If you are driving across the country most northern routes will take you through North Dakota, but South Dakota has more to offer.
South Dakota is the best route if you have time for detours to the many attractions close to the highway, but if you do not have time for many stops North Dakota is faster and more direct. Driving through South Dakota gives you the chance to see Rushmore, Badlands National Park, Wall Drug, Spearhead Fish Canyon, and Devils Tower.
If you will just be driving through the area, the most scenic route in this area of the country is I-90.
The eastern side of both states are generally flat and uninteresting and most attractions are in the western half of both states. The famous Badlands landscapes can be seen in the south west of North Dakota and the north west of South Dakota.
Be sure to fill up your tank frequently and reserve hotel rooms ahead of time as there are some long stretches of highway with no gas stations or hotels available.
Consider the weather if driving in the winter months, the Dakotas experience heavy snowfall that can close down the highways. Even a light snow can make roads dangerous if you do not have experience driving in snow.
If you are driving through North Dakota you can find the Painted Canyon Visitor’s Center right off I-94. A great stop if you only have a few hours.
South Dakota is not on the main route of the Northern Road Trip Route, but if you play around with your GPS you will see that the ETA is very similar if you go through North or South Dakota.
Is South Dakota More Scenic Than North Dakota?
Both states are very flat and uninteresting until you reach the western half of the state and both are not very interesting from the interstate. I-90 is more scenic than I-94. If you are just driving through North Dakota is faster.
While there is more to see in South Dakota, you will need to leave the highway to see all of it, but in North Dakota if you will be sticking to the highway you can enjoy the Painted Canyon Visitor Center and a few interesting Dinosaur Museums.
South Dakota has a lot of attractions, big cities and Badlands National Park. There are many places to stop and visit and things to see.
If you have time to spend on this leg of your trip you should go through South Dakota and take your time.
The Eastern part of the state is fairly flat and uninteresting, but when you get to the Western half you can visit Badlands National Park, the Ingalls Homestead, the Corn Palace, Wall Drug Store and Rapid City.
From the interstate there is not much to see on either route, but in North Dakota you will run into the Painted Canyon Visitor Center right off I-94.
You will also hit three of the 8 major dinosaur and fossil museums right along the interstate.
If you do not have time to stop much, choose North Dakota.
Is South Dakota Worth Visiting?
South Dakota has more than one bucket list item for those who love to road trip. South Dakota is worth visiting for those that have enough time to stop and explore all the attractions a short detour from the interstate.
Attractions in South Dakota
When I polled road trippers they mentioned these as some of their favorite South Dakota attractions:
- Mt Rushmore
- Devils Tower
- Deadwood
- Spearfish Canyon
- Bighorn Mountain
- Little Bighorn
- Ingalls homestead
- Corn Palace
South Dakota has a lot of great cities to visit as well as natural beauty to explore.
Wall Drug Store is an iconic road trip stop and it is located just an hour east of Rapid City, right outside the entrance to Badlands National Park.
There is a lot to do in this small area in South Dakota and it is right off the interstate.
Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park are very exciting destinations for those that love the beauty of the great outdoors. The brightly colored eroded rock is breathtaking.
History buffs can follow the Lewis and Clark (and Sakajawea) Historic Trail, Crazy Horse Monument and the Hot Springs in the Black Hills where there is one of the largest collections of mammoth fossils in the world, it is still an active paleontological dig.
Listen to Little House on the Prairie on your drive and you will have the chance to visit DeSmet, just an hour and a half away from Sioux Falls, SD.
The Corn Palace, right off I-90 is home to some large events like the Stampede Rodeo, a weekly farmers market and college basketball games. It even has its own festival in late August.
South Dakota is subject to some extreme weather and you should check weather conditions when visiting. Heavy snow can close interstates and attractions.
How Long Do I Need To See South Dakota
Plan to spend 3-7 days in South Dakota to visit Badlands, Wall Drug Store and Fargo. These are the major attractions that many visitors to the state visit.
Book the rooms at Badlands well in advance as lodging is limited if you will not be tent camping. There are some hotels outside the park, but they also fill up fast.
Is North Dakota Worth Visiting?
North Dakota is the best route if you are just passing through the Dakotas and do not have much time to stop. Be sure to visit in the warmer months because winter weather can shut down even major roads.
Attractions in North Dakota
When I talked to road trippers who have done the trip, these are the destinations that they remember loving:
- Teddy Roosevelt Park
- Fargo
- International Peace Garden
- Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park
- Enchanted Highway
- Medora Musical
- Dinosaur Fossil Digs and Fossil Displays
Fargo is a great stop for those passing through North Dakota, I-94 passes through the city, so be sure to look ahead for traffic.
Dino lovers will not want to miss the eight dinosaur and fossil museums in North Dakota.
There are several active digs in the state and there are 3 museums along the interstate for those who would like to see Dinosaur displays and fossils:
- North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum (Free Admission)
- Dickinson Museum Center (Less Than $10 Per Person, Under 2 Free)
- Barnes County Historical Society Museum (Free)
I love how there are attractions in the great outdoors and some great city life options.
When Is the Best Time To Visit North Dakota?
The weather can be very extreme in North Dakota with deep snow in the winter closing the interstate and temps over 100 in the summer months. Plan to visit May to October when the prairie grass is growing green and there is no threat of snow.
Visiting in July and August can be very hot and air conditioning is not as common as it is in warmer climates.
I live in the American South and the only place that does not have AC is historic buildings and Dollar General, but my family in the North East have only one window unit between the dozen of them! (Or at least it feels that way when we visit in August!)
Are Badlands In Both North and South Dakota?
Badlands National Park is in South Dakota, but Badland formations can be found in North and South Dakota, Montana and Nebraska.
The name Badlands comes from the Lakota people who called it bad lands because of the lack of water and extreme terrain made it difficult to cross.
This landscape is not present only in South Dakota, but also North Dakota. The dry eroded landscape, known as badlands, can be seen in the western part of both of these states and parts of Montana and Nebraska.
The famous Badlands National Park is in South Dakota. It is almost 250,000 acres and encompasses the largest preserved mixed grass prairie in the United States.
The beautiful wind carved buttes and pinnacles reveal the layers of colored stones. These formations can be seen in North and South Dakota.
The entrance to Badlands National park is about an hour west of Rapid City.
We have visited a few National Parks and Badlands are unique in their proximity to civilization. Makes finding hotels, restaurants and grocery stores easier than at most National Parks, but makes the skies a bit less sparkly.
Should I Drive Through North or South Dakota?
If you have never been to South Dakota, you should go there. Attractions just a short trip off the interstate make it a very interesting place to visit. Driving through North Dakota is usually faster and has less traffic. If you do not have time to stop, visit North Dakota.
While you will have to take a look at the attractions listed above to see which is more interesting to you, the general consensus is that South Dakota has a bit more to see.
If you are doing a 50 before 50 or similar 50 states challenge I would recommend 3-7 days in South Dakota and 2-4 days in North Dakota to have a good bucket list experience.
I would say that the exception is for those interested in paleontology and dinosaurs, the many high quality free museums that are located right off the highway in North Dakota are not to be missed.
I am so glad you are planning a road trip, they are incredible ways to see the country and make memories.
You can read about how I plan long road trips in the linked post, or print my packing list worksheets in this linked post.
