Watermelon lovers, unite! This town in South Dakota might be extremely small, but this annual watermelon festival in August is full of flavor. It’s filled with free watermelon, watermelon-themed activities, music, food, family entertainment, and even a car show. Head on out to Forestburg this summer and eat all of the melon you can handle.
If you read the Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, or watched the television show when you were a child, you were probably fascinated by the way of life in the late 1800s. Among the historic towns in South Dakota, there's one that still embraces that time, and every South Dakotan should visit it at least once. The most well-known things to do in De Smet, South Dakota, revolve around the life, times, and literature of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
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The prairie town of De Smet is located north of Sioux Falls, about halfway between Brookings and Huron.
De Smet is most famous as the town in which the author Laura Ingalls Wilder grew up. The Ingalls family arrived in 1879, and many of the town's current residents are very familiar with the Ingalls and their history.
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society offers tours of several historic sites occupied by the Ingalls family.
Plan to spend at least half a day at this fun, educational spot where you'll step right back into the late 1800s.
With so many things to do in De Smet, South Dakota, it's certainly should be high up on your list of SoDak travel destinations. Are you ready to pack up your car and hit the road for a day trip to De Smet, SD? If you've already visited, tell us about your experience in the comments.
With so many sights to see and things to do in Custer, South Dakota, there may not be a better town in the state that is as well suited for a weekend getaway or a longer vacation. What is Custer known for? Plenty! As the heart of the southern Black Hills, it's the gateway to the largest state park in the Lower 48 and Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and many other Custer attractions. Families, couples, and adventurers all flock to this charming SoDak town, and you should definitely consider it for your next small-town getaway.
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From the coast of Oregon to the mountains of Pennsylvania and everywhere in between, there are countless charming and captivating small towns across America worthy of a weekend getaway. Curated by our team of local travel experts, you’ll love our 2024 Small Town Getaways.
Custer, South Dakota, is the oldest non-native settlement in the Black Hills. It was first settled in 1875 by trespassing gold prospectors and ultimately named Custer after the infamous U.S. Army officer. An expedition led by Custer had been the first to discover gold in the area - east of the modern town - thus subjecting the Black Hills to a gold rush. Although never the boomtown that its neighbors to the north, Deadwood and Lead, were, Custer's economy was based on mining and extractive industries for much of its early years. The gold eventually gave way to a tourism boom, which is the driving economic force today.
If you love nature and history flavored with health doses of Native American culture, Wild West mythology, and Americana kitsch, then you'll find that Custer, South Dakota, is definitely worth visiting. Monuments like Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse offer insights not only into the ideologies of the sculptors but also into the human need to bend the natural landscape to its will. On the other hand, places like Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Custer State Park, and the wilderness and forest areas of the Black Hills are perfect for adventurers and nature lovers, alike. If you're willing to venture a little farther afield, both Badlands National Park and Devils Tower National Monument are less than two hours away from Custer. Between all the history and nature, you'll find plenty of Custer, SD attractions and amusements to keep the whole family entertained.
Custer, South Dakota, is located in the far western part of the state, near the Wyoming border. It's about an hour and a half west of Badlands National Park, and around 45 minutes southwest of Rapid City, which is where you'll find the nearest commercial airport (RAP), as well as the nearest interstate, I-90. The main roads into Custer are U.S. Routes 16 (east-west) and 385 (north-south), which intersect in the town. Tap or click on the Google map above to start a route to Custer, SD from your location.
Downtown Custer, SD is a very walkable place. The main street is broad, and most of the businesses and attractions catering to visitors are concentrated over a few blocks. However, much of what Custer, SD is known for lies outside of town, so you'll definitely want to have a personal vehicle when you visit. As most visitors make Custer a road trip destination, this shouldn't be a problem. Those arriving by other means, such as flying into Rapid City, will definitely want a rental vehicle.
