8 Reasons to Make South Dakota Your Next Stop

By: Kristina Phelan
We know what you’re thinking. South Dakota? Really? But trust us on this one. Life in South Dakota has a lot to offer. It is often an overlooked state to visit that has some of the most beautiful landscapes along with a few national monuments. Here are some reasons why you should definitely plan a trip to South Dakota soon:

1. Mount Rushmore

This well-known National Memorial is located within the Black Hills National Forest and was built in the 1930s. Mount Rushmore is famously known for his depictions of 4 US Presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. It is an iconic stop in South Dakota that stands almost 6,000 feet above sea level. Sculpted into granite by Danish-American sculptor, Gultzon Borglum, it took over 5 years to complete. Nestled near the town of Keystone, the entire Mount Rushmore area is filled with things to do when you are done visiting the National Monument. The road to Mount Rushmore is flanked on both sides with plenty for the whole family to do especially when traveling with kids. You could easily spend a week in the area without seeing the same thing twice.

2. Black Hills National Forest

This ponderosa pine forest is home to over 1.25 million acres and is widely known for its many natural features. Take your RV down the 5,000 miles of roadways within this forest to appreciate the pure beauty of the region. The Black Hills National Forest is located mostly in South Dakota with parts of it spilling over into Wyoming. Visitors will enjoy many great outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and fishing. Be adventurous and choose a road to travel down to see all that the Black Hills National Forest has to offer in gorgeous views and natural splendor.

3. Badlands National Park

Located about 60 miles east of Rapid City is Badlands National Park which is made up of almost a quarter million acres of some of the most interesting terrain in the nation. Eroded buttes canvas this area that is filled with many different species of wildlife including bighorn sheep, bison, and prairie dogs. Badlands National Park has many different fossils as well. Take your RV to this area to enjoy the beautiful night sky that is said to be so clear you can see thousands of twinkling stars on a clear night.

4. Crazy Horse Memorial

This memorial is still being worked on but is a great stop while traveling through South Dakota. The Crazy Horse Memorial is both a museum and sculpture that pays honor to North American Indians. Once completed, the memorial will feature Crazy Horse sitting on top of a horse holding an outstretched bow and arrow. The Crazy Horse Memorial area is also home to the Native American Education and Cultural Center as well as the Indian Museum of North America to educate visitors on the many traditions and important history of Native Americans.

5. Bear Country USA

If wildlife is more your thing, consider taking a drive with the RV through Bear Country USA which is a drive through park featuring over 200 acres of wildlife located just 8 miles south of Rapid City. Take a slow 3 mile drive through the park to view black bear, elk, reindeer, deer, cougars, bobcats, rocky mountain goats, dall sheep, bighorn sheep, and buffalo. Bear Country USA is widely known as the having the largest amount of privately owned black bear in the world. It is a must see for those who visit South Dakota and will prove to be a great time where you are guaranteed to see many different species enjoying the Black Hills.

6. Custer State Park

The Black Hills area is also home to Custer State Park which features over 71,000 acres along with some incredible rock formations. Needles Highway is a must see part of any trip to the state where you can take your RV along many amazing rock formations including tunnels that allow you to drive through many of the rock formations themselves. Also on the list to see while in Custer State Park are the large herds of bison that roam freely as well as many other species of wildlife.

7. Mammoth Site

If you ever dreamed of digging up dinosaur bones as a kid Mammoth Site is the place for you. This amazing archaeological dig is located in Hot Springs and is definitely a place to stop while visiting South Dakota. A large sink hole developed here that engulfed a few dozen mammoths. Their bones were preserved and Mammoth Site is currently an active dig site for paleontologists. It is the world’s largest concentration of mammoth bones and is such a site to see. Keep in mind that these are not fossils but the actual bones of the mammoths due to the preservation that took place after the sinkhole appeared.

8. Wall Drug

If you are driving along in South Dakota you will start to spot the hundreds of billboards that advertise Wall Drug located in Wall, South Dakota. This place is famous for their free cups of ice water, five cent cups of coffee, and enough interesting things to look at to keep you busy for a few hours. Wall Drug takes up an entire city block and has grown to be one of the better known tourist attractions in the state. If you will be passing by make sure to take a stop if for nothing else than to stretch your legs and view the many different interesting things that they have for sale.

South Dakota is an amazing state that has so much to offer tourists. It is home to many gorgeous parks and memorials that showcase the natural wonder of the terrain as well as many different options for tourists to stop and visit. South Dakota is a natural fit for RV living and has plenty of campgrounds and RV parks to host you for a night, a week, or a month! Consider putting South Dakota on your list of states to see this year.