STURGIS, S.D. – While best known for its rides, races and concerts, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has much more to offer. Other events such as parades, parties, stunt shows, contests, games and more are hosted every day of the Rally at a variety of iconic venues.
In the schedule below, we’ve listed local events which take place during the 84th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, including locations and sorted by time of day.
For concerts at the Rally, click here. For rides and loops, click here. For races, click here.
Friday, August 2
Bikini Bike Wash
CrossRoads
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Full Throttle Magazine Official Rally Kickoff Show
CrossRoads
Registration from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Show from 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Ives Brothers Wall of Death
CrossRoads
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
City of Sturgis – Opening Ceremony Parade
Sturgis Main Street from 4th Street to Middle Street
3:00 p.m.
Badger Nation Moto Meetup
CrossRoads – Big Engine Bar
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Official Sturgis Rally Kickoff
Buffalo Chip
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Sturgis Rally Kickoff Parade
Buffalo Chip – Amphitheater
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
National Anthem and Opening Toast
Buffalo Chip – Wolfman Jack Stage
7:00 p.m. – 7:05 p.m.
Grunt Style Happy Hour
Roadhouse Deck
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Miss Buffalo Chip Beauty Pageant
Buffalo Chip – Wolfman Jack Stage
8:00 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
9:05 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.
11:59 p.m. – 12:15 a.m.
Live Music
Buffalo Chip – Bikini Beach
11:59 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
After Party
Club Chip
11:59 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Saturday, August 3
Free Pancake Breakfast – Sons of Light Ministry
CrossRoads
7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Bikini Bike Wash
Crossroads
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
School’s Out Chopper Show
CrossRoads
11:00 am to 4:00 pm
The Wango Tango Custom Gold Wing Show
CrossRoads
12:00 am to 11:59 pm
Biker Games
CrossRoads – Big Engine Bar
12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Contests
Buffalo Chip – Bikini Beach
12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Ives Brothers Wall of Death
CrossRoads
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Motorcycles As Art Exhibition
Buffalo Chip – Event Center
5:00 p.m. – 11:59 p.m.
Mayor’s Pub Crawl
Downtown Sturgis
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Grunt Style Happy Hour
Roadhouse Deck
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Miss Buffalo Chip Beauty Pageant
Buffalo Chip – Wolfman Jack Stage
8:00 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
9:45 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
11:59 p.m. – 12:15 a.m.
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship – Hart vs Starling
Buffalo Chip Amphitheater
10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
After Party
Club Chip
11:59 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Live Music
Buffalo Chip – Bikini Beach
11:59 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Grunt Style Bare Knuckle Fighting
Buffalo Chip – Bikini Beach
11:59 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Sunday, August 4
Free Pancake Breakfast – Sons of Light Ministry
CrossRoads
7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Flying Piston Breakfast
CrossRoads
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Bikini Bike Wash
Crossroads
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
10th Annual Flying Piston Benefit Builders Breakfast
Buffalo Chip
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
FXR Show & Dyna Mixer
CrossRoads
9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Ives Brothers Wall of Death
CrossRoads
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Contests
Buffalo Chip – Bikini Beach
12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Biker Games
CrossRoads – Big Engine Bar
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Creator Hangout
CrossRoads – Big Engine Bar
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Motorcycles As Art Exhibition
Buffalo Chip – Event Center
2:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Camp Zero Contraption Show
Camp Zero
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Martian Machine Games
Camp Zero
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Grunt Style Happy Hour
Roadhouse Deck
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Miss Buffalo Chip Beauty Pageant
Buffalo Chip – Wolfman Jack Stage
8:00 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
9:45 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
11:59 p.m. – 12:15 a.m.
Live Music
Buffalo Chip – Bikini Beach
11:59 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
After Party
Club Chip
11:59 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Monday, August 5
Free Pancake Breakfast – Sons of Light Ministry
CrossRoads
7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Legendary Sturgis 5K Fun Run
Sturgis City Park
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
H-D Bike Show
Rally Point
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Bikini Bike Wash
Crossroads
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
4th Annual Evo Entanglement Bike Show
CrossRoads
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
7th Annual Mayor’s Charity Poker Tournament
Cadillac Jack’s Gaming Resort
12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Ives Brothers Wall of Death
CrossRoads
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Contests
Buffalo Chip – Bikini Beach
12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Biker Games
CrossRoads – Big Engine Bar
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Bartender Contest
CrossRoads – Big Engine Bar
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Motorcycles As Art Exhibition
Buffalo Chip – Event Center
3:00 p.m. – 11:59 p.m.
