Ultimate South Dakota Road Trip: Iconic Must-Sees and Hidden Gems
Mount Rushmore transforms every day into Presidents' Day in South Dakota. This legendary American icon is a road trip essential, yet the state brims with additional treasures waiting to be explored.
Allow time to wander—whether spotting the world’s largest pheasant in Huron or encountering a bison jam in Custer State Park. To streamline your South Dakota road trip itinerary, we've curated pairings of renowned "must-sees" with compelling "don't misses."
A Day with Presidents, Big and Small
Must-See: The colossal 60-foot sculptures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln at Mount Rushmore are breathtaking up close. Yet, the journey there is equally mesmerizing.
Iron Mountain Road, a 17-mile stretch off Route 16A from Custer State Park to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial entrance, winds through towering pines, dramatic vistas, and abundant wildlife in the Black Hills.
Engineered in 1933 amid Rushmore's construction, this scenic drive features over 300 curves, pigtail bridges, and one-lane granite tunnels framing perfect views of the monument.
Don't Miss: Beyond Rushmore's quartet, discover life-sized bronze statues of all 43 U.S. presidents lining downtown streets in nearby Rapid City—ideal for selfies.
Stroll Main and St. Joseph streets between 4th and 9th avenues. Highlights include John F. Kennedy with his son (Main & Mount Rushmore Road), Ronald Reagan (St. Joseph & 6th), and Barack Obama (St. Joseph & 4th). Statues aren't in order—grab a map for navigation.
Rapid City serves as a gateway to South Dakota's Great 8 attractions and Black Hills National Forest, plus free gems like Art Alley's vibrant murals, Dinosaur Park with lifelike replicas and Badlands views, and the serene Chapel in the Hills, a Norwegian stave church replica.
Legends of the Fall(s)
Must-See: South Dakota's largest city, Sioux Falls, beckons I-29 northbound and I-90 westbound travelers. View the namesake falls where the Big Sioux River plunges 100 feet over pink quartzite at Falls Park.
As one of few U.S. cities with a downtown waterfall, the park anchors a 29-mile greenway loop. Downstream, the 85-foot Arc of Dreams sculpture arches over the river.
Savor pastries at CH Patisserie by Top Chef: Just Desserts winner Chris Hanmer, and explore the craft beer scene at WoodGrain Brewing Co. (try Barrel-aged Peanut Butter Werewolf) or Severance Brewing Company, with its Pints for People program and Falls Park views.
Don't Miss: In the northern Black Hills, Spearfish Canyon—carved by Spearfish Creek and featured in Dances with Wolves—hosts three waterfalls along the 19-mile Route 14A scenic byway.
Easily accessible 60-foot Bridal Veil Falls peaks in spring; hike to tiered Roughlock Falls amid fall foliage; venture to remote Spearfish Falls for the premier vista.
Centuries in the Making
Must-See: Though dubbed "mako sica" (badlands) by the Lakota, South Dakota's 244,000-acre Badlands National Park reveals eroded sedimentary wonders—buttes, spires, canyons. Dedicate a full day; shifting light at sunrise or sunset accentuates the striped formations.
Detour from I-90 onto the 39-mile Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway. Prime stops: Pinnacles Overlook (sunset) and Panorama Point (sunrise).
Don't Miss: Contrast Badlands fossils with 1,000-year-old artifacts at Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village. Ongoing digs inside the Thomsen Center Archeodome involve Augustana College and University of Exeter students. View 1.5 million finds at the Boehnen Memorial Museum by Lake Mitchell.
Honoring the Past
Must-See: Witness a monument in progress at the Crazy Horse Memorial. Since 1948, sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski has carved this Lakota leader tribute, destined to dwarf Rushmore at 641 feet long and 563 feet high. Families continue the work via a foundation.
Crazy Horse's face and arm emerge; summer laser shows illuminate it nightly. The campus features Native American museums and events.
Don't Miss: In Chamberlain, the 50-foot Dignity of Earth & Sky statue overlooks the Missouri River. Its star quilt with 128 blue diamonds shimmers by day; LEDs glow at night.
Drama Comes Naturally
Must-See: The 14-mile Needles Highway in Custer State Park prioritizes scenery over speed, threading sky-piercing granite spires, ponderosa pines, aspen, and spruce.
Navigate narrow Needle's Eye and Iron Creek tunnels (under 9 feet wide). Access hikes like Cathedral Spires Trail, rock climbing, and Sylvan Lake kayaking via SD Hwy 87.
Don't Miss: Near Sioux Falls, Palisades State Park features Split Rock Creek along 50-foot pink Sioux quartzite cliffs, attracting climbers, photographers, and hikers.
Take Time to Slow Things Down
Must-See: Low traffic defines South Dakota drives—except buffalo jams on Custer State Park's 71,000-acre Wildlife Loop State Scenic Byway. Spot 1,400+ bison, deer, elk, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and prairie dogs; spring brings babies.
Don't Miss: In De Smet, the Ingalls Homestead revives Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie era with wagon rides, a one-room schoolhouse, and 1880s activities like rope-making and hand-washing.
Ready to Go?
Explore itineraries, scenic drives, and travel tips on TravelSouthDakota.com to plan your perfect trip.
