South Dakota has a fascinating Native American culture and Wild West history, a buzzing rodeo, and beautiful cities. The best way to explore this American state is to go on a road trip with your closest friends and family.
We recommend driving down Interstate 90 from east to west so you can observe all the incredible roadside attractions and natural sites along the way. It is difficult to nail down just a few Instagrammable locations in South Dakota since the complete region is so spectacular.
To help, we have picked a few of South Dakota’s most interesting locations for visiting on a vacation. You can take wonderful travel shots at these spots and enjoy the scenic landscapes with your loved ones.
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Here Are Some of the Most Incredible Instagrammable Places in South Dakota
1. Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Mount Rushmore is one of the top locations you need to visit if you are in South Dakota. It is an impressive structure carved into Mount Rushmore among the Black Hills region of South Dakota. The project was completed in 1941 under the guidance of Gutzon Borglum and his son, Lincoln.
The faces on the mountain depict the U.S. presidents, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and George Washington.
#MondoExplorertip: The best time to take a photograph at Mount Rushmore National Memorial is in the morning. This is because the mount faces east, and the presidents’ structures look most amazing in that lighting.
2. Deadwood
Deadwood is located in the Black Hills National Forest and is a place where you can enjoy at all times of the day. It is a great location for outdoor adventures, and you can enjoy mountain bike rides, hikes, and ATV trails of the Black Hills here.
It is a picturesque place which used to be famous for its gold rush history. If you are interested in having some fun adventures and taking pictures in this scenic part of South Dakota, be sure to put Deadwood on your must-visit spots.
3. Custer State Park
Custer State Park is one of the most popular parks in South Dakota. It is famous for its bison herds, scenic drives, visitor centers, resorts, fishing lakes, historic sites, campgrounds, and so much more. It was named as one of World’s Top Ten Wildlife Destinations for the variety of wildlife that is present in the parks.
If you want to experience some serenity away from the city, the Custer State Park is the perfect place to visit. With beautiful forests, wildlife, cliffs, and lakes, there are plenty of unmissable photo opportunities you can check out.
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4. Rapid City Art Alley
If you don’t want to venture out in the wilderness and want to capture some amazing city shots, you should visit the Rapid City Art Alley.
This unique and beautiful back alley has buildings that have some of the best graffiti-style murals you would have ever seen. The vivid colors are super uplifting and can make for an amazing backdrop.
If you want to truly impress your Instagram followers, we recommend visiting the Rapid City Art Alley and taking some cute shots with your friends.
5. South Dakota Sunflowers
South Dakota is responsible for growing a large number of sunflowers in the USA. When these beautiful flowers are in full bloom, the sunflowers fields are a sight to behold.
If you are a nature enthusiast and want to experience running through a field of large golden sunflowers, we recommend visiting South Dakota.
You can take some pretty snaps for your Instagram feed and capture some aesthetic shots at sunrise or sunset.
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6. Badlands National Park
The Badlands National Park is one of the most incredible locations you must visit on your tour of South Dakota.
The landscapes in the park are breathtaking and the steep canyons, rock formations, and large, towering spires are perfect for taking pictures. If you want to view the Badlands National Park, you can drive the Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240) to check out the picturesque lookouts.
7. Spearfish Canyon
If you are a hiker, you must visit the Spearfish Canyon in South Dakota. The hike to the canyon is highly rewarding and you will find yourself amazed by the visual wonder in front afterward.
Spearfish Canyon looks spectacular in all seasons. It can make for a great photo spot if you like beautiful displays of nature and want to show off your love for the outdoors on Instagram.
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8. Buffalo Roundup
If you make it to the Custer State Park in a specific time of the year, you will be able to spot some rodeos rounding up the buffalos.
The yearly tradition of Buffalo round up allows tourists to take pictures of the stunning wildlife at Custer State Park and capture beautiful shots of the west river as well.
The west river can make for a stunning backdrop for your Instagram pictures and is an amazing sight you shouldn’t miss.
9. Palisades State Park
If you are interested in visiting some unique locations on your trip to South Dakota, you should check out the Palisades State Park. The Palisades State Park features amazing rock formations and cliffs that have eroded off of the pink Sioux Quartzite.
You will find the park situated ten miles off Interstate 90 and south of Garetson. It is South Dakota’s second smallest state park and a great one for photography enthusiasts. The pink Quartzite cliffs line the river as it winds through the Palisades State Park and allows you to capture some fantastic photos.
10. Wild Horse Sanctuary
Fulfil your childhood desires and visit the wild horse sanctuary in South Dakota for a memorable fun day!
Not only can you see some of the most beautiful horses on the estate, but you can also see them running freely as they explore the pasture around them.
If you are a big horse lover, you can take a picture up close with the horses or capture a selfie as they run in the background behind the safe fences.
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Summary
South Dakota is one of the most beautiful states you can visit on a vacation. You can get a chance to take pictures with various natural landscapes as the backdrop, as well as explore what its hospitable and beautiful cities have to offer.
If you are a first-time visitor to South Dakota, we recommend going to at least five to six locations mentioned above. You can take some great pictures for your Instagram and inspire some wanderlust in your followers.
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Hi I’m Jay. I grew up in Seattle, Washington and live in Los Angeles, California. I have travelled to 23 countries so far and planning to go explore more countries soon! My Favorite trips so far have been to Israel, Japan, Rome, Iceland and Australia. I started this site to share my love of travel with everyone and build a community of like-minded, free thinking, free exploring people.
