Sioux Falls
United States · Americas
About Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls is a city of about 184,000 (2019) in Southeast South Dakota. Founded in 1883 in what was then known as the Dakota Territory, Sioux Falls has grown from a sleepy Midwestern town into a resort for shopping and tourism in the northern Great Plains. It is widely recognized as the largest urban center between Minneapolis and Denver.
Sioux Falls travel guide
Getting there
Sioux Falls may be traveled by car, but also has courier and taxi service, as well as trolley service downtown in the summer. There is a municipal bus service, but it shuts down rather early in the evenings. The Sioux Falls Airport (FSD), 2801 N. Jaycee Lane, is the major airport in the area. The Sioux Falls Bus Terminal (SXF), 1500 W Russell St, serves virtually the entire continental North America.
By car Sioux Falls is at the intersection of two major interstates, I-90 and I-29. Another interstate, I-229, travels from the southwestern part of the city to the northeastern part. This forms a loop around the city. From Chicago, travel west on I-90 to Sioux Falls. Approximate travel time is eight hours. From Denver, travel east on I-76 into Nebraska until the I-80 interchange. Merge east onto I-80. Stay east on I-80 until you reach Omaha. From there, go north on I-29 to Sioux Falls. Approximate travel time is nine hours. From Kansas City, travel north on I-29 to Sioux Falls. Approximate travel time is five hours. From Minneapolis, travel south on I-35, and then west on I-90 to Sioux Falls. Approximate travel time is four hours. An alternative route would be US Highway 169 southwest of out the western suburbs of Minneapolis. Travel south on Minnesota State Highway 60, just west of Mankato. Travel southwest to Worthington, and travel west on I-90 to Sioux Falls. Approximate travel time is four hours. From Fargo, travel south on I-29 to Sioux Falls. Approximate travel time is four hours. From Montana, Wyoming, and Rapid City, Travel east on I-90 to Sioux Falls. Approximate travel time from Rapid City is five hours. Once in Sioux Falls, the interstate exits are:
Exit 75/I-29: Intersection with I-229, which runs from the southwest to northeast corner of the city Exit 77/I-29: 41st Street, a key area for shopping, restaurants, and hotels Exit 78/I-29: Louise Avenue/26th Street, another link to the shopping area around the Empire Mall Exit 79/I-29: 12th S
Getting around
By car While there is some public transportation in Sioux Falls and taxis are generally available, the easiest way to get around the city is by car. Roads are generally well-maintained (with the occasional summer road construction) and traffic is quite light by typical North American standards, especially considering the exponential growth of the city. Sioux Falls is at the intersection of I-29 and I-90. Another interstate, I-229, runs from the southwest to northeast corner of the city, meaning that the vast majority of Sioux Falls is accessible via an interstate. Most of the major attractions, shopping areas, and dining establishments are located near two major east-west roads - 12th Street and 41st Street. Minnesota Avenue also has a large selection of restaurants and shopping places.
By bus Sioux Falls Metro operates 15 bus routes throughout the city. Fares are $1 for adults with books of 10 available for a 15 percent discount. Buses generally run every half-hour during the day, but nearly all routes stop running by 7PM and bus service on weekends is very limited.
By ride share Lyft, ride share service has been available in the Sioux Falls area since 2017. (Uber is not).
By taxi There are a handful of taxi services that operate in Sioux Falls. Fares are reasonable by U.S. standards:
Best Taxi - Affordable Airport Taxi, +1 605-496-3751. Reliable Taxi Service Sioux Falls South Dakota, +1 605-653-2754.
By trolley Sioux Falls Transit operates a trolley that operates Monday through Saturday from 10AM-8PM during the summer, and on Saturdays through the fall. The trolley operates through downtown Sioux Falls from Falls Park to the Washington Pavilion.
See
Falls Park
The natural wonder that gave Sioux Falls its name, Falls Park offers multiple viewing areas and a five-story observation tower. From there, you can view not only the impressive waterfalls but some of the city's earliest and most historic buildings.
1 Falls Park, 309 E. Falls Park Dr, ☏ +1 605-367-7430.
Galleries and museums 2 Center for Western Studies, 2001 S. Summit Ave, ☏ +1 605-274-4007. M-F 8AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-2PM. More than 200 collections dedicated to preserving and interpreting the history and cultures of the Northern Plains. Free admission, but freewill donations are appreciated. (updated Feb 2020) Old Courthouse Museum, 200 W. 6th St, ☏ +1 605-367-4210. Open daily. A National Historic Landmark that hosts lectures, workshops, children's programs and more. Admission is free. Visual Arts Center at the Washington Pavilion, 11th Street and Main Ave, ☏ +1 605-367-6000. Tu-Th Sa 10AM-5PM, F 10AM-8PM, Su noon-5PM. Features multiple exhibits for adults and children. Most exhibits are free.
Other attractions 3 Great Plains Zoo, 805 S. Kiwanis Ave, ☏ +1 605-367-7059. Open seven days a week, hours vary by season. More than 500 animals, from penguins to tigers to baby rhinos, inhabit the grounds. Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for children ages 3 to 12. Kirby Science Discovery Center (Washington Pavilion) (11th Street and Main Avenue), ☏ +1 605-367-6000. Tu-Th Sa 10AM-5PM, F 10AM-8PM, Su noon-5PM. Home to more than 80 hands-on science experiences and the giant-screen Cinedome (IMAX) theater. $6.75 for adults, $4.60 for children. (updated Sep 2018) Butterfly House & Aquarium, 4320 S. Oxbow Ave, ☏ +1 605-334-9466. Open seven days a week, hours vary by season but generally run from 10AM-4PM. View the natural habitat of more than 800 free flying butterflies and other tropical animals. Admission for adults is $6, children under 18 $4. USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial (12th Street and Kiwanis Avenue), ☏ +1 605-367-7141. Memorial Day to Labor
Do
1 Sky Zone Sioux Falls. , 2 Thunder Road Family Fun Park. , 3 Wild Water West. - located in Sioux Falls South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, ☏ +1 605-335-7933. The SDSO is an award winning orchestra whose season spans from Sept to May. They perform in the Great Hall of the Washington Pavilion which is known nationwide for its excellent acoustics. Sertoma Park, 49th & Oxbow. Sertoma Park is a wide open area with a large amount of outdoor activities for all. There is a main part of children containing five incredibly large jungle gyms. There is a large complex right in the middle of the playground areas containing picnic tables, a perfect place for a family with many children to stop and have a snack or even lunch. There are many outdoor trails going throughout and around the park. They are great for bird-watching. The main trail goes by the Big Sioux River, a large grassy field, several ponds and some woods, and ideal trail for outdoor enthusiasts. The Seratoma Park is also home to a large butterfly house that contains both exotic and local butterflies.
Golf Sioux Falls has a surprising range of golf options for a mid-sized city, with courses of varying degrees of difficulty and comparably low greens fees. It is important to call early for tee times, especially in the spring and e
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.