Take in the natural beauty of South Dakota
Come and experience South Dakota and its museums, monuments and history. Travelers to this welcoming city praise the shopping, restaurants and casino gaming. Take in top local attractions like Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Mount Rushmore. Many rental homes come with outdoor spaces, separate dining areas and full kitchens, perfect if you want to enjoy some home-cooked meals.
Visit the Little House on the Prairie in South Dakota
Fans of the Little House on the Prairie books can get a taste of what life was like for settlers at the Ingalls Homestead. The home of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family in the late 19th century, the homestead has been restored, with plenty to explore, from the Ingalls rustic wooden home, to the old one-room school house. Enjoy a covered carriage ride just like the early settlers, or try some traditional crafts, such as making a corn dolly. With lots of costumed characters to teach you about prairie life, kids will love stepping back in time.
Iconic Mount Rushmore and South Dakota's Black Hills
A trip to South Dakota just isn't complete without visiting Mount Rushmore, part of a small mountain range known as the Black Hills, where you'll find many South Dakota vacation rentals. Park close by and wander down the avenue of flags, with the iconic limestone carving in the distance. There's a large viewing area where you can get the best view of the carvings, and take lots of family photos. Around 13 miles away, you'll find the Crazy Horse Memorial, a rock carving of the Native American leader that's still in progress, and will eventually be the world's largest sculpture.
Sunny South Dakota summers and snowy winters
South Dakota has 4 distinct seasons. Summer is the most popular time for booking South Dakota vacation rentals, with temperatures reaching up to 90 during the day, and a pleasant dry heat. However, there can sometimes be heatwaves that push the temperature to 100, which brings the occasional thunderstorm. Winter brings blizzards and below freezing temperatures, which is great if you're visiting one of the state's ski areas. The spring months bring flowers to the prairies and warm weather, making it ideal for hiking and enjoying the national parks.
Vast prairies and mountain landscapes in South Dakota
Drive through South Dakota and you'll notice that a lot of the state has vast, flat prairies covered in flowers and greenery. Sparsely populated, the state has many Native American reservations, with large areas of unspoiled land and small settlements along the way. The west of the state is rockier, with the Black Hills mountain range rising from the flat plains, featuring a number of walking trails through the dense forest areas. Black Hills has a few lakes, some with beaches, where people bring their boats in summer for fishing and relaxing days on the water.
Transportation to and around South Dakota
The nearest airport is in Pierre, SD (PIR-Pierre Regional), located 34.5 mi (55.5 km) from the city center.