Great Faces and Great Places of South Dakota

9 days of adventure through The Great American West

Start Minneapolis, MN |Finish Rapid City, SD

Itinerary

DAY 1 – Fly to Minneapolis, Minnesota

Arrive in Minneapolis and collect your rental car in preparation for the next day. Settle in at your hotel for dinner, or, venture into the city for dinner & drinks to explore the nightlife.

Overnight: Minneapolis

DAY 2 – Minneapolis to Sioux Falls (240 miles)

Cross the border into South Dakota and head to Sioux Falls, the urban centre of South Dakota, rooted in history of the Native American Lakota Sioux. One of the highlights is Falls Park, with a beautiful triple waterfall! The craft brewery scene has exploded here, as has the dining scene with many world champion chefs around town. With multiple museums you will be spoilt for choice on art, history and culture in Sioux Falls. Follow the SculptureWalk through downtown; every year over 50 new sculptures are displayed throughout the city so you will never see the same one twice!

Overnight: Sioux Falls

DAY 3 - Sioux Falls to De Smet (198 miles)

Take a day trip to the small town of De Smet to following in the footsteps of Laura Ingalls Wilder and Little House on the Prairie. Visit the Ingalls Homestead to discover what life was like in 1862 - drive a covered wagon, attend a one-room schoolhouse, twist hay, grind wheat, make rope and wash clothes in the same was Laura and her family did. At the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society view more than 2,000 artefacts of Ingalls family memorabilia, and visit the original Loftus Store Laura often wrote about.

Overnight: Sioux Falls

DAY 4 – Sioux Falls to Pierre (226 miles)

Hit the road heading west. En-route to Pierre make a stop at two of South Dakota’s most iconic roadside attractions. In Mitchell admire the world’s only Corn Palace – uniquely designed murals, all made from naturally coloured corn, grains and native grasses. The Dignity of Earth and Sky sculpture casts a peaceful gaze across the waters of the Missouri River near Chamberlain. Standing 50 feet tall, the statue was designed to honour the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota people. Continue to Pierre (pronounced ‘peer’) South Dakota’s state capital. Visit the State Capitol Building, the Cultural Heritage Center, South Dakota National Guard Museum, or head outdoors to Fort Pierre, the Oahe Dam or La Framboise Island.

Overnight: Pierre

DAY 5 – Pierre to Badlands National Park to Rapid City (200 miles)

Head west to Badlands National Park - a maze of buttes, canyons and gullies formed by millions of years of erosion. Witness the layers of coloured rock change in the warmth of the sunlight throughout the day. Don’t miss a quick stop at the infamous Wall Drug for quirky shopping and amazing doughnuts! For the afternoon/evening explore Rapid City, home to the Journey Museum and a newly-revamped downtown scene.

Overnight: Rapid City

DAY 6 – Rapid City to Deadwood & Spearfish Canyon (120 miles)

Start your day in the Old West town of Deadwood where the legends of Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane live on. Visit the Days of 76 Museum or try your luck at one of the town’s numerous gaming parlours. Take US Highway 14A through spectacular Spearfish Canyon, featuring windy roads and towering limestone cliffs. Stop for a short walk to take in one of three spectacular waterfalls along the way. Before returning to Rapid City for the night, motorcycle enthusiasts will enjoy a stop in the small town of Sturgis where motorcycling has a long history. The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame celebrates this and details the broader historical context of motorcycling and the people who have contributed to it over the years.

Overnight: Rapid City

DAY 7 – Rapid City to Custer (approx. 100 miles)

Start your day with a visit to Crazy Horse Memorial – the enormous granite carving in production, honouring the Native American warrior , which will stand at four times the size of Mount Rushmore once completed. Meander along the scenic Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road before the pièce de résistance to your trip and one of the most universally known attractions of South Dakota – Mount Rushmore National Memorial - a 60ft high mountain carving of U.S. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

Overnight: Custer

DAY 8 – Custer to Hot Springs (82 miles)

Continue your exploration of the Black Hills of South Dakota by heading south to Wind Cave National Park where you can walk one of the longest caves in the world, with rare formations knows as boxwork, popcorn, honeycomb and frostwork features. In Hot Springs visit the Mammoth Site to experience an active paleontological excavation of Ice Age Animals, or take a relaxing dip in the naturally heated mineral water in the town. Head back north to Custer State Park to admire the scenery which is home to over 1500 bison. Drive the 18mile wildlife loop road to spot bison, elk, deer, coyotes and a variety of birds.

Overnight: Custer

DAY 9 – Custer to Rapid City (42 miles)

Return to Rapid City to join your flight home.

When it comes to planning out how to reach your destination, Platinum Travel have all the air travel expertise to help you get the best route to your final location.

As a licensed and bonded Travel Agent we have access to negotiated contract and wholesale fares with airlines worldwide. Our Travel Concierge team members will help you with the best connections and airlines to suit your own personal requirements.

For many destinations a number of flights may be required and sometimes it will include arriving into one airport and leaving from another. We will ensure you have the best combination of flights to do this and make sure you cover the necessary MCT (minimum connecting time) so that you have the best opportunity of a smooth and easy journey.

Several airlines have introduced many ancillary charges such as seat assignments, checked bags, priority boarding etc. Platinum Travel will look after these for you and book you at the best available bundle package at the best price. Upgraded airline fares, lounge access & Fasttrack are also available and again Platinum Travel know how to avail of the best value for these extras.

Platinum Travel are a fully licensed and bonded travel agent so you have a lot more protection with us than with the internet (airlines are not bonded).

Gallery

‹ › ×

×

Previous Next