South Dakota Road Trip with Kids (The ULTIMATE
I brought my younger brothers on this South Dakota road trip. This was a big feat for me because I HATE driving. I love road trips, but I love being the passenger (thanks to my husband). Getting over my fear was definitely worth it because South Dakota is the perfect road trip to make with kids (or without!)
It’s another one of those states that people tend to overlook or drive through, but there is SO much to do and very affordable prices! So whether you have kids with you or not, here are 10 activities that all can enjoy on your next South Dakota Road Trip with kids.
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Table of Contents
When to visit?
South Dakota is a midwestern state which leads to all the crazy weather. If looking for comfortable temperatures, no snow, and smaller crowds, the best time to visit would be May, June and September.
Average Temperatures (Rapid City, SD):
- Summer (June-August): 82/59 Fahrenheit
- Fall (September-October): 67/45 Fahrenheit
- Winter (November-February): 40/20 Fahrenheit
- Spring (March-May): 56/34 Fahrenheit
Rapid City, South Dakota averages 18 inches of rain and 38 inches of snow (more than the US average).
Before your South Dakota Road Trip…
Be sure to pack your bags, snacks, and activities to keep the kids busy on the road! Check out this packing list/road trip planner for all the best tips and grab the activity book below to help entertain the back seat drivers!
Once you are prepared and ready to go, get ready for the road trip of a lifetime and check out the best things to see below!
Where to stay?
I have included recommendations based on where we stayed throughout this post. You can also check out Airbnb for more unique ideas on your South Dakota Road Trip!
Stops to make on your South Dakota Road Trip with Kids:
*** I completed this South Dakota Road trip from Minnesota. All the stops below are listed in order (from east to west). There are also recommendations of where to stay included throughout.
1. Corn Palace
We spent our first night in Mitchell, SD. It was basically just a stopping point to sleep, but we had a hard time avoiding the 5,000 billboards advertising the Corn Palace.
Because it was real close to our hotel (and free admission), we decided to stop by. It was cool to see, but definitely not a highlight of the trip. We were in and out within 20 minutes. But now we can see we have seen the “World’s Only Corn Palace”.
Cost: Free
Hours:
- Winter/Spring/Fall: Mon-Saturday 8 am- 5 pm
- Summer: 8am- 9pm
- Closed on all major Holidays
Other Corn Palace Information: Public Tours are given throughout the summer, or you are welcome to explore at your own pace. There is a concession stand, gift store, and restrooms on site.
2. Feed the Prairie Dogs
After leaving Mitchell, we drove 3 hours to get to the Badlands. At the entrance of the Badlands, you can stop at a The Badlands Ranch Store and purchase peanuts (for one dollar) to feed the prairie dogs right outside the shop.
Although the prairie dogs were not too interested in the food, it was cool to see them peeking out of their burrows. Some did take the peanuts right out of our fingers! A great pit stop on your way into the badlands.
Cost: 1 dollar per bag of food
3. Badlands National Park
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Badlands. I have been to many national parks, but this one seems like a different planet. It is busy, but you can walk in any direction you choose and find some peace and quiet. Be careful though, everything does look alike and it would be very easy to get lost.
The kids loved climbing the hills and finding new overlooks and holes to hide it. Make sure to have a good pair of hiking shoes with good traction because the ground is very slippery.
After many hours exploring, hiking, and climbing the hills, we found a spot for a picnic and headed on our way. A South Dakota road trip would not be complete without a stop at the Badlands!
Badlands National Park Quick Facts:
- Admission Fee: 30 dollars per car
- Address: 25216 Ben Reifel Road Interior, SD 57750
- Visitor Center Hours: 9am-4pm (closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day)
- Where to eat? Cedar Pass Lodge is the only option (near the Visitors Center), or make sure to pack a picnic. We also ate dinner at Wall Drug (see stop 4).
- Hiking? There are 8 official trails in the Badlands National Park ranging from .25 miles to 10 miles.
- Other Things to do: Visit the Fossil Preparation Lab, Tour the museum exhibits in the Visitor’s Center, attend a Badlands Ranger Program. Get more information HERE.
4. Wall Drug
Again, if you have ever driven through South Dakota, I am sure you have seen the 5,000 billboards advertising Wall Drug.
Once you exit the Badlands National Park, it is only about a 10-minute drive.
It is basically a huge building with many different gift stores, a restaurant, and some games. We ate dinner here, shopped a bit, and then headed to our hotel.
- Address: 510 Main Street • PO Box 401Wall, SD • 57790-0401
- Hours: Mall Shops- 8:30-6:30, Cafe: 8:00-6:15
5. “Downtown” Keystone
After having dinner, we drove 1 hour to Keystone and checked into our hotel.
In the spirit of being flexible, I didn’t book the hotel until we arrived, but we ended up getting lucky and finding a great spot near “downtown” Keystone. (If interested, the hotel was Baymont by Wyndham and I booked through HotelsCombined..You could even see Mount Rushmore from the parking lot!).
We walked right down the hill to explore and grab a snack. There were gift shops, candy shops, and several ice cream parlors. It was the cutest little “downtown”.
