More than 80% of Americans can’t see the stars where they live. That makes it more important than ever to get away and gaze into the heavens.
Many places in South Dakota are blessed with minimal light pollution, offering stargazers a chance to look deep into the heavens and feel surrounded by a sky that many don’t ever truly see. With plenty of open, sparsely populated areas across the state, it’s easy to find a spot to post up for a while and look into the infinite. Here are some of our favorite SoDak stargazing spots.
WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA
Badlands National Park
Exits 131 & 110 on Interstate 90
With 244,000 acres and almost no light pollution, the Badlands are all good for gazing into the cosmos. On any given night, see more than 7,500 stars as well as planets, moons, star clusters, satellites and more.
Each Friday through Monday night from Memorial Day through Labor Day, a park ranger leads a Night Sky Viewing program at the Cedar Pass Amphitheater, allowing visitors to use telescopes and have constellations, planets and more pointed out by a trained ranger. Are you welcome to stay afterwards to check out this amazing night sky on your own? Of course.
For more on stargazing in the Badlands, click here.
Fee: A one-vehicle pass is $30 for 7 days or $50 for an annual pass.
BADLANDS OBSERVATORY
EXIT 112 to 12 Ash Street, Quinn
Tucked away in this tiny town is one impressive place to take in the stars.
Guided tours are available daily. Daytime tours are provided by reservation only, and may be made by phone or email. Daytime tours can start as early as 9 a.m. and as late as 1 p.m. They last approximately 1.5 hours. The cost is $10 per person, 10 years and older. Night tours vary with the phase of the moon, sunset times and sky conditions, and cost $29.70 per person, 10 years and older. Click here for more info.
Buffalo Gap National Grasslands
708 Main Street, Wall (Visitor Center)
The second-largest national grassland in the nation has enough open camping area for the stargazer searching for that perfect spot. There is one small developed recreation area, but most prefer to wander and find their own campsite.
Fee: None
Wind Cave National Park
26611 US-385, Hot Springs
One of the oldest national parks in the United States isn’t just the home to one of the longest and most complex caves in the world. It also has a vast surface perfect for exploration on Earth and beyond.
Fee: There is no entry fee, but camping at the 62-site Elk Mountain Campground costs $18 or $9 per night, depending on the season. A free permit is all that’s required for backcountry camping at Wind Cave National Park.
Pactola Lake
Black Hills National Forest, 15 miles west of Rapid City
South Dakota’s version of Atlantis has beauty under and on the water, but the skies at night are also quite amazing, opening up to reveal starfields and the perfect venue for peace and contemplation.
Fee: $7 per vehicle per day. For camping info, directions and more, click here.
CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA
Okobojo Point Recreation Area
19425 Okobojo Point Drive, Fort Pierre
This state recreation area in central South Dakota has no electricity on the campground, making it a very good place to unwind and get a clear view of the open sky.
Fee: Non-electrical campsites are $16 per night. A park pass ($8 per vehicle per day or $36 for an annual pass) is required.
LaFramboise Nature Area
Pierre
Locals know the beauty of LaFramboise Nature Area, but all are welcome to come out for an evening of basking in the stars' glow. Camping isn’t available here, but no park entrance license is required for a visit. (Get there as the sun sets and you might see another type of glowing, but that’s a different story.)
Farm Island Recreation Area
1301 Farm Island Road, Pierre
Just a few miles east of LaFramboise Island is Farm Island Recreation Area. Surrounded by the Missouri River, this area has hiking trails and wildlife-spotting opportunities, but stargazers would do best to post up in the basketball court next to 4.5 acres of pollinator flowers to enjoy the view.
Fee: $26 for electrical campsite or $55 for a camping cabin. A park entrance license ($8 per vehicle per day or $36 for an annual pass) is required.
West Bend Recreation Area
22154 West Bend Road, Harrold
Post up on the bridge between Campground #1 and the boat ramp parking lot for a brilliant and isolated view of the cosmos above.
Fee: $23 for electrical campsite, $19 for non-electrical, and a lodge is $55 per night. A park entrance license ($8 per vehicle per day or $36 for an annual pass) is required.
NORTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA
Sica Hollow State Park
44950 Park Road, Sisseton
One of the most unique parks in the state — click here for more info — offers plenty of places for stargazing, especially on the top of the hill north of Horse Camp Road.
