South Dakota Travel Guide: Explore the Best Parks, Historic Sites, and Hidden Gems
Explore South Dakota with this Roam Your Home travel guide. Discover dramatic Black Hills parks, historic frontier towns, museums, and iconic landmarks across the Mount Rushmore State.
Discover Places to Explore
Looking for more places to explore? Browse all of our Roam Your Home articles about South Dakota, including national parks, historic towns, and scenic drives. From Mount Rushmore to Badlands landscapes and Black Hills adventures, discover some of the best things to do in South Dakota.
Wind Cave National Park
From rugged badlands and prairie landscapes to pine forests and granite peaks, South Dakota’s parks showcase the dramatic beauty of the Black Hills and Great Plains. Our featured South Dakota park highlights one of the state’s best outdoor adventures.
Wild Bill Hickok & Deadwood
South Dakota’s historic places preserve stories of Native cultures, frontier forts, and westward expansion. Our featured South Dakota historic site highlights one destination that captures the state’s historic legacy.
Best National Parks in South Dakota
- Wind Cave National Park
- Badlands National Park
- Jewel Cave National Monument
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
Top 5 South Dakota State Parks
- Custer State Park
- Palisades State Park
- Newton Hills State Park
- Bear Butte State Park
- Fort Sisseton Historic State Park
Top 5 South Dakota Museums
- South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings
- Journey Museum in Rapid City
- Mammoth Site in Hot Springs
- National Music Museum in Vermillion
- Washington Pavilion Visual Arts Center in Sioux Falls
Know Before You Roam: South Dakota Quick Facts
- Largest City: Sioux Falls
- High Point (Rank): Harvey Peak 7,242 ft (15)
- Lowest Elevation: Big Stone Lake on the MN border: 968 ft
- State Nickname: “Mount Rushmore State”
- State Flower: Pasque Flower
- State Tree: Black Hills Spruce
- State Animal: Coyote
- State Bird: Ring-necked Pheasant
- State Fish: Walleye
Explore South Dakota on the Roam Your Home Travel Map
Navigate South Dakota on the Roam Your Home map.
Each marker leads to one of our stories about national parks, historic sites, museums, and scenic road trip stops. Click a pin to uncover the destination and start planning your South Dakota adventure.