South Dakota is known near and far for its world-famous landmarks, which are all a must-see but can get expensive after a while. The solution? Treat yourself to one (or all) of these incredible South Dakota natural wonders, all of which can be visited for FREE:
- Falls Park (Sioux Falls)
TripAdvisor/Brian R One of our favorite places in all of SoDak is also one of the best FREE attractions in the state! Located in Sioux Falls, Falls Park is a 128-acre oasis famous for its namesake 100-foot-tall waterfall. (Psst… if you can, you will want to check out Falls Park during the holidays, as it comes to life with 355,926 LED lights, 270 trees, and a whopping 25+ miles of vibrant string lights.)
- Meridian Bridge (Yankton)
Nathan Bergeson/Wikimedia Commons While the impressive 3,029-foot-long bridge itself is not an all-natural wonder, the roaring Missouri River below certainly is!
3. The Outdoor Campus (Rapid City)
Google/Joshua MacGregor Managed by the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks, the Outdoor Campus is truly a must-visit gem, as this urban oasis houses 1.5 miles of nature trails plus a well-stocked fishing pond. In addition to the outdoor portion of the Outdoor Campus, the attraction also boasts an indoor section complete with a 4,600-gallon freshwater aquarium and other nature exhibits.
- Dakota Nature Park (Brookings)
Google/Katie McGuire Menges Located in Brookings, the Dakota Nature Park is a glorious place to spend a warm day! Spanning 135 acres, there is never a shortage of things to see and do around the Dakota Nature Park, including fishing, kayaking, hiking, biking, bird watching, ice skating, cross-country skiing, and so much more.
5. LaFramboise Island Nature Area (Pierre)
Google/Daniel Hoey Tucked away along the Missouri River, the LaFramboise Island Nature Area is not only beautiful but historically significant, as Lewis and Clark once visited this tranquil area. In addition to the can’t-miss views, LaFramboise Island is also home to trails and docks, making for the perfect place to spend a warm day.
- Spearfish Falls (Spearfish)
TripAdvisor/William Spitzer While we highly recommend visiting all of SoDak’s waterfalls, we are going to highlight the free and fabulous Spearfish Falls, a stunning 47-foot-tall waterfall that the nearby Spearfish Creek feeds. Whether you choose the 1.5-mile or .75-mile hike, you will see firsthand what makes the Black Hills so darn magical.
Are you looking for even more free fun around the Mount Rushmore State? Check out these 6 Little-Known Museums In South Dakota Where Admission Is Free.
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Address: Spearfish Falls, North Lawrence, SD 57754, USAAddress: The Outdoor Campus - West, Adventure Trail, Rapid City, SD 57702, USAAddress: East Falls Park Drive, E Falls Park Dr, Sioux Falls, SD, USAAddress: Meridian Bridge, Yankton, SD 57078, USAAddress: LaFramboise Island Trail, Pierre, SD 57501, USA
- Falls Park (Sioux Falls)
TripAdvisor/Brian R One of our favorite places in all of SoDak is also one of the best FREE attractions in the state! Located in Sioux Falls, Falls Park is a 128-acre oasis famous for its namesake 100-foot-tall waterfall. (Psst… if you can, you will want to check out Falls Park during the holidays, as it comes to life with 355,926 LED lights, 270 trees, and a whopping 25+ miles of vibrant string lights.)
- Meridian Bridge (Yankton)
Nathan Bergeson/Wikimedia Commons While the impressive 3,029-foot-long bridge itself is not an all-natural wonder, the roaring Missouri River below certainly is!
3. The Outdoor Campus (Rapid City)
Google/Joshua MacGregor Managed by the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks, the Outdoor Campus is truly a must-visit gem, as this urban oasis houses 1.5 miles of nature trails plus a well-stocked fishing pond. In addition to the outdoor portion of the Outdoor Campus, the attraction also boasts an indoor section complete with a 4,600-gallon freshwater aquarium and other nature exhibits.
- Dakota Nature Park (Brookings)
Google/Katie McGuire Menges Located in Brookings, the Dakota Nature Park is a glorious place to spend a warm day! Spanning 135 acres, there is never a shortage of things to see and do around the Dakota Nature Park, including fishing, kayaking, hiking, biking, bird watching, ice skating, cross-country skiing, and so much more.
5. LaFramboise Island Nature Area (Pierre)
Google/Daniel Hoey Tucked away along the Missouri River, the LaFramboise Island Nature Area is not only beautiful but historically significant, as Lewis and Clark once visited this tranquil area. In addition to the can’t-miss views, LaFramboise Island is also home to trails and docks, making for the perfect place to spend a warm day.
- Spearfish Falls (Spearfish)
TripAdvisor/William Spitzer While we highly recommend visiting all of SoDak’s waterfalls, we are going to highlight the free and fabulous Spearfish Falls, a stunning 47-foot-tall waterfall that the nearby Spearfish Creek feeds. Whether you choose the 1.5-mile or .75-mile hike, you will see firsthand what makes the Black Hills so darn magical.
Are you looking for even more free fun around the Mount Rushmore State? Check out these 6 Little-Known Museums In South Dakota Where Admission Is Free.
TripAdvisor/Brian R
One of our favorite places in all of SoDak is also one of the best FREE attractions in the state! Located in Sioux Falls, Falls Park is a 128-acre oasis famous for its namesake 100-foot-tall waterfall. (Psst… if you can, you will want to check out Falls Park during the holidays, as it comes to life with 355,926 LED lights, 270 trees, and a whopping 25+ miles of vibrant string lights.)
Nathan Bergeson/Wikimedia Commons
While the impressive 3,029-foot-long bridge itself is not an all-natural wonder, the roaring Missouri River below certainly is!
Google/Joshua MacGregor
Managed by the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks, the Outdoor Campus is truly a must-visit gem, as this urban oasis houses 1.5 miles of nature trails plus a well-stocked fishing pond. In addition to the outdoor portion of the Outdoor Campus, the attraction also boasts an indoor section complete with a 4,600-gallon freshwater aquarium and other nature exhibits.
Google/Katie McGuire Menges
Located in Brookings, the Dakota Nature Park is a glorious place to spend a warm day! Spanning 135 acres, there is never a shortage of things to see and do around the Dakota Nature Park, including fishing, kayaking, hiking, biking, bird watching, ice skating, cross-country skiing, and so much more.
Google/Daniel Hoey
Tucked away along the Missouri River, the LaFramboise Island Nature Area is not only beautiful but historically significant, as Lewis and Clark once visited this tranquil area. In addition to the can’t-miss views, LaFramboise Island is also home to trails and docks, making for the perfect place to spend a warm day.
TripAdvisor/William Spitzer
While we highly recommend visiting all of SoDak’s waterfalls, we are going to highlight the free and fabulous Spearfish Falls, a stunning 47-foot-tall waterfall that the nearby Spearfish Creek feeds. Whether you choose the 1.5-mile or .75-mile hike, you will see firsthand what makes the Black Hills so darn magical.
