Elkton South DakotaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Elkton, South Dakota.
1. Lake Benton Opera House
HISTORIC CULTURAL VENUE
Lake Benton Opera House is a historic cultural venue near the South Dakota border that offers performances and events. The venue has been rated 4.5 stars by visitors and serves as an important cultural landmark in the region. Visitors can enjoy various theatrical performances and community events in this charming historic building.
2. Hole in the Mountain Preserve
NATURAL WILDLIFE AREA
Hole in the Mountain Preserve is a natural conservation area with a 4.8-star rating from visitors. The preserve offers hiking trails and opportunities to experience local flora and fauna in their natural habitat. Nature enthusiasts can enjoy the scenic beauty and peaceful atmosphere of this well-maintained natural area.
3. Moody County Museum
LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION
Moody County Museum showcases the rich history and heritage of the region with a perfect 5-star rating. The museum features exhibits on local pioneers, Native American history, and the development of the area over time. Visitors can explore artifacts, photographs, and documents that tell the story of Moody County and surrounding communities.
4. Royal River Casino
GAMING AND ENTERTAINMENT
Royal River Casino offers gaming entertainment and has received a 3.3-star rating from visitors. The casino features slot machines, table games, and regular entertainment options for adults looking for nightlife in the region. Visitors can also enjoy dining options and occasional special events at this entertainment venue.
5. McCrory Gardens
BOTANICAL GARDEN PARADISE
McCrory Gardens is a beautiful botanical garden located in Brookings, not far from Elkton. The gardens showcase a diverse collection of plants, flowers, and themed garden areas that change with the seasons. Visitors can stroll through peaceful paths, enjoy educational displays, and appreciate the natural beauty of this horticultural gem.
6. Children's Museum of South Dakota
INTERACTIVE FAMILY FUN
Children's Museum of South Dakota provides interactive exhibits and play areas designed to engage young minds through hands-on learning. The museum features both indoor and outdoor exhibits that encourage creativity, exploration, and discovery for children of all ages. Families visiting the Elkton area will find this attraction offers hours of educational entertainment for young travelers.
7. Brookings Summer Arts Festival
CULTURAL CREATIVE CELEBRATION
Brookings Summer Arts Festival is an annual celebration of arts and crafts held in Pioneer Park. The festival features hundreds of artists and craftspeople displaying and selling their work, along with food vendors and live entertainment. Visitors from Elkton and surrounding areas can enjoy this popular cultural event that showcases the creative talents of the region.
8. Mount Rushmore National Memorial
ICONIC PRESIDENTIAL MONUMENT
Mount Rushmore National Memorial features the 60-foot faces of four great American presidents carved into granite. This iconic monument represents the birth, growth, development, and preservation of the United States and attracts visitors from around the world. Visitors can hike the Presidential Trail for up-close views, explore the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center, and learn about the monument's fascinating creation story.
9. Custer State Park
WILDLIFE AND WILDERNESS
Custer State Park spans 71,000 acres of wild terrain where nearly 1,300 bison roam freely alongside other wildlife. The park offers scenic drives, hiking trails, fishing lakes, and camping opportunities for nature lovers. Visitors can experience one of America's few truly wild places where pronghorn antelope, elk, mountain goats, and a band of burros also make their home.
10. Historic Deadwood
OLD WEST LEGENDS
Historic Deadwood allows visitors to walk in the footsteps of Old West legends like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane in this 1870s gold rush town. Now a National Historic Landmark, Deadwood offers entertainment including concerts, casinos, museums, historic sites, and special events. Visitors from Elkton can experience the authentic flavor of the Wild West through guided tours, reenactments, and preserved historic buildings.
11. Jewel Cave National Monument
UNDERGROUND NATURAL WONDER
Jewel Cave National Monument protects the third-longest cave in the world with over 200 miles of mapped passages. Visitors can explore the underground wonderland through a variety of guided tours that showcase unique formations and cave features. Above ground, the monument encompasses 1,279 acres with nature trails for hiking and wildlife viewing.
12. Wind Cave National Park
FIRST CAVE NATIONAL PARK
Wind Cave National Park was the first cave to be designated as a national park and features the world's largest concentration of rare boxwork formations. The park encompasses 33,851 acres of forest and prairie on the surface, creating a sanctuary for diverse wildlife. Visitors can experience both the fascinating underground cave system through guided tours and the beautiful prairie ecosystem above ground.
13. Crazy Horse Memorial
MONUMENTAL MOUNTAIN CARVING
Crazy Horse Memorial is an ongoing mountain sculpture project that began in 1948 to honor the Lakota leader. Once complete, this tribute will be the largest mountain carving in the world, dwarfing even the nearby Mount Rushmore. Visitors can also explore the on-site Indian Museum of North America and the Native American Educational & Cultural Center to learn about Native American culture and history.
14. Missouri River
MIGHTY MO RECREATION
The Missouri River offers abundant recreation opportunities along its free-flowing sections and four major reservoirs in South Dakota. Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Lake Francis Case, and Lewis & Clark Lake provide prime spots for fishing, boating, and water activities. History and adventure abound along the waters of this mighty river that has shaped the development of the region.
15. Badlands National Park
DRAMATIC ERODED LANDSCAPE
Badlands National Park features dramatically eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires blended with the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the United States. The park protects 244,000 acres where visitors can observe fossilized remains of ancient creatures and spot modern wildlife including bison, bighorn sheep, and prairie dogs. Scenic drives, hiking trails, and ranger programs help visitors experience this unique landscape that appears both desolate and teeming with life.