The Largest Cities in South Dakota
Searching for the largest cities in South Dakota? Well, you are in the right place! The biggest cities in South Dakota are: 1) Sioux Falls (population: approximately 225,000; land area: about 80 square miles), 2) Rapid City (population: approximately 85,000; land area: about 55 square miles), 3) Aberdeen (population: approximately 28,000; land area: about 15 square miles).
The largest cities in South Dakota each bring their own unique personality, history, and culture to the state. They’re among my favorite places to explore in the Great Plains on a road trip.
Falls in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Falls Park
Sioux Falls
Chris and I both absolutely love Sioux Falls (Google Maps Pin), and have been many times. Falls Park is of course the highlight here. You can see water tumble over pink stone ledges. It's a perfect idea for a quick escape. Sioux Falls, with a population of about 225,000, is the largest city in South Dakota. It covers roughly 80 square miles.
I flew to "The Queen City" from Austin (round-trip deals often hover between $163 and $250, depending on the airline and stopovers). We stayed at the 3-star La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Sioux Falls for five days. I instantly thought our journey was worth it! Since there are heaps of unique things to do here, we decided to join a guided tour with a local guide on our first visit.
My personal highlight was walking through downtown. You can stop at coffee shops for coffee and fresh pastries. We had dinner at Ironwood which serves up perfectly done steaks with a view over the city!
Rapid City
The second largest city in SD is Rapid City (Google Maps pin). I thought it was absolutely fascinating with its frontier-era architecture, street art, and views of the Black Hills. Walking through the historic core, you can see 20th-century buildings, and cool life-size presidential statues.
We drove about 5 hours west from Sioux Falls across the wide-open plains to the "Gateway to the Black Hills," (the nickname for Rapid City) and stayed at the 3-star Hotel Alex Johnson Rapid City for two nights.
Rapid City is home to about 80,000 residents and stretching over 55 square miles.
You can browse Native American art and handmade crafts at Prairie Edge Trading Co., and enjoy a hearty dinner at Firehouse Brewing Co. (set inside the city’s original firehouse). I have to warn you I did notice higher prices during the summer travel months.
What I Loved Most: Sunset from Dinosaur Park.
Aberdeen
Not to be confused with a Scottish city with the same name, Aberdeen (Google Maps pin) is the third largest city in the state of South Dakota, USA. With about 28,000 people spread over 16 square miles, the city is quite relaxed compared to large cities in the USA. Plus, you'll be just two hours from Pierre, SD, another great place to see.
For two nights, I stayed at the Dakota Event Center’s connected Hampton Inn. It made a comfortable base with easy access to local attractions.
Booking Checklist
1. Book Your Flight - I use Expedia because I like their mobile app with my itinerary. They've helped me re-book flights on many occasions. Once you reach their Gold tier, support is especially good.
2. Book Your Hotel - I use Booking.com or Expedia, depending on my destination.
3. Book Your Rental Car - I use Expedia.
4. Book your tours on Viator or Get Your Guide.
5. If you are planning to visit more than three national parks in the next 12 months, we've found that buying the America the Beautiful Pass is cost effective.
