6 GREAT SOUTH DAKOTA NATIONAL PARKS
National Parks in South Dakota include Wind Cave and Badlands National Parks along with multiple historical sites to explore. Jewel Cave National Monument is also in South Dakota.
We loved visiting both Wind Cave and Badlands National Park. Both parks are near Mount Rushmore so you can visit multiple national parks during one trip. We would love to go back and spend more time exploring this gorgeous area of the United States.
South Dakota National Parks
Badlands National Park
Badlands National Park is located in southwestern South Dakota approximately 75 miles east of Rapid City. The park is open year-round though it may be inaccessible in the winter. The park offers an amazing scenic drive, hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing.
The Badlands Loop Road loops on South Dakota 240 from Interstate 90. This 36-mile scenic drive offers the opportunity to see some of the main highlights within the park. The park protects the largest expanse of protected prairie ecosystems in the National Park Service.
A visit to Ben Reifel Visitor Center provides the opportunity to watch the park movie, pick up a junior ranger program, and learn more about the "Badlands."
Jewel Cave National Monument
Jewel Cave NM is located in southwestern South Dakota approximately 50 miles southwest of Rapid City. The park is open year-round but may have limited hours during the winter. The park offers the opportunity to explore the world's third longest cave.
Jewel Cave was discovered in 1900 and was considered a small cave. Over time explorers have mapped more than 175 miles of passages earning the cave the title of the 3rd longest cave in the world. The longest cave is Mammoth Cave in Kentucky.
All tours through Jewel Cave are on ranger-guided tours. There are two hiking trails within the park and in the adjacent Black Hill National Forest.
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
Lewis and Clark NHT is approximately 4,900 miles long crosses sixteen states following the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The Lewis and Clark expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark officially started in May 1804 and ended in September 1806.
President Thomas Jefferson was determined to send an expedition to explore western North America and find a feasible water route to the Pacific Ocean.
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
Minuteman Missile NHS is located in southwestern South Dakota approximately 75 miles east of Rapid City. The park is open year-round and offers the opportunity to tour a missile launch facility and launch-control center.
During the Cold War period between World War II into the early 1960s, the arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union led to the creation of weapons of mass destruction.
The weapons were considered a deterrent to war. South Dakota housed a force of thousands of Minuteman Missiles. Each missile was stored underground in a silo and armed with a nuclear warhead.
Today you can tour a gorgeous new visitor center, the aboveground Launch Control Facility Delta-01, and the underground laund control center. Reservations are required and should be booked as soon as you know when you want to visit the site.
Missouri National Recreational River
The Missouri National Recreational River runs from northeastern Nebraska to southeastern South Dakota. The park includes 98 miles of the Missouri River along with 20 miles of the lower Niobrara River and 8 miles of Verdigre Creek. The park offers boating, fishing and bird watching.
The Corp of Discovery led by Lewis and Clark followed the Missouri River for its entire length.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Mount Rushmore NM is located in southwestern South Dakota approximately 24 miles southwest of Rapid City. The park is open year-round and offers the opportunity to view an icon of America.
Mount Rushmore is one of the best-known sites within the US National Park System. The idea of Mount Rushmore was born in 1924 when South Dakota historian Doane Robinson contacted sculptor Gutzon Borglum.
He had the idea of creating a carving on a mountain top in the area. Work on the sculpture began in 1927 and continued until 1941. Four presidents are portrayed on Mount Rushmore - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.
The president's heads are 60 feet high carved in South Dakota granite. If possible plan to visit when you can see the monument during the day but also witness the flag ceremony at the end of the day.
Wind Cave National Park
Wind Cave NP is located in southwestern South Dakota approximately 50 miles south of Rapid City. The park offers the opportunity to take guided cave tours, camp, and observe wildlife.
Wind Cave is the world's sixth-longest cave system. Brothers Jesse and Tom Bingham heard a whistling noise and traced it to the cave's only natural opening in 1881. The strong wind blew Tom's hat off giving the cave its name.
Wind Cave became the eighth National Park in the United States in 1903. It was the first park in the world created to protect a cave. The park's recreation areas occur above ground as well as within the cave.
The park also protects an important tract of mixed-grass prairie. Visitors can watch bison and prairie dogs within the park.
List of South Dakota National Parks
- Badlands National Park
- Jewel Cave National Monument
- Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
- Missouri National Recreational River (SD, NE)
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- Wind Cave National Park
Affiliated Area
- Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail (ID, IL, IA, KS, MO, MT, NE, ND, OR, SD, WA)
South Dakota State Parks
There are 6 National Parks in South Dakota that receive over 4.4 million visitors each year. These visitors produce over $292 million in economic benefits through tourism.
South Dakota National Parks include 1 Wild and Scenic River managed by the National Park Service, 1 National Trail, 1,325 National Register of Historic Places Listings, 16 National Historic Landmarks and 13 National Natural Landmarks.
National Parks in South Dakota also includes 147 places recorded by the Heritage Documentation Programs, over 646K objects in the South Dakota National Park museum collections and 582 Archeological Sites.
Do you love wine? There are some great wineries in South Dakota near Mount Rushmore. Check out these US National Park inspired Wines for ideas on wines to try. If you are more of a beer drinker check out these beers inspired by the National Parks
National Parks in neighboring states
National Parks in North Dakota
How many National Parks have you visited? Check out this printable list of National Parks to check off all of the parks you have visited.
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