Live Music
CrossRoads – Big Engine Bar
4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Legends Ride Auction
Buffalo Chip Gardens
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Sasha’s Cycles Rodeo Games
Camp Zero
5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Biker Games
CrossRoads – Big Engine Bar
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Grunt Style Happy Hour
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Roadhouse Deck
Miss Buffalo Chip Beauty Pageant
Buffalo Chip – Wolfman Jack Stage
8:00 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
9:45 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
11:59 p.m. – 12:15 a.m.
Live Music
Buffalo Chip – Bikini Beach
11:59 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
After Party
Club Chip
11:59 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Tuesday, August 6
Free Pancake Breakfast – Sons of Light Ministry
CrossRoads
7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
16th Annual Biker Belles
Buffalo Chip
7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
2024 Jacket Ride for Veteran Scholarships
Black Hills State University
8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Bikini Bike Wash
Crossroads
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sportster Showdown & Dirt Drags
Camp Zero
11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Ives Brothers Wall of Death
CrossRoads
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Contests
Buffalo Chip – Bikini Beach
12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Mini Bike Show
Camp Zero
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wet T-Shirt Contest
Stoneville Saloon
2:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.
Military Appreciation Day & B-1 Bomber Flyover
City of Sturgis
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Anarchy Games
Camp Zero
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Tattoo Contest
Rally Point
5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Biker Games
CrossRoads – Big Engine Bar
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m
Grunt Style Happy Hour
Roadhouse Deck
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Miss Buffalo Chip Beauty Pageant
Buffalo Chip – Wolfman Jack Stage
8:00 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
10:00 p.m. – 10:15 p.m.
11:59 p.m. – 12:15 a.m.
After Party
Club Chip
11:59 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Live Music
Buffalo Chip – Bikini Beach
11:59 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Wednesday, August 7
Free Pancake Breakfast – Sons of Light Ministry
CrossRoads
7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Sturgis Motorcycle Museum’s Hall of Fame Inductee Breakfast
Sturgis Motorcycle Museum
7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Bikini Bike Wash
Crossroads
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Pretty Fast Bike Show
CrossRoads
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Burnout Wednesday
Sundance, Wyoming
12:00 a.m. – 11:59 p.m.
Hulett WY Ham and Jam
Hulett, Wyoming
12:00 a.m. – 11:59 p.m.
Street Drag Invitational with Crazy John
Buffalo Chip – Amphitheater
12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Contests
Buffalo Chip – Bikini Beach
12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Ives Brothers Wall of Death
CrossRoads
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Contests
CrossRoads – Big Engine Bar
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m
Fan Fest
CrossRoads
1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Bike Show Mafia All Class Bike Show & Hangout
CrossRoads
3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Biker Games
CrossRoads
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Sturgis Annual Beard and Mustache Contest
Rally Point
5:00 p.m.
Godfather of Bass Audio Sound-Off Competition Presented by Bike Show Mafia Bike Show Mafia
CrossRoads
5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Motorcycles As Art Exhibition
Buffalo Chip – Event Center
5:00 p.m. – 11:59 p.m.
Biker Games
CrossRoads – Big Engine Bar
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Daredevil Wednesday
Buffalo Chip – Amphitheater
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Grunt Style Happy Hour
Roadhouse Deck
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Miss Buffalo Chip Beauty Pageant
Buffalo Chip – Wolfman Jack Stage
8:00 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
9:45 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
11:59 p.m. – 12:15 a.m.
After Party
Club Chip
11:59 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Live Music
Buffalo Chip – Bikini Beach
11:59 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Thursday, August 8
Free Pancake Breakfast – Sons of Light Ministry
CrossRoads
7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Bikini Bike Wash
Crossroads
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Rat’s Hole Custom Bike Show
CrossRoads
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Ives Brothers Wall of Death
CrossRoads
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Adam Sandoval’s Great American Convoy
CrossRoads
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Biker Games
CrossRoads – Big Engine Bar
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Contests
Buffalo Chip – Bikini Beach
12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Great American Convoy Bike Giveaway and Check Presentation
CrossRoads – Big Engine Bar
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Biker Games
CrossRoads – Big Engine Bar
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Freedom Celebration Presentation
Wolfman Jack Stage
7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Miss Buffalo Chip Beauty Pageant
Buffalo Chip – Wolfman Jack Stage
9:45 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
11:59 p.m. – 12:15 a.m.
