South Dakota Travel Planning Guide

AllTrips Connecting People to Outdoor Destinations

South Dakota Travel

South Dakota travel lures many families and bikers to the Black Hills and Badlands, as well as monuments like Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse.

Black Hills South Dakota

Historic Attractions, Scenic Drives, and the Wild West.

103 All Inclusive Vacations. Go
Attractions like Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument, nearby Badlands National Park, and the wild west feel to downtown Deadwood draw visitors in every year. Go
9 ATV & Off-Road Rentals and Tours. Go
19 Bed & Breakfast or Inns. Go
13 Mountain Biking Rentals and Tours. Go
2 Boat Rentals and Tours. Go
12 Discount Travel Deals and Specials. Go
38 Cabins. Go
60 RV Rentals and RV Parks. The Blacks Hills is an ideal place to tent or RV camp. Take your pick from a number of full service RV parks to nearby national forest campgrounds. Go
2 Canoe & Kayak Rentals and Tours. Go
7 Climbing Guides and Outfitters. Go
6 Condos. Go
1 . Cross country skiers can glide along a few different groomed tracks at Big Hill, Eagle Cliff, and Bear Mountain, or make their own tracks on national forest winter trails. Go
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28 Restaurants, Bars and Cafes. Go
10 Eco-Friendly Activities and Accommodations. Go
34 Family Vacations. Go
4 Fishing Guides and Shops. Go
15 Golf Courses. Go
15 Vacation Ideas for Reunions, Retreats, and Groups. Go
11 Dude Ranches and Guest Ranches. Go
33 Guides and Tours. Go
3 Hiking Guides and Tours. Go
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11 Horseback Riding Outfitters. Go
24 Hotels. Go
11 Hunting Outfitters. Go
14 Lodges. Go
203 Lodging Options. Go
13 Luxury Vacations. Go
6 Motorcycle Rentals and Tours. Go
22 . The Black Hills are literally filled with history and museums. Don't miss the Adam's House & Museum, the South Dakota Air & Space Museum which is fun for kids, and the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum which is fun for big kids. Go
4 . Some of our favorites include a short hike to Roughlock Falls, a picnic at Sylvan Lake, a visit to Devils Tower as well as the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary. For hiking trails head to the Black Hills National Forest or try the well known Mickelson Trai Go
5 Vacation Packages. Go
6 . Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park are must sees, but you'll enjoy a day exploring Custer State Park as well. Go
2 . Over 30 campgrounds within the Black Hills National Forest offer basic camping and great access to nearby attractions. Go
11 Resorts. Go
52 RV Parks. Go
6 RV Rentals . Go
4 . Terry Peak and Mystic Miner Ski Resorts can't really compare to the powder and steeps of Utah and Wyoming, but they are great local ski hills if you are itching to spend a day on the slopes. Go
1 . Skiing and boarding are enjoyed by all at these mellow local ski hills: Terry Peak and Mystic Miner. Go
1 . Boarders can practice their skills at terrain parks at both Terry Peak and Mystic Miner. Go
8 Snowmobiling Rentals and Tours. Go
1 Snowshoeing Rentals and Tours. Go
92 Summer Guides and Outfitters. Go
5 Summer Packages. Go
19 Vacation Rentals. Go
103 Vacations Ideas. Go
19 Wedding Planners and Services. Go
103 Western Vacation Ideas. Go
9 Winter Guides and Outfitters. Go
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Dan knows:

Sturgis throws a little biker party every year.
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Top Pick: Black Hills South Dakota

My top choice for family vacation destinations. Our kids loved it here, and so did we! Check out Storybook Island in Rapid City, Old MacDonald's Petting Farm, and the Spearfish hatchery.
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Top Pick: Black Hills South Dakota

Dan's little secret:

The variety of amenities, attractions, and activities make the Black Hills ideal for a group vacation. The place is pretty affordable to visit, too!
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Top Pick: Black Hills South Dakota

Dan's been there:

