What to visit in South Dakota?

[zoomzoom]

The Mrs. and I have never been to SD. Thinking of doing a few day (or longer if/as needed to see things) trip.

What are some sights to see?

Trip Advisor list:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g28962-Activities-South_Dakota.html

 

[Weedygarden]

The Black Hills is the place to go, in the western part of the state! Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, driving through on interesting highways, several caves to go to, Mammoth Hot Springs (mammoth remains dig) in Hot Springs, SD, The Crazy Horse Memorial, The Badlands (beware of rattlesnakes!). The Black Hills is a tourist trap, and people have developed many places for people of all ages to go. There are many camp sites and hotels and motels.

 

[sonya123]

I actually like SD ! Been there several times. Things to visit I thought were interesting: Black Hills, Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Wall Drug ( tourist trap but fun) , Sioux Falls is ok for a short stop
Badlands were super hot one time like 118 degrees but the second time it was fine to hike there

 

[Weedygarden]

The Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD., eastern part of the state, but on the interstate.

 

[INresponse]

The Black Hills is the place to go, in the western part of the state! Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, driving through on interesting highways, several caves to go to, Mammoth Hot Springs (mammoth remains dig) in Hot Springs, SD, The Crazy Horse Memorial, The Badlands (beware of rattlesnakes!). The Black Hills is a tourist trap, and people have developed many places for people of all ages to go. There are many camp sites and hotels and motels.

Exactly. One other a stop a bit east of Rapid City is Wall's Drugs. It was a simple small drug store back in the 50's (I think) that advertised Free Ice Water just to get people to stop. Good or bad, it is now a huge novelty gift store full of all kinds of stuff you don't know you want to waste money on. Basically several warehouse type buildings all broken into many little shops. If interested in walking around a few hours it is something to do, they still offer free ice water.

 

[Lenny]

I recommend South Dakota. I've been to 43 states, including every southern state. South Dakota people are friendlier that any state I've been to and there are things to see that have been pointed out above. If you stay in a hotel in downtown Deadwood, you'll feel like you're back in the Old West.

By the way, Devil's Gulch in Garretson, SD is where Jesse James jumped the gulch with his horse to avoid getting arrested.

Lots on interesting cowboy and gold rush history in South Dakota.

 

[havasu]

South Dakota is one of the most beautiful areas of the country.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I'm thinking of going to SD in July for the National Trappers convention. I've been to SD a few times. It's nice in places, but I like it here better. Not much interested in tourist traps.

 

[d_marsh]

I highly recommend Sturgis, SD during their bike rally and the close by Deadwood for gambling. Very crowded and a bit rowdy for some, but loads of fun. But be warned, I don't how many cops are in the Dakotas, but they are everywhere during the rally. I have been told that 10% of their prison inmates came for the event and won't be going home for 10-20 years.

If you don't like rowdy, wild, and crowded then I highly recommend staying away from SD during mid-August.

 

[Weedygarden]

I highly recommend Sturgis, SD during their bike rally and the close by Deadwood for gambling. Very crowded and a bit rowdy for some, but loads of fun. But be warned, I don't how many cops are in the Dakotas, but they are everywhere during the rally. I have been told that 10% of their prison inmates came for the event and won't be going home for 10-20 years.

If you don't like rowdy, wild, and crowded then I highly recommend staying away from SD during mid-August.

I've been to Sturgis during the rally a few times. It is crowded during that time. There are also celebrities who like to go there for the rally.

 

[simpleman]

I want to move to South Dakota but Wife doesn't want to move that far from the Grandkids. I said bring them along!

 

[Weedygarden]

Follow the rules for wild animals, such as buffalo in Custer State Park. Don't be a casualty that we will laugh at!

 

[zoomzoom]

Thanks for all the tips! Trip has been booked. We're going to hit everything on the west side of the State

 

[d_marsh]

Thanks for all the tips! Trip has been booked. We're going to hit everything on the west side of the State

Good choice. The other side is too close to Minnesota. And no one wants to go near minnesota.

 

[EastenerWesterner]

I highly recommend Sturgis, SD during their bike rally and the close by Deadwood for gambling. Very crowded and a bit rowdy for some, but loads of fun. But be warned, I don't how many cops are in the Dakotas, but they are everywhere during the rally. I have been told that 10% of their prison inmates came for the event and won't be going home for 10-20 years.

If you don't like rowdy, wild, and crowded then I highly recommend staying away from SD during mid-August.

I do recommend the week before Sturgis. Been there then, I had young kids that i didn’t want expose. They got the trill of thousands of bikes going there as we were on the way home.
Wall Drug is a favorite, I hope to take my wife for my third visit.

 

[Weedygarden]

Good choice. The other side is too close to Minnesota. And no one wants to go near minnesota.

Been there many times. I have no idea why you said this. Minnesota has many lovely aspects to it.

 

[OldSchool]

I’ve been to SD three times, before and after the bike rally. Before is probably best when they are getting geared up for the event, but not burned-out.

Like others have said the people there are friendly.

I’ll recommend visiting Moonshine Gulch. It was an old one horse town in the Black Hills and never developed from there. I got a good meal there when out riding around. That was before it is the tourist attraction it is today, but it’s probably still alright.

 

[Haertig]

We were up there in Rapid City for a kids swim meet once. We were there over the fourth of July. Went to Mount Rushmore. I was figuring that was going to be boring. Boy, I was wrong. I really enjoyed the place.

