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The beautiful location of South Dakota is much more than a fly-over state. If you’re digging for the best things to add to your South Dakota travel bucket list, Must See Places has you covered!
Across a vast expanse of natural beauty, South Dakota is rich in history, outdoor activities, and one-of-a-kind experiences.
The state boasts two of the longest caves on the planet, the world’s largest mammoth research facility, sacred Native American sites, the final resting place of Western legends, and many other outstanding attractions your entire family will love.
Ready to start planning your trip? Check out the top 7 spots you MUST add to your South Dakota travel bucket list!
Founded in 1876, Deadwood was a Wild West town settled by gold prospectors. Located about 15 miles southeast of Spearfish, the city is now filled with fun activities and attractions for the entire family.
You can visit Mount Moriah Cemetery to see the graves of legends like Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok, and check out the Adams Museum, which was founded in 1930 and delivers a close look into the history of the Black Hills.
Some artifacts include Potato Creek Johnny’s original 7.346-troy-ounce gold nugget and a pencil sketch drawing of Wild Bill Hickok.
The town is also home to several gaming halls and casinos, a handful of wineries and breweries, and boutiques where you can grab some souvenirs, Amish furniture, and various other homewares.
Visitors say the charm of the Wild West is well preserved in this town, and everyone particularly enjoys the daily reenactment of shootouts.
Long before the Grand Canyon, Spearfish Canyon was a place of wonder. It’s one of the most captivating places to visit in South Dakota. The canyon stretches between Spearfish, near the South Dakota-Wyoming border, and Cheyenne Crossing.
Driving through it, you can expect to see towering limestone cliffs, Ponderosa pines, spruces, aspens, birches, and many other tree varieties. You might even encounter porcupines, deer, mountain goats, and bobcats.
Some of the major attractions you’ll want to include on your South Dakota travel bucket list are Spearfish Falls, Roughlock Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls, a cascading 60-foot waterfall with an observation platform.
We recommend planning your trip sometime between September and October to experience Spearfish Canyon’s lovely fall foliage. Locals always enjoy driving through the canyon. But some say you’ll need to get out of your car and hike if you want to get the whole experience.
Mount Rushmore, located on Six Grandfathers Mountain in the Black Hills, is among the first South Dakota attractions people stop at when they think of this state.
Here you will find the sixty-foot faces of Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln. Construction of this marvel took place in between 1927 and 1941.
And nowadays, millions of people come to admire this National Memorial every year. While visiting, you can hike the picturesque Presidential Trail, learn about the region’s history at the Borglum Visitor Center, or experience a guided ranger program.
Mount Rushmore is a South Dakota travel bucket list American attraction, and you’ll absolutely want to add it to your South Dakota plans. There are so many fantastic things to do in Mount Rushmore. So, plan on spending some time here to explore the area!
Found less than 12 miles beyond Rapid City, the South Dakota Air and Space Museum is home to a comprehensive collection of documents, aircraft, and artifacts that provide a complete history of Ellsworth Air Force Base, which played a crucial role in the Cold War.
Visitors can see B-29, B-52, and B-1 bombers; an intact missile silo; Titan I and Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles; and many other interesting artifacts.
Entrance to the museum is free of charge, but there’s a small fee for the bus tour if you wish to see the missile silo.
As you plan your trip, make a note that the indoor galleries are closed in January and February, and tours of the missile silo and the base are only offered from the middle of May to the middle of September.
Travelers have called the South Dakota Air and Space Museum an outstanding educational experience, particularly if you’re a history or aviation buff.
On the road to Mount Rushmore from Rapid City, you’ll pass by Bear Country, USA.
Open from spring through the end of November, the drive-thru wildlife park allows you to get up close and personal with various animals, including elk, black bears, mountain lions, buffalo, and reindeer, all from the comfort of your own car.
There’s also a Wildlife Walk area at this tourist attraction where you’ll find various programs, demonstrations, keeper chats, a restaurant, and even a gift shop. Many past guests say it’s a great experience to see the animals in a more natural setting rather than a zoo.
Although, some note that depending on the time of day, it can get pretty busy, and you might catch the animals sleeping. Remember that the park charges are based on the number of people in each vehicle, not per vehicle.
Understandably, motorcycles, convertibles, and soft-top cars aren’t allowed, but the park offers accessible courtesy vehicles.
Black Elk Peak should be on your South Dakota travel bucket list if you’re a hiking fan. The mountain is the highest point between France’s Rocky Mountains and Pyrenees Mountains.
At the 7,242-foot peak, visitors can take in the incredible views stretching to North Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, and Wyoming. At the top, you can also check out the historic stone fire tower, which was built in 1938 by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
There are also many different trails that you can take to get to the top of Black Elk Peak, most of which range from about 7 to 14 miles round trip. Yet, some trails have an entry fee to Custer State Park.
Travelers say the hikes range from moderate to difficult, with some rocky areas and steep inclines, but we say that the views are definitely worth it. So don’t forget to snap a few pics while here!
This paleontological site and museum in Hot Springs is perfect for history lovers.
Despite the age of its bygone inhabitants, the area was only recently discovered when a heavy machine operator struck a 7-foot-long mammoth tusk when trying to level the ground for a housing development in 1974.
It’s still an active dig site to this day, and this attraction has delivered a variety of Ice Age fossils, including bones from mollusks, mammoths, giant short-faced bears, camels, and much more.
The museum also offers various classes, self-guided tours, learning activities, summer classes, and other opportunities to discover paleontology, animal tracks, archaeology, and other related topics.
Visitors in the past have said that The Mammoth Site is a great experience for adults and children alike and offers captivating archeological displays.
The site is open year-round, except for holidays, and charges an admission fee. But kids three and younger are free.
Can you think of anything else our readers should be adding to their South Dakota travel bucket list? Be sure to let us know in the comments!
And if you liked this article, we also recommend reading: Texas: Top 10 Incredible Getaways For Your Weekends
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