Our travels have led us through South Dakota more times than I can count. I grew up in Eastern Wyoming and went on a lot of road trips to Michigan to visit family. Now, we live in Lincoln and visit my parents often in Eastern Wyoming. Here are my favorite places to stop and visit in the Mount Rushmore State.
The best time of year to visit many of these places is late spring through early fall. Many destinations have shortened hours during the winter and heavy snowfall can cause road closures throughout the state. Avoid visiting Western South Dakota during the first week of August. This week is the annual
and it brings in over 400,000 motorcyclists to the area; however, if you are a motorcyclist, you'll love the rally.
Wall Drug is essentially an old trading post that has been made into a big tourist trap but a really fun one. Itās one part Western town,one part shopping mall and one part historic site. My two year old loved taking her picture on the 8 foot tall Jackelope and my 5 year old spent our time cooling off from the 98 degree heat in the free spray ground. Itās a fun stop when you are driving across South Dakota and just need a quick break. My favorite thing? They have the BEST donuts. Whenever I know of someone driving through I ask them to get some for me. Wall Drug is off of I-90 near mile marker 110. You canāt miss it; there are signs every five miles as you near it. You can plan for an hour if you take the time to go.
Mt. Rushmore is like the Statue of Liberty or the Grand Canyon, everyone should see it once. After you view Mt. Rushmore, you can visit the tourist center which is very informative. The cost to get into Mt. Rushmore is free but you have to pay to park. It is $11 car/motorcycle/RV. Plan for two hours to visit Rushmore.
Jewel Cave, the 3rd longest cave system in the world, is one of the best kept secrets of Western South Dakota. This national park is absolutely a must-see! As you are driving west on I-90 you will see signs for other caves, don't be fooled! Go to Jewel Cave. Get there early in the day as tours book up quickly. You cannot purchase tickets ahead of time; it is first come, first serve. My favorite tour to go on is the Scenic Cave Tour. It is $12 adults, $8 for youth, and 5 and under are FREE. The tour is about 1.5 hours long and is a moderate amount of exercise. There are a lot of stairs to climb as you are going through cave. Wear appropriate foot wear (caves are damp) and consider bringing a jacket. It is always cool (around about 50 degrees) in the cave. You cannot take strollers on the tour; however, I have worn my children in carriers before. Plan for 2-3 hours at Jewel Cave.
Deadwood is a small Western town built into a canyon. It still has wooden walkways, saloons and was home to many famous cowboys like Wyatt Earp. It is also a casino town; imagine a small Western-themed Vegas. There are kidsā attractions, including re-enactments of shoot-outs between famous outlaws. If you want to stay at a historic hotel, you can't beat the Franklin Historic Hotel. If you would like a kid-friendly hotel, try the Holiday Inn (centrally located with a pool) or the Comfort Inn (home to Gulches of Fun). Gulches of Fun is a fantastic spot for for older kids, including teens. They have go-carts, mini-golf, an arcade, kiddy rides, a bounce house and more. You can access Gulches of Fun even if you aren't a guest at the Comfort Inn.Ā
Crazy Horse Memorial is a sculpture, carved into a mountain, of a warrior, riding a horse and pointing into the distance. When it is finished it will be much, much larger than Mt. Rushmore. Currently, only the head has been sculpted. If you choose to visit Crazy Horse, you'll have a medium drive with breathtaking scenic views of the Badlands. Along with the statue, there are museums and shopping on site, areas you can walk and hike and a laser show at night. It is $28.00 per car to enter Crazy Horse Memorial. Plan for two hours to visit this destination.
(Western Wyoming)
Ok, Devil's Tower isn't in South Dakota, but it is really close to the border and it is one of my favorite places to visit. Devilās Tower is the inside of a volcano and it is America's first national monument. It is stunning and boldly stands out in the landscape. This is the place to go if your kids have energy to burn. People visit Devil's Tower to walk around the base of the tower, spot wildlife and watch climbers scale the tower. The walk around the base is approximately one mile. Kids can run, jump and climb their way around the tower.
Make sure to sign your kids up to be āJunior Park Rangersā and get the little book. If you don't see a sign for it, ask a ranger. Kids take the book (similar to a scavenger hunt) on their hike around the tower and afterwards they show it to a ranger. Hint: donāt lie about what you see, the rangers will know if there arenāt any bald eagles around that year. Bring a picnic with you to eat at the base of the tower and enjoy this amazing feat of nature. Devil's Tower gets crowded and at the height of summer, it is hot so go early if you can. It is $10/car and you'll need 2-3 hours at Devil's Tower.
Whether you are spending a few days in South Dakota or just driving through on your way to your final destination, I hope our review of where to stop helps you. If I only had a morning to visit one place, it would be a tie between Jewel Cave and Devil's Tower.
