Fulton South DakotaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Fulton, South Dakota.
1. Fulton Artisan Market
LOCAL ART AND CRAFTS
The Fulton Artisan Market is one of the most popular destinations in Fulton for tourists. Visitors can browse unique handcrafted items from local artisans showcasing the region's creativity and cultural heritage. The market offers a perfect opportunity to purchase memorable souvenirs while supporting the local community.
2. Blarneys Sports Bar & Grill
LOCAL FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT
Blarneys Sports Bar & Grill offers visitors a taste of local cuisine in a lively atmosphere. The establishment combines good food with entertainment, making it a popular spot for both locals and tourists. Visitors can enjoy watching sports events while savoring delicious meals and drinks.
3. Mitchell Aquatic Center
FAMILY WATER FUN
Mitchell Aquatic Center is a highly-rated water park located near Fulton. The center features various water attractions suitable for visitors of all ages, providing a refreshing escape during warm weather. Families particularly enjoy the facility for its clean environment and fun water activities.
4. Mount Rushmore National Memorial
AMERICA'S SHRINE OF DEMOCRACY
Mount Rushmore National Memorial features the iconic 60-foot faces of four great American presidents carved into the mountainside. The memorial represents the birth, growth, development, and preservation of the United States through the likenesses of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln. Visitors from around the world come to marvel at this remarkable feat of artistry and engineering that has become a symbol of American democracy.
5. Jewel Cave National Monument
UNDERGROUND NATURAL WONDER
Jewel Cave National Monument protects the third-longest cave system in the world with over 200 miles of mapped passages. Visitors can experience a variety of guided tours below the surface to witness the cave's spectacular calcite formations and unique features. The monument also offers 1,279 acres of natural landscapes with hiking trails above ground for those who wish to explore the Black Hills ecosystem.
6. Custer State Park
WILDLIFE AND NATURAL BEAUTY
Custer State Park encompasses 71,000 acres of wild terrain where nearly 1,300 bison roam freely among other wildlife including pronghorn antelope, elk, and mountain goats. The park is one of the few truly wild places remaining in the country, offering visitors a genuine glimpse into the natural heritage of the region. Scenic drives like the Wildlife Loop Road and Needles Highway provide breathtaking views and opportunities to connect with nature.
7. Historic Deadwood
OLD WEST HERITAGE TOWN
Historic Deadwood invites visitors to walk in the footsteps of Old West legends like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane in this authentic 1870s gold rush town. Designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1961, Deadwood preserves its frontier heritage while offering modern entertainment including concerts, casinos, museums, and historic sites. The town's colorful history comes alive through daily reenactments, guided tours, and immersive experiences that transport visitors back to the days of the Wild West.
8. The Missouri River
MIGHTY MO RECREATION
The Missouri River, affectionately known as the Mighty Mo, offers abundant recreation opportunities along its banks and waters throughout South Dakota. Four major reservoirs—Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Lake Francis Case, and Lewis & Clark Lake—provide prime locations for fishing, boating, and water sports. Visitors can experience both the river's rich history as a major transportation route and its current role as a recreational paradise.
9. Wind Cave National Park
UNIQUE CAVE FORMATIONS
Wind Cave National Park, the first cave to be designated a national park, features the world's largest concentration of rare boxwork formations in its complex underground system. The park encompasses 33,851 acres of mixed-grass prairie and ponderosa pine forest above ground, creating a natural sanctuary for wildlife including bison, elk, and prairie dogs. Visitors can experience both worlds through cave tours below the surface and hiking trails across the diverse landscape above.
10. Crazy Horse Memorial
MONUMENTAL MOUNTAIN CARVING
Crazy Horse Memorial is an ongoing mountain sculpture project that, once completed, will be the largest mountain carving in the world, depicting the Lakota leader Crazy Horse. The memorial was begun by sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski in 1948 and continues today as a tribute to Native American heritage and culture. Visitors can learn more about Native American history through the on-site Indian Museum of North America and the Native American Educational & Cultural Center.
11. Corn Palace
UNIQUELY DECORATED LANDMARK
The World's Only Corn Palace in Mitchell showcases elaborate murals made entirely of corn, grains, and native grasses that are redesigned each year with new themes. This unique cultural center hosts various events throughout the year, including concerts, sports tournaments, and the annual Corn Palace Festival. Visitors can explore the building's distinctive Moorish architecture while learning about South Dakota's agricultural heritage through educational exhibits inside.
12. Badlands National Park
DRAMATIC RUGGED LANDSCAPE
Badlands National Park presents a striking landscape of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires surrounded by a mixed-grass prairie ecosystem. The park protects 244,000 acres where visitors can observe abundant wildlife and explore one of the world's richest fossil beds containing the remains of ancient mammals like rhinos, horses, and saber-toothed cats. Scenic drives, hiking trails, and ranger programs help visitors connect with this otherworldly terrain that dramatically showcases geological processes spanning millions of years.
13. Falls Park
URBAN NATURAL WONDER
Falls Park features the cascading waters of the Big Sioux River falling an average of 7,400 gallons of water per second over pink quartzite formations in the heart of Sioux Falls. Visitors can climb the five-story observation tower for panoramic views of the falls and city skyline or explore the ruins of the historic Queen Bee Mill that once operated on the site. The 123-acre park offers walking paths, picnic areas, and seasonal light shows that showcase this natural wonder within an urban setting.
14. Wall Drug Store
ICONIC ROADSIDE ATTRACTION
Wall Drug Store began as a small pharmacy in 1931 and grew into a world-famous roadside attraction by offering free ice water to weary travelers. Today, this sprawling 76,000-square-foot complex features multiple themed restaurants, gift shops, an art gallery, a western mall, and quirky attractions including an 80-foot brontosaurus and animated T-Rex. Millions of visitors stop at this iconic South Dakota landmark each year to experience its unique blend of hospitality, shopping, and Americana charm.
15. Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
COLD WAR HISTORY
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site preserves the last remaining Minuteman II ICBM system in the United States, offering a glimpse into America's nuclear deterrence strategy during the Cold War. Visitors can tour the Delta-01 Launch Control Facility and see the Delta-09 missile silo that once housed a nuclear warhead capable of striking targets thousands of miles away. The site provides educational programs about the Cold War era and the role these missile fields played in the standoff between superpowers that shaped global politics for decades.