The Black Hills has lots of variety for getting outside, from pathways near great attractions to rugged backcountry trails. The extensive Mickelson Trail is scenic and well-maintained, popular for hiking and biking as well.
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Top Pick: Black Hills South Dakota

Dan's good word:

The Black Hills is a classic mid-western road trip and family vacation destination, with good reason. It doesn't take a bunch of money to show up and have a good time, with some very affordable lodging and dining options.
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Top Pick: Black Hills South Dakota

Dan's good word:

The Black Hills has something for everyone, which is appealing for throwing a destination wedding. You can choose about any type of venue. We saw folks setting up for a wedding on Sylvan Lake - gorgeous!!
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Dan wants you to go:

If you've seen the "Deadwood" television series, you have an idea of what goes on in the Black Hills. The towns still hold a lot of Old West character, with seemingly endless museums and historical places to visit.
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Carli wants you to go:

While not quite as popular, mountain biking is picking up in the Black Hills area.
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Dan's tip:

I gotta put this area (especially Cathedral Spires, Iron Mountain Road, Spearfish Canyon) near the top of my list for great motorcycle rides. Routes are tight, winding, and radical, with corkscrew wooden bridges and tunnels!
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Alyson wants you to go:

Plenty of National Park travel available everywhere. This lends itself to a high density of RV parks and camping, great for budget and family travel.
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Alyson's two cents:

Where the west was first won by the likes of Calamity Jane, Wild Bill Hickok, et al. Deadwood capitalizes on this history in every lodging property, restaurant, and casino. Great museums and historic sites throughout.
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Top Pick: Black Hills South Dakota

Alyson's tidbit:

You won't find huge forests, wilderness or hot springs in this area, but there is nature, just on a smaller scale. The big draw is its Western and Native American history, represented in many state and national parks.
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Alyson wants you to go:

Lots of fun for kids with water parks, kid-themed things to do and inexpensive options.
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Top Pick: Black Hills South Dakota

Alyson knows:

One of the cheapest vacation destinations I've ever been to. A standard hotel is $40/night and you can eat like a king for less than $15.
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Top Pick: Black Hills South Dakota

Alyson's two cents:

With miles and miles of trail with great views, the Michelson Trail is a snowmobile destination for many.
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Top Pick: Black Hills South Dakota

Alyson's two cents:

It's the Midwest. You can find inexpensive food just about everywhere. Fried options, hamburgers, taverns, etc.
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Alyson's tip:

Lots of campgrounds available.
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Alyson's been there:

Lots of campgrounds available.
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Top Pick: Black Hills South Dakota

Alyson loves it:

Visit Terry Peak. These people are very proud of their ski area!
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Alyson's tip:

A great, beginner option is on Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park.
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Alyson's two cents:

Lots of great tour bus packages for blue hairs.
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Alyson gives props:

Sturgis!!!
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Top Pick: Black Hills South Dakota

Alyson wants you to go:

Lots of convention space.
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Dan's tidbit:

The Devil's Tower is pretty cool, as is the Crazy Horse Memorial. The wildlife in Custer State Park and the scenery make for a great primer to that of the Rocky Mountains.
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Top Pick: Black Hills South Dakota

Dan raves:

Great friends of ours lived in the Black Hills for a number of years and claim the Black Hills was their favorite place to get into the backcountry by ATV or 4x4 for secluded camping getaways.
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Dan loves it:

From rustic forest sites to maintained State Parks, the Black Hills have some of the best variety for camping trips. We found the best value we found at Spearfish City Campground, a nice family spot near the fish hatchery.
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Top Pick: Black Hills South Dakota

Dan loves it:

Top Pick: Black Hills South Dakota

Dan's tidbit:

Badlands National Park, Wind Cave National Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Jewel Cave Monument, Buffalo Gap and Thunder Basin National Grasslands... all here. Custer State Park is a favorite of ours.
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Top Pick: Black Hills South Dakota

Dan's tip:

Perhaps the strongest appeal of the Black Hills is its rich western history. Old mining towns like Deadwood, museums and memorials such as Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. We really enjoyed the old fish hatchery in Spearfish.
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Top Pick: Black Hills South Dakota

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