Dallas to South Dakota: Epic Road Trip for Soccer Fans

Trade the roaring crowds of the soccer stadium for some of America’s most majestic scenery and charismatic Midwestern cities — where the pace of life slows down delightfully. 

Ready to go? Swap your cleats for some comfy sneakers and get ready to flood your social feed with sweeping landscapes, iconic American landmarks, and roadside legends.

Route Distance: Approximately 1,200 miles/1,931 kilometers

Suggested Time: 7-8 days

Dallas, Texas to Wichita, Kansas

Make your way from Dallas to Wichita with a stop in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Oklahoma City: Gravy, Galleries & Great Soccer

There’s nothing like a meal smothered in gravy to set the tone for a road trip drenched in Americana, so plan a breakfast or lunch stop at Good Gravy! Diner in Oklahoma City (OKC). Here you can choose from dozens of “gravies” ranging from traditional white-sausage gravy — dotted with pepper and chunks of sausage — to a sweet chocolate gravy that reviewers rave about. 

Stick around and explore what OKC has to offer. At the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, immerse yourself in galleries and rotating exhibits that spotlight Indigenous culture, Western life, and the artistry behind cowboy boots. If you’re lucky, the Oklahoma City FC will be gracing the pitch of Mustang Soccer Stadium. Join the locals in rooting for the home team of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) — the atmosphere’s bound to be electric with the summer's excitement.

Wichita: Breakfast of Champions in a Soccer-Loving City

Don’t skip breakfast at the Doo-Dah Diner, where spins on classic American breakfast favorites — like bananas-foster cinnamon rolls or chicken and waffles with chocolate-dipped bacon — will supply more than enough carbohydrates to keep you energized. Burn off some of that energy as you roar for FC Wichita (WPSL) or the Wichita Wings indoor men’s team in nearby Park City. There’s no shortage of soccer here!

Wichita to Badlands National Park in Interior, South Dakota

Here’s where things start getting real good. Drive north across Kansas and Nebraska for rolling plains giving way to open fields that spawn the whirling white arms of wind turbines as you make your way into South Dakota. Suddenly, you’ll see banded layers of multicolored sedimentary rocks rise up from waving prairie grasses and reach skyward. Welcome to Badlands National Park. 

Particularly striking at sunrise or sunset, these striated formations house a wealth of treasure within their spires and cliffs. Scenic drives and hikes offer chances to spot bison or bighorn sheep while archaeological findings offer glimpses of the park’s Indigenous inhabitants, like the Oglala Lakota — who still call South Dakota home. After the sun sinks down, park rangers host nightly summer stargazing programs. Camp at the park for the full experience. Evening temperatures are typically delightful, but summer days can get pretty hot, so plan ahead. 

Badlands National Park to the Black Hills

Head from the Badlands’ otherworldly, almost desert-like terrain to the Black Hills — a setting thick with ponderosa pines, lakes and some truly impressive monuments. 

Wall Drug Store to Rapid City

Rapid City will serve as your jumping-off point for Black Hills exploration: It offers easy access to many of the iconic sights you should check off your Great American West bucket list. 

Along the way, stop to stretch your legs at Wall Drug Store, a must-visit South Dakota gem. Grab a cup of 5-cent coffee or a slice of pie, sip an old-fashioned ice-cream float, or pose for pics with an 80-foot dinosaur and giant jackalope (which is a jackrabbit with antlers, for those not in the know).

In Rapid City proper, you’ll find plenty of hotels and a walkable downtown filled with shops and restaurants. As you stroll, stop to say “hi” to the statues of 45 American presidents, including Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt — father of the U.S. National Park Service — and Abraham Lincoln. Go further back in time at The Journey Museum to learn the history of the Black Hills, from the geology to Indigenous inhabitants and beyond. Just west of downtown, seven concrete beasts wait to greet you at Dinosaur Park.

South Dakota Black Hills Adventure

If giant heads of historical figures carved into mountains and exploring caves is your idea of a good time, this is your road-trip dream come true. The Black Hills has more than its fair share of both. 

Peter Norbeck National Scenic Byway: Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial & Crazy Horse Memorial®

This 68-mile route takes you past jaw-dropping scenery and natural vistas that’ll have you doing double takes. It’s made up of three highways: Iron Mountain Road, Needles Highway and Custer State Park’s Wildlife Loop. 

From Rapid City, set your sights on Mount Rushmore National Memorial — or let the 60-foot faces of U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln set their giant sights on you. Created to draw tourists (and it worked!), the memorial has fascinating museum exhibits and a short walking trail. 

Next, drive south and east along Iron Mountain Road, an experience filled with curves, one-lane tunnels and “pigtail” bridges. Pick up Needles Highway to see the roadway’s namesake of spiny rock formations that stand in contrast to the dense evergreen forests and prairie swells of Custer State Park.

Head northwest from Custer State Park and take a detour off the byway to marvel at another profile of staggering proportions, Crazy Horse Memorial®. When completed, this tribute to the famous Lakota leader will be the world’s largest mountain carving! 

Wind Cave National Park & Jewel Cave National Monument

You’ve seen many breathtaking natural wonders along the horizon as you’ve driven through South Dakota. Now dip below the Earth’s surface for even more discovery. 

At Jewel Cave National Monument, take a guided tour of the cool chambers and passages of the third-longest cave in the world. Choose from several tour options to learn about Jewel Cave’s formation and history, and to see the sparkling crystals that gave the cave its name. 

Or take in the best of both worlds — above and below ground — at Wind Cave National Park. As you drive or hike through the park, keep an eye out for shaggy bison, regal elk and prairie dogs chirping alarms from their burrow entrances. Several cave tour options are available, ranging from Accessibility Tours for folks who use wheelchairs or have limited mobility to more strenuous options that involve actual spelunking.

Note: For both caves, making tour reservations in advance at Recreation.gov is highly recommended. 

If you’re up for more exploring, meander around the scenic northern Black Hills. Drive or hike through Spearfish Canyon’s towering limestone cliffs, step into the Wild West in Historic Deadwood and feel the rumble of Sturgis, home of the legendary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally each August. All of them can be reached in under 45 minutes from Rapid City.

More South Dakota to See

The Badlands and Black Hills are just a sampling of the Great American West magic South Dakota has to offer. If you have time, or are looking for future trip ideas, discover the charms of the Missouri River region. Famously charted by explorers Lewis and Clark, this waterway — America’s longest — is brimming with opportunities to paddleboard, boat or fish, as well as learn about the region’s Indigenous cultures. 

In the southeast, discover bustling Sioux Falls and all the city has to offer — including the men’s semi-professional Sioux Falls Thunder FC and women’s Sioux Falls City Football Club. After matches, treat yourself to the growing dining and craft beer scene or take in more Americana throughout the region, like The World’s Only Corn Palace in Mitchell or the National Music Museum in Vermillion.

Or avoid big cities altogether as you explore the Glacial Lakes & Prairies region. Visit the town of De Smet, where Laura Ingalls Wilder was inspired to write the “Little House on the Prairie” series. Enlist the services of a guide to experience the state’s prime pheasant hunting, or plan your trip around a wild event like Clark’s Potato Days celebration, where mashed-potato wrestling is a main event.

From South Dakota Back to Dallas

See even more of the West by driving a different return route. This time, wind your way to Dallas via Wyoming, Colorado and even New Mexico. Along the way, you’ll be treated to small towns rich with Old West history, stunning Rocky Mountain views, and numerous opportunities to dive into tribal culture.