Good Earth State Park

Interstate 90 Itinerary

The Road Most Traveled

Prairie that stretches for miles. Jagged rock formations at Badlands National Park. Kitschy roadside stops along the way. Interstate 90 is one of the most popular routes across South Dakota for many reasons. Use this itinerary to find the must-see attractions from east to west.

Sioux Falls

The journey starts in Sioux Falls, South Dakota’s largest city. At the intersection of I-90 and I-29, this vibrant city combines urban amenities with the down-home appeal of America’s heartland — plus some great shopping and dining. Satisfy your tastebuds at restaurants like CH Patisserie, Mama’s Ladas, Flyboy Donuts and Phillips Avenue Diner, just a few local favorites.

Fun Fact: Many Sioux Falls buildings and roads are covered in quartzite, a sparkling pink rock that’s second only to diamonds in hardness. Quartzite is still mined in Sioux Falls today.

Must-See Stops

Falls Park
Falls Park

The city’s namesake, Falls Park is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. In addition to the splendid falls, see some of the city’s first buildings, take in a beautiful view from the observation tower and enjoy lunch at the Falls Overlook Café.

A metallic bear sculpture on the SculptureWalk in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
SculptureWalk

Explore dozens of unique artworks on the SculptureWalk, mostly along Phillips Avenue in downtown Sioux Falls. The sculptures change annually, so you’ll have a good reason to return! Fuel up at Crawford’s Bar & Grill, a Western-inspired restaurant with tasty surf-and-turf options.

Good Earth State Park
Good Earth State Park at Blood Run

It’s one of South Dakota’s newest state parks, but Good Earth State Park at Blood Run is one of the oldest sites of long-term human habitation in the U.S. Learn some fascinating facts at the visitor center before enjoying excellent hiking and bird-watching along the trails.

Sponsored Content

Mitchell

A quick one-hour drive west brings visitors to Mitchell. This “corny” community is best known as the home of The World’s Only Corn Palace, one of I-90’s most popular roadside attractions. Mitchell also has unique shopping, museums, art galleries and fantastic restaurants, like The Depot Pub & Grille, Cattleman’s Club Steakhouse and Zesto (open seasonally).

Must-See Stops

Exterior of the World's Only Corn Palace at sunset
The World's Only Corn Palace

This American icon is redecorated annually with native corn, grain and grass. Recent renovations make it a delightful bucket-list item day or night. Don’t miss a photo op with Corny!

Travel Tip: Grab a popcorn ball in the gift shop for a perfect road trip snack.

 Archeodome
Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village

This lakeside 1,000-year-old Native village is the only active archaeological site in South Dakota open to the public. Guests can watch as archaeologists uncover artifacts in the Thomsen Center Archeodome before touring the Boehnen Memorial Museum.

South Dakota Discovery Museum
Dakota Discovery Museum

Located on the campus of Dakota Wesleyan University, the Dakota Discovery Museum brings the region’s history to life. See artifacts from a bygone era, browse exhibits and stroll through a historical village with a railroad depot, church and schoolhouse.

Chamberlain/Oacoma

Interstate 90 meets the mighty Missouri River in Chamberlain and Oacoma. Take a break to explore Indigenous and state history at local museums and attractions, like the South Dakota Hall of Fame and Lewis and Clark Welcome Center. Staying a while? Enjoy stunning waterfront views, plentiful fishing and hunting, and casual dining at Bridges Restaurant, located at Arrowwood Cedar Shore Resort in Oacoma.

Travel Tip: The Missouri River has lots of great fishing. Enjoy freshly caught South Dakota walleye at restaurants around Chamberlain.

Must-See Stops

Dignity Statue // Chamberlain
Dignity: Of Earth & Sky

Pull off between exits 263 and 265 to admire Dignity: Of Earth & Sky — a 50-foot-tall statue of a Native woman that honors the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota people. Visit the on-site Lewis and Clark Welcome Center to learn about the explorers’ famous expedition and soak up stunning Missouri River views. 

A Native headdress on display at Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center. Chamberlain, South Dakota.
Aktá Lakota Museum & Cultural Center

With a mini-theater, interactive displays, English-Lakota descriptions and an outdoor Medicine Wheel Garden, Aktá Lakota is more than a traditional museum — it’s an experience that offers a living lesson on the Native American way of life, both past and present.

Al's Oasis Chamberlain
Al's Oasis

A giant buffalo greets visitors at this roadside attraction and restaurant in Oacoma. Better each time you go, the buffalo burgers and homemade pies are absolute must-eats. Al’s Oasis also features a unique collection of gifts and South Dakota products.

Murdo/ Interior/ Wall

Continue west for an hour until you reach Murdo, where the time zone changes from Central to Mountain. Stop to set your clocks back an hour and check out some of Murdo’s local attractions at exits 192 or 191.

Travel Tip: Near Midland (approximately half a mile east of exit 170), keep your eyes peeled for a funny roadside sculpture — a human skeleton walking a skeletal dinosaur.

Must-See Stops

Pioneer Auto Show
Pioneer Auto Show

With more than 300 vintage cars, trucks and motorcycles, the Pioneer Auto Show & Prairie Town in Murdo is one of the largest privately owned auto collections open to the public. Among the highlights? A 1925 Stanley Steamer and "General Lee" from the '80s classic The Dukes of Hazzard. Come hungry, because the Covered Wagon Cafe serves nostalgic staples. (Exit 192)

MINUTEMAN MISSILE site in South Dakota
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

The deadly drama of the Cold War is relived at Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, spread across three exits along I-90. Learn about the site's history at the visitor center (exit 131), book a ranger-led tour of the launch-control facility (exit 127) or take a self-guided tour of the nuclear missile silo itself (exit 116).

