South Dakota's vast open roads invite the spirit of adventure — rent a car and let the landscape unfold at your own pace
Getting to South Dakota
By Air
South Dakota is served by two primary commercial airports that provide the most convenient air access to the state's key travel regions:
Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) — Located 10 miles east of Rapid City, RAP is the gateway to the Black Hills, Badlands, and western South Dakota. The airport offers daily direct flights to major hub cities including Denver (United, American), Minneapolis (Delta, United), Dallas/Fort Worth (American), Chicago O'Hare (United), Phoenix (American), Atlanta (Delta), and Las Vegas (Allegiant). A rental car is essentially mandatory at RAP as public transportation to the surrounding attractions is extremely limited. The airport has undergone significant recent expansion and offers a pleasant arrival experience for a regional airport.
Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD) — South Dakota's busiest commercial airport by passenger volume, FSD serves the eastern half of the state with direct connections to Denver (United, Frontier), Minneapolis (Delta), Dallas/Fort Worth (American), Chicago (United, American), Atlanta (Delta), and seasonal destinations. FSD is the best entry point for visitors primarily interested in the eastern prairie region, the Missouri River lakes, or the cultural attractions of Sioux Falls. The airport is conveniently located just 5 miles from downtown Sioux Falls.
Pierre Regional Airport (PIR) and Watertown Regional Airport (ATY) serve their respective regions with limited regional carrier service via Denver and Minneapolis, primarily used by business travelers and residents rather than tourists.
By Car
Driving is by far the most rewarding way to experience South Dakota, and the state's road network is excellent. Interstate 90 is the primary east-west artery, running 412 miles across the state from the Minnesota border near Sioux Falls to the Wyoming border near Spearfish. It passes through Sioux Falls, Mitchell, Chamberlain, Murdo, Wall, Rapid City, and Spearfish, providing access to many of the state's top attractions. Interstate 29 runs north-south along the eastern edge of the state, connecting Sioux Falls with Watertown, Aberdeen, and the North Dakota border.
Driving times from major cities outside South Dakota:
- Denver, CO to Rapid City: approximately 6.5 hours (393 miles via I-25 N to I-90 E)
- Minneapolis, MN to Sioux Falls: approximately 3.5 hours (244 miles via I-90 W)
- Omaha, NE to Sioux Falls: approximately 3 hours (185 miles via I-29 N)
- Billings, MT to Rapid City: approximately 4.5 hours (326 miles via I-90 E)
- Kansas City, MO to Rapid City: approximately 9 hours (600 miles via I-29 N / I-90 W)
🚗 Car Rental Tips
Car rentals are available at both major airports. Book well in advance for summer visits, particularly for July and August when demand is extremely high. An SUV or crossover is recommended for Black Hills driving — some scenic routes (like forest service roads in Custer State Park) are unpaved and benefit from higher clearance.
By Train
Amtrak's Empire Builder route (Chicago to Seattle/Portland) passes through the northeastern corner of South Dakota, with stops at Winona MN, La Crosse WI, and several intermediate stops. The train does not, unfortunately, stop at Sioux Falls or Rapid City, making it primarily useful as a scenic novelty rather than a practical means of reaching South Dakota's main travel destinations for most visitors.
By RV
South Dakota is one of the most RV-friendly states in the nation, and RV travel is extremely popular — particularly for exploring the Black Hills and Badlands region. The state has hundreds of campgrounds offering full hookups, many of them operated by the KOA chain or by state and national parks. RV rental services are available in Rapid City and Sioux Falls for visitors who prefer not to tow their own unit cross-country. The wide, well-maintained highways and extensive campground infrastructure make South Dakota an ideal destination for the growing community of full-time RV travelers.
Best Time to Visit South Dakota
South Dakota is a year-round destination, but each season offers a dramatically different experience. Understanding the seasonal rhythms helps you choose the visit that matches your goals.
Spring (April – May)
Spring is a shoulder season of real rewards for the patient traveler. Wildflowers carpet the meadows of the Black Hills in waves of color from late April through May. Wildlife is at its most active — bison calves, pronghorn fawns, and wild turkey poults are visible across Custer State Park and the Badlands. Migratory birds flood through the Prairie Pothole region in spectacular numbers.