We got some ice cream, shopped a bit, and headed back for a swim at the hotel.
6. Big Thunder Gold Mine
I saw a billboard for this when we were exploring downtown Keystone so I knew I wanted to try it.
I checked Groupon, and they had a great coupon for the mine tour and gold panning.
We arrived and checked in for our tour. The guide was great and gave us a very interesting history of South Dakota. The tour is very accessible for all, but it is a bit chilly and dark.
We explored inside the gold mine and then we were given a tutorial of how to pan for gold (and what they did after they found some). The kids then were given a pan and a small glass bottle to save the gold that they found from panning.
If you are feeling extra adventurous (or have extra time to spare) Big Thunder Gold Mine also offers a true gold pan in the Black Hills Wilderness (full and half day tours available).
Big Thunder Gold Mine Quick Facts:
- Full priced Admission: Tour: $11.95 + $10.00 for gold panning
- Hours: June-August- 8am- 8 pm, April and October- 9am-5pm, May and Septemeber- 9am-6pm
- Address: 604 Blair Street, Keystone, SD 57751
7. Cosmos Mystery Area
Another Groupon find 🙂 This place was awesome and I still can’t figure it out! Basically an outdoor museum of illusions, but you will have to experience the strangeness for yourself!
After the tour, the kids spent time “searching” for geodes and then cracked it on-site!
Cosmos Mystery Area Quick Facts
- Price: Adults-11 dollars Children- 6 dollars (full price)
- Hours: May-October 9am-5pm
- Address: 24040 Cosmos Road, Rapid City, SD 57702 605-343-9802
8. Watiki Water Park
Would it be a true kid-friendly road trip without a stop at an awesome waterpark?
I love water parks and this was no exception. Watiki water park has over 30,000 square feet of swimming and slides. There are hotels nearby, but we drove from Keystone for the night (30 minutes). We spent 5 hours swimming and playing in the arcade.
Watiki Water Park Quick Facts:
- Summer Admission: $20 per person (Twilight deal)
- Summer Hours: 8am- 10pm (Sundays close at 9)
- Offseason Months: September 8, 2020- May 27, 2021
- Physical Address: 1314 North Elk Vale Road, Rapid City, SD 57703
9. Mount Rushmore
You can’t go to South Dakota without stopping to see Mount Rushmore. There is no entrance fee, but you do have to pay 10 dollars for parking. We took the short trail around the park which brought us closer views of the Presidents and to a cave to have a unique viewpoint.
Mount Rushmore Quick Facts:
- Cost: 10 dollars
- Visitor Center Hours: 8am-5pm
- Physical Address: 13000 Highway 244 Keystone, SD 57751
- Pet Friendly? Only Service Dogs
10. Bear Country USA
My husband and I had stopped here 8 years ago on our first South Dakota road trip. I knew I wanted to return this trip.
Bear Country USA is a drive-through wildlife park where you can see bears, wolves, and other animals from the comfort of your car. After you finish the drive-through, you get to get out of your car to see the babies!
Bear Country USA Quick Facts
- Admission: Adult-$18.00 child- $12.00
- Hours: 9am-5pm (closing time changes by season)
- Physical Address: 13820 S. Highway 16 – Rapid City, SD 57702
Bonus MN Stop: Minnesota’s Largest Candy Shop
If you are starting your South Dakota Road trip from Northern Minnesota or Wisconsin, make sure to stop at Minnesota’s Largest Candy store in Jordan, MN, and stock up on candy!
Bucket List for my Next South Dakota Road Trip:
Like I said earlier, there is SO much to do on South Dakota road trip. We didn’t have nearly enough time to see it all. Here is what I would like to do/see next time:)
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Do you have any other recommendations for a South Dakota Road Trip with Kids?
While I don’t have kids, this still looks like a fun road trip. I went to the Badlands in Alberta, Canada but haven’t been the other side of the border yet. Such otherworldly landscapes, it looks amazing. And who can resist prairie dogs?!
It really does feel like a different planet! I would love to see the Badlands in Alberta as well!
This post just brought me so much joy! It’s so nice to see all these cool pictures of your kids enjoying the outdoors and having family fun! I would absolutely LOVE to try out that water park!
I’ve honestly never thought to travel to South Dakota, thanks for this thorough post and inspiration! I would love to do some hiking in Badlands National Park, it looks so beautiful. Adding South Dakota to my road trip bucket list.
I’ve never thought about visiting South Dakota, but now I think I might add it to my list! What a great trip. I love how much you use Groupon for deals!
I went through something similar to Bear Country in Idaho and absolutely loved it! So many bears and other animals everywhere. I haven’t visited South Dakota yet, but it’s now on my list.
So much great information! I’m hoping to visit soon so I’m def saving this. Badlands National Park seems amazing and how cute are those prairie dogs
Omg the prairie dogs look so cute! This is a great road trip list!
My mom and I wanted to drive through South Dakota earlier this year but had to go south because of the weather. I loved reading about your trip and experiences to tide me over until we can make it back there!!