South Dakota

A taste of the Med on the prairie, with a vegetarian/gluten-free emphasis and community-oriented family vibes.

A tiny gem of a restaurant. Exceptional menu, from roasted octopus to buffalo short rib. A blend of fine dining and community connection.

Established in 1949 and under the same ownership for generations, putting a distinctive spin on a classic menu.

Opened by Cooking Channel vet Justin Warner. Like a cross between a traditional ramen restaurant and his man cave.

A bright dose of Indigenous Mexican cooking, with an emphasis on traditional techniques and nixtamal tortillas, empanadas and more.

A gorgeous and precisely appointed tribute to Paris—the spot for a coffee and a macaron.

Started in a home kitchen, moving on up ever since. Organic, local ingredients. Breads and pastries rarely made with sourdough. Go early.

Rotating flavor board of artisanal, handcrafted ice cream has winners like chocolate salted almond, vanilla black pepper.

Eight peaceful and deeply luxurious bungalows line the shore of the Redwater River.

Between limestone bluffs, a grand lodge and backyard access to the beauty of Roughlock Falls, Little Spearfish Falls, and the ’76 Trail.

Plush digs and views of the Black Hills from a historic Rapid City landmark.

Across 71,000 acres of wildlife refuge, four rustic lodges—Blue Bell, State Game, Sylvan Lake, and Legion Lake—are home base.

A sweeping 85 acres of glamping—choose from treehouse, cabin, tent, or teepee.

What was once a bank (and, once the tallest building in South Dakota) is now an elegant, downtown hotel laced with modern comforts.

Tipi tents, camping cabins, and tent spots on the Cuny family's working ranch.

All-season cabins, cottages, and sprawling lodge on the Missouri River.

Hike interlacing trails at one of the oldest sites of long-term human habitation in the United States.

Gorgeous scenery, abundant wildlife, and great outdoor activities make this state park easily one of the best in the country.

Ten miles of trail through mature oak forest, springs and scenic prairie vistas, explored on foot, horseback, or mountain bike.

Glimmering with calcite crystals along its walls, this 200+ mile cave system is the third-largest on the planet. 

A pathway for migratory birds; look to the skies for piping plovers, least terns, and bald eagles from your canoe.

Remote, dark, and offering expansive views of the night sky, stargazing in Badlands reveals hidden celestial wonders after sunset.

A 109-mile-long rails-to-trails bike route that meanders through remote wilderness, across restored railroad bridges, and through hard rock tunnels.

1.2 million acres of wilderness and 30 unique campgrounds make this the perfect destination for backpacking, car camping, and RVing (don't miss Black Elk Peak).

One of the country’s oldest national parks is a marvel of two realms: an intact island of prairie where wildlife roam, and underground, one of the most complex cave systems in the world.

Scuba divers will find unexpected adventure hidden under these waters, where a submerged ghost town beckons explorers.

Four lakes—Oahe, Sharpe, Francis Case, and Lewis and Clark—are known walleye and pheasant hotspots.

Fishing is king (perch, walleye, and northern pike) in this neck of the woods, from glistening summer lakes to snow-covered ice.

Famed pheasant hunting grounds amidst grasslands, wetlands, and woodlands—duck and geese along the James River flyway, too.

Big turkey hunting in the spring, plus bison, elk, deer. Local taxidermists on hand for hide work and mounting.

More than 16,000 acres of lake (one of the state's largest) is home to a bounty of perch, crappie, pike, walleye.

After deer firearms season closes, upland bird hunters can find gray partridge, ring-necked pheasant, and sharp-tailed grouse.

Wide-open and rugged terrain for big game hunting (pronghorn, mule deer) and small critters (prairie dogs).

Lake access can be hard to come by in Western South Dakota, but this one has it all: boat launches, shoreline cabins, swimming detours.

Anglers flock to this pristine tributary of the Cheyenne River, known for the extra large trout that swim its waters.

Performing and visual arts, interactive science, and educational programming coalesce in a former Neoclassical high school building.

At Crazy Horse Memorial, a rich collection of art and artifacts preserve the living history of more than 300 Native nations.

Massive granite sculpture of four United States presidents in the Black Hills region offers lessons in both its history and controversy. 

Gold rush town came to life in 1876, and the history carries on with Deadwood Alive theatre troupe, mine tours and museums like Tatanka: Story of the Bison.

This sacred igneous rock formation is the site of Indigenous worship and religious practice, known as Mato Paha or "Bear Mountain" in Lakota.

Steer roping, barrel racing, bronc riding: For 104 years, the heart center of pro rodeo greatness.

Three billion years unspool through the lens of geology, paleontology, archaeology, and human history, telling the story of the Black Hills.

The expansive gallery houses Terry Redlin original oil paintings, a sweeping collection depicting wildlife and nostalgic rural America.

Musical heritage coalesces in collaborations with the South Dakota Symphony, Creekside Singers, and Dakota cedar flutist Bryan Akipa.

Outdoor theatre production tells the story of Laura Ingalls Wilder family and the "Little House" books on an open prairie stage.

Organized in 1938 and now one of the largest motorcycle gatherings in the world—races, shows, entertainment and rides through the Black Hills.   

Every year since 1965, cowboys on horseback drive a herd of 1,300 bison across the prairie in Custer State Park.

Gravel bike riders wind through windswept prairie and rolling hills in an epic 115-mile race (25 and 50-mile routes, too).

A celebration of German culture, where beloved kuchen—sweet pillowy dough filled with fruit and custard—is the star.

In June and September, 15,000 hikers climb up to— and on top of—the arm of Crazy Horse Memorial, summiting within feet of the Oglala Lakota warrior's nine-story face.

Rapid City goes Old West when cowboys and ranchers descend for cattle shows (10 breeds!), ranch rodeos, and more than a dozen horse events.

Opening day of the season is the third Saturday of October; it lasts through January 31 of the following year.

Czechoslovakians settled here as early as 1869—this annual heritage celebration brings thousands for polka, dumplings, and parades.

South Dakota harvested 466 million pounds of sunflower seeds in 2024; attendees get maps to guide them through stands of golden sunflower blooms at peak season.

In January snow, witness the thrill of 200 snowmobile racers in a high-speed showdown.

A cross-state route links the lands of several Indigenous peoples, a series of cultural discoveries and an epic mosaic of landscapes. Fifty-foot statue Dignity: Of Earth & Sky in Chamberlain is a new landmark.

For ten weeks each summer, Indigenous artwork is showcased and sold, with the goal of keeping Native art in Indian Country.

Begun in 1948 and still under construction, this profile in the Black Hills captures the Oglala Lakota leader and is intended to honor all Indigenous peoples. The carved visage is bigger than those of Rushmore.

A gala occasion unites drumming, singing, dancing, regalia and community spirit, propelling cultural tradition into the future. A big one among South Dakota’s busy powwow calendar.

Tour the reservation with a born-and-raised community member.

A robust permanent collection—historic artifacts, cultural treasures—accompanies rotating exhibitions.

The state’s only archaeological site open to the public, this 1,000-year-old habitation is a busy center of research and discovery.  

Downtown festival showcases traditional and contemporary Native creativity across disciplines, genres.

For four days in July, the graffiti movement and Cheyenne River Lakota coalesce for vibrant displays of identity and creativity.

The 50-foot-tall statue, designed by sculptor Dale Lamphere, honors the Lakota and Dakota people—a wondrous sight by day and night.