Temperatures: 40–65°F. Some high-elevation roads may have late-season snow closures in early April. Expect occasional rain. Visitor numbers are low and accommodation prices are significantly lower than peak season.
Summer (June – August)
Summer is peak season for excellent reasons — long days, warm temperatures, all facilities fully operational, and the most complete programming at national parks and monuments. The June–July period is the sweet spot: full programming, comfortable temperatures (70s–80s°F in the Black Hills), and slightly lower crowds than August. The Badlands can reach 110°F+ in summer — visit at sunrise or sunset to avoid dangerous midday heat.
Note: The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August transforms the entire Black Hills region. Roads near Sturgis, Deadwood, and the rally route are exceptionally congested. Plan accordingly or choose July or early September instead.
Fall (September – October)
Early fall is arguably the finest season for Black Hills and Badlands travel. The crowds of summer have thinned, accommodation prices drop, the air is crisp and clear, and the aspen, birch, and cottonwood trees transform the hillsides into brilliant displays of gold and orange from late September through mid-October. The annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup in September is one of the most authentically western spectacles in America.
Temperatures: 45–70°F in September, 35–60°F in October. Elk rut in September–October provides extraordinary wildlife watching opportunities. Early snowfall is possible in October at higher elevations.
Winter (November – March)
Winter in South Dakota is not for the faint-hearted, but it rewards the adventurous visitor with genuine solitude, dramatically beautiful snow-covered landscapes, and the surreal experience of having Mount Rushmore almost entirely to yourself. Skiing and snowboarding at Terry Peak Ski Area near Lead offers excellent terrain with a distinctly unpretentious, local atmosphere. Snowmobiling on the Black Hills trail system and cross-country skiing at Custer State Park are popular cold-weather activities.
Temperatures: Often below 0°F in January and February. Major winter storms are possible. Many visitor facilities, lodges, and restaurants in the Black Hills reduce hours or close for winter. Dress in layers and carry emergency supplies when driving.
South Dakota in Winter
The Black Hills in winter are a revelation for visitors who brave the cold. A blanket of fresh snow transforms the ponderosa pine forests into a silent, silver-white world of extraordinary peace. Frozen waterfalls in Spearfish Canyon become sculptures of ice. Wildlife — deprived of summer's abundant foliage — is often more visible in winter than any other season.
The drive from Rapid City to Mount Rushmore on a clear winter morning, through empty roads dusted with snow and framed by ice-laden pines, is one of the most beautiful drives in America. The memorial itself, often with fewer than a dozen visitors on a mid-winter weekday, takes on a quality of solitary grandeur that summer crowds make impossible to experience.
For travelers who can tolerate South Dakota's formidable winters, the rewards are substantial: dramatically lower accommodation prices (savings of 40–60% are common), non-existent crowds, and a raw, elemental encounter with one of America's most beautiful landscapes in its most unfiltered state.
- Terry Peak Ski Area — 700 feet of vertical drop
- Snowmobiling on Black Hills trails system
- Ice fishing on Missouri River reservoirs
- Winter wildlife watching (elk, bison, eagles)
- Photography of frozen Spearfish Canyon
Accommodation in South Dakota
From historic western lodges to budget-friendly campgrounds and modern city hotels, South Dakota offers accommodation options to suit every travel style and budget.
Rapid City — Gateway to the Black Hills
Rapid City is the most practical base for exploring western South Dakota's attractions. The city offers an extensive range of accommodation including major national hotel chains (Holiday Inn, Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, Best Western, La Quinta), independent boutique hotels, and vacation rentals. Hotel Alex Johnson — a landmark 1928 downtown property recently renovated to boutique luxury — is one of the most historically and architecturally distinctive accommodation options in the state, with a storied past that includes visits by Presidents Calvin Coolidge and Bill Clinton. The city's downtown Mount Rushmore Road corridor is lined with affordable motels convenient to interstate access.
For visitors spending more than a couple of days exploring the Black Hills, the small towns of Hill City (12 miles south of Mount Rushmore), Custer (at the gateway to Custer State Park), and Deadwood offer charming, character-rich accommodation alternatives to Rapid City's more generic hotel strip. Hill City in particular has developed a sophisticated selection of lodging, dining, and gallery options that make it the favourite base of discerning Black Hills visitors.
