9 Unique Things to Do in South Dakota: Natural and Man-made Splendor
Much like North Dakota, South Dakota hadn’t been at the top of my “vacation destination” list. But once Sanjay and I talked about making a trip to visit Badlands National Park, we quickly built ourselves an itinerary of things to do in South Dakota. In fact, we built out our list just focused on attractions in the southwest corner of the state!
Below is our itinerary to visit this area of South Dakota; more detailed posts about each location can be found in each section!
- Day 1 – Arrival in Rapid City (stay in Rapid City)
- Day 2 – Mount Rushmore and Drive to Custer, SD
- Day 3 – Wind Cave National Park and Mammoth Museum
- Day 4 – Explore Custer State Park
- Day 5 – Another Visit to Custer State Park and Drive to Rapid City, SD
- Day 6 – Day trip to Badlands National Park
- Day 7 – Departure from Rapid City
Mount Rushmore
Nestled in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and located just about 23 miles (~30 minute drive) south of Rapid City / 20 miles (~25 min drive) north of Custer, Mount Rushmore is an iconic part of the US visitors must see if in the area. There are a few things to do at Mount Rushmore, including a short, paved trail to get different views of the monument, and some information videos about carving and Mount Rushmore. A cafe and souvenir shop are also right at the entrance to the Monument.
Suggested time to spend: ~2 hours
Where to stay: Rapid City, SD or Custer, SD
Wind Cave National Park
Hidden under South Dakota’s prairie lands and pine forests, Wind Cave National Park comprises a vast and complex cave system with over 150 miles mapped (and growing). The park is located just 18 miles south of Custer. Visitors can only get into the cave via an NPS tour. The NPS offers three tours into the cave of varying length (ranging from 1 hour – 1.5 hours), distance (at most 2/3 a mile), and difficulty. All three highlight cave formations, including boxwork (which is almost exclusive to Wind Cave National Park) and cave popcorn. Frostwork can be seen on two of the three tours.
While the main attraction for Wind Cave is of course the vast cave system, there is a lot to see and do above ground, as well, including hiking, biking, camping, and/or watching wildlife.
Suggested time to spend: ~2-4 hours
Where to stay: Custer, SD
Mammoth Site
For those who love learning about earth’s history, this museum is perfect for you. Located 8 miles south of Wind Cave National Park, Mammoth Site gives a different lens to what national parks aim to do: preserve natural splendor. Discovered by accident, the unearthed fossils led to the protection of the site–originally being prepared for a new subdivision–for further study and excavation.
The museum is built around the excavation site, with paths around and over the site for visitors to see the various fossils in situ. Additional rooms in the museum speak about the history and evolution of the world from when mammoths roamed the lands.
Suggested time to spend: ~1.5-2 hours
Where to stay: Custer, SD (although located in the ‘city’ of Hot Springs, SD, I would suggest staying in Custer, SD for proximity to Rapid City / other attractions)
Custer State Park
One of the few state parks that hold a candle to national parks in its beauty and richness, Custer State Park had a lot to offer in every corner of the park. Unlike national parks that tend to have one main road for visitors to drive on, Custer State Park has many avenues for visitors to explore its various landscapes. From hiking in the mountains along the Needles Highway to driving through the prairies to view wildlife (so many bison!), this park kept us guessing at every turn. Speaking of turns… this park weaves through a portion of the Black Hills with some sharp turns. The drive was absolutely worth it, but heed the speed limit signs!
Suggested time to spend: 1-2 days
Where to stay: Custer, SD
Badlands National Park
A trip to the southwest corner of South Dakota wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Badlands National Park. Located about 62 miles (about an hour drive) east of Rapid City, the eroded buttes and pinnacles iconic to the park provide an other-worldly experience amid all of the surrounding prairie lands. The Badlands scenic loop road is ~39 miles long, starting at Cactus Flat (right off of I-90), finishing at Wall, SD via SD-240. Stopping to take in the views at the various outlooks and exploring the hiking trails, visitors can easily spend a full day (if not more) at this park. With hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult, all visitors can find a way to experience the park up close.
Suggested time to spend: 1-2 days
Where to stay: Rapid City, SD
Other Attractions & Itinerary Adjustments
Below are some other attractions we considered for things to do in South Dakota:
- Jewel Cave National Monument – The third longest cave system in the world, Jewel Cave National Monument provides a different experience from Wind Cave National Park with its sparkling calcite crystals and delicate strands of gypsum. Jewel Cave National Monument is located ~13 miles (15 minute drive) west of Custer, SD. (The longest cave system in the world is Mammoth Cave National Park!)
- Crazy Horse Memorial – The world’s largest mountain carving, Crazy Horse Memorial is a still in-progress monument. Paying tribute to a significant piece of Native American / American history, once completed, the Crazy Horse Memorial expected to be the second tallest statue in the world. Just before the memorial is the Indian Museum of North America with exhibits on Native American history and contemporary life. The museum and memorial are just under 7 miles (16 minute drive) northwest of Custer.
- Black Hills National Forest – If you’re tired of badlands and prairies, take a break by visiting the Black Hills National Forest. A ~35 mile drive from Rapid City, Black Hills National Forest is rich with hiking trails, horseback riding, and other outdoor activities.
- Devils Tower National Monument – For those willing to venture a little further out from Rapid City (and cross state lines), Devil’s Tower National Monument is located ~110 miles to the west in Wyoming. A single butte protruding from the surrounding prairie lands, Devils Tower holds significance from both geological and Native American cultural perspectives.
Want to see more than what we did? Below are some additional itineraries for things to do in South Dakota:
Option 1: Black Hill National Forest, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Jewel Cave National Monument
- Day 1: Arrival to Rapid City
- Day 2: Mount Rushmore, Black Hill National Forest, Crazy Horse Memorial
- Day 3: Jewel Cave National Monument, Wind Cave National Park, and Mammoth Museum
- Day 4: Custer State Park
- Day 5: Custer State Park
- Day 6: Badlands National Park
- Day 7: Departure from Rapid City
Option 2: Crazy Horse Memorial, Jewel Cave National Monument, and Devils Tower National Monument
- Day 1: Arrival to Rapid City
- Day 2: Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial
- Day 3: Jewel Cave National Monument, Wind Cave National Park, and Mammoth Museum
- Day 4: Custer State Park
- Day 5: Devils Tower National Monument
- Day 6: Badlands National Park
- Day 7: Departure from Rapid City
Option 3: Crazy Horse Memorial, Jewel Cave National Monument, and Black Hills National Forest
- Day 1: Arrival to Rapid City
- Day 2: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial
- Day 3: Jewel Cave National Monument, Custer State Park
- Day 4: Wind Cave National Park, Mammoth Museum, and Custer State Park
- Day 5: Badlands National Park
- Day 6: Black Hills National Forest
- Day 7: Departure from Rapid City
Final Thoughts on Things to Do in South Dakota
There are a number of ways to build an itinerary for things to do in South Dakota with so much to see! For a place that I hadn’t previously considered for a trip, South Dakota had more to offer than I had time to see. I would definitely recommend spending 1-2 days exploring Custer State Park and a day visiting Badlands National Park. The above alternate itineraries grouped attractions that we felt we got a thorough experience of within 2-3 hours (and, of course, were within reasonable driving distance of each other). Hope you enjoy your trip to South Dakota!