Stop for the Top Things to do at Wall Drug Store in South Dakota

Outside of Badlands National Park, Wall Drug Store started giving away free ice water before most cars had air conditioning. Now, Wall Drug Store spans an entire block and sells souvenirs, snacks and sundries. Visitors can grab a bison burger in its restaurant, snap pics on a jackaloupe, and leave with a free souvenir bumper sticker. Road trips need fun stops filled with good food, quirky souvenirs and stuff you forgot at home. If you’re driving through South Dakota, you can’t miss their billboards. Seriously, Wall Drug is a must for any trip through South Dakota and one of the top destinations.  Here are the top things to do at Wall Drug Store in South Dakota.

Top Things to Do at Wall Drug Store

• Grab Something to Eat

• Get a Free Ice Water 

• Do Some Souvenir Shopping

• See the Western Art Collection

• Head to the Backyard

• Take Some Selfies

• Grab Donuts for the Road

• Get A Free Bumper Sticker

Why Visit Wall Drug

I have stopped on every visit to Wall Drug. For me, it’s nostalgia. This is the best road trip stop since it offers a lot of necessary services in a unique location. I always grab something to eat. I use the restroom. There is always some that I need to buy and Wall Drug sells lots of necessities from toiletries to camping gear to souvenir clothing.

The food is good and made fresh so I recommend you grab a table. Everything I have tried has been tasty, especially the Bison burgers. Don’t pass up on the donuts made fresh. You will find kids’ meals, too.

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What to Eat at Wall Drug

It started in 1936 with a sign advertising free ice water. Now, visitors will find many more choices at Wall Drug Store today.

Wall Drug’s Western Art Gallery Restaurant

With over 500 seats, the Wall Drug Restaurant is a family-friendly eatery with knotty pine walls and marble-topped tables. The menu features locally sourced South Dakota bison burgers, American favorites like meatloaf, house-made rolls, donuts and pie.

The Wall Drug Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers a kids’ menu. It is open from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily.

Soda Fountain Ice Cream Shop

Since the 1930s, Wall Drug has served ice cream favorites at its Soda Fountain Ice Cream Shop. Visitors can choose from soft-serve and hard-pack ice cream, along with shakes, sundaes and malts. Open seasonally.

Prairie Parlor

Located in the Backyard, the Prairie Parlor makes hotdogs, pizza and tacos, perfect for kids. It also serves up coffee drinks, perfect for road-tripping adults.

Don’t forget the road trip snacks; the Wall Drug Store offers lots of options.

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See the Western Art Collection 

The Western Art collection should not be missed. It is the largest privately owned collection of Western art and illustration in the U.S.

Gracing the knotty pine walls of the dining room, it contains over 300 pieces of original art, especially Western oil landscapes. Visitors will find two pieces painted by the Mount Rushmore architect Gutzon Borglum. In all, the art collection is valued at more than $3 million.

Shopping at Wall Drug

I dare anyone to find a place with more shopping in Wall, South Dakota. From Black Hills gold, silver and turquoise jewelry to a wall lined with cowboy boots, there is a lot to see in Wall Drug Story. Shoppers will find  Western wear, including boots, hats and handbags.

For those camping in one of South Dakota’s five national parks, find the gear that you forgot at home. There’s a stocked camping store, including vintage-looking enamelware.

Wall Drug is the place for your South Dakota souvenirs. If they don’t carry it, it wasn’t made.

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Family Fun at Wall Drug

Don’t miss The Backyard it offers everything from an arcade to a giant jackalope to sit on. The miniature Mount Rushmore sculpture is close enough to touch.

• Train Station Water Show
• Branding Iron Arcade
• Wall Drug Mining Company
• Miniature Mount Rushmore
• A giant Jackalope
• Roaring T Rex

The enormous T. Rex, similar to the one found in Badlands National Park, roars to life every few minutes. Kids can pan for treasure at one of three mines in the Backyard area.

During the summer, take off the shoes and run through the Backyard’s Train Station Water Show. Kids will love the arcade, too.

Other Places to Visit in Wall Drug

Yes, Wall Drug is family-friendly, however, adults will find things to do as well.

The Pharmacy Museum offers a quaint look at the apothecary storefront from years ago. Adults can grab a cup of coffee at the Prairie Parlour.

Need a place for quiet reflection? Find it in the peaceful Traveler’s Chapel.

The stuffed and mounted animal heads excite the animal spotters. The kids pose for pictures with wood-carved cowboys.

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History of Wall Drug Store

It’s nearly impossible to miss Wall Drug since its billboards dot the interstates across the entire Midwest. It all started with free ice water. And really, don’t. It’s an iconic roadside attraction.

In 1931, Dorothy and Ted Hunstead opened the only drugstore in Wall, South Dakota. After five years of struggling to get the business off the ground, the Hunstead family needed customers to walk through the door.

Then, one hot, dusty afternoon, Dorothy decided to put up signs along the highway to Badlands National Park offering Free Ice Water. It worked, visitors started walking through their doors for a cool drink and found all the stuff they forgot to pack.

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Wall Drug Store Today

The Hunstead Family still offers free ice water, 5¢ self-serve coffee and a free bumper sticker. Today, Wall Drug is one of the top attractions in South Dakota.

A rambling space covers a city block and features sundries and souvenirs. You can also find specialty clothing, like boots, leather goods and cowboy hats. There’s lots of parking along the street and around the block. It is conveniently located near Badlands National Park and not far from the Black Hills of South Dakota.

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Where’s Wall Drug Store

Wall Drug is conveniently located off Interstate 90, which cuts east-west across South Dakota. Its address is 510 Main Street, off Interstate 90, exits 109 and 110, near Badlands National Park. It’s open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the pharmacy is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Disclosure

Consideration for brands listed.