Historic / Picturesque Towns in Eastern SD (Sioux Falls, Rapid City: hotel, homes, to buy)

[Empidonax]

Hi All-- My husband and I are taking a trip to the Dakotas during the last half of August. Most of our itinerary is set: Milwaukee to Fargo; Fargo to Bismarck; Bismarck to Medora/TR National Park; from there to Devil's Tower in Wyoming; then to the Black Hills and Badlands in SD for a few days; after that, a stopover in Pierre.

What comes next is sort of up in the air. From Pierre (and a stop at Mitchell) we'll spend 3-4 days heading back to Milwaukee, probably via northern Iowa, but it all depends. If possible, we'd like to stop off on our way out of the state to see some historic / handsome / interesting towns.

One option is for us to leave SD via Yankton, Vermillion, and Elk Point, and stop over at Sioux City or Le Mars, Iowa.

But we are also looking at a route taking us through towns closer to Sioux Falls, such as Freeman, Parker, Dell Rapids, and Garretson.

Any recommendations on which route to take and which towns to visit? Perhaps there are other central/south towns in eastern SD to consider? (Unfortunately, places like De Smet and Lake Poinsett are probably a bit too far north for us to consider.)

Thanks for any input you can provide.

[Star691]

Late August is a great time to visit SD! Would suggest visiting De Smet, however you mentioned that is too far north. You may already know that De Smet is historic, as it was the childhood home of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
You'll probably want to stop and take pictures of the Missouri River where I-90 crosses it at Chamberlain(there are parking areas), as that area has fantastic views and scenery. Also, recommend visiting the Corn Palace while in Mitchell.

Suggest taking the northern Iowa route on the return trip, and stopping over in Sioux City. Many things to see there, such as the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - lots of memorabilia from various musicians, the Sioux City Museum(currently has free admission), and the Sioux City Arts Center. For dining in Sioux City, check out the Tastee Inn and Out on Gordon Drive - it has a retro 1950's drive-thru diner look. You'll also find just about every major restaurant and hotel chain in Sioux City.
Have fun on your trip!

[601halfdozen0theother]

Originally Posted by Empidonax

. From Pierre (and a stop at Mitchell) we'll spend 3-4 days heading back to Milwaukee, probably via northern Iowa, but it all depends. If possible, we'd like to stop off on our way out of the state to see some historic / handsome / interesting towns.

Well, I live in the Yankton/Vermilion area, and love it, and I also think the buildings in Del Rapids are beautiful. Both areas are nice. From either place you absolutely should stop next in Pipestone, MN and walk through the National Monument area ( https://www.nps.gov/Nr/travel/pipestone/pnm.htm ) It is beautiful and very moving. Make sure you stop for a meal and to buy a pie at Lange's cafe in Pipestone!

Or here's another option: From Mitchell go south on 37 to Niobrara NE, then east on HWY 12 to Sioux City. This has got to be one of the most beautiful road trips in the U.S.A., and hardly anyone knows about it.

If you decide on traveling via Yankton, make sure you walk across the Meridian bridge above the Missouri, and bring a padlock with you to place on the bridge to "lock in" your love. In Vermillion the Music Museum is of national importance and quality. Make sure you get the headphones for your visit - visiting the museum is not the same without hearing the sounds produced by these amazing instruments. The museum is an a historic Carnegie building, which is pretty, and some of the older more beautiful buildings on the campus of USD are located nearby.

You mentioned Elk Point, SD. It's not a very interesting town at all. If you're thinking of the nearby Adams homestead, the homestead itself is closed most of the year, although the park is open for hiking, biking and picnics.

If you're driving Sioux Falls to Pipestone, stop in Luverne, MN which has beautiful Sioux Quartzite buildings just as Del Rapids does. There's a really nice art gallery there!

If you decide to drive across northern IA you've absolutely got to stop at the Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend, IA.

And I'll put in a plug here for the Living History Farms in Urbandale, IA (I worked there for many years and still love it so!)

[ClaraC]

I just returned from SD, and am amazed at how beautiful and charming it is. Through and through.

May I suggest the town of Lead, in the northern part of the Black Hills? It's the prettiest little town, and very close to Spearfish Canyon loop, which is gorgeous. I would recommend stopping for lunch along the loop at Latchstring Resort - or even staying there at the resort.

And don't miss Mount Rushmore - if you have time, the Illumination Ceremony at 9 p.m. where you see a half hour video of the making of Mount Rushmore and a bio of the presidents carved there, and then the mountain is illuminated and there is a tribute at the end to the veterans in the audience.

The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Sioux City is wonderful too, and free.

Have fun!

[Empidonax]

Thanks, all, for your helpful advice. The South Dakota leg of our trip went smoothly (for the most part) and was a lot of fun. We enjoyed the Black Hills a great deal, and especially loved Custer State Park and the Badlands. We saw a lot of the animals that we were hoping to see: bison, pronghorns, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and quite a few birds. Some eats we enjoyed included Chislic, Indian Tacos, and Bison Burgers. The Purple Pie Place in Custer was a favorite for their bumbleberry pie. Mount Rushmore was great, of course, but we also enjoyed seeing the president statues in Rapid City. We tried taking the scenic route in northern Nebraska from Niobrara to Sioux City, but a traffic backup south of Mitchell rerouted us, and then a bridge was closed on Hwy 12, so we doubled back to Yankton, explored that a bit, and then proceeded to Le Mars, Iowa, via Vermillion. It was all good-- a fun adventure with lots of great scenery. Thanks again.