Ultimate Sioux Falls Travel Guide 2025: 35+ Things to Do, Eat & Experience in South Dakota’s River City

Have you ever planned an American city break where waterfalls thunder minutes from downtown, craft breweries pour breakfast stout at 7 a.m., and a 19-mile bike loop rings the whole scene? That’s Sioux Falls in 2025—compact, creative, and unexpectedly outdoorsy. Whether you’re plotting a long weekend or folding the city into a Mid-West road trip, this guide packs every practical detail you need to make the most of South Dakota’s largest city.

• Brand-new riverfront fun. Construction crews are polishing Jacobson Plaza in Falls Park West, with a refrigerated ice-skating ribbon, splash pad and fully accessible playground slated to open later this year. (Jacobson Plaza at The Falls, Ice ribbon at Jacobson Plaza at The Falls won’t be finished this winter)
  
• Free live music all summer. Levitt at the Falls returns with fifty eclectic concerts—no tickets, no gates, just bring a lawn chair and dance. (Events List – Levitt at the Falls)
  
• Downtown gallery under open sky. The 2025 SculptureWalk installs 80 new pieces along Phillips Avenue, turning every stroll into an art walk. (Here’s a look at this year’s SculptureWalk pieces)
  
• Wildlife experiences are leveling up. The merged Great Plains Zoo + Butterfly House & Aquarium unveiled a 15-year master plan that will add immersive Asian Highlands and Roo Valley habitats. (Great Plains Zoo Unveils Master Plan | Sioux Falls, SD)
  

These upgrades layer onto perennial favorites—Falls Park, riverfront trails, and a food scene that punches above its weight—making this year an ideal moment to explore.

Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD) handles year-round nonstops from hubs like Denver, Chicago, Atlanta, and Phoenix. Early 2025 stats already show passenger counts ahead of last year, so book seats early on peak-season weekends. (Airport Operating Statistics – Sioux Falls Regional Airport)

• Car: I-29 and I-90 intersect just outside town; every major attraction sits 15 minutes or less from the junction.
  
• Rideshare & Taxi: Uber/Lyft run city-wide; FSD has a dedicated zone outside baggage claim.
  
• Bus: Sioux Area Metro operates ten fixed routes; #5 connects downtown with the airport on weekdays.
  
• Bike & Foot: The paved Sioux Falls Bike Trail Loop circles 19.4 miles beside the Big Sioux River—perfect for sightseeing without traffic. (Sioux Falls Bike Trail Loop, South Dakota – 731 Reviews, Map)
  

Tip: If you’re arriving car-free, base yourself downtown; nearly everything in this guide sits within a ten-minute walk or along the river trail.

Hotel on Phillips—A 1918 bank reborn with marble columns and river views. Vault-turned-speakeasy in the basement.

Sheraton Sioux Falls is beside the convention center—walk to Denny Sanford Premier Center concerts and hockey.

Lofts above Phillips Avenue boutiques often include free parking and bikes. Search early for summer weekends; Levitt concerts boost demand.

Good Earth State Park offers electric campsites ten miles south of downtown, letting you trade city lights for prairie sunsets. (Good Earth State Park at Blood Run | South Dakota Game, Fish, and …)

Stand on the observation tower at golden hour and watch 7,400 gallons of Big Sioux water thunder over pink quartzite ledges every second. (Falls Park in Sioux Falls, SD) Time your visit for sunrise to catch low crowds and pastel skies; come back after dark when colored spotlights give the cascades a completely different mood.

Grab coffee at the on-site café, then wander north to the ruins of the Queen Bee Flour Mill for industrial-chic photos. A spur of the bike trail starts here, so you can roll straight into the next adventure.

