Things to Do in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with Kids: Our Family RV Itinerary
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Things to Do in Sioux Falls with Kids: Our Family Experience
We spent a long weekend in Sioux Falls during our two-month summer RV trip with our four kids, before continuing west toward Badlands National Park.
Over three days, we explored Falls Park, downtown Sioux Falls, SculptureWalk, the Arc of Dreams, Butterfly House & Aquarium, and a few unexpected stops along the way.
We stayed at Jellystone Park Sioux Falls, which gave us an easy RV base for exploring the city while leaving plenty of downtime for the kids at the campground.
If you're looking for things to do in Sioux Falls with kids, especially as part of a South Dakota road trip, the city is worth more than a quick overnight stop.
About Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls is the largest city in South Dakota, located in the southeastern corner of the state along the Big Sioux River. The city grew around the waterfalls that now form Falls Park near downtown. Today, Sioux Falls combines that riverfront setting with a walkable downtown, an extensive public-art scene, parks and bike trails, and several family attractions. Its location near I-90 also makes it an easy addition to a South Dakota road trip heading west toward Badlands National Park and the Black Hills.
Day 1: Falls Park and the Arc of Dreams
Visit Falls Park
Falls Park was our first stop and easily the most calming one we did in Sioux Falls.
The Big Sioux River tumbles over layers of pink quartzite, with paths and overlooks giving you several different views of the waterfalls. They were considerably bigger and more powerful than I expected from photos, and we ended up walking around longer than planned.
What surprised me most was how close Falls Park is to downtown Sioux Falls. You get a substantial natural attraction without having to drive outside the city or dedicate an entire day to it. Very convenient when you're exploring with kids.
If you have limited time in Sioux Falls, Falls Park would be my first priority.
Walk Downtown and See the Arc of Dreams
From the Falls Park area, we continued toward downtown Sioux Falls and the Arc of Dreams, the enormous stainless-steel sculpture spanning the Big Sioux River.
The riverfront and downtown area were pleasantly busy. People were biking, walking, eating outside, and listening to live music while we were there.
That became one of my favorite things about visiting Sioux Falls as a family: several of its main attractions can be combined into one outing and do not require another drive every time you want to do something.
Day 2: SculptureWalk and Downtown Sioux Falls with Kids
Explore SculptureWalk
One of the most interesting free things to do in downtown Sioux Falls is SculptureWalk, an outdoor collection of sculptures displayed throughout the downtown streets.
Instead of visiting a single gallery, you discover the sculptures as you explore. We'd turn a corner, find another piece, stop to look at it, and continue walking.
That format worked particularly well with our (very energetic) kids because the art gave us something to look for as we moved through downtown.
It was also a meaningful amount of walking for me. I was still using a crutch after a severe knee fracture several months earlier, so by the end of the afternoon I was tired, but I was glad I hadn't skipped it.
Stop at Child's Play Toys
While exploring SculptureWalk, we found Child's Play Toys, an independent toy store right downtown.
We planned to browse for a few minutes and stayed considerably longer.
Beyond the toys themselves, the store had a unique vibe and layout, had an unusual selection, a great book area, and even a small theater space where kids could play. Plus, they're super dog-friendly, which made it easier with our dog, Ziggy.
If you're doing SculptureWalk with younger kids, this makes a very easy and worth-it stop along the route.
Day 3: Butterfly House & Aquarium
For our final major Sioux Falls attraction, we visited the Butterfly House & Aquarium.
The tropical conservatory is filled with butterflies flying freely among the plants, while the aquarium includes exhibits featuring a variety of marine species.
Compared with walking Falls Park and downtown, this was a much slower outing and gave us an indoor option during our weekend.
If you're building a Sioux Falls itinerary with kids, I'd dedicate a couple of hours for this activity, and pair it with campground time or another short activity.
Where to Stay in Sioux Falls with an RV
We stayed at Jellystone Park Sioux Falls during our visit.
For us, having a campground with activities was particularly useful because we didn't need to fill every hour with sightseeing. We could spend several hours exploring Sioux Falls, return to the RV, and let the kids enjoy the campground.
That balance works well for the way we travel, especially during a longer road trip when you need breaks from sightseeing, especially our younger ones who need the socialization, the playgrounds, and to just have relaxation time.
Sioux Falls in South Dakota - FAQs
What are the best free things to do in Sioux Falls with kids?
Falls Park and SculptureWalk are two of the best free family activities in Sioux Falls. You can also walk along the Big Sioux River, explore downtown, and see the Arc of Dreams without paying admission.
Is Sioux Falls Worth Visiting on a South Dakota Road Trip?
Absolutely. South Dakota road trips understandably tend to focus on Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, and the Black Hills, but Sioux Falls works particularly well when you're traveling across the state on I-90.
We originally included it because our route brought us through eastern South Dakota. After spending three days there, I'd intentionally include it again.
For families, the appeal is the combination: Falls Park and the Big Sioux River provide the outdoor experience, downtown and SculptureWalk are easy to explore together, and there are enough kid-friendly attractions to comfortably fill a long weekend without spending half of it driving between them.
How many days do you need in Sioux Falls with kids?
Plan on two to three days in Sioux Falls. Two days are enough for the major attractions, while three days allow more time for campground downtime without packing too much into each day.
Where should families stay in Sioux Falls when traveling by RV?
We stayed at Jellystone Park Sioux Falls, which gave us easy access to the city along with plenty of campground activities for our four kids. It worked especially well for combining sightseeing with downtime during our three-day visit.
Sioux Falls Family Trip Snapshot
🌤️ Best season: Late spring through early fall
📅 Ideal stay: 2–3 days
🚐 Campground: Jellystone Park Sioux Falls
👨👩👧👦 Best with kids: Falls Park • SculptureWalk • Butterfly House & Aquarium
📍 Also worth adding: Arc of Dreams • Downtown Sioux Falls • Child’s Play Toys • Big Sioux River trails
💵 Best free stops: Falls Park • SculptureWalk • Arc of Dreams
🚗 Getting around: Car + walking; several downtown stops can easily be combined
🛣️ Best for: Family RV trips and South Dakota road trips heading toward the Badlands and Black Hills.
⭐ Our take: Give Sioux Falls 2–3 days. It has enough to keep the whole family busy while still leaving room for campground downtime.
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