South Dakota
A Great Plains state known for the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore and the Badlands, with long drives between its main sights.
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South Dakota is a landlocked state on the Great Plains in the North Central United States, with Pierre as the capital and Sioux Falls as the largest city, in the southeast corner. Most visitors come for the Black Hills in the southwest, a range of pine-covered mountains sacred to the Sioux. Mount Rushmore National Memorial sits there, with sculptor Gutzon Borglum's carving of four U.S. presidents on the mountainside, and Custer State Park holds a herd of around 1,500 bison.
Badlands National Park, in the south, has eroded, brightly colored rock above semi-arid grassland. Wind Cave National Park, also in the Black Hills, has an extensive cave network. The Missouri River divides the state into East River and West River, and most reservations lie in the west. Sights are far apart, and public transit runs only in Sioux Falls, Rapid City and on the Yankton Reservation, so most trips need a car. Summers are warm with thunderstorms, and winters bring cold and blizzards, so summer and early fall suit most road trips.
South Dakota in five
- Know that Mount Rushmore charges for parking, not entryThe memorial has no entrance fee, but parking in the concession-run lot costs money and a parking ticket gives unlimited entry for a year. Federal passes do not cover the parking fee, and no reservation is needed.
- Pay the Custer State Park fee onceA vehicle license is $25 and valid for 1 to 7 days, covering the Wildlife Loop and Needles Highway. Driving straight through on US Highway 16A without stopping does not need a license.Great Plains
- Drive the Badlands at sunrise or sunsetThe Badlands entrance is $30 per private vehicle, and the light on the formations is best early and late. Shade is scarce, so carry water and plan the middle of the day for a different stop.
- Plan around distances and the Sturgis rallyRapid City to Sioux Falls is a very long drive, and Black Hills rooms fill and rates jump during the August motorcycle rally. Book early or visit another week.
- Add Nebraska or Minneapolis only with spare daysThe state is a link in a larger Plains route, not a day trip from anywhere. Choose one corridor and let the rest go.Nebraska
Neighborhoods
Rapid City
- Best for: Parks, mountain drives, first trip
- Price band: $$$
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial, established in 1925
- Custer State Park holds an annual Buffalo Roundup
- Black Elk Peak, 7,242 ft, is the state's highest point
Skip if you want flat plains, lakes and quiet small towns.
Black Hills
A granite mountain range in southwestern South Dakota, known for Mount Rushmore, wildlife drives in Custer State Park and the old gold-rush town of Deadwood.
Badlands National Park
A loop road through striped buttes and open grassland, with bison and prairie dogs often visible from the road, makes Badlands National Park a worthwhile half-day drive in western South Dakota.
Custer State Park
Custer State Park is known for its free-roaming bison herd, granite pinnacles and winding scenic drives in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Things to do in South Dakota
See all attractions in South Dakota
Need to know
- Airport
- Rapid City (RAP) for the Black Hills and Badlands; Sioux Falls (FSD) in the east
- Getting there
- Fly to Rapid City, or drive Interstate 90 across the state
- Getting around
- A car is essential; distances between sights are long
- Best base
- Rapid City, Keystone, Custer or Hill City for the Black Hills
- Time needed
- 4 to 5 days for the Black Hills and Badlands together
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy4 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh-3°Low-11°Cold, snowJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- -3°
- Low
- -11°
- Precipitation
- 11 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, snow
- FebruaryPartly cloudy5 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh0°Low-10°Cold, dryFebruaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 0°
- Low
- -10°
- Precipitation
- 18 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, dry
- MarchPartly cloudy6 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh7°Low-3°VariableMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 7°
- Low
- -3°
- Precipitation
- 31 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Variable
- AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh13°Low2°Spring stormsAprilPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring storms
- MayPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh21°Low10°Green, mildMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, mild
- JuneClear8 rainy daysHigh28°Low17°Warm, busyJuneClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- JulyClear9 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low20°Peak, hotJulyClear
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 96 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Peak, hot
- AugustClear8 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh30°Low19°Rally, hotAugustClear
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Rally, hot
- SeptemberClear5 rainy daysHigh26°Low15°Fall colorSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fall color
- OctoberClear6 rainy daysHigh16°Low6°Cool, quietOctoberClear
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- NovemberPartly cloudy4 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low-1°Cold, quietNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 18 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- DecemberPartly cloudy5 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh1°Low-8°Cold, snowDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 1°
- Low
- -8°
- Precipitation
- 29 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, snow
Average daily high and low in Rapid City, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in South Dakota
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
14
- Feels like
- 10°
- Humidity
- 89%
- Wind
- 28 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 96%
South Dakota
06:57 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today16°10°96%Monday: Rain. High 16°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 96%.
- Tue10°5°9%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Wed13°4°11%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Thu13°6°11%Thursday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 11%.
- Fri12°5°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat13°7°2%Saturday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sun11°5°1%Sunday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 1%.
Updated 03:29 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Mount Rushmore National Memoriala short drive from Keystone or Rapid CityPark, walk the Presidential Trail and see the evening lighting program without a reservation.
- Custer State Parka short drive from Custer or Hill CityWildlife Loop, Needles Highway and mountain lakes; pay the vehicle license once for 1 to 7 days.
- Badlands National Parkeast of Rapid City by carLayered rock spires and prairie overlooks; sunrise and sunset are best.
Before you go to South Dakota
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for South Dakota, checked
- Mount Rushmore has no entrance fee but charges for parking in the concession lot; federal passes do not cover it, and no reservation is needed.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Custer State Park charges $25 per vehicle for a daily license valid for 1 to 7 days, or $20 per motorcycle.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
- Badlands National Park charges $30 per private vehicle for entry, with other rates for motorcycles and on-foot visitors.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Plan around South Dakota
How the prairie states fit into one road trip
Read the guideNebraskaThe next state south and east on the Plains
Read the guideIowaFarmland and small towns along the I-80 corridor
Read the guideMinneapolisA big-city start for the northern Plains
Read the guideGetting around the USACar rental and road-trip planning for visitors
Read the guideESTA explainedWho needs it and how to apply before you fly
Read the guideAll of the USAParks, cities and trip planning for visitors
Read the guideSouth Dakota FAQ
How many days do you need in South Dakota?
Four days cover Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park and the Badlands. Five days add the Black Hills towns, caves or an easy scenic drive. Anything shorter is a quick loop from Rapid City.
Does Mount Rushmore charge an entrance fee?
No. The memorial does not charge an entrance fee, but parking in the concession-operated lot costs money and passes do not cover it. No reservation is needed to visit.
Is Custer State Park included with a national parks pass?
No. Custer is a state park with its own license: $25 per vehicle, valid for 1 to 7 days. Federal passes such as America the Beautiful do not apply to this state fee.
What is the best time to visit South Dakota?
June and September are the easiest months: warm days, lighter crowds than July and August, and open roads. July and August bring heat and traffic, and winter snow can close mountain roads.
Can you see the Black Hills and Badlands in one day?
You can, but it is a rushed day with a lot of driving. Pick one area for the day and a second the next, or the loop becomes more windshield than scenery.