Things to do in Sioux Falls
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Sioux Falls
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Spring is volatile: Summit League in March, falls strongest in April, SculptureWalk and patios return in May.
Peak summer and default recommendation: Levitt, Canaries, trail and patios all live, early June is a best month.
Autumn is the locals favourite: Sidewalk Arts and Sanford International in September, colour peaks in October, early September is a best month.
Winter is severe and purposeful: Winter Wonderland, ice ribbon, Great Bear skiing and Stampede hockey, late February is a worst leisure window.
What's on
- Summit League Basketball Tournaments March
Regional tournament week at the PREMIER Center, downtown hotels sell out.
- RibFest early June
South Dakota biggest backyard BBQ, downtown adjacent and fun.
- Hot Harley Nights July
Motorcycle parade and rally weekend, book hotels early or avoid if noise is not wanted.
- Sioux Empire Fair early August
Regional fair at W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds with concerts, livestock and fried food.
- Sidewalk Arts Festival September
One day downtown arts festival, the best single downtown day and hardest fall hotel weekend.
- Sanford International September
PGA Tour Champions week at Minnehaha Country Club, spectate with grounds tickets.
- ZooBoo October
Family seasonal highlight at Great Plains Zoo.
- Winter Wonderland at Falls Park late November to early January
Falls Park lit with hundreds of thousands of lights, with tree lighting and Parade of Lights on opening night.
- Parade of Lights Friday after Thanksgiving
Downtown parade down Phillips Avenue on the Winter Wonderland opening night.
- Christmas at the Cathedral December
Holiday concerts at Cathedral of Saint Joseph in winter season.
Best things to do in Sioux Falls
Falls Park
Pink quartzite cascades on the Big Sioux River with a free tower, mill ruins and bridges right over the water.
SculptureWalk
Rotating outdoor sculptures line Phillips Avenue so a downtown stroll becomes the main event.
Arc of Dreams
A huge stainless arc spans the Big Sioux River with a gap in the middle and lights up at night.
Levitt at the Falls
Free summer concerts on an East Bank lawn with food trucks and the skyline behind the stage.
Washington Pavilion
Arts and science in one building with hands on exhibits, galleries and a large performing arts hall.
State Theatre
Restored 1926 movie palace with one screen, leather recliners, a bar and cheap prestige and classic films.
Great Plains Zoo
Well kept regional zoo strong on red pandas, big cats and North American animals in two to three hours.
Butterfly House & Aquarium
Tropical butterflies and a marine cove in Sertoma Park, the best indoor reset for children under ten.
Where to stay in Sioux Falls
Downtown - Phillips Avenue / East Bank / Steel District
first trip, all-round base
Only walkable base, with Falls Park, Levitt, SculptureWalk and top restaurants inside a one mile loop.
Empire Mall / Western Avenue & 41st Street corridor
families, shoppers and value
Suburban retail heart with larger rooms, pools and free parking, but completely car dependent.
Think twice about
- Pettigrew Heights
Highest call for service area with property crime and disturbances, and older motels and rentals visitors should not sleep in.
- Whittier / east-downtown fringe
Higher theft and incident rates than the suburbs, with budget motels and unreviewed rentals to avoid as a base.
- North End around the Smithfield plant and West 12th / Minnesota Avenue motel strips
Industrial residential mix with elevated property offences and variable motel quality, so be selective and read recent reviews.
Best restaurants in Sioux Falls
Harvester Kitchen by Bryan
Small tasting menu restaurant downtown using regional ingredients, the city top splurge dinner.
Parker's Bistro
Seasonal New American cooking in a quartzite building with Wagyu, seafood and a deep wine list.
Morrie's Steakhouse
Classic south side steakhouse with dry aged and Wagyu cuts, lobster mash and white tablecloth service.
Sanaa's Gourmet Mediterranean
Scratch made Syrian and Mediterranean lunch on the East Bank with famous Saturday buffet and low prices.
Minervas
Downtown institution since 1977 for steaks, pasta, seafood and a market style salad bar for groups.
Bread & Circus Sandwich Kitchen
Sandwich kitchen near the falls treating a fried chicken sandwich and lamb burger like fine dining.