Custer State Park Lodges
The park operates four historic resort lodges that provide extraordinary accommodation directly within its boundaries: State Game Lodge (where Presidents Coolidge and Eisenhower spent their summer vacations), Blue Bell Lodge, Sylvan Lake Lodge (spectacularly positioned above the most scenic lake in the Black Hills), and Legion Lake Resort. All four lodges offer a combination of lodge rooms, cabins, and amenity facilities, and all require advance booking for summer visits — often several months in advance for peak season dates. Staying within the park eliminates the need to pay the daily entrance fee and allows early morning wildlife viewing before the day visitors arrive.
Deadwood's Historic Hotels
Deadwood's gaming industry has financed the development of several genuinely impressive resort hotels in a perfectly preserved Victorian setting. The Deadwood Mountain Grand, Silverado-Franklin Hotel, and Mineral Palace combine casino gaming with comfortable hotel accommodations, fine dining, and live entertainment in an authentic historic western setting. Staying in Deadwood puts you in the heart of one of the most atmospheric small towns in the American West, with restaurants, saloons, and re-enactments accessible on foot from any lodging in town.
Camping in South Dakota
South Dakota is a camper's paradise. The Black Hills National Forest maintains dozens of developed campgrounds scattered throughout its 1.2 million acres, many of them situated beside streams or lakes in settings of remarkable beauty. The most popular — Mount Rushmore KOA, Rafter J Bar Ranch, and Spokane Creek Resort — book out months in advance for summer weekends, so early reservation is essential. National Park campgrounds at Badlands (Cedar Pass and Sage Creek) offer dramatically different experiences: Cedar Pass is a fully serviced modern facility with electric hookups, while Sage Creek is a primitive no-fee campground in the heart of the Badlands Wilderness, accessible only by dirt road, with no facilities, no crowds, and some of the darkest skies in the United States.
Sioux Falls Accommodation
South Dakota's largest city offers the state's most cosmopolitan range of accommodation, with dozens of hotels concentrated around the Falls Park area, the downtown arts district, and the I-29/I-90 interchange. The Hilton Garden Inn Downtown and Sheraton Sioux Falls are among the premier full-service hotels, while an extensive selection of value-oriented chain properties (Hampton Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, Holiday Inn Express) clusters near the airport and I-29 corridor.
🏨 Booking Tips
Book accommodation for July and August (particularly the Sturgis Rally period — first full week of August) at least 3–6 months in advance. Fall and spring visitors generally have much more flexibility. Custer State Park lodges book earliest — check for availability 6–9 months ahead for popular summer dates.
South Dakota Road Trip Itineraries
Whether you have a weekend or two weeks, these itineraries help you make the most of your South Dakota adventure.
Weekend Getaway (3 Days) — Black Hills Highlights
A long weekend is enough to experience the core Black Hills attractions if you are focused and efficient.
Day 1 — Fly into Rapid City, afternoon arrival: Settle into your hotel, then drive the scenic US-16A (Iron Mountain Road) to Mount Rushmore for the evening. If summer, stay for the free nightly Lighting Ceremony. Dinner in Hill City at Alpine Inn or Desperados Cowboy Restaurant.
Day 2 — Crazy Horse and Custer State Park: Morning at Crazy Horse Memorial (open at 7am; the morning light on the carving is spectacular). Drive to Custer State Park by late morning, taking the Needles Highway (SD-87) to experience the granite spires and the famous Needles Eye tunnel. Afternoon Wildlife Loop Road — look for bison, burros, pronghorn, and mountain goats. Spend the night at a Custer State Park lodge or in Custer town.
Day 3 — Wind Cave and return: Morning tour of Wind Cave National Park (book in advance online). Drive back to Rapid City via US-385 through Hill City (stop for lunch and galleries) and Hot Springs (optional Mammoth Site stop for paleontology enthusiasts). Afternoon return flight.
Classic One-Week Black Hills & Badlands (7 Days)
Seven days allows a relaxed pace through the western South Dakota highlights with time for hiking, longer cave tours, and exploration beyond the main tourist routes.
Day 1: Arrive Rapid City. Explore downtown Rapid City, visit Museum of Geology at SD Mines. Dinner downtown.
Day 2: Drive Badlands Loop Road (SD-240) — stop at every overlook. Hike Notch Trail and Door/Window Trail. Visit Ben Reifel Visitor Center. Return via Wall Drug. Evening in Rapid City or Wall.
