By Theresa L. Goodrich, Alicia Underlee Nelson, and Roxie Yonkey
The state of South Dakota is an intriguing and sparsely populated package of breathtaking scenery, outdoor adventures, bustling cities, and acres of farmland and ranches. There are natural wonders like glacial lakes, the Badlands, the Black Hills, and Jewel and Wind Caves, and the man-made wonders of Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, and the World’s Only Corn Palace.
It’s a place of geological, archaeological, and living history. Named for the Lakota and Dakota peoples, the state is home to nine Native American tribes and has several important cultural sites. Lewis and Clark journeyed along the Missouri River, followed by settlers and homesteaders who forged their way west, many of whom chose to stake their claims.
We’ve chosen four scenic drives through this complex state, and they’re designed to give you a taste of everything it has to offer. Whether you want to experience natural beauty, cultural history, or modern day adventures, you’re sure to find it in South Dakota.
South Dakota entered the Union in 1889. Its official nickname is the Mt. Rushmore State. Before that nickname became official in 1992, the state was nicknamed the Sunshine State.

South Dakota Road Trips
- Black Hills Road Trip
- Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway
- Eastern Arts and Culture
- Native American National and State Scenic Byway
South Dakota Websites
Black Hills Road Trip
- Best Western Ramkota Hotel, bit.ly/bwramkota
- Lake Park Campground and Cottages, bit.ly/lakeparkcampground
- Rapid City Black Hills KOA, bit.ly/blackhillskoa
- Best Western Black Hills Lodge, bit.ly/bestwesternblackhillslodge
- Elkhorn Ridge Resort, bit.ly/elkhornridge
- The City of Presidents, presidentsrc.com
- Armadillo’s Ice Cream Shoppe, armadillosicecreamshoppe.com
- Firehouse Brewing Co, firehousebrewing.com
- South Dakota Air & Space Museum, sdairandspacemuseum.com
- Mt. Rushmore National Memorial, nps.gov/moru
- Crazy Horse Memorial, crazyhorsememorial.org
- 1880 Train, 1880train.com
- Highway 386 Wine Trail, blackhillsbadlands.com/wineries
- Pactola Reservoir, bit.ly/pactola
- Grapes & Grinds, grapesgrinds.com
- Custer State Park Scenic Drives, gfp.sd.gov/csp-scenic-drives
- Sylvan Lake Lodge, bit.ly/sylvanlakelodge
- Moonlight Ridge, bit.ly/moonlightridgerockclimbing
- Black Elk Peak Loop, bit.ly/sdhighpointtrail
- Jewel Cave National Monument, nps.gov/jeca
- Wind Cave National Park, nps.gov/wica
- Bear Butte State Park, bit.ly/bearbuttesp
- Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame, sturgismuseum.com
- Knuckle Saloon, theknuckle.com
- Old Fort Meade Museum, fortmeademuseum.org
- Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center, sanfordlabhomestake.com
- George S. Mickelson Trail, bit.ly/mickelsontrail
- Homestake Trail, northernhillsrec.org/trails
- Deadwood, deadwood.com
- Berg Jewelers, bergjewelers.com
- Lou Lou’s Bombdiggity’s, bit.ly/loulousbombdiggitys
- Mt. Roosevelt Trail, bit.ly/mtroosevelttrail
- Spearfish Canyon, . bit.ly/spearfishcanyon
- Termespheres Gallery, termespheres.com
- Western Heritage Center, westernheritagecenter.com
- Dough Trader Pizza, doughtraderpizza.com
- Tri-State Museum, thetristatemuseum.com
- Center of the Nation Monument, bellefourchechamber.org/gcon
Badlands Loop State Scenic Byway
- Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, nps.gov/mimi/index.htm
- Prairie Homestead, Prairiehomestead.com
- Badlands National Park, nps.gov/badl/index.htm
Eastern Arts and Culture
- Experience Sioux Falls
- Falls Park
- Falls Overlook Cafe
- Stensland Family Farms
- B & G Milkway
- Downtown Trolley
- Old Courthouse Museum
- Washington Pavilion
- Levitt at the Falls
- State Theatre
- SculptureWalk Sioux Falls
- Hotel on Phillips
- Phillips Avenue Diner
- Ode To Food and Drink
- Hilton Garden Inn Sioux Falls Downtown
- Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History
- The Butterfly House and Aquarium
- Palisades State Park
- Visit Brookings
- Jackrabbit Central
- South Dakota Art Museum
- South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum
- McCrory Gardens
- Pioneer Park
- Children’s Museum of South Dakota
- Nick’s Hamburger Shop
- Brookings Inn
- Dakota Nature Park
- Visit DeSmet
- Wilder Welcome Center
- Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant
- Ingalls Homestead
- Visit Watertown
- Sandy Shore Recreation Area
- Pelican Lake Recreation Area
- Codington County Heritage Museum
- Mellette House
- Redlin Art Center
- Bramble Park Zoo
- Backroads Coffee House and Lunchboxx
- Dempsey’s Brewery Pub and Restaurant
- Roam Kitchen + Bar
- Original Pancake House
- Pheasant Restaurant and Lounge
Native American National and State Scenic Byway
- Native American National and State Scenic Byway
- Visit Yankton
- River’s Edge
- Meridian Trail Network
- Lewis and Clark Recreation Area
- Lewis and Clark Visitor Center
- Lewis & Clark Resort
- Missouri National Recreational River Water Trail
- Fort Randall Casino
- North Point State Recreation Area
- Fort Randall Dam
- Fort Randall
- Randall Creek Recreation Area
- Meats & Sweets
- Snake Creek Recreation Area
- Platte Creek Recreational Area
- Chamberlain-Oacoma Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Aktá Lakota Museum and Cultural Center
- Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center
- Dakota Plains Gallery and Gifts
- Main St. Cafe & Market
- The Smoking Mule
- American Creek Campground
- Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center
- The Golden Buffalo Casino
- Lower Brule Wildlife, Fish and Recreation
- Crow Creek Sioux Tribe
- Left Tailrace Campground
- Lode Star Casino and Hotel
- Visit Pierre
- Fort Pierre Tourism
- Fishers Lilly Park
- The Museum of the South Dakota State Historical Society
- Fort Pierre National Grassland
- LaFramboise Island Nature Area
- Farm Island Recreation Area
- Fun Time Rentals
- Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center
- Cattleman’s Club and Steakhouse
- Zesto
- The Waniyetu Wowapi Institute & Art Park
- Timber Lake & Area Museum
- Mobridge
- Standing Rock Sioux Reservation
- Filler’s Bakery
- Oscar Howe Murals
- Klein Museum
- Grand River Casino and Resort
- Indian Creek Recreation Area
- Charlie’s Pizza House, Inc, 605-665-2212
- Drifters Bar and Grill
- Number 9 Steakhouse
- Westside Meats