Best Rides from Winnipeg or Fargo to Sturgis

Distance: 744 miles/1,198 kilometers from Winnipeg; 516 miles/830 kilometers from Fargo
Time (Before Stops): 12 hours, 15 minutes from Winnipeg; 8 hours, 15 minutes from Fargo

See route map

If the words “mashed potato wrestling” appeal to you, then you’ll want to opt for this route, which rambles across the Mount Rushmore State on less-traveled Highway 212. Highlights include an iconic mural on a grain elevator, a scrap-metal dinosaur sculpture and Potato Days, a quirky festival that celebrates all things tuber.

Pembina, ND 

• Pembina State Museum: Catch up on 100 million years or so of this region’s history, a busy spot that was home to the Ojibwa, Dakota, Assiniboine and Cree people. You’ll see fossils, stone and bone tools, and oxcarts, as well as exhibits about military forts. 

Grand Forks, ND

• Grand Forks County Historical Society: Walk the grounds to tour a log cabin built in the 1870s, the town’s 1868 post office, a 1930s one-room schoolhouse and a carriage house with several historical modes of transport, all collected from the Grand Forks area.
• Bonzer’s Sandwich Pub: “An old-school pub serving old-school grub” is how Bonzer’s describes itself. This locals’ haunt will fuel the next leg of your journey with a regional-favorite pickled-egg basket, Polish sausages served many ways, pastrami, Reubens, spicy beefs and the Gasp, a sub containing “all of the meat.”

Moorhead, MN 

• Hjemkomst Viking Ship: A true spectacle to behold, this giant replica of a 9th-century Viking burial ship reflects the heritage of the area’s Nordic homesteaders. 

Fargo, ND

• Woodchipper from “Fargo”: There’s nothing more welcoming at a visitor center than a woodchipper, eh? Grab one of those hats with earflaps to pose next to this original and gruesomely notorious movie prop.
• Würst Bier Hall: Pair your classic German würsts or jägerschnitzel with a frosty mug of seasonal beer — there are more than 40 local and regional options to choose from.

Sisseton, SD

• Sica Hollow State Park: Pronounce it “she-cha” to show you’re in the know. Hike all or part of the 5.2-mile Trail of Spirits loop alongside waterfalls, natural springs and wildflowers.

Watertown, SD

With its wide variety of hotel and motel options, Watertown makes a great stopover after a day of sightseeing. Campgrounds alongside glacial lakes, hotels, motels and a resort casino give you plenty of options for overnighting. 

• Redlin Art Center: See the oil paintings of Terry Redlin, whose depictions of wildlife and rural landscapes will make you pine for the simple life in his pastoral scenes.
• Bramble Park Zoo: The perfect size for a pit stop, this small zoo has 800 mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish from around the world. The playful river otters are many visitors’ favorites!
• Glacial Lakes Harley-Davidson: Need service? Gear? A friendly face? You'll find it at Glacial Lakes H-D.

Clark, SD

• Potato Days (Aug. 2-Aug. 4, 2024): You wouldn’t expect anything less than competitions for "best decorated potato" and "best potato dish" from South Dakota’s potato capital. But the real prize for everyone is witnessing folks voluntarily signing up to wrestle each other in a vat of instant mashed potatoes.

Faulkton, SD

• Faulkton Elevator Mural: Faulkton’s biggest canvas boasts a photorealistic composition by Australian artist Guido van Helten that can be seen from miles away. The image of a boy and girl trading cowboy hats is thought to celebrate small-town South Dakota life.

Gettysburg, SD

• West Whitlock State Recreation Area: Drop a fishing line, rent a canoe or paddleboard, and have a picnic alongside Lake Oahe.  
• Bob’s Resort: “If you can’t have fun, stay home” — so says Bob, and everyone who rests awhile at his resort seems to take his advice. Set on a bluff above Lake Oahe with amazing views, Bob’s Steakhouse and store provide all you need to get back on the road.

Eagle Butte, SD

• Lakota Cultural Center: This museum and gift shop on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation is an excellent place to see authentic Native arts and crafts. A series of murals in the center by local Native artists are colorful and thought-provoking.

Faith, SD

• “Sue” Sculpture: “Sue,” the most complete and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton in the world, moved on to Chicago’s Field Museum not long after her discovery in Faith. Sue’s hometown hasn’t forgotten her, however; as you come into town, watch for an ingeniously devised scrap-metal version ready for a selfie with you.

