Why South Dakota Should Be on Your Family’s 2025 Travel Itinerary

South Dakota has long been a personal favorite ever since I road tripped through the state with my favorite aunt, cocker spaniel in tow, and had to stop in the middle of the road for Custer State Park’s entire herd of wild buffalo to cross the road in front of my Toyota 4 Runner (with my dog barking his little head off at the massive creatures the entire time). So, when I learned about all the great happenings planned in the state for 2025, I knew right away it is one destination family travelers simply can’t miss in the coming year.

Next year marks the 100^th anniversary of Mount Rushmore, the impressive monument that depicts four of the country’s most recognizable presidents: Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson and Roosevelt. Created by sculptor Gutzon Borglum, the site sits above a beautiful visitors center packed with information, programs running day and night, and hiking trails that let you roam the area and get practically right under the sculpted faces.

Mount Rushmore is located within Custer State Park, where families can also experience another milestone anniversary in 2025. Each year, the park conducts a massive buffalo roundup in which they corral the entire herd of wild buffalo to make sure they are all healthy and safe and able to get any medical attention necessary to keep them that way. This event happens on the last Friday in September and involves a dedicated group of cowgirls, cowboys and park staff working together to corral the 1,300-member herd of buffalo in for their annual checkups. Visitors flock to the park each year for the event, but this coming year will mark the 60^th anniversary of this special event.

Next year will also mark the 50^th anniversary of a kid-favorite attraction for South Dakota, Mammoth Site. In 1975, a prehistoric site containing the remains of more than 60 mammoths was unearthed in what is today Hot Springs, South Dakota. The site is an active paleontology dig site and offers educational opportunities like a museum and active research facility.

While these anniversaries are a great excuse to visit South Dakota in 2025, the truth is, the state is an ideal family destination any time. There is no end to the natural beauty, outdoor adventures, fascinating history and good old-fashioned family fun you can enjoy across the state.