South Dakota Travel Guides

Welcome to South Dakota, the Mount Rushmore State. This is where you will find all of our South Dakota Travel Guides!

South Dakota is located in the northern central part of the US midwest, bordered by North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana.

This is the 17th largest state by area, but the 5th least populated state. South Dakota is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux Native American tribes with nine reservations currently in the state.

Capital City: Pierre

Population: About 900,000

Time Zone: South Dakota has two time zones, the western portion of the the state lies in Mountain Standard Time (MST) while the eastern portion of the state lies in Central Standard Time (CST).

South Dakota Travel Highlights

South Dakota is the perfect USA travel destination for less crowded areas of outstanding natural beauty.

The southwestern part of this state packs a mighty punch with Badlands National Park, Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore all surrounded by the stunning Black Hills National Forest.

National Parks In South Dakota:

• Badlands National Park
• Wind Cave National Park

Want more National Park content? Visit our US National Park Guides.

Popular Places To Visit In South Dakota:

• Wall
• Mitchell
• Rapid City
• Deadwood
• Spearfish Canyon
• Custer State Park
• Black Hills National Forest
• Mount Rushmore National Memorial
• Jewel Cave National Monument
• Crazy Horse Memorial

Badlands National Park

Badlands is known for its dramatic landscapes featuring unique layered rock formations, towering spires and steep canyons. But the best part about Badlands, in our opinion, is the wildlife.

You will most likely encounter bison, prairie dogs and bighorn sheep in Badlands. Explore our popular South Dakota travel guides below to make the most of your time in Badlands National Park.

• 10 best hikes in Badlands National Park – Popular and easy hikes in this stunning landscape.

• Best hotels near Badlands – The best places to stay both inside and outside of the park.

• 32 things to do in Badlands – Everything you should see and do in one of America’s most underrated National Parks.

• Hiking the awesome Notch Trail – A complete walk through of our favorite hikes in Badlands and how to find the photogenic ladder section.

• Badlands Photography – The best photo locations in South Dakota’s captivating National Park.

Black Hills National Forest

The first time we drove through the Black Hills, we were blown away by the natural beauty of this area. We have since returned for a second time and we are planning to visit again in the future.

• Custer State Park – Amazing things you need to experience in one of the largest, most diverse State Parks in the United States.

• Black Elk Peak hike – A walkthrough of the Blacks Hills’ most stunning hiking trail.

• Mount Rushmore vacation planner – Everything you need to know when you visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

• Best hotels near Mount Rushmore – Complete guide to the 5 best places to stay near Mt Rushmore and around the Black Hills of South Dakota.

When hiking in South Dakota, we always use Gaia GPS. You can use our special link to receive 20% off a Gaia GPS subscription.

Or want a different app? Be sure to check out the best hiking apps to help you conquer those bucket list hikes in South Dakota.

South Dakota Road Trip

In our opinion, the state of South Dakota is severely underrated. We recommend you add South Dakota to your next road trip itinerary.

If you are traveling from further afield, fly into Rapid City and then you will have the entire region on your doorstep.

• Best things to do near Mount Rushmore – If you are planning to drive through the Black Hills, don’t miss this popular guide so you hit all the best spots.

• Unmissable South Dakota road trip – Our tried and tested 4 and 7 day itinerary through the gorgeous state of South Dakota.

We highly recommend driving Iron Mountain Road and Needles Highway, but be sure to use caution on those winding roads.

Road Trip South Dakota To Yellowstone

If you are planning to travel in South Dakota, consider a longer road trip to Yellowstone National Park.

• Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone road trip – An amazing 10 day itinerary you should add to your travel bucket list.

Need a travel itinerary? Shop our Travel Guidebooks.

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