After Party
Club Chip
11:59 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Live Music
Buffalo Chip – Bikini Beach
11:59 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Friday, August 9
Free Pancake Breakfast – Sons of Light Ministry
CrossRoads
7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Rusty Wallace Charity Ride
Outlaw Square and The Rocksino
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Bikini Bike Wash
Crossroads
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Custom Series King Award
Buffalo Chip – Wolfman Jack Stage
7:00 p.m. – 7:05 p.m.
Biker Games
CrossRoads – Big Engine Bar
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Ives Brothers Wall of Death
CrossRoads
2:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Biker Games
CrossRoads – Big Engine Bar
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Contests
Buffalo Chip – Bikini Beach
12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Miss Buffalo Chip Beauty Pageant
Buffalo Chip – Wolfman Jack Stage
8:00 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
9:45 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
11:59 p.m. – 12:15 a.m.
Miss Buffalo Chip Round 3
Buffalo Chip – Wolfman Jack Stage
11:59 p.m. – 12:25 a.m.
Grunt Style Happy Hour
Roadhouse Deck
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
After Party
Club Chip
11:59 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Live Music
Buffalo Chip – Bikini Beach
11:59 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Saturday, August 10
Bikini Bike Wash
Crossroads
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Contests
Buffalo Chip – Bikini Beach
12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Biker Games
CrossRoads – Big Engine Bar
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Ives Brothers Wall of Death
CrossRoads
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Biker Games
CrossRoads – Big Engine Bar
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Miss Buffalo Chip Beauty Pageant
Buffalo Chip – Wolfman Jack Stage
8:00 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
9:45 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
11:59 p.m. – 12:15 a.m.
After Party
Club Chip
11:59 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Live Music
Buffalo Chip – Bikini Beach
11:59 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Related:
Black Hills Attractions
Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame
999 Main Street, Sturgis, SD 57785
(605) 347-2001
The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame fits right in with the hustle and bustle of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and is a must-see for any biker or motorcycle enthusiast.
Since 2001, the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame has featured a collection of motorcycles from across history. Along with an extensive collection, the organization inducts new members who have made substantial contributions to the motorcycle community into its hall of fame each year.
The museum is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, operating through donations from individuals and organizations who are committed to the preservation of motorcycles.
Other visitors shouldn’t write off the experience either. The facility is both a museum and an art gallery, its rooms and halls lined with historical antiques, elaborately decorated custom bikes and art portraying the exciting world of motorcycling.
Spearfish Canyon
(605) 584-3896
A scenic byway without equal, Spearfish Canyon offers unparalleled natural vistas and is a must-see for residents and visitors alike.
Bridal Veil Falls is the most famous of Spearfish Canyon’s attractions, just as beautiful when flowing in the summer as when frozen solid in the winter. Further into the Canyon, visitors can enjoy tranquil hikes and unforgettable views at Spearfish Falls and Roughlock Falls.
It’s always worth keeping your eyes peeled during a drive through Spearfish Canyon. You never know when mountain goats might be climbing the rocky cliffs up above or taking their kids down to the river to drink.
Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center
160 W Main St, Lead, SD 57754
(605) 584-3110
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sundays.
After the closure of the deepest gold mine in the Northern Hemisphere, the space was repurposed into the Sanford Underground Research Facility.
The site’s Visitor Center is both a historical museum and a science center where guests can learn about the gold mine itself, the underground technology used by the Facility and the secrets of the universe studied there.
Mt. Roosevelt Friendship Tower
Deadwood, SD 57732
(605) 642-4622
The Friendship Tower at Mt. Roosevelt provides one of the best views to be found in the Black Hills. Visitors who climb the steep steps of the 31-foot tower can easily see all the way to Bear Butte over 17 miles away.
The hike up to the Tower is an experience in its own right with a variety of scenic vistas. It’s a great place to spot local wildlife such as deer and grouse.
Historic Adams House
22 Van Buren Street, Deadwood, SD 57732
(605) 578-3724
Open 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., seven days a week
The Historic Adams House in Deadwood is a time capsule of the early 20th century.
Originally built in 1892 by the Franklin family, the Adams House marked a change in the culture of Deadwood from a scrappy mining town to a hub of wealth and class. The house was purchased by the Adams family in 1920 and was closed up in 1936, leaving everything inside preserved just as it was.
