Summit South DakotaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Summit, South Dakota.
1. Mount Rushmore National Memorial
PRESIDENTIAL ROCK CARVINGS
Mount Rushmore National Memorial features the faces of four U.S. presidents carved into granite on a mountainside. Visitors can hike the Presidential Trail for up-close views and explore the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center with interactive exhibits. The monument represents American history and attracts millions of visitors annually.
2. Crazy Horse Memorial
NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBUTE
Crazy Horse Memorial is a mountain monument under construction that honors the Native American leader Crazy Horse. The memorial includes a museum where visitors can learn about one of the most important historical figures in South Dakota's history. When completed, it will be the world's largest mountain carving.
3. Wildlife Loop Road
SCENIC WILDLIFE DRIVE
Wildlife Loop Road offers visitors the chance to observe wildlife at incredibly close proximity within Custer State Park. The 18-mile scenic drive is known for its large herd of free-roaming bison, along with other wildlife such as elk, deer, and prairie dogs. Visitors often find themselves in the middle of a bison crossing, creating memorable photo opportunities.
4. Badlands National Park
STRIKING GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS
Badlands National Park showcases a dramatically eroded landscape with colorful spires, deep canyons, and layered rock formations. The park contains one of the world's richest fossil beds, where ancient mammals like rhinos and saber-toothed cats once roamed. Visitors can explore several hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and the Ben Reifel Visitor Center.
5. Iron Mountain Road
ENGINEERING MARVEL DRIVE
Iron Mountain Road is a masterpiece of scenic engineering featuring unique Pigtail Bridges and three granite tunnels that frame perfect views of Mount Rushmore. The road winds through towering Ponderosa pines, shimmering aspens, and iron-rich rock formations creating a captivating landscape. A stop at Norbeck Overlook offers stunning views of Cathedral Spires and Black Elk Peak.
6. Blood Run Site
ANCIENT INDIGENOUS SETTLEMENT
The Blood Run Site is a former settlement of thousands of Native Americans designated as a National Historic Landmark. It was one of the earliest inhabited areas of the region and the largest Oneota cultural site discovered so far, serving as a gathering place for ceremonies and a trade center. The site offers hiking trails and a visitor center with interactive exhibits about the area's rich history.
7. Ingalls Homestead
LITTLE HOUSE MUSEUM
The Ingalls Homestead is the historic childhood home of Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the beloved Little House on the Prairie series. Built in 1887, the family lived in this house until 1928, and it now serves as a museum operated by the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and offers visitors a glimpse into the life that inspired the famous book series.
8. Custer State Park
WILDLIFE AND SCENIC BEAUTY
Custer State Park spans 71,000 acres of beautiful terrain in the Black Hills with stunning granite spires and abundant wildlife. The park is home to one of the world's largest publicly-owned bison herds and offers activities including hiking, fishing, and scenic drives. Visitors can also enjoy the park's five lakes, historic lodges, and annual Buffalo Roundup event held each September.
9. Wall Drug
ICONIC ROADSIDE ATTRACTION
Wall Drug is a famous roadside attraction that began as a small pharmacy in 1931 and grew into a 76,000-square-foot shopping mall and tourist destination. Known for its free ice water, 5-cent coffee, and quirky western-themed displays including an 80-foot brontosaurus and animated T-Rex, Wall Drug draws nearly two million visitors annually. The complex houses a restaurant, gift shops, a Western art gallery, and numerous photo opportunities.
10. Jewel Cave National Monument
VAST UNDERGROUND WONDER
Jewel Cave National Monument protects the third-longest cave in the world with over 208 miles of mapped passages. Named for its calcite crystal formations that sparkle like jewels when illuminated, the cave features unique formations including boxwork, hydromagnesite balloons, and cave popcorn. Visitors can choose from various guided tours ranging from the scenic tour to more adventurous wild caving experiences.
11. Wind Cave National Park
UNIQUE BOXWORK FORMATIONS
Wind Cave National Park preserves one of the world's oldest caves and features the largest concentration of rare boxwork formations. Above ground, the park protects one of the few remaining mixed-grass prairie ecosystems in the country, home to bison, elk, and prairie dogs. Ranger-led cave tours take visitors into the complex underground labyrinth while highlighting the cave's unique features and history.
12. Spearfish Canyon
BREATHTAKING NATURAL GORGE
Spearfish Canyon is a magnificent limestone gorge featuring towering limestone cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and a diverse ecosystem in the northern Black Hills. The 19-mile scenic byway winds through the canyon alongside Spearfish Creek, offering easy access to attractions like Bridal Veil Falls and Roughlock Falls. During autumn, the canyon becomes especially popular as the birch, oak, and aspen trees display vibrant fall colors.
13. Falls Park
URBAN NATURAL WATERFALL
Falls Park is a 123-acre urban park featuring the natural beauty of the Big Sioux River's cascading waterfalls in the heart of Sioux Falls. Visitors can climb the five-story observation tower for panoramic views or explore the ruins of the Queen Bee Mill, a 19th-century industrial site. The park hosts seasonal events and features a visitor center, café, and well-maintained walking paths that connect to the city's trail system.
14. Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
COLD WAR MILITARY HISTORY
The Minuteman Missile National Historic Site preserves the last remaining Minuteman II ICBM system in the United States, offering a glimpse into Cold War history. Visitors can tour Launch Control Facility Delta-01 and see the underground Launch Control Center where military personnel stood ready to launch nuclear missiles. The site includes a visitor center with interpretive exhibits explaining the nuclear arms race and its impact on American society.
15. The Mammoth Site
ACTIVE PALEONTOLOGICAL DIG
The Mammoth Site is an active paleontological dig site and indoor museum featuring the remains of over 61 mammoths who became trapped in a sinkhole more than 26,000 years ago. Visitors can watch ongoing excavation work and see mammoth bones exactly where they were discovered. The facility offers guided tours, educational programs, and hands-on exhibits explaining Ice Age paleontology and the significance of this unique site.