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Best Things to do in South Dakota - My Personal Travel Recommendations
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items In 2017 I did a road trip to south Dakota and Colorado. I live in southern Illinois so I traveled north to south Dakota and made a few stops along the way. After going through South Dakota, we drove down to Colorado, and then back home. This list wil...
Map
Sections
5
Parks
Shopping
Food
Museums
Souvenirs and Photography
Parks
South Dakota is full of parks and wildlife.
Beautiful scenery and wildlife. Drive loop road, hike some trails, take in the beautiful scenery and hopefully see some animals!! I loved seeing the vast rock formations and prairie dogs. I even saw some coyotes!
Badlands National Park
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This might be my favorite place in South Dakota. My favorite was driving the wildlife loop road and seeing the “wild” burros. I also enjoyed the area after driving up needles highway which had a lake for kayakers, a trail, and interesting rock format...
Custer State Park
If you like caves and wildlife, this is a good place to check out. We did the wind cave tour and hiked some beautiful trails.
Wind Cave National Park
If you have time, stop here to check out the iconic landmark. We watched the patriotic show, and walked a trail. I saw chipmunks, and a random white mountain goat. I wish I had gotten a picture of that goat but he ran off quickly. I saw a lot of moun...
Mount Rushmore National Memorial (U.S. National Park Service)
Shopping
Wall drug is like super shopping center in the middle of nowhere and it is iconic. Food, shopping, and photography opportunities.
Wall Drug Store
Food
This restaurant is inside of Badlands National Park. I got the Indian taco, which was delicious.
Badlands Saloon & Grille
Museums
I visited a couple cool museums during my trip to South Dakota.
South Dakota is big on dinosaurs, so when I found out there was a dinosaur museum, I had to go. At the gift shop, I got some original dinosaur fossils for myself and for gifts.
The Museum @ Black Hills Institute (2025) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Reviews)
The mammoth Site is an active excavation site and museum. This was very cool especially if you enjoy educational stops.
The Mammoth Site
Souvenirs and Photography
I really enjoy photography and have some pictures I took during my trip available for sale. Also, I linked to the Indian fry bread mix I bought after eating the delicious one at the Badlands restaurant.
This is a picture I took during sunset at Badlands National Park. I remember it was right outside of the restaurant inside of the park. The sun was just perfect that evening and I had to get a photo. I put it on a magnet for others to purchase if the...
Sunset at Badlands National Park Magnet
I took this picture of a chipmunk at Mount Rushmore.
Chipmunk Postcard
I bought this bread mix at a shop in South Dakota so I could make the tacos at home. So yummy!
Woodenknife, Indian Fry Bread Mix - 1.5 lb - Sweetgrass Trading Co