The Ultimate South Dakota Hidden Gem Road Trip Will Take You To 7 Incredible Little-Known Spots In The State
You have visited Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse more times than you can count and have hiked around Falls Park every season, so you may be looking for something new to see and do around South Dakota. Sound familiar? While we love all of the above, many SoDak natives and tourists alike miss out on some of the most amazing places in the state, which is why we are excited to take you on this ultimate South Dakota hidden gem road trip:
During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list to visit at a later date.
Link to the interactive Google map can be found here.
Welcome to the Nicollet Tower, where you can see not one, not two, but THREE states at once (SoDak, NoDak, and Minnesota)! Standing 75-feet-tall, Nicollet Tower is the perfect place to get out and stretch and take incredible aerial pictures of the landscape below.
I feel as though everyone has had to have heard of the famous Ward's, but if you haven't, it is mandatory that you visit this charming shop with ties to Laura Ingalls Wilder! (In case you didn't know, her father once owned the building that now houses Ward's.)
You know all there is to know about the aforementioned Falls Park, but did you know that South Dakota's biggest city has even more natural wonders? Case in point: the Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum, which is part of the greater Sioux Falls Parks System and features lush wetlands and quiet gardens.
A rest area is a rest area is a rest area... right? Normally, we would agree, but in the case of the beautiful Chamberlain Information Center, it is anything but! Also known as the Lewis and Clark Information Center, the Chamberlain Information Center offers a clean and comfortable place to stretch, plus an on-site museum, picnic areas, walking paths, and the iconic Dignity (pictured).
Now that we are more than halfway through our road trip, it is time to get both gas and a great meal, which you can do at the Grey Goose Store & Social Club in Pierre! While the outside of the Grey Goose may look like your average gas station, you may be surprised to learn that they also serve some of the best prime rib in the Mount Rushmore State!
Do you want to stop somewhere that is both out-of-this-world and FREE? Then you have come to the right place, as the South Dakota Air and Space Museum - which is located on the Ellsworth Air Force Base - houses numerous exhibits, on-site spacecrafts, and other special events.
Do you want to check out one of my personal favorite hidden gems? If you can promise to keep a secret, I will tell you: It is the Outdoor Campus West, which offers everything from outdoor walking paths and fishing opportunities to educational classes, a South Dakota habitats and wildlife exhibit, and an impressive 4,600-gallon freshwater aquarium.
For even more unique SoDak road trip ideas, check out Sioux Falls To Spearfish, South Dakota Is Being Called One Of The 7 Best Road Trips In America.
Address: 45356 SD-10, Sisseton, SD 57262, USA
Address: 28886 Merry Rd, Pierre, SD 57501, USA
Address: 127 Calumet Ave SE, De Smet, SD 57231, USA
Address: 1900 S Perry Pl, Sioux Falls, SD 57110, USA
Address: South Dakota Air and Space Museum, 2890 Davis Dr, Ellsworth AFB, SD 57706, USA
Address: Adventure Trail, Rapid City, SD 57702, USA
Address: I-90, Chamberlain, SD 57325, USA
