Oyate Trail: Highways 50 & 18

On the Oyate Trail, discover South Dakota’s rich Indigenous heritage as you travel from Vermillion in the eastern part of the state to Edgemont in the west. Throughout your journey, you’ll have unique opportunities to stop in small towns with cultural and historical sites.

Length & Time

The Oyate Trail is 388 miles across Highways 50 and 18. It takes at least three days to complete, making it an ideal short road trip. However, it can always be paired with a longer journey or cross-country road trip.

Places to Stop

There’s no shortage of cultural & historical sites and stunning outdoor recreation along the Oyate Trail. Drum up some fun at the world-class National Music Museum on the University of South Dakota campus, where more than 15,000 rare and antique instruments are displayed. Just west of Vermillion, visit the Missouri River town of Yankton — the first capital of the Dakota Territory. Yankton is home to Lewis and Clark Recreation Area, one of the state’s best water sports and camping. Farther west is the tiny town of Tabor, the site of the annual Czech Days in June. Continue along Highways 50 and 18 to Fort Randall Dam, the Fort Randall Casino on the Yankton Sioux Tribe Reservation and then to Winner.

Stop at the Rosebud Indian Reservation in Mission to visit the Sinte Gleska University. Travel south to Saint Francis to experience the Buechel Memorial Lakota Museum, which showcases a nice display of Native art. Farther west is the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, the largest of South Dakota’s nine reservations. The Rosebud and Pine Ridge Reservations hold several powwows and fairs throughout the summer. One of the best-known sites on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, the Wounded Knee Memorial, lies just north of Highway 18. West of Pine Ridge is the Red Cloud Indian School and Heritage Center, where a summer art show showcases Indigenous fine art from around the country.

Be sure to stick around in Hot Springs and visit The Mammoth Site, where excavation continues on the largest collection of mammoth fossils in the Western Hemisphere. Next, check out the huge natural warm-water swimming pool, a wild horse sanctuary and Wind Cave National Park — one of the longest cave systems in the world, located north of Hot Springs on Highway 87.

Places to Go in South Dakota

Where to Stay

Cozy, comfortable accommodations are available throughout the Oyate Trail route. In Vermillion and Winner, book a hotel or motel room or opt for a cozy inn or lodge. Yankton offers a unique lodging option at the Lewis and Clark Resort, where you can choose from lakeside cabins, cottages, campsites or motel rooms. Want to try your luck at the slots or the blackjack table? Spend the night in Pine Ridge at the Prairie Wind Casino & Hotel. If you want to stick around The Mammoth Site, Hot Springs offers chain hotels, rustic cabins, a bed and breakfast, Under Canvas glamping, and historic lodges.

Places to Stay in South Dakota

Where to Eat

Plenty of tasty options are available to fuel your journey across the Oyate Trail. Grab a decadent breakfast pastry and some coffee in Vermillion to start the day at Café Brulé. In Yankton, visit Charlie’s Pizza House (the oldest pizza restaurant in South Dakota) for unique pizzas, wings and beer, or stop by Czeckers Sports Bar & Grill, a great place for sports enthusiasts to enjoy great food and Czech heritage while watching the game. While it may look unassuming, Hat Creek Grill in Edgemont is a great lunch spot, with excellent barbeque, burgers, sandwiches and more. For a fine dining experience, savor the unique ingredients, flavors and recipes at The Dragonfly Restaurant in the Moccasin Springs Spa in Hot Springs.

Places to Eat in South Dakota

When to Visit

Driving the Oyate Trail is a memorable experience no matter what the season. Spring and fall provide optimal, temperate weather for exploring outdoor recreation and historical sites. Summer brings warmer temperatures but offers exciting community events like concerts, fireworks, arts and crafts fairs, cookouts, motorcycle rallies and hot air balloon festivals. Driving Highways 50 and 18 in winter provides a quiet and beautiful scenic experience, but prepare for colder temperatures and snowy or icy road conditions, particularly in rural areas. Happy travels!

Weather and Seasons in South Dakota