Day 3: Mount Rushmore (arrive early), Presidential Trail walk, Lincoln Borglum Museum, Sculptor's Studio. Afternoon at Crazy Horse Memorial. Evening Crazy Horse laser show. Overnight Hill City.
Day 4: Full day Custer State Park — Needles Highway, Cathedral Spires Trail (moderate, 1.6 miles), Wildlife Loop Road at both morning and evening for best bison encounters. Overnight Custer town or lodge.
Day 5: Wind Cave National Park (morning tour) and Jewel Cave National Monument (afternoon tour). Compare the two cave experiences. Overnight Hot Springs.
Day 6: Mammoth Site in Hot Springs. Drive Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway (US-14A) — waterfalls, fishing, lunch in Spearfish. Afternoon in Deadwood — Adams Museum, Mount Moriah Cemetery, historic downtown exploration. Dinner in Deadwood's excellent restaurant scene. Overnight Deadwood or Lead.
Day 7: Morning leisure in Deadwood, perhaps a Sturgis Motorcycle Museum visit or a ride on the 1880 Train from Hill City to Keystone. Afternoon return to Rapid City for departure.
Two-Week Grand Tour of South Dakota
Two weeks permits a genuinely comprehensive exploration of both eastern and western South Dakota — a combination that most visitors never attempt but that reveals the full richness of the state's character.
Days 1–7: Western South Dakota per the one-week itinerary above, with additional time for hiking the Centennial Trail (sections 1–3 from Bear Butte are superb), fly-fishing on Spearfish Creek, and off-road exploration in Buffalo Gap National Grassland.
Day 8: Drive east from Rapid City along I-90. Stop at Badlands again for sunrise photography. Continue to Chamberlain — visit the Akta Lakota Museum and the dramatic Missouri River overlook. Overnight Chamberlain.
Day 9: Lewis and Clark Lake and Pickstown area. Drive to Mitchell — visit the Corn Palace (truly a one-of-a-kind American experience). Overnight Mitchell.
Day 10: Drive to Sioux Falls. Afternoon at Falls Park, SculptureWalk, Old Courthouse Museum, and the vibrant downtown restaurant and bar scene. Overnight Sioux Falls (2 nights).
Day 11: Full day Sioux Falls — Washington Pavilion, Good Earth State Park, Sherman Park. Evening at a live music venue downtown.
Day 12: Drive north to Brookings — SDSU campus and South Dakota Art Museum, Harvey Dunn Gallery. Continue to Watertown and the Codington County Heritage Museum.
Day 13: Drive west to Huron (South Dakota State Fairgrounds, Huron Wetlands) and Pierre — South Dakota State Capitol building (one of the most beautiful in the nation), Cultural Heritage Center, and Oahe Dam. Overnight Pierre.
Day 14: Morning fishing on Lake Oahe or a wildlife drive in the surrounding grasslands. Return drive to Rapid City for departure flight, or continue exploring at leisure.
Deadwood: An Essential Stop
No travel itinerary through the Black Hills is complete without time in Deadwood. The entire town is a National Historic Landmark — the first of its kind in the United States when designated in 1961 — and every building on Main Street has been meticulously preserved and restored to its 1870s–1890s appearance using gaming revenue generated since legalization in 1989.
The combination of impeccably preserved Victorian architecture, genuinely excellent restaurants and bars, fascinating museums (the Adams Museum is world-class), colorful street re-enactments of the town's famous gunfights, and the sheer romance of walking streets where Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane once walked makes Deadwood one of the most complete and satisfying travel experiences in the entire American West.
Don't miss an evening dinner at one of Deadwood's excellent steakhouse restaurants — the local beef is outstanding — followed by a walk along Main Street as the saloons and casinos light up and street musicians fill the Victorian-era streetscape with music. It is a genuinely magical place that rewards lingering.
- Mount Moriah Cemetery — Wild Bill & Calamity Jane graves
- Saloon No. 10 — site of Wild Bill Hickok's shooting
- Adams Museum — three floors of Black Hills history
- Deadwood History & Information Center
- Annual Days of '76 Rodeo (late July)
Budgeting, Food, Safety & Packing
Budgeting for Your South Dakota Trip
South Dakota is one of the most affordable states in the nation for travel, and a well-planned visit can deliver extraordinary experiences at a fraction of the cost of comparable Rocky Mountain or Pacific Coast destinations.
