Dog-Friendly Activities in South Dakota

Don’t leave Fido in the hotel room when you’re on vacation. Get out and play! No matter where you’re headed in South Dakota, we can point you towards the nearest off-leash dog park, the most popular dog beach, a really great hiking trail, and lots of other places to play with Fido.

Pet Friendly Custer State Park
Custer State Park Custer State Park offers 71,000 acres of amazing views and dog-friendly outdoor experiences in Custer, SD. Leashed dogs are welcome throughout the park. The 18-mile Wildlife Loop allows pets and humans to explore the park and view the indigenous wildlife from the comfort of the car. There are also many dog-friendly hiking trails where pets are welcome to join the fun. Set out on a hike along Black Elk Peak Loop, a seven-mile route with stunning views of the cathedral spires and Black Hills wilderness. Visitors should note that dogs are not allowed at designated swimming beaches or in any park buildings (including camping cabins, lodges and comfort stations). See Details
Pet Friendly The World's Only Corn Palace
The World's Only Corn Palace The World's Only Corn Palace, a pet-friendly roadside attraction in Mitchell, SD, welcomes leashed dogs to join their human companions inside the world's only corn palace. Each year, over 275,000 ears of corn are used to redecorate the Corn Palace with new themes and new designs, and intricate corn murals decorate the auditorium inside. Tours of this one-of-a-kind attraction are given daily. See Details
Bar K-9 Indoor Dog Park and Bar Bar K-9 Indoor Dog Park and Bar is a membership-based indoor attraction in Rapid City, SD. The dog-friendly bar offers a safe, clean environment for Fido to engage in off-leash play. There are agility obstacles and toys to exercise and entertain energetic pets! Owners can sit and socialize with their favorite beer or wine in hand, and there are also non-alcoholic beverages for purchase. A guest pass is required for one-day use, and frequent visitors may purchase a monthly membership for one, two or three dogs. See Details
Professor Samuel’s Old Time Photos Professor Samuel’s Old Time Photos is a pet-friendly old-time photography service in Keystone, SD. The staff is awesome and love shooting dogs in classic clothing. See Details
Bear Country USA Pet-friendly Bear Country USA in Rapid City, SD offers visitors a chance to view wildlife from the comfort of their own car. You and Fido will travel through several enclosures on the three-mile drive through the park and see black bears, elk, reindeer, cougars, bobcats, bighorn sheep, buffalo and more. Dogs are welcome to enjoy the drive-through park but are not allowed in Babyland, where the cubs live, and not allowed around the wildlife walkway area. They can be on a leash near the gazebo area at the end. The park is open seasonally from May through November. See Details
Wall Drug Wall Drug is a dog-friendly iconic tourist spot and roadside attraction at one end of Badlands National Park in Wall, SD. They're famous for the free ice water, and pups are welcome inside the store. Be sure to snap a picture of Fido at one of their photo opportunities throughout the site such as the six-foot rabbit, the mini-Mount Rushmore, the buckin’ bronc, the life-size robot T-Rex, and, the ever-popular Giant Jackalope. Please note that dogs are not permitted inside restaurants. See Details
Falls Park Pet-friendly Falls Park, sitting on 128 acres, is located on the banks of the Big Sioux River in Sioux Falls, SD. Enjoy captivating waterfalls from several viewing platforms, including a five-story observation tower. Leashed dogs are welcome, as long as they are cleaned up after. See Details
Dinosaur Park Fido can walk amongst prehistoric giants at the pet-friendly Dinosaur Park in Rapid City, SD. The park, open to the public since 1936, is free to explore. Dinosaur Park's hours vary seasonally, so make sure to check the website before planning your outing. Dogs are not allowed inside buildings. All pups must remain leashed. See Details
Needles Highway Take a drive to the pet-friendly Needles Highway in Custer, SD. This spectacular trip through ponderosa pine and Black Hills spruce forests, meadows surrounded by birch and aspen and rugged granite mountains can't be missed if you're visiting South Dakota. The name comes from the needle-like granite formations that sprout out of the ground. See Details
Sunday Gulch Trail The pet-friendly Sunday Gulch Trail is a popular hike in Custer State Park, located in Custer, SD. At nearly four miles in length, this trail is considered quite difficult as a bit of scrambling is required. The trail will take you near Sylvan Lake. In the beginning, you’ll traverse over large boulders down a valley to some great views of big granite spires and the northern Black Hills all around you. There are handrails to aid you in your journey along the pathway. You'll be pleased they're there on the way back down. Leashed pups are allowed to join, but make sure to clean up after them. See Details
Badlands Loop Road Take your pup on a trip on the pet-friendly Badlands Loop Road, one of America's most surreal roads that spans 39 miles in Wall, SD. The curvy roads take you around the amazing rock formations that will make you feel like you're driving on a different planet. See Details
Pioneer Auto Show The Pioneer Auto Show, located in Murdo, SD, is dog friendly and offers car, tractor and motorcycle tours. They also offer a tour of Prairie Town. Fido is also permitted inside the gift shop, but not allowed in the café. See Details
Four Mile Old West Town Museum Experience the Wild West with Fido at dog-friendly Four Mile Old West Town Museum, open seasonally from mid-May to the end of September in Custer, SD. Small pets are welcome to join you for self-guided tours of this historic site, featuring an old west town, boardwalks and artifacts. See Details
Dog Park at Braeburn Park There is a creek for pups to play in at the off-leash dog park at Braeburn Park, located in Rapid City, SD. Just be careful, as the area is not fenced. See Details
Dog Park at Family Park Bring Fido to the dog park at Family Park in Sioux Falls, SD to play in three acres of permanently fenced space! The park boasts fencing, walkways, open space, seating for human visitors, shade structures, drinking fountains, dog wash stations and natural dog play features. Dog owners are allowed two pets per visit, and they must clean up after their pets and leash them when entering and exiting the fenced area. See Details
Wind Cave National Park Wind Cave National Park in Hot Springs, SD is the seventh-oldest national park in the country. This pet-friendly park is home to an array of wildlife including bison, elk and prairie dogs. Leashed pets are welcome on the Elk Mountain and Prairie Vista Nature Trails. Pups may also join human companions at the Ranger Campfire Programs. For the safety of your pet and the wildlife, pets are not permitted in the backcountry. Dogs must remain leashed at all times and may never be left unattended. See Details
Lost Cabin Beer Company Lost Cabin Beer Company, located in Rapid City, SD, is pet friendly! You're welcome to bring Fido with you to enjoy the patio or hang out inside as there is no food prepared on the premises. Their tap list includes amber lagers, hazy IPAs, ales, saison and wheat beers. See Details
Crow Peak Brewing Company Crow Peak Brewing Company is a dog-friendly microbrewery in Spearfish, SD, where Fido is welcome to join you at a table on the patio or inside their taproom with a fresh bowl of water. They brew three year-round beers including an American-style IPA, a blonde ale and a robust porter. You'll also find seasonal creations like a coffee IPA, the lemon farmhouse ale, chocolate stout, a chili ale and more. Food trucks and special events are hosted throughout the week. See Details
Devils Bathtub Trailhead Visit Spearfish Canyon and take a dunk with your dog in the Devil’s Bathtub in Lead, SD. This dog-friendly, moderate trail is just over 1.5 miles out-and-back and has a natural rock slide into a pool. Leashed dogs are welcome to join their owners to discover this hidden gem in the Black Hills region. See Details
Mammoth Site Bring Fido to explore the Mammoth Site, a dog-friendly natural history museum in Hot Springs, SD. Pups must be leashed and carried, or in a carrier while visiting inside the site. See Details
South Dakota