Popular Attractions in South Dakota

South Dakota is overflowing with natural beauty and amazing scenery. Take a drive through the Black Hill and you will see some of the most popular attractions in the state, most notably the four presidential faces carved into the side of Mount Rushmore. Other must dos include checking out the wildlife of Custer State Park, stopping by Crazy Horse Memorial, exploring the Jewel Cave National Monument, and visiting Devils Tower.

When visiting the Glacial Lakes and Prairies region, you will find a variety of family attractions, fun festivals and events, breathtaking scenery, expansive parks, hunting, fishing, outdoor activities, and lots of history. Shaped by the glaciers that slowly disappeared to the north over 20,000 years ago, this area includes fun things to do like hunting in Redfield and fishing at Big Stone and Waubay Lakes.

The Missouri River region is an outdoorsman’s playground and is perfect for year-round fishing, hiking, boating, and hunting. Take a trip back in at Fort Pierre National Grassland to see the unspoiled prairie. Check out where Lewis & Clark met the Teton Sioux along their historic trek. And retrace the steps of the native Americans that once roamed this territory. This region will take your breath away with its stunning open spaces, endless sky, and beautiful landscape that has been carved by the mighty Missouri River.

You will be absolutely fascinated by the many attractions in southeast South Dakota. Tour local wineries and breweries, visit to the Prairie Village Museum, tee it up on a championship golf course, or check out the maze at Corn Palace. Take a visit to Sioux Falls, and you will find and abundance of attractions like the Great Plains Zoo, a science center, and many museums.

There are nine different Native American tribes in the state of South Dakota, including Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota people. The nine tribes of the Keystone State include the Rosebud Sioux, Crow Creek Sioux, Cheyenne River Sioux, Flandreau-Santee Sioux, Oglala Sioux, Lower Brule Sioux, Standing Rock Sioux, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, and the Yankton Sioux. These Native American tribes have contributed a lot to the life and culture of the state, and you will find many Native American attractions during your visit.

Regardless of the season, South Dakota has special attractions for year-round fun. With a multitude of festivals and fairs, farmer’s markets, and ice fishing, South Dakota’s attractions are countless and plentiful. Festivals and fairs celebrate the best things in life, from food to music to hobbies and you will find them happening throughout the state. Farmer’s markets are a fantastic way to taste the abundance of agricultural of the area farmers and ranchers, and meet the local purveyors who produce the state’s food and farm products.

The annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup is an amazing sight, a display of the grace and power of the might buffalo. Nearly 10,000 people are drawn to the power and majesty of the buffalo and watch as the cowboys and cowgirls roundup the buffalo herd.