Budget Traveler ($80–$120/day): Camping in national forest or primitive campgrounds ($20–$30/night), cooking meals in camp or eating at local diners, purchasing an America the Beautiful National Parks Annual Pass ($80 one-time), and focusing on free or low-cost activities (scenic drives, hiking, wildlife viewing). A budget traveler can see the best of South Dakota for under $120/day including accommodation, food, fuel, and entrance fees.
Mid-Range Traveler ($150–$250/day): Mid-range hotels or cabins ($80–$150/night), a mix of self-catering and restaurant meals, guided cave tours, and a broader range of paid attractions (Crazy Horse Memorial, evening laser shows, 1880 Train). This budget allows comfortable, well-rounded exploration without splurging.
Luxury Traveler ($350+/day): Historic lodges (Custer State Park lodges, Hotel Alex Johnson, Deadwood resort hotels), fine dining at Deadwood and Rapid City's better restaurants, premium guided experiences, and spa services. South Dakota's luxury tier offers outstanding value compared to other western destinations.
Key Budget Considerations:
- America the Beautiful Annual Pass ($80) — Covers national park entry fees for Badlands, Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, and all federal recreation areas for one year. Pays for itself in 2 days of visiting.
- Fuel: South Dakota has no state fuel tax surcharges and gas prices are generally lower than the national average. Budget for significant driving distances — attractions are spread across a large area.
- Camping: Reservations at popular campgrounds (Custer State Park, Badlands Cedar Pass) must be made 4–6 months in advance for summer. Recreation.gov is the primary reservation system for federal campgrounds.
- Sturgis Rally Week: Accommodation prices within 60 miles of Sturgis triple or quadruple during Rally week. If Rally-related activities are not your goal, this week should be avoided entirely for Black Hills visits.
Food & Drink in South Dakota
South Dakota's culinary scene has evolved dramatically over the past decade, driven by a combination of local chef talent, growing tourism, and the state's outstanding agricultural resources. The Black Hills towns of Hill City, Deadwood, Rapid City, and Spearfish now support dining scenes that would be creditable in cities many times their size.
South Dakota Beef: The state is a major cattle-producing state, and locally raised beef appears on menus across the region. South Dakota prime steaks — particularly at Deadwood's Deadwood Grille and the historic State Game Lodge in Custer State Park — are genuinely world-class. Don't leave without having a proper steak dinner.
Bison: Bison burgers, bison steaks, and bison stew appear regularly on menus throughout the Black Hills. Leaner and richer in flavor than beef, bison from Custer State Park and neighboring ranches is a sustainable, delicious, and distinctly South Dakota culinary experience.
Pheasant: The ring-necked pheasant is South Dakota's official state bird — and also an important gamebird that appears on fall and winter menus at restaurants catering to the region's significant hunting tourism. Pheasant soup, roasted pheasant, and pheasant pot pie are prairie comfort foods worth seeking out.
Native American Cuisine: Traditional Lakota foods — wojapi (berry pudding), fry bread, buffalo stew, and chokecherry jam — are available at events and some restaurants near reservation communities and at cultural events such as powwows. Experiencing these traditional foods is a meaningful and delicious connection to the region's indigenous heritage.
Craft Beer: South Dakota's craft beer scene has exploded. Spearfish's Crow Peak Brewing Company, Rapid City's Hay Camp Brewing, and Sioux Falls' WoodGrain Brewing are among the highlights of a growing network of local breweries producing outstanding regional ales, lagers, and seasonal specialties.
Safety & Health
South Dakota is one of the safest travel destinations in the United States. Violent crime rates are low, roads are generally well-maintained, and emergency services are responsive. A few specific safety considerations:
Wildlife Safety: Bison, elk, and mountain lions are present in Custer State Park, Badlands, and Black Hills areas. Maintain distances of at least 25 yards from bison and elk (100 yards from bears if encountered). Never approach wildlife for photographs — bison are unpredictable and can run at 30+ mph. Keep food stored in bear canisters or vehicle trunks when camping.
