Take a journey to the Wild West of the Midwest! The western edge of South Dakota hosts wild adventure around every bend in the road. From cave tours and bison to waterslides and monuments, this western region of South Dakota is an adventure worth having.
When: September, in my opinion, is the best time of year to head to the wild west of the Midwest. The crowds have thinned, the temperatures have cooled, and the bugs are less prevalent.
WaTiki Waterpark
The WaTiki Waterpark, located right off Interstate 90, is a hit! It’s a great spot to kick back, relax, and enjoy some waterslides or chill in the hot tub. We used this waterpark as a break from outdoor, camping activities. The kids had a blast! Stay and play or stop in for a few hours of fun. This park offers both. There are 5 hotels associated with the waterpark to choose from.
When: Anytime! This waterpark is indoors, which allows visitors year-round access to wild waterslides, hot tubs, waterfilled playgrounds and a bonus arcade.
Dinosaur Park
A must if you’re traveling with kids! Especially with kids who love dinosaurs. Hit this spot early, but not too early. We decided to get to this park before it was crawling with munchkins. Unfortunately, we arrived a little too early. While we were able to roam about with the dinosaurs, we did have to wait for a while to enter the gift shop, which is filled with really unique souvenirs. The hours are posted below and can be found on their Facebook Page.
We had great fun checking out these replicated prehistoric beasts. Our 3 year old at the time was obsessed with them, he was amazed. Your dino lovers will be, too!
Location: 940 Skyline Dr. Rapid City, SD 57701
Hours: Open May-September, (May-9am-5pm, Jun/July 8am-8pm, Aug. 8am-6pm, Sept. 9am-5pm)
Fee: Free
Custer State park
Custer State Park is one of the best adventure spots in all of South Dakota. This park has amazing wildlife viewing, geological formations, forests, prairie, scenic drives and hiking trails. One could spend an entire South Dakota vacation right in this park. For more on Custer State Park go to Custer State Parks Must See Destinations.
Sylvan Lake is a small section of park on the north side of Custer. This section must not be overlooked. We found it to be the most enticing location in the park. The short trail around the lake spurs off onto other adventures and has insane rock formations all around the lake. For a longer stay at Sylvan Lake, try Camping at Sylvan Lake. We will absolutely be returning to Sylvan Lake to camp again, the tent only campsites offer more privacy than most campgrounds and the foggy mornings are one of a kind.
Location: Custer, SD
Hours: Park is open 24/7, Visitor’s Center hours vary
Fees: 7 day license $20, can be purchased at a visitor’s center or online.
Note: If your are passing through Custer State Park on the highway, without stopping, you do not need a visitor’s pass.
Purple Pie Place: This little shop serves the best strawberry rhubarb pie that I have ever had. They are located in the little town of Custer on the south side of Custer State Park. Bonus: Take a photo with the purple pig!
PPP Location: 19 Mt. Rushmore Rd, Custer, SD 55730
The Needles
While near Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park, you can’t miss driving through the Needles Highway. Really, you can’t miss it, it’s part of the road. These towering rock formations are out of this world. It’s so neat to wonder how they were formed and how they’re still standing. These eroded pillars are spectacular.
Be watchful of signage through-out the route, there are narrow passages that may be too tight for campers and oversized vehicles. One tunnel is a one vehicle tight squeeze. What a blast!
Mount Rushmore
An iconic stop in a classic South Dakota road trip. This monument is a must see at least once in your life. The carvings are impressive, did you know that they are actually incomplete? The model inside the Sculptor’s Studio at the monument shows what the final product was supposed to look like.
Location: 13000 Highway 244, Keystone, SD 57751
Hours: March-Sept 5am-11pm, Oct-March 7am-9pm
Fees: Free, but there is a $10 parking fee.
Things to See & Do:
- Walk the Avenue of Flags
- Hike: Presidential Trail (.6 miles), Nature Trail (.25 miles), & Blackberry Trail (2 miles)
- Visit Lincoln Borglum Visitor’s Center
- Visit Sculptor’s Studio
Crazy Horse
After marveling at the famous Mount Rushmore, swing over to see a creation in progress at the Crazy Horse Memorial. This impressive spectacle towers over the expanse below and watches over the history and culture preserved within the walls of the visitor’s center and museum.
Location: 12151 Avenue of the Chiefs, Crazy Horse, SD 57730
Hours: Oct-May Hours vary, May-Sept 8am-8pm
Fees: $7-$35, depending on passengers per vehicle
Things to See & D0:
- Take a Bus or Van tour (Bus to mountain base $5, van to the top $125)
- Visit the museums
- View Cultural Performance (schedule varies)
- Dine at the Laughing Water Restaurant
Wind Cave National Park
Trek below ground on a cave tour at Wind Cave National Park. It’s not just the caves that draw visitors here, check out the trails above ground that are home to bison, prairie dogs, the illusive black footed ferret and many more prairie animals. Hike Rankin Ridge to see the highest point in the park and see for miles at it’s summit.
Things to See & Do
- Tour a Cave
- Hike Rankin Ridge
- Observe Bison, Prairie Dogs, & other wildlife
- Explore the Visitor’s Center and learn about the habitat
- Camp at Elk Mountain Campground
Badlands National Park
Another iconic stop on a South Dakota road trip, the Badlands! Stop for an hour or two or spend the entire day, both will offer visitors vast views of these incredible vistas. This park demands a revisit as we only spent a few hours in the fading sun. That was all we needed to fall in love with this wild, unforgiving landscape.
Things to See & Do:
- Drive Sage Creek Rim or Badlands Loop
- Admire the numerous Overlooks
- Notch Trail (1.5 miles, strenuous)
- Door Trail (.75 miles), Cliff Shelf (.5 miles), Fossil Exhibit Trail (.25 miles)
- Watch the Sunset
- View the night sky at Cedar Creek Amphitheater
Get out to South Dakota and enjoy the diverse environments of the Midwest Wild West.
