woven into the landscape at every turn. Visit Crazy Horse Memorial® in the Black Hills, which is still being carved as a tribute to the Lakota leader. Spend time at the Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center in Chamberlain for a thoughtful introduction to Sioux history and artistry. If you want a deeper experience, many reservations welcome visitors for cultural events and tours. 

Explore Indigenous culture in South Dakota

Pioneer History Along the Missouri

Fort Pierre National Grassland and the Verendrye Monument in Fort Pierre mark some of the earliest European contact in the region. Head to Chamberlain and walk through the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center perched above the Missouri River where the Corps of Discovery once made camp. For a weekend staycation built around discovery, the Missouri corridor connects small towns, historic sites and river views.

South Dakota's Most Fascinating Museums

The Museum of Geology in Rapid City houses one of the finest collections of fossilized prehistoric creatures in the country. Head to Deadwood's Adams Museum for Gold Rush artifacts and outlaw stories. Head east to Vermillion, where the National Music Museum houses one of the most significant collections of musical instruments in the world. Sioux Falls anchors the east side with the Washington Pavilion, where science, visual arts and live performance all share an address. Don’t miss the Old Courthouse Museum, exhibiting three floors of Indigenous artifacts and towering murals.

Reptile Gardens & Family Attractions

Just south of Rapid City, Reptile Gardens holds the Guinness World Record for the world's largest reptile collection and has been delighting families since 1937. Kids can get up close with giant tortoises, watch live reptile shows and explore a Sky Dome full of tropical birds and plants. Pair it with a stop at Bear Country U.S.A. for a drive-through wildlife experience featuring black bears, wolves and elk. This pair is the perfect weekend adventure or family staycation in the Black Hills. 

Sioux Falls delivers its own wildlife double feature. The Great Plains Zoo is home to tigers, giraffes, rhinos, zebras and snow monkeys across 45 acres. The Butterfly House & Aquarium, the only public saltwater aquarium in the Dakotas, puts kids inside a habitat of 800 free-flying butterflies.

Kid-Friendly Hikes Across South Dakota

South Dakota hikes have no shortage of trails that work for little legs and big imaginations. The Sunday Gulch Trail near Sylvan Lake involves some fun scrambling over boulders that kids tend to love. Roughlock Falls in Spearfish Canyon is a short, mostly flat walk that ends at a stunning waterfall. For a one-day trip idea that covers a lot of ground with minimal effort, the Cathedral Spires Trail in Custer State Park offers dramatic scenery without a brutal elevation gain.

On the east side, Palisades State Park near Garretson surprises just about everyone who makes the short drive from Sioux Falls. The 1.5-mile Split Rock Creek Trail winds past 50-foot quartzite cliffs and ancient rock — geology that kids will love. Good Earth State Park at Blood Run features historical paths to inspire, get active and teach little ones about Indigenous people of the land.

Interactive Museums for Young Explorers

South Dakota's museums are built for hands-on learning. In Brookings, the Children's Museum of South Dakota is designed entirely around play-based discovery, and it's a convenient stop along the I-29 corridor. In Mitchell, the The World’s Only Corn Palace is free to walk through and the kind of roadside wonder that earns instant credibility with kids. 

The Black Hills offer unique opportunities through the Journey Museum in Rapid City, where interactive exhibits let children dig for fossils and explore Native American history through artifacts and storytelling. The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs lets young visitors see real Ice Age fossils still in the ground where they were found.

More Family-Friendly Adventures

• Deadwood. Step back into the Gold Rush era with two days in this historic town known for its legendary characters and haunted history.
• Hot Springs. Visit the world-renowned Mammoth Site or soak in the natural thermal waters that give this town its name.
• Sturgis. While famous for motorcycles, Sturgis offers beautiful scenic drives and access to the northern Black Hills year-round.
• Pierre. South Dakota's capital city is a compact, walkable weekend getaway honoring the state's history from prehistoric times to the present.
• Vermillion. Home to the National Music Museum, this Missouri River town is a cultural gem perfect for a quiet weekend.
• Mitchell. No trip through eastern South Dakota is complete without a stop at The World's Only Corn Palace.
• Spearfish. Get outside, go on a drive and experience the best Spearfish and its picturesque canyon have to offer.

Discover More Cities & Towns in South Dakota