Free activities in South Dakota

What’s better than visiting some amazing historical sites? Not paying a dime for them! Check out these great free activities in South Dakota.

Badlands National Park

Spanning 244,000 acres, South Dakota’s Badlands National Park is one of the biggest protected mix-grass prairies. Visitors can explore the rugged beauty of the badlands via foot, on horseback, by car through the scenic loop or discover many trails on their own. Discover native wildlife like bison, bighorn sheep, swift fox, the endangered black-footed ferret and more.

Location: Park HQ, 25216 Ben Reifel Road, Interior, South Dakota 57750

Phone: 605-433-5361

?Website:nps.gov/badl/

Corn Palace

Come summer time, free guided tours of Corn Palace are led by friendly docents who are ready to share all kinds of “corny” facts. The tour also features video detailing the Corn Palace history. Check out the displays, watch artists create murals and learn about all things corn.

Location: 604 N. Main Street, Mitchell, South Dakota 57301

Phone: 605-995-8430

Website:cornpalace.com?

Crazy Horse Memorial

In 1939 Chief Henry Standing Bear wrote the following words to sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski: “My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know the red man has great heroes, too.” He hoped that the artist would visit the Black Hills and carve a mountain sculpture, much like Mount Rushmore, honoring the American Indians.

The Crazy Horse Memorial is still being constructed to this day — 55 years after the artist began the project. His family continues work on what is set to be the world’s largest mountain sculpture standing 563 feet high and stretching across 641 feet. ??

Location: 12151 Avenue of the Chiefs, Crazy Horse, South Dakota 57730?

Phone: 605-673-4681

Website:crazyhorsememorial.org

Mount Rushmore

It’s impossible to visit South Dakota without taking a trip to Mount Rushmore in Keystone to gaze at the vast beauty of 60-foot tall faces commemorating four of our country’s presidents — George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

The monument is breathtaking, particularly at night when it is illuminated. This is certainly something every family should have on their bucket list.

Location: 13000 Highway 244, Keystone, South Dakota 57751?

Phone: 605-574-2523

Website:nps.gov/moru/?

Falls Park, Sioux Falls

Home to the waterfalls of the Falls of the Big Sioux River, the Falls Park area been a source of industry and recreation for more than 150 years. Its culture, historic buildings and beautiful surrounding landscape are not to be missed during your visit.

Location: Falls Park at Sioux Falls, South Dakota?

Phone: 605-367-8222

Website:travelsd.com

More about South Dakota

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Family attractions in South Dakota
Festivals and family events in South Dakota