Where to go in South Dakota

Perfect itineraries for exploring South Dakota in one or two days

Ideally you'd have three or four days and can set your own schedule, do lots of hiking, take a horseback ride to Crazy Horse, etc. But if time is limited and you only have a day or two, here is how to fit the best of South Dakota into just 24 or 48 hours:

If you have one day in South Dakota

Spend the morning in Custer State Park. Drive the Wildlife Loop Road to see where the buffalo roam (often right past your window), and then the Needles Highway past Sylvan Lake before looping back east on Rte. 244 to snap a quick picture of Mt. Rushmore. Continue up Rte. 16a/Rte. 16 to Rapid City to hop on I-90 east.

Follow this all the way to exit 131, the second exit for Rte. 240 (not the first exit for Rte. 240, at the town of Wall). This will loop you down into Badlands National Park, the road turning back west to take you through the best of the park, then turning north at the Pinnacles entrance back up to I-90 at Wall, where you can pay homage to Wall Drug and find a cheap motel for the night.

If you have two days in South Dakota

Day 1: In the morning, drop of I-90 at Spearfish to follow Rte. 14 south through scenic Spearfish Canyon. At the end, get on Rte. 85 north to Deadwood for some lunch in this infamous old Wild West gambling den. Swing past Mt. Rushmore for a quick photo-op on your way into Custer State Park.

Take the late afternoon to drive the Wildlife Loop Road to see where the buffalo roam (often right past your window)—no to mention the Bighorn Sheep, wild turkeys, wild donkeys, pronghorns, and other amazing critters.

Stay in the park tonight (there are loads of hisotric lodges, cabins, and campgrounds); maybe see if there's a show at the excellent Black Hills Playhouse.

Day 2: If you dig caverns, take the first morning tour (usually leaves between 9am and 9:30am; in winter at 10am) of Wind Cave National Park (on the southern edge of Custer), then drive the Needles Highway past Sylvan Lake before hopping on Rte. 16 north to Rapid City to hop on I-90 east.

Follow this all the way to exit 131, the second exit for Rte. 240 (not the first exit for Rte. 240, at the town of Wall). This will loop you down into Badlands National Park, the road turning back west to take you through the best of the park, then turning north at the Pinnacles entrance to head back up to I-90 at Wall, where you can pay homage to Wall Drug and find a cheap motel for the night.

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