A tour of this Queen Anne-style house is like a trip back in time, surrounding visitors with vintage aesthetics and antique furnishings such as phonographs and stained-glass windows. Tour guides tell the stories of the two families who lived in the house, how the house was built and how it came to be the museum it is today.
Dinosaur Park
940 Skyline Dr, Rapid City, SD 57701
(605)343-8687
Open seasonally from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Established in 1936 as a WPA project during the Great Depression, Dinosaur Park has become one of Rapid City’s most iconic landmarks.
The park’s famous Brontosaurus, affectionately nicknamed Dino by locals, can be seen from miles away. Visitors can get right up close to huge dinosaur statues and check out the Park’s gift shop.
Additionally, the nearby Skyline Drive Wilderness Area offers miles of trails which offer breathtaking views of the city below.
Chapel in the Hills
3788 Chapel Ln, Rapid City, SD 57702
(605) 342-8281
Open 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The traditional Norwegian architecture of the Chapel in the Hills replicates the design of an 850-year-old stave church about a hundred miles from Oslo.
Built in 1969, the Chapel in the Hills is the realization of a dream shared by two men to honor their Scandinavian roots. This year, the Chapel celebrated the 55th anniversary of its construction.
Other on-site buildings, including a gift shop, similarly replicate traditional Norwegian designs. This spiritual site makes a great place to relax and lose oneself in deep thought.
South Dakota Air and Space Museum
2890 Davis Dr, Ellsworth AFB, SD 57706
(605) 385-5189
Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week
Affectionately known as the Warbird Sanctuary, this aviation museum sits just outside of Ellsworth Air Force Base. The site’s air park is filled with a dizzying array of historical and modern aircraft which make for incredible photo ops.
The site’s four hangars house exhibits themed around the history of military technology, space travel, local aviation and the nearby Air Force Base.
Reptile Gardens
(800) 335-0275
8955 US-16, Rapid City, SD 57702
Open 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. seven days a week
Reptile Gardens is a popular wildlife attraction situated in Rapid City, South Dakota. It is one of the largest reptile zoos in the world, showcasing a diverse collection of reptiles and exotic animals.
Visitors can observe a wide range of snakes, alligators, lizards, and other reptiles up close in naturalistic habitats. In addition to the reptile exhibits, the park also features bird shows and interactive displays, offering an educational and entertaining experience for all ages.
Photo: Reptile Gardens Facebook
Bear Country USA
13820 US-16, Rapid City, SD 57702
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., seven days a week
Bear Country USA is a wildlife park located just outside of Rapid City. The park provides a natural habitat for a variety of North American wildlife, with a focus on black bears.
Visitors can drive through the park to observe the animals up close in their spacious enclosures, offering an educational and immersive experience with the region’s native fauna.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
13000 SD-244, Keystone, SD 57751
(605) 574-2523
No trip to western South Dakota is complete without a visit to Mount Rushmore, one of the world’s most iconic monuments and one of the first things an average outsider would think of when they hear “South Dakota”. Gutzon Borglum’s massive mountainside carving of US Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln attracts millions of visitors each year.
Visitors can drive around the Memorial to enjoy distant views of the four honored Presidents. The Information Center and Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center are worth a visit for those who want to get as close as possible and learn all there is to know. The site hosts educational interpretive programming throughout the summer season.
Crazy Horse
12151 Avenue of the Chiefs, Crazy Horse, SD 57730
8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. all week
Crazy Horse is a monumental mountain carving in progress located near Custer, South Dakota. It honors the Oglala Lakota warrior, Crazy Horse, who played a significant role in the history of Native Americans.
When completed, the sculpture will depict Crazy Horse mounted on a horse with his arm outstretched. It aims to be the world’s largest sculpture and serves as a symbol of Native American culture and resilience.
Visitors can view the ongoing work and learn about the cultural significance of the project at the Crazy Horse Memorial Visitor Center.
The Museum at Black Hills Institute
117 Main Street, Hill City, SD 57745
(605) 574-4289
A visit to the Museum at Black Hills Institute is essential for anyone with even a passing interest in life from Earth’s ancient past.
The facility’s seemingly endless gallery of exhibits includes dinosaurs, plesiosaurs, pterosaurs, monstrous fish, ammonites, giant birds, ancient mammals and more, and is frequently updated with new fossils and cast replicas.
The adjoining Everything Prehistoric Gift Shop is also an attraction unto itself, brimming with fossils, gemstones, books, toys, clothes and more. Overall, the site will prove fascinating for children and adults alike.
