I love stopping at unique and interesting roadside attractions — they are perfect for stretching legs, taking a break from a long drive, and creating memories of their own. Plus, where else can you find the largest ball of paint in the world or the world’s only corn palace? The roadside attractions of I-90 across South Dakota and Minnesota might be one of the best stretches in the U.S. to catch some fun, historical, and interesting sites to break up your trip.
Exit 178A Austin, Minnesota – The SPAM Museum
Who knew that the SPAM Museum would be equally quirky and historically interesting? And I don’t mean the type of spam you get in your emails. We had a “spamtastic” time at this FREE museum dedicated to the infamous canned meat. It truly was a feast for the eyes. The museum provides background on the creation of spam by George Hormel (Hormel’s headquarters is still in Austin) and its role as a food staple throughout history. For example, SPAM was sent overseas to troops in World War II and the Korean War, and gained a lot of popularity as a result.
My kids particularly enjoyed the hands-on activities like packing a can of SPAM as fast as they could and determining how many SPAM cans tall they are. We also loved learning about where in the world SPAM is popular and how different cultures cook with it. The gift shop is one of the best I’ve ever seen. Where else can you find SPAM socks or underwear? And you can purchase a can of traditional spam or several other flavors like Teriyaki or Hot and Spicy that you might not find in your local grocery. Truth be told, our boys have never had SPAM before, so we bought some for them to try.
Exit 396 Sioux Falls, SD – Sioux Falls Park
We chose Sioux Falls as our overnight stop for our 17-hour road trip from Indianapolis to Rapid City. We decided to stay downtown for the close proximity to the Falls. For breakfast, we loved Queen City Bakery – were we in downtown Sioux Falls or a sidestreet in Paris? The boys feasted on cinnamon rolls and pastries and the iced lattes were among the best we’ve ever had. It was the perfect way to kick off our day of exploring the roadside attractions of I-90 across South Dakota.
Sioux Falls Park is the best spot to watch the namesake Big Sioux River running over the tiered outcroppings of pink-hued Sioux Quartzite. It almost looked otherworldly – maybe Mars or another planet. When the sun hits the wet, pink rock, it looked almost otherworldly like Mars or somewhere you’d see in a Star Wars movie. Badlands National Park – just 300 miles from here — looks just like Luke Skywalker’s home of Tatooine, so perhaps it’s a South Dakota theme of their landscapes. There are several vantage points to watch the tumbling water and take pics.
Centuries ago, the Lakota people hunted bison at the falls, so it was an important natural element for early peoples and spot to build a community.
In addition, you can get a glimpse of early Sioux Falls industry by the remains of the Queen Bee Mill. The Park is also along the 34-mile Big Sioux River Trail and Greenway. We got there too early for the Overlook Café, but it would be a great spot to grab something to eat while peering out at the cascading water.
Exit 332 Mitchell, SD – The World’s Only Corn Palace
A corny roadside attraction made of the yellow-kernelled crop? Sounds a”maize”ing, right? However, what I thought would be a quick photo opp turned into a fascinating agricultural history lesson about the grain palaces of South Dakota from the late 1800s. They were built in cities as a marketing tool to encourage people to move to the area – basically, public relations stunts.
Only the Corn Palace in Mitchell remains, where murals (changed out periodically) made from corn and other natural materials adorn the exterior and interior of the building. It is currently used for special events like basketball games and graduations.
There is a display of the history of the Corn Palace that you can follow all around the building. It was of little interest to the boys, so we passed over several decades of history and went straight to the gift shop. At this point, my kids’ souvenir spending money was at risk of being at zero balance in just two stops!
Don’t forget to grab a bag of popcorn for the road, and be sure to pick up the free South Dakota Activity and Coloring Book for kids as you enter the Corn Palace – great for keeping the kids busy in the car while driving to your next stop on the drive across I-90.
Prehistoric Indian Village
Learning about our past and the people who came before us is such an important part of travel and learning to be a global citizen. The Prehistoric Indian Village Archeological Site in Mitchell was a great way to better understand the first peoples of the Dakotas and how they lived. It was also the perfect spot to ground the rest of our trip as so much of the history and landscape comes from them.
