South Dakota

Region · 🇺🇸 United States

Population 886,667

Area 199,307 km²

Time zone America/Chicago, America/Denver

Official website sd.gov

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Featured Lists

Dean Franklin / CC BY 2.0

South Dakota Essentials

South Dakota’s landscape spans from the granite peaks of the Black Hills to the eroded spires of the Badlands. This selection features iconic monuments like Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial alongside vast subterranean systems like Wind Cave and Jewel Cave. Highlights include the 1890 history at Wounded Knee, the 50-foot Dignity statue, and the prehistoric Mammoth Site. Scenic routes like the Needles Highway and Wildlife Loop offer encounters with unique geological formations and free-roaming bison herds.

15 places

Historic Churches of South Dakota

This collection highlights the religious architecture and spiritual history of South Dakota, featuring sites like the 1883 St. Mary’s Church complex in Zell and the 1890 First Baptist Church of Vermillion. These landmarks represent diverse Christian traditions, including Catholic, Lutheran, and Presbyterian denominations. From the 1891 Gothic Revival parish of St. Peter's in Jefferson to the rural St. Ann's Catholic Church of Badus, founded by Swiss-Italian settlers, these structures offer a glimpse into the state's settlement history and architectural development.

8 places

Epsota24 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Scenic Dams and Reservoirs

South Dakota's water landscape is defined by massive Missouri River projects and serene Black Hills reservoirs. The Oahe Dam near Pierre creates one of the largest man-made reservoirs in the United States, providing hydroelectric power and flood control. In Custer State Park, smaller historic impoundments like Sylvan Lake and Legion Lake showcase early 20th-century masonry and the region's unique granite rock formations. These sites offer a mix of major engineering feats and recreational waters stretching from the Minnesota border to the western highlands.

7 places

DaveBo206 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Historic South Dakota

South Dakota's historic landscape spans thousands of years, from the Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village to the ongoing carving of the Crazy Horse Memorial. This collection features significant engineering feats like the 1920s-era Chamberlain Bridge and the stone Dell Rapids Water Tower. It highlights the state's geographic significance at the nation's center and its somber history at the Wounded Knee Massacre Site. Architectural landmarks include the 165-foot Coughlin Campanile and historic railroad and road bridges that cross the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers.

12 places

Cti613 / CC BY-SA 3.0

Parks & Natural Areas

South Dakota's natural landscape features a mix of geologic wonders and historic prairie lands. This collection includes the pink quartzite cliffs of Palisades State Park and the expansive Missouri River views at Lewis and Clark Lake. The selection highlights the life-sized sculptures of Dinosaur Park, the urban waterfalls of Sioux Falls, and the rugged, fossil-rich terrain of Badlands National Park. It also covers significant recreation areas and the historic Spirit Mound, a site documented by the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

15 places

Sygic Travel User / CC-BY-SA

Scenic Viewpoints

This collection spans the diverse terrain of western South Dakota, from the ancient granite spires of the Black Hills to the eroded sedimentary layers of Badlands National Park. It includes the narrow passages of Needles Highway, the 7,242-foot summit of Black Elk Peak, and the historic overlooks of Mount Rushmore. In the Badlands, the list covers key stops along the Loop Road, highlighting geological features like the Yellow Mounds and historic sites such as Bigfoot Pass.

20 places