Pinnacles, Pioneers, and Powwows Dazzle in the North Central U.S.
Hills and plains immersed in Native American history put this region on the map
Image Caption: Beautiful Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park. (Courtesy of Getty Images)
Mountains and coasts get a lot of attention as RV Travel destinations, but the less-crowded byways of the North Central United States — Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, and the Dakotas — offer equally spectacular vistas, chains of lakes, and Native American history. Travelers will also discover lots of quirky things to do as they explore.
Explorers and Native American Celebrations
During their historic trek, explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark traversed much of this land after it became part of the United States in the 1803 Louisiana Territory purchase. Backed by the U.S. government, the two leaders of the Corps of Discovery set out to find an east-west waterway route. That didn’t happen, but their adventures are marked along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail sites.
And all these states are rich with Native American history and celebrations. Summer and Fall bring numerous Powwows to the region. More powwows and information can be found on each state’s powwow websites.
Powwow in the West. Photo: Getty Images
Iowa’s only Native American Powwow is the Meskwaki Annual Powwow, to be held Aug 7-12 in the Meskwaki Settlement in Tama, Iowa. Along with singing, dancing, food, and fun, the powwow features native artwork.
In Nebraska, the Santee Pow Wow runs June 24-26, and the Winnebago Homecoming Celebration takes place a month later, July 25-28, featuring the dances, music, and cultural activities that celebrate the heritage of the Winnebago Tribe.
Minnesota’s powwow celebrations begin early with Little Earth’s Annual Mother’s Day Powwow in Minneapolis, which is a community event honoring mothers with traditional dances and ceremonies. Two other Minnesota powwows celebrate the Sioux culture with the 47th Annual Cansayapi Wacipi in Morton on June 13-15 and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Wacipi gathering in Shakopee from Aug 15-17.
Photo: Getty Images
In North Dakota, the United Tribes International Powwow in Bismarck is one of the largest, longest-running, and most attended contest powwows in the US. The 2025 Powwow is set for September 5-7 and celebrates Native American culture and tradition with dancing, drumming competitions, craft booths, and Native cuisine. Admission is $20 for adults and $10 for children under 12.
Also in the fall, the Black Hills Powwow in Rapid City, South Dakota, is another large Native American gathering in the region and features cultural exhibitions along with dancing competitions for all age groups and youth games. This year’s powwow runs October 10-12.
Rugged and Rich Region
The Black Hills region in southwestern South Dakota is a bucket list-worthy destination. This relatively small, isolated mountain range extends into northeastern Wyoming and is packed with attractions. The Black Hills are known for their unique geology and cultural significance to Native American tribes, especially the Lakota Sioux, who consider the area sacred and call it Paha Sapa.
Visiting Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Photo: Getty Images
While the area isn’t large, there is much to see and do. The most famous destination is Mount Rushmore National Memorial, featuring 60-foot sculptures of the faces of presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt carved into a granite cliff.
Nearby is the Crazy Horse Memorial, a massive mountain carving honoring the Lakota warrior Crazy Horse. The carving is still in progress, and the Visitors Center offers a history of the sculpture, the biography of Crazy Horse, and stunning viewing sites.
Cool Custer
Custer State Park is known for its scenic drives, such as the 14-mile Needles Highway, for amazing scenery, a variety of trailheads, and gorgeous Sylvan Lake. The Wildlife Loop takes visitors past bison herds, mountain goats, el,k and burros. A highlight of Custer State Park is the annual Buffalo Roundup and Arts Festival on the last Friday of September. Some 1,300 bison are rounded up by cowhands and herded into corrals for testing, branding, and sorting. Visitors start lining the route in pre-dawn hours.
Photo Credit: dosecreative/Getty Images
There’s also Spearfish Canyon — a natural gorge famous for waterfalls, scenic drives, and hiking trails. And historic towns such as Deadwood of gold rush fame and Wild West tales. Custer and Rapid City also offer dozens of family attractions.
Good Times in the Badlands
And just to the east of the Black Hills – offering a stark contrast in terrain – is Badlands National Park. Gone is the wooded forest. Instead, visitors find prairie grasslands — complete with prairie dog villages, deep gorges, sandy buttes, and sharp pinnacles. The Badlands is home to one of the richest fossil beds in the world and was once roamed by saber-toothed cats, three-toed horses, and a rhinoceros variant, which grew up to 13 feet long.
Stay at the following RV Parks:
Nebraska
Robidoux RV Park, Gering
South Dakota
Rafter J Bar Ranch Camping Resort, Hill City
Heartland RV Park & Cabins, Rapid City
HTR Black Hills, Rapid City
Bob & Becky Bazemore
Bob and BeckyBazemore are former journalists and 16-year consultants with Good Sam. Their travels and work have taken them through Alaska, western Canada, the Pacific Northwest, and much of the Eastern Seaboard — RVing the U.S. along the way. After 12 years full-time RVing, they now hang their hats in Port St. Lucie, Florida, when not on the road.
