Looking for a getaway where you can pack as many sights in as possible, one within a day and a half’s drive from St. Louis? Head to South Dakota, where the Great 8 – from Mount Rushmore to the Mighty Mo’ – draw visitors from around the globe. And, don't forget to order your Vacation Guide before hitting the road to discover even more South Dakota adventures!

Lucky for you, seeing it all in one trip is totally doable; get there by following the Missouri River and then heading west. From idyllic plains landscapes to gargantuan stone carvings, see what lies up the river on this tour of South Dakota’s must-see attractions.

About halfway through this westward jaunt along I-70, you’ll cross over the Missouri River. You’ll be seeing much more of the Mighty Mo’ in the near future, but why not snap a photo at Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge?

By the time you get to Kansas City, you’ll be ready for lunch. Can’t agree with your crew on a place to eat? Have it all at Parlor, a sumptuous food hall near the junction of I-70 and I-29.

Missouri River, we meet again – and not for the last time. You’ll cross over the river on your way out of the region, and much of the rest of your trip runs alongside it as you skirt the boundary between Iowa and Nebraska.

Need to stretch your legs? Tom Hanafan’s River’s Edge Park in Council Bluffs, Iowa, offers a unique river view and access to the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, where you can take a stroll across state lines. Then, hightail it to Sioux City, where you’ll find more vistas as well as the point where three states – Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota – border one another.

For dinner, grab some bar food (and perhaps a beer for the non-drivers) at Buffalo Alice or Marto Brewing Co.

Keep north on I-29. You’ll temporarily split with the river, but don’t worry; you’ll see it again in a couple of days. For now, it’s time to get some shut-eye before you explore South Dakota’s biggest city. 

Stay in the heart of it all at the historic Hotel on Phillips (100 N Phillips Ave.) downtown. When you’re up, head over the Big Sioux River via the nearby footbridge and grab some breakfast & coffee at Queen City Bakery (324 E 8th St.). You’ll be close to all the must-see stuff, like SculptureWalk, its larger-than-life signature work Arc of Dreams (300 N Cherapa Place), and Falls Park (131 E Falls Park Drive), home to the city’s namesake rapids. 

Head west on I-90 for your next Big Muddy rendezvous. On the way, stop in Mitchell for a glimpse of the World’s Only Corn Palace (604 N Main St.) and grab a few legendary popcorn balls for the road.

Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center (1301 N Main St.) sits right on the river in Chamberlain and is well worth a stop. Towering over the banks of the Big Muddy is Dignity: Of Earth and Sky, a glorious steel-and-stained-glass homage to indigenous women.  

If there’s time for a side trip, get some of the best Mighty Mo’ vistas with the Native American National and State Scenic Byway, and learn about the tribes who have inhabited the area for centuries. Otherwise, the west calls!

Get back on westbound I-90 and head toward Rapid City, your home base for the rest of your trip.

In about two hours, you’ll arrive at Wall Drug, the iconic roadside attraction and a required stop for all road-trippers. Get some famous house-made donuts and jackalope souvenirs before heading south for about 15 minutes on Route 240 for your next Great 8 sight: Badlands National Park. There are multiple scenic overlooks offering breathtaking panoramas of these otherworldly rock formations: Pinnacles, Ancient Hunters, Yellow Mounds and Conata Basin. Check ‘em all out if there’s time.

The perfect home base for any exploration of the Great 8, Rapid City has tons of entertainment, restaurants and places to stay. It’s within a 75-minute drive of the remaining Great 8 — in some cases, you can hit more than one in the same day since most are southwest of town.

Explore Wind Cave National Park and see the majestic buffalo herds roaming Custer State Park in a day, then hit Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial the next – and perhaps Jewel Cave while you’re at it!

Set aside a day to venture northwest to Historic Deadwood, the notorious Wild West town where old saloons and gambling rooms still stand. There’s plenty to see and do here, including dining at delicious restaurants housed in storied buildings.

Back in Rapid City, restaurants run the gamut from margs & guac at ¿Que Pasa ? Cantina (508 Main St.) to espresso & pastries at Alternative Fuel Bakery (512 Main St.).

Accommodations fitting of an epic journey like this include Summer Creek Inn & Spa just west of town (23204 Summer Creek Dr.) or historic Hotel Alex Johnson (523 6th St.) in the heart of downtown, where you can stroll among Rapid City’s colorful murals and 44 sculptures of U.S. presidents before settling in after a long day of adventuring.