Look's Marketplace
Historic market on 69th with butcher, bakery, brewery and live fire restaurant under one roof.
Mama's Ladas
Tiny beloved Mexican spot on 11th Street serving enchiladas with flavor first and simple prices.
Outdoor things to do in Sioux Falls
Prairie Green Golf Course
Championship prairie golf with water, bunkers and wind, rated among South Dakota best public courses.
Bakker Crossing Championship Golf Course
Wetlands championship course in the south, a sterner and more scenic test than its price suggests.
Willow Run Golf Course
East side course hillier than visitors expect, with the best elevation changes inside the city.
Elmwood Golf Course
Classic tree lined parkland golf near the airport with 27 walkable holes at municipal prices.
Kuehn Park
Nine hole par 30 executive course in the southwest, ideal for learners and an after work round.
Big Sioux River Recreation Trail
Paved river loop linking Falls Park and downtown parks, best ridden south to Yankton Trail and back.
The Outdoor Campus
Free archery, fishing, kayaking and nature classes plus trails in Sertoma Park for families.
Great Bear Recreation Park
City ski and tubing hill with modest vertical, low prices and real fun for beginners and groups.
Best hotels in Sioux Falls
Canopy by Hilton Sioux Falls Downtown
Newest downtown hotel by Falls Park with river view rooms, Italian steakhouse and free trail bikes.
Hotel on Phillips
Boutique hotel in the 1918 bank building with the vault bar and SculptureWalk at the door.
Hilton Garden Inn Sioux Falls Downtown
Reliable riverfront downtown hotel at 8th Street, walkable to dining and long a default pick.
Clubhouse Hotel & Suites
Family suites hotel near Louise Avenue with indoor pool, free parking and strong value for drivers.
Holiday Inn Sioux Falls-City Centre
Full service downtown tower at 8th and Phillips with pool and location that offsets small bathrooms.
Sheraton Sioux Falls & Convention Center
Airport and arena hotel with shuttle and direct convention centre link, best for event weekends.
Is Sioux Falls expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | $90 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | $160 a person |
| Splurge | $320 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Washington Pavilion: weeks ahead
- Sioux Falls Stampede: a few days ahead
- Denny Sanford PREMIER Center: weeks ahead
- Prairie Green Golf Course: a few days ahead
- Bakker Crossing Championship Golf Course: a few days ahead
- Willow Run Golf Course: a few days ahead
- The Outdoor Campus: a few days ahead
- Great Bear Recreation Park: a few days ahead
- Harvester Kitchen and Parker's days to a week or more for weekends, and Morrie's on celebratory weekends.
- Washington Pavilion shows, PREMIER Center concerts and Summit League sessions, and downtown hotels on event weekends.
- Great Bear tubing on holiday weekends, arrive early for Levitt headliners and before 11am for Palisades parking.
Is Sioux Falls safe?
- Downtown Phillips, East Bank and Falls Park are well lit and busy, standard city awareness is enough there.
- Panhandling and homelessness are visible near 8th Street services and under river bridges, walk lit main streets late.
- Do not leave valuables visible in a car anywhere, and lock cars even at Palisades and Good Earth trailheads.
- Weather is the main risk: tornado season May to July, extreme cold and prairie wind in winter.
Sioux Falls travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Do not day trip to Mount Rushmore from Sioux Falls, it is five hours each way.
- The Empire Mall is a good regional mall, not an attraction.
- Falls Park drama depends on water volume, spring and post rain visits are best.
- JazzFest is gone, Levitt is the replacement, and downtown is quiet Sunday and Monday nights.
- USS South Dakota Memorial suits military history visitors most, calibrate by interest.
Getting around Sioux Falls: public transport and more
- Walk flat compact downtown and use cheap ramps, a car is needed beyond downtown.
- Airport is about 10 minutes north of downtown with rental cars on site.
- SAM buses and seasonal trolley are a backup, rideshare is reliable downtown and at the airport but thinner late.
- Bike the river trail with hotel bikes or share bikes for a car free downtown day in season.
- In winter check forecasts for drives out of the city, where blowing snow can close I-90 and I-29.
Who Sioux Falls suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Good |
| Families | Great |
| Bachelorette parties | Good |
Make Sioux Falls your trip
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