Highest-rated free things to do in South Dakota, according to Tripadvisor
Highest-rated free things to do in South Dakota, according to Tripadvisor
It is incredibly expensive to be an American. While workers in the United States have seen an 80% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2024 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1970 and 2022, the national consumer price index increased by over 500%, while wages only grew by 80%.
That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. The number of cost-burdened households in the U.S. reached an 11-year record in 2022, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. In June 2024, Redfin reported that the median U.S. home sale price hit an all-time high of $394,000.
It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in South Dakota.
Think about the most common items on a vacation getaway itinerary: sightseeing, touring landmarks, or completing a nature walk. Or, maybe you're just aiming to relax and want some peace and quiet. Whether you're a history buff or aching to dip your toes in some cool water, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.
To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in South Dakota using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of June 12, 2024.
Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!
#30. Devil's Bathtub
- Rating: 4.5/5 (104 reviews)
- Address: Cloepatra Road Spearfish, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#29. Cascade Falls
- Rating: 4.5/5 (144 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#28. Pettigrew Home & Museum
- Rating: 4.5/5 (138 reviews)
- Address: 131 North Duluth Ave. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#27. Mt Roosevelt Monument
- Rating: 4.5/5 (203 reviews)
- Address: North of Deadwood Deadwood, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#26. State Capitol
- Rating: 4.5/5 (248 reviews)
- Address: 500 East Capitol Ave. Pierre, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#25. St. Joseph Cathedral
- Rating: 5/5 (344 reviews)
- Address: 521 North Duluth Ave. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#24. Storybook Land and Land of Oz
- Rating: 5/5 (229 reviews)
- Address: 2300 24th Ave. Northwest Aberdeen, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#23. Chamberlain Lewis & Clark Welcome Center & Rest Area
- Rating: 4.5/5 (212 reviews)
- Address: I-90 Chamberlain, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#22. Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center
- Rating: 4.5/5 (369 reviews)
- Address: 160 West Main St. Lead, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#21. Prairie Berry Winery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (564 reviews)
- Address: 23837 Highway 385 Hill City, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#20. Dinosaur Park
- Rating: 4/5 (1,145 reviews)
- Address: 940 Skyline Drive Rapid City, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#19. D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (440 reviews)
- Address: 423 Hatchery Cir Spearfish, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#18. Historic Old Town
- Rating: 4/5 (1,217 reviews)
- Address: 480-484 Lower Main St. Deadwood, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#17. Prairie Edge Trading Co. & Galleries
- Rating: 4.5/5 (567 reviews)
- Address: 606 Main St. Rapid City, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#16. Museum of Geology
- Rating: 4.5/5 (385 reviews)
- Address: 501 East Saint Joseph St. 3rd Floor of O'Hara Builidng on SDSMT campus Rapid City, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#15. SculptureWalk
- Rating: 4.5/5 (558 reviews)
- Address: 300 South Phillips Ave. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#14. South Dakota Air and Space Museum
- Rating: 4.5/5 (953 reviews)
- Address: 2890 Davis Dr. Bldg#5208 Rapid City, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#13. Corn Palace
- Rating: 3.5/5 (2,428 reviews)
- Address: 604 North Main St. Mitchell, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#12. Storybook Island
- Rating: 4.5/5 (823 reviews)
- Address: 1301 Sheridan Lake Road Rapid City, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#11. Dignity of Earth and Sky
- Rating: 5/5 (395 reviews)
- Address: Interstate 90 Rest Area Above The Missouri River Chamberlain, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#10. Black Hills National Forest
- Rating: 5/5 (913 reviews)
- Address: Custer, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#9. Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
- Rating: 4.5/5 (879 reviews)
- Address: 24545 Cottonwood Road Philip, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#8. Akta Lakota Museum
- Rating: 5/5 (472 reviews)
- Address: 1301 North Main St. St. Joseph's Indian School Chamberlain, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#7. Chapel in the Hills
- Rating: 4.5/5 (682 reviews)
- Address: 3788 Chapel Lane Rapid City, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#6. Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway
- Rating: 4.5/5 (965 reviews)
- Address: US Highway 14A Spearfish, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#5. Wall Drug
- Rating: 3.5/5 (4,257 reviews)
- Address: 510 Main St. Wall, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#4. Downtown Rapid City
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,342 reviews)
- Address: 512 Main St. Rapid City, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#3. Spearfish Canyon
- Rating: 5/5 (835 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#2. Iron Mountain Road
- Rating: 5/5 (1,729 reviews)
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#1. Falls Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,439 reviews)
- Address: 131 East Falls Park Drive Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Zuri White-Gibson, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.
