South Dakota

Best time to visit South Dakota

The best time to visit South Dakota largely depends on your priorities, as each season offers unique experiences.

The shoulder seasons of spring & autumn offer a good balance of comfortable weather and fewer crowds. In spring (April/May) winter shakes off, temperatures rise, wildflowers bloom, and baby animals are born. Expect mild days but potentially cool nights and some rain. March can still see significant snowfall in some areas. In autumn (September/October) the landscape transforms with stunning autumn colours, particularly in the Black Hills. Days are generally sunny and mild, with cooler evenings. Early autumn is fantastic for scenic drives and outdoor activities with fewer tourists.

Summer (June to August) is the peak season with warm weather, long daylight hours (15-16), perfect for exploring popular sites like Mount Rushmore and Badlands National Park, hiking, and water activities. Be aware that July and August can be hot, especially in the Badlands, and attractions will be busiest.

Winter, (December to February) while cold and snowy, winter offers a different kind of charm, especially for those interested in winter sports or a serene, uncrowded experience. Ideal for skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and enjoying snow-covered landscapes. Temperatures are very cold, with average January highs still below freezing. Be prepared for potential road closures, especially in the Black Hills, and pack warm clothing.

Discover South Dakota

A hidden gem in America’s mid-west, there’s a lot to love about South Dakota. Most visitors flock in their millions to the Black Hills located in the west of the state using the ‘City of Presidents’ – Rapid City as their base. The most visited attraction is the incredible sight of Mount Rushmore, and the faces of four Presidents Roosevelt, Lincoln, Washington, and Jefferson carved in the mountain face. Nearby Custer State Park is home to unique rock formations, stunning lakes and the Needles Highway, a 14-mile-long scenic road that passes tall granite peaks and spires and through narrow tunnels.

Natural beauty awaits at the states’ two national parks, Badlands and Wind Cave – both offering diverse and equally spectacular scenery. Wind Cave boasts wind carved rock formations, ancient stalactites and an endless network of underground caves, whilst Badlands is a designated International Dark Sky Park with 240,000 acres of striking, jagged spires, buttes, canyons and wildlife. When travelling from South Dakota to Wyoming, don’t miss a drive along pretty Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway to see its multiple waterfalls and forests filled with spruce, pine and aspen trees, the drive is particularly special during the autumn.

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Discover South Dakota

Learn about the states rich Native American heritage at Crazy Horse Memorial, a tribute to the spirit, culture, and history of Native Americans which honours the legacy of Crazy Horse, a legendary Lakota warrior, and by driving the Native American National and State Scenic Byway stopping at its museums, monuments and statues including  Sitting Bull Monument, the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre (closed until 2026 for renovations), and the impressive 50 foot tall statue Dignity in Chamberlain.

Last but not least pioneer and wild-west culture is in abundance in the state, in the small and charming town of De Smet, made famous by Laura Ingalls Wilder and the much-loved television series ‘Little House on the Prairie’ and in Historic Deadwood, where wild west legends such as Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickock use to hang out.

Highlights of South Dakota

What is South Dakota famous for?

• Mount Rushmore National Memorial
• Crazy Horse Memorial
• Badlands National Park
• Historic Deadwood
• Sioux Falls

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Mount Rushmore National Memorial

In the Black Hills area, 30 minutes’ drive from Rapid City, you will find one of America’s most jaw-dropping sights, the faces of four Presidents Roosevelt, Lincoln, Washington, and Jefferson carved 60ft high into the Black Hills described as “a tribute to the soul of America”. 

Commemorating not just one person or era, Mount Rushmore symbolise the forming of the United States, along with the ideals of freedom and independence that Americans hold dear. Visit in the morning to get the best photos, as by the afternoon when the sun starts to set, shadows may appear over the Presidents faces, or for a different view enjoy the Presidents faces lit up at the evening lighting ceremony during the summer months.

Crazy Horse Memorial

Still under construction Crazy Horse Memorial is a tribute to the spirit, culture, and history of Native Americans. This awe-inspiring sculpture honours the legacy of Crazy Horse, a legendary Lakota warrior, and when completed will eventually depict Crazy Horse riding a horse and pointing to his tribal land. Remarkably when complete the four President’s faces at Mount Rushmore combined will fit into Crazy Horse’s face.

Meet Crazy Horse face to face on a tour up to the sculpture or explore the large visitor centre which charts the sculptures progress, along with a museum showcasing a vast collection of Native American art and workshops and dance shows that give an insight into Native American lives.

Badlands National Park

Nestled in the heart of the state, Badlands National Park otherworldly and dramatic landscape is filled with a maze of striking, jagged spires, buttes, canyons and wildlife including, bison, prairie dogs and bighorn sheep. Covering 240,000 acres, the best way to explore the park is driving the 39-mile Badlands Loop Road, taking time to stop at the 16 designated overlook.

Hike the 1.5-mile Notch Trail, stop at Pinnacles Overlook, for the most picture-perfect views of the park and follow the Fossil Exhibit Trail to see exhibits and life-like replicas of the extinct animals who called the park their home. Visit the park at sunrise and sunset to see the park distinctive formations or at night, the park is designated an International Dark Sky Park, and its skies are home to countless glittering stars.

Historic Deadwood

Deadwood, a National Historic Landmark is known for its gold rush history and for being a popular hangout for notorious wild west legends including Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok who was shot in Deadwood whilst playing poker in Saloon #10. Walk along its restored streets, past its red brick and brown buildings, saloons and casinos. Take the short drive to Mount Moriah Cemetery to pay your respects to Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok and if you visit during the summer don’t miss the fun shootout re-enactments on Main Street.

Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls is a unique city with a perfect blend of natural beauty, a downtown area brimming with character and vibrancy with lots of art and lively restaurants and bars.  What makes Sioux Falls so special is that it has its own waterfalls in Falls Park, right in the heart of the city with a five-story observation deck which gives wonderful views of the falls and the city skyline.

Art can be found in SculptureWalk, the largest annual exhibit of public sculptures in the world which are located on Phillips and Main Avenue and by the Big Sioux River, which is also where the colourful Arc of Dreams is located, a stainless-steel wonder and one of the most photographed sights in the city.