Wall Drug
Wall Drug Store

Hyped for hundreds of miles, America’s favorite roadside attraction since 1931 is really all that it promises. The legendary Wall Drug Store offers free activities and entertainment, food, 5-cent coffee, shopping, a unique mining experience, a Traveler's Chapel and much, much more. (Exit 110 or 109)

Badlands landscape at golden hour
Badlands National Park

The lunar landscapes of Badlands National Park were a filming location for movies like Armageddon and Nomadland. Drive the Badlands Loop for incomparable views of this 244,000-acre national treasure. Take a break at Cedar Pass Lodge & Restaurant, known for its Indian Tacos (fluffy fry bread with quintessential taco fixings).

Rapid City

Rapid City, South Dakota’s second-largest city, lies just east of the Black Hills National Forest and is known as the “City of Presidents” for the bronze statues of past commanders in chief that span several blocks of downtown. A great option for a stopover, Rapid City has a variety of hotels and restaurants, from fine dining to chuckwagon meals. Enjoy local flavor at Murphy’s Pub, Firehouse Brewing Company, Tally’s Silver Spoon, Delmonico Grill and more.

Must-See Stops

Main Street Square, Rapid City
Main Street Square

Located in downtown Rapid City, Main Street Square is a fun-filled public space that bustles with special events, arts and culture, live concerts, seasonal ice skating and interactive fountains.

Travel Tip: Downtown Rapid City is home to Art Alley, a public art project that’s always evolving thanks to local artists like Logan Beert.

Journey Museum
Journey Museum & Learning Center

The Journey Museum & Learning Center combines five major collections to tell the complete story of the Western Great Plains. Explore the region from the perspective of the Lakota people and their unique culture, the pioneers that shaped history and the scientists that currently study the area.

Reptile Garden
Reptile Gardens

Reptile Gardens is a premier South Dakota destination that houses some of the world’s deadliest snakes. It’s in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest reptile zoo!

A dinosaur state stands above visitors at Dinosaur Park in Rapid City
Dinosaur Park

Marvel at seven life-sized replicas of prehistoric creatures that once roamed the region. Dinosaur Park is perched on a sandstone ridge that encircles the Black Hills; dino footprints from the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous have been found nearby.

Sturgis

This northern Black Hills town is famous for the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, held the first week of August for over 75 years. But there’s more to Sturgis than motorcycling, like its great state parks and culinary offerings. Savor a steak-tip dinner with a show at Loud American Roadhouse, or sip house-roasted java at Sturgis Coffee Company. (Exits 32 and 30)

Travel Tip: Just northeast of town, don't miss the "world's largest biker bar," Full Throttle Saloon, which also boasts a music venue and campground.

Must-See Stops

Bear Butte State Park
Bear Butte State Park

Located 6 miles northeast of Sturgis off Highway 79 is Bear Butte State Park. Its central laccolith structure is considered sacred by many of the area’s Native tribal nations. Visitors can hike to the top for views of four different states, fish the 15-acre lake or enjoy a picnic along the 111-mile Centennial Trail.

Belle Joli Winery
Belle Joli Winery Sparkling House

Taste Belle Joli Winery’s sparkling wine creations, inspired by the exquisite flavors of the Black Hills. Enjoy a glass with a view on the outdoor patio of their Sparkling House in Sturgis, which overlooks their vineyard surrounded by majestic ponderosa pines.

Sturgis Motorcycle Museum
Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame

If you can’t make it to the rally, experience a similar thrill at the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame. The museum is home to an incredible collection of American and metric bikes — some as early as 1905 — plus historical exhibits and memorabilia.

Mountain Biking at Ft. Meade Recreation Area
Fort Meade Recreation Area

Fort Meade Recreation Area is home to an 11-mile portion of the Centennial Trail, where you can explore prairies and grasslands near Bear Butte State Park through the rugged Black Hills high country and south to the rolling hills of Wind Cave National Park.

Spearfish

The midway point between Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming, this town brims with adventure, serene beauty and family-friendly fun. Spearfish began as a mining town, but it now offers museums, historic attractions, an active downtown, gorgeous parks, shopping and great dining options, like The Farmhouse Bistro & Bar, Antunez and Nonna’s Kitchen. (Exit 10)

Must-See Stops

DC Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery
D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives

Built in 1899 as the region’s first fish management center, D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery was responsible for introducing trout to the Black Hills. Today, its colorful history, pristine setting and century-old buildings are preserved as an educational center devoted to fish culture.

Spearfish Falls, Spearfish Canyon
Spearfish Canyon

Accessible only by horseback until 1893, Spearfish Canyon’s 1,000-foot walls are some of the most spectacular scenery in the Black Hills. Wind through the canyon on Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway; gorgeous in every season, the many waterfalls along the route transform into an icy wonderland in the winter.

man reaching out to touch an artistic globe shaped piece of artwork hanging from the ceiling
Termesphere® Gallery

Internationally known artist Dick Termes sees the world in six dimensions, painting his intricate works of art on spheres. See his amazing collection in a unique setting at his Termesphere® Gallery, just outside of Spearfish.

More Things to Do in the Black Hills

Black Hills tours make it easy to hub and spoke out to nearly any city in the area, including Historic Deadwood and nearby Lead, Hill City and Custer. While you’re close by, don’t miss the extraordinary Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the natural beauty of Custer State Park and the still-in-progress Crazy Horse Memorial®. Start with our Black Hills five-day tour itinerary and discover the unique in South Dakota's Black Hills.