Have you read the books “Little House on the Prairie” or any other books by Laura Ingalls Wilder? We did, and during a trip heading west, we made a point to stop in this little town in eastern South Dakota and were totally blown away with the landscape and the history of the area.
What is it?
The Ingalls homestead is one of the sites where Laura Ingalls Wilder settled during the late 1800s. This homestead is a patch of land rich in pioneer history. While on the homestead you can do a variety of things such as: Drive a covered wagon or participate in a one-room school house session to learn about what school was like during pioneer days. Everything is hands-on, and children are encouraged to touch and feel.
Good to know:
*Hours are seasonal, vary depending on weather, and is closed from the end of October thru the end of April:
*9-5 spring and fall
*9-7 during the summer, Memorial day through labor day
*Address & Directions:
Ingalls Homestead
20812 Homestead Rd
De Smet, SD 57231
*Within an hour drive from either I-90 or I-29 that pass through South Dakota.
*From De Smet South Dakota drive one half mile southeast on Highway 14 turn right onto Homestead Road and go south for just over half a mile. Our Visitors Center is located at the top of the hill.
*Admission is $15 for anyone age 5 and over and includes all activities, and is valid for as many days as you will be in the area.
*All of the activities are ongoing throughout the day. Covered wagon rides start around 10am, and the last ride loads up at 6pm.
*You are free to explore the grounds at your own pace, the visitor’s center closes for the evening, but you’re free to explore.
*There are 4 RV spots with water and electricity for $30 a night, and there is a dump station on site for sewer.
*Tent camping is $10 a night
*There are also covered wagons or bunkhouses for nightly rental of $60 a night.
*There is a small general store in the visitor’s center, and they sell firewood onsite.
*Restrooms and showers are on site.
*
De Smet is only a mile and a half away with grocery stores, restaurants and other amenities.
There are several other campgrounds and state parks in the area.
We camped in one of the RV spots on the Homestead, and without a doubt has been one of our favorite experiences. The staff was extremely friendly and the views were breathtaking. The location is very remote, but if you are traveling across I-90 or I-29 through South Dakota, this is definitely worth a slight detour!
Check it out here: https://www.ingallshomestead.com/
