South Dakota tours & holidays

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

The best way to get to South Dakota depends on where you're travelling from in the United States, with flying, driving, and catching public transport among the easiest and most time-efficient options.

If you're travelling from a nearby state, self-driving might be the way to go as you have more flexibility over the journey, and the total travel time is unlikely to be more than a few hours.

Flying will be the quickest option if you're travelling from a coast or somewhere equally as far. There are five primary airports in South Dakota, making arriving at your desired destination within the state easy.

South Dakota is a naturally beautiful state with sweeping grassy plains and dramatic landscapes full of rocky mountains so in order to make the most out of its spectacular scenery, self-driving is one of the best ways to get from place to place.

There are two interstate highways that run through the state, however, alternate routes are also encouraged to explore South Dakota further.

You can easily fly around the state with airports in the major cities of Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Pierre, Aberdeen, and Watertown.

South Dakota also has an impressive public transport system making it easy to get around the state if you're on a budget. 

South Dakota can be enjoyed all year round but the peak time to visit this breathtaking state is during the months of May through to September.

During this time the weather is reasonably warm without being uncomfortably hot. Average temperatures sit at around 23°C making it the perfect weather to spend the majority of your time exploring South Dakota's incredible landscapes.

Be mindful that because this is considered to be the 'peak' season and accommodation prices will rise, availability will lower and crowds will be larger. 

To ensure your trip to South Dakota is a stress-free one, it's important to double-check you've packed everything you could possibly need.

Aside from weather-appropriate clothes, some important things to pack are sunhats, sunglasses, sunscreen, comfortable walking/hiking shoes, a backpack/day bag, a camera, extra electronic chargers, and a reusable water bottle. 

There are nine Native American tribes who call South Dakota their home and who have lived on this land for centuries.

These tribes are the:

• Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe
• Crow Creek Sioux Tribe
• Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe
• Lower Brule Sioux Tribe
• Oglala Sioux Tribe
• Rosebud Sioux Tribe
• Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate
• Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
• Yankton Sioux Tribe

Each has their own individual story to tell about their beliefs and way of life. 

We are committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. We do our best to help you see the world, regardless of physical or mental limitations. 

We are always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.