8 days in Kansas City & South Dakota Itinerary

The city meets the Great Plains in Kansas City City, Kansas.

Bring the kids along to Cedar Cove Feline Conservatory & Education Center and Glore Psychiatric Museum. Explore hidden gems such as Moon Marble Company and Ft Leavenworth Army Installation. Change things up with these side-trips from Kansas City: Buffalo Soldier Memorial Park (in Leavenworth) and Pony Express Museum (in Saint Joseph). There's more to do: cool off at Schlitterbahn Waterpark Kansas City and explore the engaging exhibits at Museum at Prairiefire.

To see more things to do, where to stay, photos, and tourist information, refer to the Kansas City day trip planning site.

Des Moines to Kansas City is an approximately 3-hour car ride. You can also take a bus; or fly. Finish your sightseeing early on the 6th (Sun) to allow enough time to fly to Deadwood.

Deadwood is a city in South Dakota, United States, and the county seat of Lawrence County. Step off the beaten path and head to Black Elk Peak and Mt Roosevelt Monument. Attractions like Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center and D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery make great kid-friendly stops. Change things up with these side-trips from Deadwood: The Museum @ Black Hills Institute (in Hill City) and Breezy Point Picnic Area (in Keystone). There's much more to do: examine the collection at Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame, get engrossed in the history at Adams Museum, and go deep underground at Broken Boot Gold Mine.

For photos, more things to do, other places to visit, and more tourist information, use the Deadwood trip site.

You can fly from Kansas City to Deadwood in 6.5 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus and taxi. In August, daily temperatures in Deadwood can reach 80°F, while at night they dip to 56°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 9th (Wed) early enough to drive to De Smet.

De Smet is a city in and the county seat of Kingsbury County, South Dakota, United States. On the 10th (Thu), stroll the grounds of De Smet Cemetery, then make a trip to Ingalls Homestead - Laura's Living Prairie, and then steep yourself in history at Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Homes.

Plan trip to De Smet with our itinerary maker to find out where to go and what to do.

Traveling by car from Deadwood to De Smet takes 6 hours. Expect a daytime high around 82°F in August, and nighttime lows around 59°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 10th (Thu) to allow time to drive to Sioux Falls.

Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Kick off your visit on the 11th (Fri): take in the architecture and atmosphere at St. Joseph Cathedral, get up close and personal with brilliant marine life at Butterfly House & Aquarium, and then trek along SculptureWalk & Arc of Dreams Monument.

To find other places to visit, reviews, more things to do, and other tourist information, read Sioux Falls trip planner.

Traveling by car from De Smet to Sioux Falls takes 2 hours. In August, daily temperatures in Sioux Falls can reach 80°F, while at night they dip to 60°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 11th (Fri) early enough to go by car back home.