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- North & South Dakota - Don't Visit Either In The Winter
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North Dakota and South Dakota - two states with low populations in the Great Plains that are frequently overlooked. If one was going to visit a Dakota, which one should one visit? While remote, South Dakota boasts some iconic landmarks and regions like Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills. South Dakota has a number of top attractions other than Mount Rushmore.
Still, the remoteness, ruggedness, and inhospitality of North Dakota enamored Theodore Roosevelt. In North Dakota, one can also see a land where bison is remote and dramatic badlands.
UPDATE: 2023/01/06 11:36 EST BY AARON SPRAY
North & South Dakota - Don't Visit Either In The Winter
North and South Dakota have more than half of the top ten coldest cities in the United States. This article was updated to reflect that if one is planning to visit the Dakota, one should avoid the winter months. This time is exceptionally cold, and it is difficult to enjoy the grand outdoors of the Dakotas (which is the main attraction of the states).
North Dakota
North Dakota has a population of only 780,000, although that has been growing in recent years with the oil boom there. It is the fourth-least populous and fourth-most sparsely populated state in the US. Its capital city is Bismark, although the largest is the city of Fargo. About half of all the residents in the state live in rural areas.
- Population: 780,000
The geography of the state is dominated by prairies, steppe, savanna, and badlands, and the winters can be bitterly cold.
- National Park: Theodore Roosevelt National Park
North Dakota boasts one national park - the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It is made up of three separate badlands in the western part of the state. Theodore Roosevelt once lived and ranched here, seeking solitude after personal tragedies. In the national park, one can enjoy scenic drives and around 100 miles of foot and horse trails.
Much of the population in North Dakota is working in the military (there are many nuclear missiles there) or in the booming oil industry. The oil boom has brought a boom in other less savory things, too like prostitution.
North Dakota is regarded as the least visited state as it just doesn't have any major tourist attractions and is so remote.
South Dakota
South Dakota has nine Indian reservations and has a long history in the Plains Indian Wars. It is the 5th least populous and 5th least densely populated state in the United States. The capital is Pierre, while Sioux Falls is the largest city (still with only around 187,000 people).
- Population: 890,000
Tourism forms a significant part of South Dakota's population, and perhaps its most famous attraction is Mount Rushmore - one of the most iconic landmarks in the United States. While Mount Rushmore is a National Monument, South Dakota has two national parks - Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park.
- National Parks: Wind Cave And Badlands National Parks
- Mountain Sculptures: Crazy Horse And Mount Rushmore
Other areas managed by the National Park Service are Jewel Cave National Monument, Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, the Missouri National Recreational River, the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, and the Crazy Horse Memorial. Separately the Custer State Park is very much worth visiting and is famous for its herd of bison.
- Mammoth Site: A Privately Owned Attraction In The Black Hills With One of The World's Largest Concentrations of Mammoth Fossils
Wind Cave National Park: Wind Cave National Park is located just north of the town of Hot Springs and was established in 1903. It was the first cave to be designated a national park in the world and is one of the longest and most stunning cave systems in the world.
Badlands National Park: The Badlands National Park protects 380 square miles of picturesque buttes and pinnacles as well as the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in America. The movies Dances with Wolves (1990) and Thunderheart (1992) were partially filmed in the national park. The park was originally a reservation of the Oglala Sioux Indians, and some parts of the park are considered a sacred ceremonial site.
Crazy Horse Memorial: The Crazy Horse Memorial is still under construction in the Black Hills in South Dakota. It is to depict the Oglala Lakota warrior Crazy Horse proudly riding his horse and pointing to his tribal land. It is located around 17 miles from Mount Rushmore and, when it is finished, will far exceed the four American President Heads at Mount Rushmore.
- Planned Size: 641 Feet Long and 583 Feet High
- Start Date: Construction Started in 1948
- Record: If Completed, It Will Be The Second Tallest Statue In The World after The Statue Of Unity In India
Both Dakotas Are Some Of The Coldest Places In The United States
If one is planning to visit the Dakotas, try to avoid the winter. Winters in this part of the country are freezing. While the coldest city in the United States is an Alaskan city (Fairbanks), after that, the list of the top ten chilliest cities quickly become dominated by the Dakotas - particularly North Dakota. Perhaps surprisingly, only one Alaskan city makes it onto the top ten chilliest American cities.
Four of the coldest cities in the United States are in North Dakota (ranked 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 8th coldest); they are:
- Grand Forks, North Dakota
- Williston, North Dakota
- Fargo, North Dakota
- Bismarck, North Dakota
The two coldest cities in South Dakota that make the top ten list are:
- Aberdeen, South Dakota
- Huron, South Dakota
Additionally, cities in Minnesota and Michigan also make it into the list of the top ten chilliest cities in the country.
The takeaway is that while North Dakota is colder than South Dakota, it is more of a contest between being freezing and a bit more freezing.
Summary: South Dakota Wins
While one can have a great time in North Dakota and explore the national park there and various other attractions, South Dakota has much more on offer. North Dakota does have the 144-mile-long Maah Daah Hey Trail, which is great for fishing and hunting, and it has the Scandinavian Norsk Høstfest festival. But still, there is much more to do in South Dakota.
South Dakota boasts some of America's most famous landmarks, like Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse. As well as the Black Hills and two national parks among many other attractions.
Another event worth seeing is the annual buffalo roundup in South Dakota (it is one of only two buffalo roundups that people can see in the United States).