If you’ve lived your entire life in South Dakota, you might think you’ve seen and done everything the state has to offer. Here are 13 unique things to do in South Dakota you maybe haven’t tried yet.

1. Climb Nicollet Tower for a stunning view of the surrounding countryside
Nicollet Tower & Interpretive Center, 45356 SD-10, Sisseton, SD 57262, USA
John Thomas/Google Reviews
Nicollet Tower is located in Sisseton, just west of I-29 near the South Dakota/North Dakota border. The tower is 80 feet tall and offers an incredible view.

Check out the Nicollet Tower in Sisseton, SD and enjoy the view from the top in this quick video:
2. See the most whimsical outdoor art at Porter Sculpture Park
Porter Sculpture Park, 45160 257th St, Montrose, SD 57048, USA
Porter Sculpture Park/Facebook
Porter Sculpture Park near Montrose is filled with whimsical, unique sculptures. You'll find more than 50 works of art here - some as tall as 60 feet!
3. Take a drive on the Native American National And State Scenic Byway
Native American National And State Scenic Byway, South Dakota, USA
Alanscottwalker/Wikimedia
This gorgeous byway is 478 miles long and goes from the northern border to the southern border of the state.
4. Take the plunge at Evans Plunge Mineral Springs
Evans Plunge Mineral Springs, 1145 N River St, Hot Springs, SD 57747, USA
Evans Plunge Mineral Springs/Facebook
Swim at Evans Plunge Mineral Springs year-round. The spring-fed pool maintains a constant temperature of 87 degrees, so it's nice and warm, even in the winter months.
5. Hike to the Stratobowl
Stratobowl Rim Trailhead, 13600 US-16, Rapid City, SD 57702, USA
Kevin Shepard/Alltrails
A super easy trail in the Black Hills takes you to the Stratobowl overlook. You can see the spot where record-breaking manned balloon flights were launched.
6. Search South Dakota's most haunted places to see if you can find a ghost
Hotel Alex Johnson Rapid City, Curio Collection by Hilton, 523 6th St, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA
The Hotel Alex Johnson/Facebook
South Dakota has plenty of spots that are supposedly haunted. Visit some of them to see if you can spot a ghost for yourself - here are 10 haunted places in South Dakota to get you started.

It may look like an elegant historic hotel, but the Hotel Alex Johnson is said to be haunted especially Room 812. Take a tour of Hotel Alex Johnson in this video from Franko TV as he braves a night in this infamous room:

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7. Visit one of South Dakota's most underrated year-round destinations
Big Sioux State Recreation Area, 410 W Park St, Brandon, SD 57005, USA
South Dakota/Flickr
The Big Sioux Recreation Area in Brandon offers year-round recreation. You can hike, fish, play disc golf, and even snowmobile here.
8. Check out the classic cars at the Pioneer Auto Museum
Pioneer Auto Museum, 503 5th St, Murdo, SD 57559, USA
Tina F./Tripadvisor
This cool museum in South Dakota houses more than 275 vintage cars here and even has an authentic General Lee from the TV show "Dukes of Hazzard."
9. Learn about the history of the bison at Tatanka: Story of the Bison
Tatanka Story of Bison, 100 Tatanka Drive, Deadwood, SD 57732, USA
Paul G./Tripadvisor
The Tatanka Story of Bison museum in Deadwood has some great exhibits about South Dakota's bison and the Native Americans who once hunted them. The outdoor sculpture, "Lakota Bison Jump" by Peg Detmers is breathtaking.
10. Say hello to the World's Largest Pheasant
Huron, SD 57350, USA
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
You'll find the World's Largest Pheasant in Huron. He stands 28 feet tall and measures more than 40 feet from the beak to the tip of the tail.
11. See beautiful wild horses running free
Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, 12165 Highland Rd, Hot Springs, SD 57747, USA
Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary/Facebook
The Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary is located near Hot Springs, and it's home to around 600 wild mustangs. You'll love to watch this gorgeous animals in their natural surroundings.
12. Visit the Petrified Wood Park
Petrified Wood Park & Museum, 500 Main Ave, Lemmon, SD 57638, USA
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/Flickr
You'll find Petrified Wood Park in the little town of Lemmon. Everything here is made from petrified wood - from buildings to around 100 conical-shaped statues.
13. Visit The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs
The Mammoth Site, 1800 US-18 BYP, Hot Springs, SD 57747, USA
The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, South Dakota/Facebook
The Mammoth Site has the largest concentration of mammoth remains in the entire world, and you can see them up close. Watch staff excavating remains and learn more about these amazing, extinct creatures.

One of our favorite hidden gems in South Dakota is the Mammoth Site. Learn more about the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, SD in this video from The Path Beyond 9 to 5:

How many of these things have you already done? Share a few unique things to do in South Dakota that you have enjoyed with a comment. If you are planning a trip to South Dakota, how about staying at this charming log cabin near Deadwood and Lead with absolutely epic views of the Black Hills?

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More to Explore

Things to do in South Dakota

Chris Muras | July 27, 2023

What are some fun things to do in South Dakota?

Aside from the ever-popular Black Hills attractions in South Dakota, there are plenty more wonderful natural areas to explore, and fun attractions to keep you busy. Here are a few fun things to do in South Dakota that you may not have thought about:

  • Explore the ghost town of Spokane: This historic town doesn't have many residents ever since it was essentially deserted in the 1940s. It does have plenty of old buildings that take you back to the days when it was a profitable mining town in the late-1880s and early 1900s.
  • Visit the Badlands National Park: One of South Dakota's biggest draws is the Badlands. You wouldn't think there would be much to do in a wide open barren landscape, but in the springtime, the wildflowers come alive and make hiking in this area fragrant and beautiful.
  • Candyland, Rapid City, SD: For a pretty sweet stop in South Dakota head to Rapid City and the biggest candy store in SD. This is one of the best places to visit in South Dakota if you love vintage candy stores. After you fuel up on as much candy as you can handle, play a round of mini golf on the Sweet Greens course.
  • Buffalo Safari Jeep Tour, Custer, SD: You can see plenty of buffalo grazing in the plains of South Dakota, but if you want to get up close and personal try this jeep tour through Custer State Park. Not only will you see bison, but bighorn sheep and other wildlife as well.

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