Sturgis, SD

• Bear Butte State Park: For a see-forever view, take the 1.85-mile trek to the top of the park’s namesake butte. As you climb, mind the prayer cloths and tobacco ties and respect those participating in religious activities — the mountain is sacred to many Northern Plains people. You can learn more about their beliefs, and the history and geology of the area at the Bear Butte Education Center.

Distance: 827 miles/1,332 kilometers from Winnipeg; 600 miles/965 kilometers from Fargo
Time (Before Stops): 13 hours, 52 minutes from Winnipeg; 10 hours from Fargo

See route map

This route, which follows Highway 14 through South Dakota’s capital city of Pierre, will add about an hour and a half to your drive (barring stops or detours). But its iconic sights — including Badlands National Park, Wall Drug Store and the pioneer homes of “Little House on the Prairie” author Laura Ingalls Wilder — make it worth the extra mileage.

Follow the same directions as the first route, following I-29 south. Spend the night in Brookings, with a stop at the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum, South Dakota Art Museum or McCrory Gardens. Wooden Legs Brewing, which serves cracker-crust pizzas and stacked-high sandwiches along with its rotating menu of craft beers, is a great place to end the day.

De Smet, SD

• Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Homes: Tour the former school, original family belongings and the historical homes of the “Little House on the Prairie” writer — including the one “Pa” built.

Huron, SD

• World’s Largest Pheasant: Stop for a photo at this 28-foot-tall roadside marvel made of fiberglass and steel. The spectacle has marked the town as a top pheasant-hunting location since 1959.

Highmore, SD

• Sunflower Festival (Aug. 9-11, 2024): Fields surrounding this community explode with the bright yellow of sunflower blooms, typically between late July and early September. Plan to take in this festival on the way home for special tours, photography workshops and more.

Pierre, SD

• South Dakota State Capitol: Weekday tours offer glimpses of stained-glass windows and other artwork inside the 1910 Neoclassical home of South Dakota’s legislature. Walk the serene grounds to see war memorials and other statues, as well as Capitol Lake. 
• Casey Tibbs South Dakota Rodeo Center: See the memorabilia of nine-time World Champion bareback- and saddle-bronc-riding hero Casey Tibbs, alongside other pro-rodeo stars dating back to 1929. Watch videos of interviews and the championship-winning rides of 18 South Dakota World Champions. 
• Cattleman’s Club Steakhouse: There are endless things to say about Cattleman’s USDA Choice top sirloins, but save room for delightful sides — deep-fried green beans with cusabi sauce, fried avocado slices and chislic to name a few. Don’t sleep on the spectacular Missouri River view, either.
• Farm Island Recreation Area: Get some peaceful beach, hiking or birding time in at this natural gem just east of Pierre.

Midland, SD

• Stroppel Hotel and Mineral Baths: Soothe achy muscles in the hotel’s two mineral-rich, geothermal plunge pools. Kept at a steamy 106 and 110 degrees, it’s said the waters increase circulation and lower blood pressure.

Wall, SD

• Wall Drug Store: One of the world’s most famous tourist stops, the sprawling store features a Western art gallery, restaurant, individual shops and much more. Across the street is Badlands Harley-Davidson.
• Badlands National Park: For a worthy detour, ride the 39-mile Badlands Loop Road, where the rock pinnacles, buttes and other formations are so plentiful, there are 16 scenic overlooks from which to soak it all in.

Rapid City, SD

• Bear Country USA: Ride by black bears, cougars, bobcats and buffalo without risking your hide at this drive-through park where these and many other North American mammals live in large, natural exhibits. 
• Museum of Geology: Get the fascinating facts on some of the geological wonders you saw in the Badlands — and a whole lot more, including rare fossils and skeletons of the things that lived there millions of years ago.
• Sickie’s Garage Burgers & Brews: Sickie’s boasts of “50 burgers, 50 brews and more,” but you’ll just need one to become a fan. Consider The Chopper: peppered bacon, mayo, pickles, provolone, tomatoes and lettuce. 
• Black Hills Harley-Davidson: This bustling dealership, just 25 miles from Sturgis, is an unofficial stop on the road to the rally.

Nemo, SD

• Vanocker Canyon: Though I-90 would be the most direct route into Sturgis, a slight detour through Vanocker Canyon really defines “scenic route.” Stop in Nemo for a patriotic pic with its famous flag before cruising the canyon’s easy curves, winding gently through colorful pine, aspen and birch forests.