Fee: Non-electrical campsites are $18 per night. A park entrance license ($8 per vehicle per day or $36 for an annual pass) is required.
Roy Lake State Park
11545 Northside Drive, Lake City
Another delightfully isolated area, Roy Lake State Park presents you with a clear view of the stars, especially just west of the shop building in a field north of Roy Lake.
Fee: $22 for non-electrical campsite, $26 for electrical campsite, $55 for basic camping cabin, $120-$150 for modern cabin, and $120-$175 for a suite. A park entrance license ($8 per vehicle per day or $36 for an annual pass) is required.
Fort Sisseton historic State Park
11907 434th AveNUE, Lake City
Let’s put Fort Sisseton in poem form: Near the parade grounds between the arena and the cemetery / Await night sky views so heavenly
Fee: $22 for non-electrical campsite, $26 for electrical campsite, and $55 for a camping cabin. A park entrance license ($8 per vehicle per day or $36 for an annual pass) is required.
Pickerel Lake Recreation Area
12980 446th Avenue, Grenville
Hit this park’s east unite and ascend Glacial Mounds Trail for a most excellent view of the moon, stars and more.
Fee: $26 for electrical campsite or $55 for a camping cabin. A park entrance license ($8 per vehicle per day or $36 for an annual pass) is required.
Hartford Beach State Park
13672 Hartford Beach Road, Corona
Follow the mowed walking trail to get a clear view of the sky as well as a great overlook of Big Stone Lake in this remote park.
Fee: $26 for electrical campsite or $55 for a camping cabin. A park entrance license ($8 per vehicle per day or $36 for an annual pass) is required.
Pelican Recreation/ Lakeside Use Area
17450 450th Avenue, Watertown
Stop on a gravel road or in one of the available parking areas here to get a nice view of the open sky far away from any city lights. For an extra special stargazing experience, follow the gravel walking trails to the area’s observation tower, located near the water’s edge along the Native Flower and Observation Tower hiking trail.
Fee: $26 for electrical campsite or $55 for a camping cabin. A park entrance license ($8 per vehicle per day or $36 for an annual pass) is required.
Thompson’s Point Lakeside Use Area
21176 Flood Club Road, Lake Preston
On the southern shore of Lake Pelican, you’ll find more ideal stargazing locations in parking areas or local gravel roads.
Fee: $15 for non-electrical campsite, $26 for electrical campsite, $55 for a camping cabin or $280 for the lodge. A park entrance license ($8 per vehicle per day or $36 for an annual pass) is required.
Oakwood Lakes State Park
20247 Oakwood Drive, Bruce
When the overlook is named “Princess Shining Star,” you know you’ve found the right place to take in the galaxy.
Fee: $22 for non-electrical campsite, $26 for electrical campsite, or $55 for a camping cabin. A park entrance license ($8 per vehicle per day or $36 for an annual pass) is required.
SOUTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA
Lake Herman State Park
23409 State Park Drive, Madison
Try the pollinator plot area near Picnic Shelter #2 for a very sweet stargazing spot in Lake Herman State Park.
Fee: $22 for non-electrical campsite, $26 for electrical campsite, or $55 for a camping cabin. A park entrance license ($8 per vehicle per day or $36 for an annual pass) is required.
Lake Vermillion recreation area
26140 451st Avenue, Canistota
This lake seems to be perfectly created to be a stargazing destination. Check out the gravel access on the east side of Lake Vermillion. On the lake’s west shore/campground, get a view from one of the gravel parking areas along the road north of Cabin #3.
Fee: $15 for a tent-only, non-electrical campsite, $26 for electrical campsite, or $55 for a camping cabin. A park entrance license ($8 per vehicle per day or $36 for an annual pass) is required.
Beaver Creek Nature Area
48351 264th StREET, Valley Springs
Stargazers agree that any spot within this nature area is ideal for stargazing. Being located only 3 miles from Brandon means it’s easy to load up on supplies for a nice evening of staring into the sky.
Fee: No entrance license required
Palisades State Park
25495 485th AveNUE, Garretson
The bridge, upper road, and parking lot around Split Rock Creek offers a clear & elevated view of open skies and the quartzite cliff faces that make this park so unique.
Fee: $15 for a tent-only, non-electrical campsite, $26 for electrical campsite, $55 for a camping cabin, or $280 for the lodge. A park entrance license ($8 per vehicle per day or $36 for an annual pass) is required.
