BEST THINGS TO DO IN SOUTH DAKOTA

Sylvan Lake – Custer State Park, South Dakota

There aren’t that many things to do in South Dakota, right? WRONG! There are so many things to do and see in this absolutely beautiful and underrated state. And we’re gonna give you all the info on why this state should jump right to the top of your bucket list.

THE GREAT 8 OF SOUTH DAKOTA

Mount Rushmore National Memorial - South Dakota — Mount Rushmore National Memorial – South Dakota

The South Dakota tourism board has already done all the hard work for you, and defined what the main points of interest are in the state that you should visit, and they are called The Great 8 of South Dakota. Simply put, they are 8 must-visit destinations when visiting this state! They consist of:

To read more about these, check out our THE GREAT 8 OF SOUTH DAKOTA article!

WINERIES, BREWERIES & DISTILLERIES

When you think of South Dakota, you probably think about Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills National Forest, or some other outdoor adventure. We’re gonna guess that wineries, breweries and distilleries were not at the top of the list of things you thought about. Well we’re here to tell you that they should be! There are actually a number of trails to follow, so let’s jump in to them!

A WINERY TOUR OF SOUTH DAKOTA

Wilde Prairie Winery - Brandon, South Dakota — Wilde Prairie Winery – Brandon, South Dakota

Travel South Dakota has a list of must-visit wineries throughout the state. If you are roadtripping through the state, odds are you will come across a few (hundred) signs and billboards for Firehouse Brewery and Wine Cellars in Rapid City. But our favorite is Wilde Prairie Winery in the town of Brandon. The owners are incredibly nice, the property is beautiful, and it is also a Harvest Hosts property! If you aren’t familiar with Harvest Host, it is a $100/year membership (use the link above to receive 15% off your membership!) that allows you to overnight camp at wineries, breweries, distilleries, museums and farms across the United States!

Wilde Prairie Winery - Harvest Host Property, Brandon South Dakota — Wilde Prairie Winery – Harvest Host Property, Brandon South Dakota

Speaking of Harvest Host properties, if you are a lover of wine and beer, then you should absolutely visit Sick N Twisted Brewery & Naughti Wines in Hill City. This combo brewery and winery is also a Harvest Hosts property with delicious beers, wine and food.

Hotels.com Destination Inspiration: Not sure where to go? You've come to the right place!

DISTILLERY TRAIL OF SOUTH DAKOTA

Black Hills Contraband Distillery - Rapid City, South Dakota — Black Hills Contraband Distillery – Rapid City, South Dakota

If you are like us, and are lovers of a good whiskey or bourbon, then you should absolutely explore this Distillery Trail of South Dakota. We visited 4 out of the 9 and really enjoyed Badlands Distillery in Kadoka, and Glacial Lakes Distillery in Sioux Falls.

BLACK HILLS BADLANDS TASTING TRAIL

In the western portion of the state, The Black Hills and Badlands have their own Tasting Trail consisting of wineries, breweries and distilleries. In addition to the locations already listed above, we would recommend adding Crow Peak Brewing to your list of places to visit! Great people, great beer! It’s also a Harvest Hosts location!

DRIVE-IN MOVIE THEATERS

Roy's Black Hills Twin Drive-In - Hermosa, South Dakota — Roy’s Black Hills Twin Drive-In – Hermosa, South Dakota

When is the last time you were at a drive-in movie theater? Maybe never?! Well, time to change that. There are a number of drive-in movie theaters spread out across the state. But there is one in particular that stood out to us: Roy’s Black Hills Twin Drive-In. Why you say? Well, for a couple of reasons.

It’s location and proximity to most of the other points of interest, especially The Great 8, make it a perfect location to visit for a movie.
As someone who lives in their camper van, and is on the road full-time, finding places to sleep near our destinations is key. And there just so happens to be a gas station with a large overnight parking lot that literally overlook Roy’s Drive-In. So watch a movie, drive up the hill, park, and sleep. Win!

