If you love to visit National Parks, then planning a trip to South Dakota is a must! South Dakota is home to several National Park sites (parks, monuments, memorials, etc.). Five of them are located within just a few hours’ drive of each other!
Southwestern South Dakota is a treasure trove for outdoor adventurers and national park enthusiasts. We’ve put together a list of the must-visit National Park locations in South Dakota (plus one more really close by).
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Mount Rushmore is a very popular site to visit in South Dakota. Four U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln carved into the side of a giant granite mountain; it is certainly a sight to be seen. Located in Keystone, SD and nestled in the stunning Black Hills (which are worth a visit on their own).
We had a great family trip to the park, and we are already planning what we will add to our next visit! See our full post for all of the things to see while visiting Mount Rushmore.
Jewel Cave National Monument
About a 30-minute drive from Custer, SD, Jewel Cave is one of the longest caves in the world. It is known for its intricate formations and splendid colors created by minerals found within the cave system.
We were able to purchase last-minute tickets for the Discovery Tour. This short tour was insightful for an introductory tour, taking you into the large main room where the cave was first explored. The kids thought it was fun that you take an elevator down into the cave rather than walk through a natural entrance as we’ve done at other cave visits.
After this short tour, we were definitely left wanting more. You only receive a sneak peak of what the cave has to offer during the Discover Tour. Grateful for the opportunity to visit, but next time we visit we will be sure to book one of the longer tours in advance to be able to explore further into the cave.
Outside the cave, the park offers two self-guided tours to choose from. We enjoyed the Roof Trail with the kids, a short but scenic loop trail around the visitor center. We took advantage of the beautiful scenery, had a picnic lunch, and completed the Junior Ranger Program with the kiddos.
Wind Cave National Park
Another large cave located within the Black Hills is Wind Cave National Park (in Hot Springs, SD). This cave system is known for its boxwork formations. Varying types of guided tours are offered depending on your level of ability and interest in exploring the cave. From a short, introductory tour that is also wheelchair accessible to an almost 4 hour, very strenuous guided tour taking visitors off the path and into undeveloped areas of the cave.
Unfortunately, due to an elevator issue, cave tours were not being offered during our visit. We explored the Visitor Center where we learned about the history and geology of the cave and surrounding area, and most importantly the incredible cultural and spiritual significance that the cave holds. We were then able to walk the short trail from the Visitor Center to see the Natural Entrance of the cave and read the Lakota Emergence Story.
Fortunately, the surface of the park above the cave offers expansive natural landscapes worthy of their own visit! Wind Cave NP offers miles of hiking, backpacking, wildlife viewing and more. We enjoyed a scenic drive through the epic natural surroundings, stopping to take in the sights of prairie and pine forest along the way.
There is a campground located within the park or adventurous hikers can find their own spot to camp in the backcountry; campground reservations can be made online, and a permit is required for any backcountry or dispersed camping (I believe the permit was free though). Check out the NPS website for more information.
Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park is located near Wall, SD less than a two-hour drive from the Black Hills. The expansiveness and the scenery of this park to our breaths away. Layers of red colored clay add beautiful red stripes to the rugged landscape. Views of canyons, mounds, and rock formations as far as the eye can see from trails, overlooks, and viewpoints. Prairie grasslands with tons of wildlife, including prairie dogs and American bison.
We highly recommend this fantastic park; it is firmly on the list of our top five national parks! Click here to see our full post from our visit to the Badlands.
Located just outside of Badlands National Park is Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. A very interesting stop where you can learn more about the Cold War and US nuclear preparations buried throughout the Great Plains.
Devils Tower National Monument
Technically speaking, this park is in Wyoming… but it is a short drive from Spearfish, SD (about an hour) and totally worth the visit! Devils Tower is America’s first National Monument. This remarkable rock formation is almost 900 feet tall!
The parking area is relatively small and fills up by lunchtime so plan accordingly. With a little patience, we were able to snag a spot after only a couple of passes through the parking lot.
There are many trails throughout the park, from easy to strenuous and all distances in between. You can (and should if you are able) take the Tower Trail that loops around the entire base of the Tower. It is 1.3 miles of easy to moderate hiking (a couple of elevation changes). This is a very popular trail so expect to see many other hikers along the way.
Not only will you see close up views of this impressive formation, but the views of the surrounding landscape are equally as stunning. There are exhibits and benches all along the trail. So you can rest, take in the scenery, and learn about the interesting geology and strong cultural significance of Devil’s Tower.
We hope our list has inspired you to plan your own adventure to South Dakota. Many of these sites are located in or near the Black Hills in the southwest corner of South Dakota. And there is so much more to do and see in this area! See our post on the Top Things to Explore While Visiting the Black Hills.