Download the free map, pick your favorite of the 80 new pieces, and vote for the People’s Choice—your ballot helps the city buy a permanent work every year. (Here’s a look at this year’s SculptureWalk pieces)

A 70-ton stainless-steel arc leaps 85 feet over the river, leaving an eight-foot gap that symbolizes “the leap of faith.” For an extra splash, schedule a custom light display to mark a birthday or proposal. (Arc of Dreams – SculptureWalk Sioux Falls, Arc Of Dreams In Blue As Part Of National Human Trafficking …)

Arrive early with a blanket, sample rotating food-truck pods, and enjoy pristine acoustics—engineered berms bounce sound toward the lawn while muffling street noise. Concerts typically start at 7 p.m.; Friday crowds swell, so bike or walk if you can. (Events List – Levitt at the Falls)

Phillips Avenue mixes indie boutiques with grab-and-go fare. Look for queen-size bacon mac at MacKenzie River Pizza, La Luna Café’s horchata latte, and late-night slices at Papa Woody’s.

Why drive an hour for a prairie hike? Because this one overlays a 3,000-year-old Oneota trading village—the oldest documented settlement in the state. Begin at the award-winning interpretive center (9 a.m.–5 p.m. Tues–Sat summer; reduced winter hours). Hit the Vista Loop for river panoramas, then linger for sky-wide stargazing—park gates don’t close until 11 p.m. (Good Earth State Park at Blood Run | South Dakota Game, Fish, and …)

Even while exhibit construction hums, you can hand-feed stingrays, walk inside the free-flying butterfly conservatory, and watch rare black rhinos graze. Expect new habitats to open in phases, starting with an Australian walkabout next spring. (Great Plains Zoo Unveils Master Plan | Sioux Falls, SD)

Run by South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks, the Outdoor Campus offers free archery, kayaking, and Dutch-oven cooking classes—gear included. Check the online booklet and snag spots early; locals grab weekend slots fast. (Outdoor Campus – Sioux Falls | South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks, Outdoor Campus – Experience Sioux Falls)

Quartzite cliffs squeeze Split Rock Creek into photogenic chutes. Rent a kayak in town, launch below the King & Queen rock formations, and paddle class I–II rapids for a two-hour thrill. Water below 4.5 ft is scrape-city; above 8 ft, you’ll find playful waves in the swimming hole. (Split Rock Creek in South Dakota | Paddling.com)

• Butterfly House & Aquarium: Glide with jellyfish in a mood-lit cylinder tank.
  
• Tuthill Park: Locals’ sledding hill in winter, disc-golf course in summer.
  
• Empire Mall: For rainy-day retail therapy.
  

• Sioux Empire Fair (Aug 1–9, 2025): Gate admission is still under ten bucks when you buy online, and grandstand concerts are ticketed separately. Arrive before noon for free parking. (August 1-9, 2025 | Sioux Falls, SD – Sioux Empire Fair)
  
• Downtown Riverfest (Sept 20, 2025): Food trucks ring Cherapa Place, local bands play one stage, and fireworks reflect off the Big Sioux at dusk. Bring cash for craft-beer tents. (Downtown Sioux Falls Riverfest 2025)
  
• Sioux Falls Marathon (Sept 21, 2025): Entries sell out two weeks early; spectators congregate on 6th Street Bridge for back-to-back views of miles 7 and 23. (Sioux Falls Marathon)
  

• The Source Roastery + Taproom: Pair Kenyan pourover with a chocolate-chip scone.
  
• Fernson Downtown: Yes, beer at breakfast—this taproom opens at 7 a.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and pours coffee alongside lagers. Try Lion’s Paw. (Fernson Downtown)
  

• Bread & Circus: House-smoked pastrami on focaccia; vegan banh mi if meat isn’t your thing.
  
• Falls Overlook Café: Grab a walleye wrap and dine with waterfall views.
  

• Harvester Kitchen: Chef Bryan Frain’s multicourse Midwest tasting menu features foraged ramps and Dakota bison; reserve a week ahead for weekend slots. (HARVESTER KITCHEN, Sioux Falls – Menu, Prices, Restaurant …)
  
• Sanaa’s 8th Street Gourmet: Mediterranean buffet on Saturdays only; go hungry.
  

• Monks House of Ale Repute: 39 taps, patio twinkle lights.
  
• Hello Hi: Tropical cocktails, retro vinyl soundtrack.
  