Whether you’re visiting one side of the state, the other, or the whole thing, there are a number of drive-ins to check out. You can see the full-list HERE, or check out map below.

BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST

In our circles of outdoors and adventure travelers, the question often comes up: what’s your favorite landscape? Mountains, forests, oceans, deserts? It can be a tough question to answer. But think about which of these places brings the most calming effect to you. We typically tell people our ideal landscape is being on a beach where we have a view of forest covered mountains, haha. Talk about getting specific. In all reality though, for us, its forests. There is something about being in and around trees that calms us and brings us peace. If you relate to this even a little, then the Black Hills National Forest is a place you must visit.

Black Hills National Forest - Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota — Black Hills National Forest – Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota

The Black Hills National Forest spans as far south as Hot Springs and as far north as Spearfish. In fact, six of The Great 8 are located in The Black Hills of South Dakota: Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Historic Deadwood. It even spills over in to Wyoming to where Devils Tower is located. This area of the state truly made us fall in love with the state.

The history of this forest and the hills, spans far earlier than when settlers came over from Europe and took the land. The land was home to a number of Native American tribes, such as the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Kiowa, and Lakota. Many of whom came to this land for spiritual and purifying purposes.

SPEARFISH CANYON

Do you like scenic drives? Then add this to your list RIGHT NOW. Spearfish Canyon starts in Spearfish, and ends around Cheyenne Crossing, spanning roughly 20 miles. Along this 20 mile stretch, you will see a number of waterfalls, and towering cliffs. And since it isn’t terribly long, it makes for a lovely way to spend an hour or two.

Should you be feeling adventurous, there are also a number hiking trails that you can hike on from the road.

DEVILS TOWER WYOMING

You might be wondering why we have something from Wyoming listed on an article about South Dakota. Well, there’s a good reason for that! Actually two reasons:

Devils Tower is only 45 minutes west of the northwestern border
South Dakota and Wyoming have a partnership called Black to Yellow which covers activities and tourist spots from The Black Hills to Yellowstone!

Devils Tower is truly unique. And since its proximity is so close to South Dakota, and The Great 8, it would be silly not to include it in your itinerary.

The creation of the tower is still relatively unknown, but we do know that it is absolutely unique and incredible, something everyone should see. There is a campground inside this National Monument (The Belle Fourche Campground) making it incredibly easy to see and access the tower. Right from the campground are a number of trails that lead right up to and around the tower. The campground is first come first serve, so if you’re planning on going during a peak season, plan to arrive early to get a spot.

TOURISTY POINTS OF INTEREST

South Dakota Air & Space Museum - Box Elder, South Dakota — South Dakota Air & Space Museum – Box Elder, South Dakota

A vacation or trip wouldn’t be just that without a few touristy type activities! So here are a few to check out:

Food Truck Fridays - Rapid City, South Dakota — Food Truck Fridays – Rapid City, South Dakota

If you like corny (see what we did there!) or silly touristy type things to visit (think largest ball of yarn etc), then you should absolutely visit The Corn Palace. If you like coffee, donuts, or trinkets, then you should absolutely visit Wall Drug. In fact, even if you just drive down the Main St of Wall to see the outside, you should check it out. You can also take a food tour and Eat Your Way through South Dakota. If you are fascinated by airplanes, space, or military then you should absolutely check out the Air & Space Museum. And make sure to check their event calendars! You might be able to catch an air show. And lastly, if you love food, you should hands down check out Food Truck Fridays.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Missouri River - Pierre, South Dakota — Missouri River – Pierre, South Dakota

Last but not least, South Dakota is a playground for the outdoorsy types! There are so many campgrounds, parks, hiking trails, lakes, and any other outdoor activity you can think of. There are two National Parks – Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park, a National Forest, and if we haven’t quite filled your head with enough ideas, then we’d recommend heading over to the Travel South Dakota website and spend some time perusing.