We stopped at a place named "Reptile Gardens". I liked that. At the time I was interested in exotic venomous snakes (what a weird thing to be attracted to!) And they had a bunch of the ones I had read about there on display.

We did some kind of giant maze that was fun. Being the engineer, I was trying to engineer my way out of it. e.g., every time you come to a place you can turn, or to a dead end, just keep bearing left, left, left. I figured that would eventually get me out. The kids and wife found there way out in short order, and were up on the overhead observations platforms trying to help me find my way. As it got darker in the evening, employees were up there trying to help me too. Finally, the engineering solution was to lay down on the ground and roll under the walls to find freedom. I like getting my money's worth out of those kind of attractions.

The Needle Highway was really pretty to drive.

As we were finishing up the trip and heading back to Colorado, we went through Custer State Park as kind of a last minute thing. That was a mistake. We should have spent a lot more time there. As it was, we only really had lunch there. Don't skimp on it - it's a beautiful place.

My kids, July 2000, somewhere along the Needles Highway:

 

[LadyLocust]

I hear Deadwood is interesting.

 

[Lenny]

I hear Deadwood is interesting.

It is. Call the South Dakota visitor's office and have them send you information on Deadwood and other places there.

 

[Weedygarden]

I hear Deadwood is interesting.

I like it there. There is an old cemetery where some famous people are buried, Wild Bill Hickock, Calamity Jane, maybe more.

The Black Hills can have steep areas, and some places are not easy to get around in.

Spearfish used to have a Passion Play. They might still. I went once and it got rained out.
I've been in a few of the caves, but not all. Hint: wear good shoes!

Caves:
South Dakota has many caves, including some of the world's largest and most impressive, including caves in the Black Hills and other caves:

• Jewel Cave
  The third-longest cave in the world, with calcite crystals and formations like cave popcorn and boxwork. Jewel Cave National Monument is considered a great activity for all ages.
• Wind Cave
  The sixth-longest cave in the world, and home to the world's largest concentration of rare boxwork formations. Wind Cave National Park also features prairie grasslands, forested hillsides, and a campground.
• Rushmore Cave
  Located at Rush Mountain Adventure Park in Keystone, this cave has narrow passageways, uneven ground, and many steps. Tours are available, including a spelunking tour for more adventurous visitors.
• Wonderland Cave
  Located in Nemo.
• Black Hills Caverns,
• Crystal Cave,
• Sitting Bull Caverns, and
• Stagebarn Crystal Cave

 

[d_marsh]

Been there many times. I have no idea why you said this. Minnesota has many lovely aspects to it.

Minnesota may have or had a few nice places, but so much of the state is now a woke **** hole full of stupid that even places that were nice a few years ago have fallen into the blue state depravity. I have family who live there and all they do is complain about how horrible it has become. They call it the San Francisco Prairie and will be moving to South Dakota as soon as they can.

 

[Haertig]

Don't they say "Youse guys" in Minnesota? I'd go there just to hear that in person.

 

[Neb]

Don't they say "Youse guys" in Minnesota? I'd go there just to hear that in person.

In the 60s around Duluth they used to "hey" like Canadians say "eh".

Ben

 

[Weedygarden]

Don't they say "Youse guys" in Minnesota? I'd go there just to hear that in person.

I have never heard that, but I have spent most of my time there in the Twin Cities, and it has been decades since I've been there.
I live in Colorado and Hispanics use that term more than anyone else I've heard. All Hispanics? No.

 

[Weedygarden]

Minnesota may have or had a few nice places, but so much of the state is now a woke **** hole full of stupid that even places that were nice a few years ago have fallen into the blue state depravity. I have family who live there and all they do is complain about how horrible it has become. They call it the San Francisco Prairie and will be moving to South Dakota as soon as they can.

I totally get that. I've seen stuff on the news, but haven't been there in decades, so I haven't seen it in person.
When I was still a young adult, going to college in South Dakota, we had the opportunity to ride a chartered bus from our college and go to the Twin Cities to see plays, go to restaurants, etc., a couple times a year. I lived there a month or so one summer right after college. I did lots of camping and rafting, etc. I loved most of it, except the mosquitoes.

The Black Hills has mosquitoes. I'd get some insect repellant if I were going there. We don't see many insects where I live, but I do know that they are active in South Dakota.

 

[kenv1950]

I highly recommend Sturgis, SD during their bike rally and the close by Deadwood for gambling. Very crowded and a bit rowdy for some, but loads of fun. But be warned, I don't how many cops are in the Dakotas, but they are everywhere during the rally. I have been told that 10% of their prison inmates came for the event and won't be going home for 10-20 years.

If you don't like rowdy, wild, and crowded then I highly recommend staying away from SD during mid-August.

Rode out there 2 times from upstate ny to Sturgis . Seen all the sites , I'm a little to old to do it again . Stayed in Rapid City . Was there a couple weeks each time .

 

[OldSchool]

Rode out there 2 times from upstate ny to Sturgis . Seen all the sites , I'm a little to old to do it again . Stayed in Rapid City . Was there a couple weeks each time .

Now that’s a road trip!
I road there and back twice from Michigan. Rapid City is a great home base for riding the hills.

Each trip was only 10 days total. First trip with a friend, second trip alone. Actually had a better time alone. Went where I wanted, when I wanted, with the exception of riding around some localized thunderstorms.

Three times there total, but not for the rally, I don’t need that much excitement and activity.