South Dakota Adventure from Sioux Falls to Devils Tower, WY
South Dakota Adventure ranks 2nd on the list of the best U.S. road trips for epic drives. A wild trip through South Dakota, taking in Badlands National Park and the famed Mount Rushmore. Start this tour of South Dakota in Sioux Falls and visit the beautiful Falls Park before making your way to DeSmet, the former home of Laura Ingalls Wilder of Little House on the Prairie fame. Stop along I90 to see the famous Corn Palace, then spend the day hiking in the striking Badlands National Park. Visit the Minuteman Missile Museum, where you can learn about the Cold War missiles once residing there. You may want to see the locally renowned Wall Drug megaplex as well which has almost everything you can imagine for sale. Rapid City is a great central location to stay in for the rest of your trip. Spend a day in Deadwood, where outlaws “Wild Bill” Hicock and “Calamity” Jane once roamed. Visit Devils Tower in Wyoming where a scene in Close Encounters of the Second Kind was filmed. Of course, you’ll want to visit the monument at Mount Rushmore, then enjoy the beautiful pine-topped peaks of the Black Hills Forest.
Next, head south to admire the gorgeous landscapes at Custer State Park including beautiful lakes, pine-topped forests, and the Needles area with “hoodoo” spire rock formations. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see wild animals including bison, sheep, elk, coyote, and more. Nearby Wind Cave has some spectacular rock formations to explore. Check out the Mammoth Site, a giant partially-excavated sinkhole with the remains of more than 60 Colombian and woolly mammoths dating back more than 100,000 years. If time permits, take a stroll through downtown Rapid City among the statues of the American presidents and influential men. There’s also a great alley with some interesting murals to check out nearby. South Dakota has something for everyone and it’s a great place to visit.
Distance: 725km
Duration: 7-10 days
Things to do:
- Tour the places in DeSmet where Laura Ingalls Wilder once lived
- Visit the famous Corn Palace
- Stop at the Minuteman Missile Museum
- Hike Badlands National Park
- Trace the steps of “Wild Bill” Hicock and “Calamity” Jane in Deadwood
- Have a Close Encounter of the Third Kind at Devils Tower
- Visit the famed monument at Mount Rushmore or the lesser-known Crazy Horse Monument near Custer