The village is the only archeology dig site in South Dakota that’s open to the public. They estimate 70 to 80 “mud huts” are on the site, which is more than 1,100 years old. It was a bison processing site. As you learn in the museum, every part of a bison was valuable and usable by early people – bladders could be used for storing water, fur was clothing and bedding, and their fat was used for pemmican, kind of an early protein bar that mashed berries and meat together.
The painstaking attention to detail and patience of unearthing the archeological treasures by the archeologists and volunteers was remarkable to watch. It was really cool to see them uncover history.
The boys enjoyed touring the mud hut at the museum, but their favorite part was the kids’ dig site. They searched through silt and sand to find plastic arrowheads which they turned in at the gift shop for real arrowheads! Score! And as kitschy as the SPAM Museum and Corn Palace gift shops are (and Wall Drugs, too), this one has some lovely handcrafted items that moms would like.
Exit 263 Chamberlin, SD – Dignity of Earth and Sky
Rising high on the cliffs above the Missouri River, the Dignity of Earth and Sky statue is a stunning 50-foot stainless steel sculpture of a Native American woman created to honor the Lakota and Dakota cultures. She is majestic in stature and style and a fitting tribute to the Native American culture that is embedded in South Dakota.
There’s a paved walkway around Dignity, so you can see her on all sides. She is a wonderful representation of the culture and good reminder for our boys about who came before us and respecting culture.
From a practical standpoint, there is a large visitor’s center with restrooms, making it a great place for a rest stop.
Exit 131 Phillip, SD – Minuteman Missile National Historic Site Visitor’s Center
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site gives you a glimpse into the U.S. Cold War Era. Nuclear bombs in silos? Yep – that wasn’t folklore. Hundreds were dotted across the South Dakota prairie and you can even visit two of the preserved launch facilities (at Exits 116 and 127). As children of the 80’s, my husband and I were very interested in the Visitor’s Center which provided a refresher of the U.S./ former U.S.S.R. missile crisis. We were shocked to learn that there were two incidents that almost warranted a nuke attack. Glad we didn’t know that at the times they happened!!! And it was fascinating to learn more about the service men and women who were stationed there, at the ready, 24 hours a day, just in case.
We missed the times to do the tours of the launch facilities which have decommissioned equipment (sign up in advance) which would have been fascinating, I’m sure. The National Park website has great information, including a virtual tour of the facilities. It was both interesting and eerie to think about the missile sites hidden among the cattle and prairie dogs (and many are still there). Our kids weren’t very impressed, but they were making air pressure rockets in front of the center which was more up their alley. It was also the end of the day, so patience was running thin.
Exit 109 Wall, SD – Wall Drug
No matter what direction you’re driving across I-90 you won’t miss the multiple roadside signs for Wall Drug – See the jackalope! 5 cent coffee! and Free ice water! Known as the World’s Largest Drug Store, I soon found that I hoped the store carried some anxiety-relieving drugs while walking through it. Did I go into a time warp and it was now Black Friday? There were so many people that you had to walk sideways to get through aisles and walkways.
While you can find typical sundries, there are also oodles of souvenirs and shops within the store – fudge, camping gear, western wear, a restaurant and more. It was packed tighter than a tick on a deer and had way too many people for my comfort, especially since we’re still living in a pandemic. Still, I was able to grab a toothbrush, deodorant and face wash for my darling 13-year old who failed to pack his Dopp kit. And the kids picked up some candy and magnets. For me, this would be somewhere you could pass up as you make your way across the bottom of South Dakota.
Badlands National Park is also not far of I-90 (and can be accessed at the same exit as Wall Drugs), but it deserves at least a full day, so I don’t consider it a roadside attraction. More on Badlands soon!
As you’re trekking along this stretch of highway, don’t forget to check out our hip road trip tips to make the most of your journey.
The roadside attractions of I-90 across South Dakota and Minnesota are all within a 10-minute drive off the highway. But best of all, they gave us a lot of laughs, some knowledge and appreciation for culture, and stories that we’ll have for a lifetime.
