Travel South Dakota

10/02/2025

Planning a trip to the Black Hills? We've got you covered!

This 3-day itinerary has (almost) everything you need for an unforgettable adventure—iconic landmarks, hidden gems, and plenty of time to soak in the natural beauty.

Save this post for your next getaway and let the Black Hills inspire your wanderlust.

10/02/2025

HISTORIC DEADWOOD has been named no. 1 Top Western Town for 2025 by True West Magazine!

Notorious from the day it was founded in 1876, Deadwood has had an international reputation as one of the Wild West’s most notorious cities. Today, after films and television have made the city even more famous, Deadwood is a year-round destination for fans of the Old West.

Catch the full feature in the Jan/Feb 2025 issue of True West Magazine:

The Heartbeat of America The small towns of the American West are where you will discover the people and places dedicated to preserving our Western

03/02/2025

ICYMI 🥳

Repairs to the elevators at Wind Cave are finished, and the cave is open for tours!

Tours of the Garden of Eden will be offered at 10 a.m. with tours of the Fairgrounds beginning at 1 p.m. The Garden tour has 150 stairs and lasts one hour. The Fairground tour has 450 stairs and last an hour and a half. Tickets can be reserved up to three days in advance by visiting recreation.gov. As visitation ramps up, more tours will be offered.

The visitor center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with new exhibits and the park store run by the Black Hills Parks and Forests Association.

02/02/2025

So what do you think, will spring come early?

Groundhogs are getting all the attention today, but let’s not forget their furry cousins in the Sciuridae family!

👉 Prairie Dogs: AKA the social butterflies of the prairie, and they’ve got the neighborhoods to prove it! Their underground “towns” can span hundreds of acres, with tunnels so complex, they’re basically rodent architects.

👉 Ground Squirrels: Snack hoarders and sprinters! These speedy little guys can run up to 8 mph (good luck catching them mid-snack).

👉 Yellow-Bellied Marmots: The Black Hills’ professional loungers. These “rock chucks” spend nearly 80% of their lives in their burrows, hibernating for up to 8 months a year. When they do emerge, you’ll probably catch them sunbathing on a warm rock. Self-care goals, right?

👉 Woodchucks: While the woodchuck tongue twister is fun, their diet is mostly grass, leaves, and veggies—wood isn’t actually on the menu.

01/02/2025

🐎 Saddle Up for the Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo!

From thrilling rodeo events to livestock auctions, trade shows, and live music, there’s something for every cowboy and cowgirl to enjoy.

This annual tradition in Visit Rapid City is more than just a rodeo—it’s a celebration of South Dakota’s ranching heritage and western spirit. Whether you’re here to cheer on the bull riders, shop for one-of-a-kind western gear, or just soak in the energy of the arena, you won’t want to miss it.

Happening now through February 8th!

01/02/2025

❄️ February in South Dakota is pure magic! Frosty adventures, local flavors, and cozy vibes are calling your name. Snowshoe through the Black Hills, explore frozen Falls Park in Sioux Falls, and savor every moment.

✨ Make this February unforgettable. Learn more: https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/things-to-do/events

31/01/2025

Got any good Badlands National Park jokes?

29/01/2025

Important Update: Ice Rink Hours Adjusted ❄️

Due to the warm weather this week, we’ll be delaying the opening of the ice rink. Starting TODAY, Wednesday, January 29th through Friday, January 31st, the rink will open at 4:00 PM instead of noon.

We appreciate your understanding and hope to see you out on the ice soon! Until then, soak in some sunshine and sharpen your skates 🔆⛸️

29/01/2025

29/01/2025

We are busy exploring the National Music Museum (NMM)! 🏛️😌

Spanning hundreds of years of culture, the NMM’s musical holdings range from priceless Italian violins to celebrity guitars, from organs to orchestrion, from harps to harpsichords, from dombaks to didgeridoos, from Les Paul to Sgt. Pepper, from Stradivari to Elvis.

Check out their upcoming events!

Museum information ⬇️
📍414 East Clark St - Vermillion
⏰ Tuesday - Saturday | 10am - 4pm

28/01/2025

Need some weekend plans?

Discovery Saturdays at the National Music Museum (NMM) take place on the first Saturday of each month. These special events offer visitors additional activities and educational tours throughout the museum!

Kick off Black History Month this Saturday, February 1, at Discovery Saturday at the National Music Museum (NMM) in Vermillion, SD. Throughout the day, visitors will have the opportunity to explore Black and African musical traditions represented at the museum. Museum Educator Anna Van Kley will host Spotlight Talks throughout the day and a specialized tour at 1:30 p.m.

The focus of this month's Spotlight is one of the NMM’s recent acquisitions: an ornately carved gourd fiddle made around 1860 by James Russell Cluxton. Cluxton and his family were deeply involved with the Ripley line of the Underground Railroad, and he designed the fiddle as a symbol of the path to freedom for many enslaved Americans. The fiddle will be on view, with short Spotlight Talks scheduled for 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.
At 1:30 p.m., Van Kley will lead a specialized tour through the galleries, highlighting instruments and musicians of Black and African descent.

All activities are free with museum admission.

Earlier in the day, families are invited to join NMM Music Storytime at 10:30 a.m. Museum Educator Van Kley will read The Bear and the Piano by David Litchfield. Music Storytime is free and sponsored by the M.A. Everist Foundation.

Discovery Saturdays at the NMM take place on the first Saturday of each month. These special events offer visitors additional activities and educational tours throughout the museum. Looking ahead to March, the NMM will celebrate Women’s History Month with a special presentation by Kay Krekow titled She is Music on Saturday, March 1, at 1:00 p.m.

The NMM is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information about Discovery Saturdays and other events at the National Music Museum, please visit www.nmmusd.org.

28/01/2025

Mark your calendars!

Mardi Gras is one month out and we can’t wait to party!

23/01/2025

Journey back in time at the world's largest mammoth research facility, The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, South Dakota!

Tour the indoor active dig site and view Ice Age fossils. This is an experience you won’t want to miss!

🗓️ Open daily
📍 Hot Springs, South Dakota

21/01/2025

Designed as a tour through time of the Black Hills, The Journey Museum in Rapid City is not to be missed!

From sea to shining sea, these are the best museums in every state, plus our favorite in DC.

21/01/2025

Rapid City’s charm is in the little things - golden sunsets, peaceful parks, and streets filled with historic character. Take a deep breath, soak it all in, and let this delightful city be your calm in a busy world!

with Visit Rapid City

17/01/2025

Where's your favorite place to stay in the Black Hills? 🤔

Don't let a snowy forecast stop you from setting aside time for a quick winter getaway. Head to the woods for a peaceful hike, curl up by the fire in a cozy cabin, or hit the town for some frosty window-shopping. Find our fave escapes ❄️⬇️

16/01/2025

Current mood: Craving Wall Drug's famous donuts! 😋🍩

16/01/2025

Bighorn sheep are committed to the smash. Just like the Post Office, they deliver the booms through rain, sleet and snow.

Bighorn sheep males will butt heads in the fall and early winter during "rut." They will repeatedly charge and slam their horns into each other to fight for dominance, no matter what the weather. The loud CRACK of their horns can sometimes be heard up to a mile away.

Photo by Stephen Tamm (sharetheexperience)