Weather Extremes: South Dakota weather is famously volatile. Summer thunderstorms can produce hail, lightning, and tornadoes with little warning. Winter conditions can be life-threatening — whiteout blizzards can occur with little warning on the open prairie. Always check the National Weather Service forecast (weather.gov) before extended outdoor activities and carry emergency supplies (blanket, food, water, flashlight, first aid kit) in your vehicle year-round.
Sun Exposure: At elevations of 3,000–7,000 feet in the Black Hills, UV exposure is significantly higher than at sea level. Use SPF 50+ sunscreen, wear a hat, and stay hydrated, particularly during summer activities.
Altitude: While the Black Hills are not extreme-altitude mountains, visitors coming from low-elevation environments may feel mild symptoms of altitude adjustment (headache, shortness of breath) at elevations above 5,000 feet. Stay hydrated and take it easy on your first day at elevation.
Rattlesnakes: Prairie rattlesnakes are present throughout South Dakota's grassland and rocky areas. Stay on marked trails, watch where you step and place your hands, and give any snake you encounter a wide berth. Snakebite antivenom is available at regional hospitals. Rattlesnake bites are rare and fatalities rarer still when properly treated.
Packing Tips for South Dakota
South Dakota's diverse terrain and variable weather demand thoughtful packing.
Summer Packing List: Lightweight, moisture-wicking clothing; sun hat with wide brim; SPF 50+ sunscreen; sunglasses; sturdy hiking footwear (ankle support recommended for Badlands trails); rain jacket (afternoon thunderstorms are common); insulating layer for cool evenings in the Black Hills; insect repellent (mosquitoes near lakes and streams); headlamp or flashlight for cave tours and stargazing; water bottles (2+ liters per person for hikes).
Fall/Spring Packing List: All of the above plus mid-weight fleece or down jacket; waterproof hiking boots; warm hat and gloves for early morning and evening. Weather can swing from comfortable daytime temperatures to near-freezing overnight.
Winter Packing List: Serious cold-weather gear is non-negotiable. Insulated, waterproof outer layer; base layers of wool or synthetic; insulated waterproof boots; balaclava; heavy gloves; chemical hand warmers; vehicle emergency kit (blanket, food, water, jumper cables, ice scraper, collapsible shovel).
Photography: South Dakota is extraordinarily photogenic. Bring a wide-angle lens for the Badlands formations and Black Hills vistas, a telephoto for wildlife (bison, elk, eagles), and a tripod for low-light shooting at dawn and dusk — the best times to photograph both landscapes and wildlife. A polarizing filter reduces glare on water and blue skies dramatically.
Insider Tips for a Perfect South Dakota Visit
Cell Coverage Warning
Cell coverage in rural and western South Dakota is spotty to non-existent. Download offline Google Maps before your trip. Carry a paper map as backup. The Badlands and many Black Hills forest roads have no signal. Let someone know your itinerary before heading into remote areas.
Fill Up Before Remote Drives
Gas stations are sparse in rural South Dakota. Fill your tank in Rapid City, Wall, Custer, or other towns before heading into the Badlands or remote Black Hills areas. The drive from Wall to Rapid City on I-90 (59 miles) has very few fuel options between exits.
Chase the Golden Hours
The Badlands are jaw-droppingly beautiful at sunrise and sunset when the formations glow in reds, oranges, and purples. Plan to be at an overlook 30 minutes before sunrise or sunset. The most popular spots (Badlands Overlook, Yellow Mounds) reward early arrivals in summer.
Book Cave Tours in Advance
Wind Cave and Jewel Cave tours sell out weeks in advance in summer. Book online at recreation.gov as early as possible for summer visits. If you cannot book in advance, show up at the visitor center as soon as it opens — a limited number of walk-up tickets are typically available daily on a first-come, first-served basis.
Dawn Wildlife Watching
For the best wildlife encounters in Custer State Park and the Badlands, drive the Wildlife Loop Road at dawn (first light to 9am) or dusk (5pm to dark). The middle of the day is the worst time for wildlife activity — animals seek shade and minimize movement during the heat.
Support Local Businesses
South Dakota's small-town character is one of its greatest assets, and that character is sustained by locally owned restaurants, breweries, galleries, and shops. Every meal at a local diner or bottle of locally brewed craft beer supports a family and helps maintain the authentic character that makes South Dakota travel special.