Custer State Park
Custer County, South Dakota
(605) 255-4515
For anyone looking for South Dakota’s majestic wildlife in its element, Custer State Park is a great place to start.
Guests can expect to find prairie dog towns and massive herds of bison and elk as they drive down the Wildlife Loop, as well as the occasional deer and pronghorn. Lucky visitors may enjoy rarer encounters such as grouse, bighorn sheep, mountain goats and even mountain lions.
The Park’s herd of burros is a particularly beloved attraction, often inviting themselves to reach into the open windows of passing vehicles in search of a snack.
Also within the Park are the beautiful Sylvan Lake, the Black Hills Playhouse and the Needles Highway. With so many things to see and do, it’s easy to plan a full day’s fun at Custer State Park.
Jewel Cave
11149 US-16 B-12, Custer, SD 57730
Open 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day
Jewel Cave is a significant natural wonder and one of the world’s longest known caves. It is located near Custer, South Dakota.
Visitors can explore its intricate passages adorned with stunning calcite crystals, forming the “jewels” that give the cave its name.
Guided tours offer an opportunity to marvel at the unique underground formations, learn about the cave’s geological history, and appreciate the delicate ecosystem that exists within its depths.
Photo: Jewel Cave Facebook
Wind Cave
26611 US Highway 385, Hot Springs, SD 57747
Open 24 hours
Wind Cave is a significant national park located in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It is one of the longest and most complex caves in the world, known for its unique boxwork formations.
Guided tours offer visitors a chance to explore the cave’s underground wonders, including its delicate calcite formations and rare cave features.
Above ground, the park’s prairie landscape provides opportunities for wildlife viewing and outdoor activities, making it a popular destination for nature lovers and cave enthusiasts alike.
Photo: Wind Cave Facebook
The Mammoth Site
1800 US-18 BYP, Hot Springs, SD 57747
Open 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. every day
The Mammoth Site is an archaeological site located in Hot Springs, South Dakota.
It is a prehistoric sinkhole that contains an exceptional concentration of mammoth fossils. Excavations at the site have revealed the remains of Columbian and woolly mammoths, as well as other Ice Age fauna.
Visitors can tour the indoor facility built over the excavation area, observing paleontologists at work and learning about the ancient ecosystem and the fascinating history of these extinct giants.
World Fossil Finder Museum
719 Jensen Hwy, Hot Springs, SD 57747
Open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
Closed on Sundays
Established in 2019, the World Fossil Finder Museum in Hot Springs hosts a massive collection of fossils from all around the world. Its most iconic exhibit is Debby Sue the Tylosaurus, a massive marine lizard measuring 45 feet in length.
One of the more intriguing exhibits is the Leisey Shell Pit display, a showcase of a bone bed discovered near Tampa, Florida by Frank Garcia in 1983. Over 20,000 Ice Age fossils were found in the Shell Pit. The World Fossil Finder Museum’s replica of the bone bed serves as a backdrop to educate guests on the process of fossilization.
Other exhibits include an American mastodon, a cave bear, woolly rhinos and the jaws of the enormous shark Otodus megalodon. Visitors can even peek into a fossil preparation lab for a firsthand look at the delicate processes used by paleontologists.
Wall Drug
510 Main St, Wall, SD 57790
(605) 279-2175
Open 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. seven days a week
Wall Drug is a well-known tourist destination located in Wall, South Dakota. Originally a small pharmacy in the 1930s, it has grown into a sprawling complex of shops, restaurants, and attractions.
The establishment gained fame for its iconic billboards along highways, enticing travelers with free ice water and 5-cent coffee. Today, visitors can explore various themed shops, enjoy homemade donuts, take photos with life-sized statues and experience the nostalgic charm of this famous roadside stop.
Photo: Wall Drug Facebook
Badlands National Park
25216 Ben Reifel Road, Interior, SD 57750
Open 24 hours
Located near Wall, South Dakota, the Badlands is a rugged national park characterized by its distinct geological formations, including canyons, pinnacles, and buttes. Visitors can explore its vast expanse of eroded terrain, witnessing the beauty of layered rock formations and unique wildlife.
The park offers opportunities for hiking, photography and nature observation, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the natural wonder of the region.
The Badlands are also a hotbed of fossils. Guests at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center can tour the site’s museum and the Fossil Preparation Lab to observe the work of local paleontologists and learn about ancient beasts such as brontotheres, sabre-toothed cats and entelodonts.
