While Sioux Falls is South Dakota’s largest city, this gem on the prairie maintains plenty of small-town charm. Whether you want to tour public art or groove to live music, Sioux Falls brims with things to do and affordable places to eat, drink and stay. Find inspiration for your getaway with our three-day itinerary below.
This article is sponsored by Experience Sioux Falls.
Pro tip: Sioux Falls Regional Airport has excellent connectivity, with direct flights from more than 16 cities.
Day 1: Friday
Once you arrive, make a beeline for the 120-acre Falls Park, where water tumbles over dramatic rock faces. This beautiful site, along with the Native Sioux people, inspired the city’s name. For lunch, grab a stacked Italian beef at Bread & Circus Sandwich Kitchen, once featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” Then check in to the elegant Hotel On Phillips, situated in the former Sioux Falls National Bank in the heart of downtown.
Next up: The Hello Hi, a stylish bar that serves tropical-inspired cocktails and tiki classics. Dinner calls for a visit to Parker’s Bistro, an eatery that sources as many local and sustainable ingredients as possible for its farm-to-table menu. For a nightcap, grab a seat at Bin201 or DaDa Gastropub, both of which have well-curated drink menus and often feature live music.
Day 2: Saturday
Start your day with a latte and eggs Benedict at Josiah’s Coffeehouse. Spend the early afternoon delving into the region’s history at the Old Courthouse Museum, with three stories of exhibits on topics ranging from the Northern Plains people to the American flag. Or head to the Pettigrew Home & Museum to see the restored residence of late Senator Richard F. Pettigrew, a collector of natural history specimens and other artifacts.
For lunch, enjoy a Mediterranean calzone stuffed with spicy eggplant at Sanaa’s Gourmet. Chef Sanaa Abourezk trained in Italy and France and was named a James Beard Award finalist in 2023. Afterward, stroll the SculptureWalk, an exhibit of more than 80 sculptures installed throughout downtown Sioux Falls, including the Arc of Dreams — a stainless steel wonder that spans the Big Sioux River. Craving something sweet? Share a box of photo-worthy macarons at the award-winning CH Patisserie.
For a casual dinner, pop into Grille 26, where you can feast on steak frites and bison burgers. Then catch an outdoor concert at Levitt at the Falls, an amphitheater that hosts free evening concerts from June through September. Or snag tickets to a Broadway show at the Washington Pavilion. Before turning in, toast your adventures at Hotel On Phillips’ on-site bar, The Treasury.
Day 3: Sunday
Fuel up at the Phillips Avenue Diner, a local institution whose rib-sticking options include loaded waffles and hearty chicken-fried steak and eggs. Spend the morning meeting some of Sioux Falls’ wildest residents at the Great Plains Zoo, home to hundreds of critters including snow monkeys and zebras. Be sure to check out the new lion exhibit! Squeeze in one final stop at the Butterfly House & Aquarium, where you can see more than 800 winged beauties fly freely in the Dakotas’ only insectarium.
Start planning the ultimate weekend getaway to Sioux Falls