Money-saver: Pick up a Hop Passport or the local Ale Trail booklet—two-for-one pours at breweries statewide. (2025 South Dakota – Hop Passport)

Morning: Sunrise at Falls Park → Coffee at The Source → SculptureWalk loop
Afternoon: Butterfly House → Lunch at Bread & Circus → Shop Phillips Avenue
Evening: Levitt concert picnic → Night-cap under the Arc of Dreams lights

Day 1 as above.
Day 2: Kayak Palisades State Park morning → Brunch at Josiah’s → Afternoon class at Outdoor Campus → Dinner tasting menu at Harvester Kitchen → Fernson late pint

Add Good Earth State Park dawn hike, Sioux Empire Fair or Riverfest (season depending), and a side trip to Yankton Trail Park for kite-flying if winds cooperate.

Weather: Humidity climbs in July; pack a light rain shell and quick-dry layers. Winter temps swing from 5 °C to -20 °C—Falls Park’s frozen cascades are photogenic but pathways ice over.

Fees: State park day pass is $8/vehicle or $36 annual. Falls Park, SculptureWalk, Levitt concerts and Outdoor Campus classes remain free.

Connectivity: Downtown is covered by city-wide public Wi-Fi, and the Good Earth visitor center offers a reliable signal for uploading trail shots.

Safety: Violent crime rate is below the U.S. average; still, lock bikes and keep valuables out of sight.

Ride the River Greenway shuttle (electric) on summer weekends, fill reusable bottles at Falls Park and Levitt water stations, and follow Leave No Trace on all state-park trails. Biking the 19-mile loop can replace most in-town car trips.

Sioux Falls blends big-city convenience with small-town friendliness, and 2025’s slate of new public spaces and events means there’s more to do than ever. So—when will you take your own leap across the Arc of Dreams and experience the roar of Falls Park for yourself?

1. Experience Sioux Falls Tourism Board: Falls Park visitor data and amenities. (Falls Park in Sioux Falls, SD)
   
2. Levitt at the Falls: 2025 free concert schedule. (Events List – Levitt at the Falls)
   
3. SculptureWalk Sioux Falls: 2025 installation preview. (Here’s a look at this year’s SculptureWalk pieces)
   
4. Sioux Falls Regional Airport: Operating statistics 2024–25. (Airport Operating Statistics – Sioux Falls Regional Airport)
   
5. AllTrails: Sioux Falls Bike Trail Loop mileage and rating. (Sioux Falls Bike Trail Loop, South Dakota – 731 Reviews, Map)
   
6. South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks: Good Earth State Park hours. (Good Earth State Park at Blood Run | South Dakota Game, Fish, and …)
   
7. Great Plains Zoo & Butterfly House: Master plan overview. (Great Plains Zoo Unveils Master Plan | Sioux Falls, SD)
   
8. Outdoor Campus—SD GFP: 2025 free program booklet. (Outdoor Campus – Sioux Falls | South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks, Outdoor Campus – Experience Sioux Falls)
   
9. Paddling.com: Split Rock Creek rapid levels. (Split Rock Creek in South Dakota | Paddling.com)
   
10. Harvester Kitchen: Menu and diner reviews. (HARVESTER KITCHEN, Sioux Falls – Menu, Prices, Restaurant …)
    
11. Sioux Empire Fair: 2025 fair dates. (August 1-9, 2025 | Sioux Falls, SD – Sioux Empire Fair)
    
12. Sioux Falls Marathon: 2025 race announcement. (Sioux Falls Marathon)
    
13. Downtown Sioux Falls Riverfest: 2025 event listing. (Downtown Sioux Falls Riverfest 2025)
    
14. Hop Passport/Ale Trail: 2025 craft-beer passport. (2025 South Dakota – Hop Passport)
    
15. Jacobson Plaza & ice ribbon construction updates. (Jacobson Plaza at The Falls, Ice ribbon at Jacobson Plaza at The Falls won’t be finished this winter)
    
16. Arc of Dreams lighting program details. (Arc Of Dreams In Blue As Part Of National Human Trafficking …)