South Dakota

Planning to visit a South Dakota state park in 2026? Here’s how to get an annual pass.

Published

5 months ago

October 14, 2025

Planning to visit a South Dakota state park in 2026? Here’s how to get an annual pass.

There are more than 60 state parks and recreation areas spread across South Dakota – and if you’re planning to visit in 2026, annual passes are already available.

The annual entrance licenses, valid from Oct. 1, 2025, to May 23, 2027, can be purchased online, by calling 1-800-710-2267 or at local state park offices. For residents, the price is $40 for one or $60 for two.

While it provides access to South Dakota’s state parks and recreation areas, the license doesn’t cover the cost of camping.

“We have a variety of overnight options for everyone with campsites, camping cabins and modern lodging throughout the year,” Jeff VanMeeteren, state parks director, said in a news release.

In 2026, South Dakota’s state parks will celebrate a place in history as part of the America 250 initiative, which marks the country’s 250th birthday, the news release said.

Here’s more about the annual entrance license and your other options for visiting South Dakota’s state parks.

This new South Dakota video series shows what it’s like to herd buffalo in Custer State Park

Where do I put my annual South Dakota state parks entrance license?

The annual entrance license adhesive must be placed in the passenger-side corner of your windshield, within 3 inches of the bottom, according to South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks. The license is valid for everyone in the vehicle.

Are there other options for entering South Dakota state parks?

There are also daily entrance licenses available – $10 for residents, $15 for nonresidents – at many state parks, though notably not at Custer State Park.

If you want one license for multiple vehicles, you can buy a transferable annual entrance license. It costs $90, but comes in the form of a hang tag that can be moved between different vehicles.

How does South Dakota use the fees collected at state parks?

All of the fees collected at South Dakota’s state parks “play an important role” in daily operations, Game, Fish and Parks says. The sale of park entrance licenses and camping fees make up more than two-thirds of the funding used to run state parks and recreation areas and “provide comfortable and enjoyable facilities and recreation opportunities,” according to the agency’s website.

Source link

Click to comment

South Dakota

Retired Air Force four-star general Maryanne Miller speaks at South Dakota Mines

Published

3 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

Retired Air Force four-star general Maryanne Miller speaks at South Dakota Mines

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Students at South Dakota Mines heard Wednesday from retired four-star general Maryanne Miller about her journey to the highest ranks of the U.S. military.

Miller is a retired four-star U.S. Air Force general. She is the only member of the Air Force Reserve ever to be promoted to this level.

She spoke about finding greatness and living a life of fulfillment. Her stories came from her time in the Air Force and as a volunteer for Saint Teresa of Calcutta’s Missionaries of Charity.

“We so much get focused on what is our next step in life, what’s the next career move, how do we make ourselves better in our career, and we forget about how do we make ourselves better as a human being,” Miller said. “Because they have to go tandem. If it’s not tandem, you’re going to get off track.”

Miller was commissioned in 1981 and rose through the ranks before becoming a four-star general in 2018. She was the only woman serving as a four-star officer in the military at the time. She retired in 2020 after serving for almost 40 years.

See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.

Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.

Source link

South Dakota

USDA to offer distaster assistance to South Dakota agriculture producers impacted by winter storms

Published

15 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

USDA to offer distaster assistance to South Dakota agriculture producers impacted by winter storms

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering financial and technical assistance to South Dakota farmers and livestock producers who may have been impacted by the recent winter storms.

“I encourage impacted producers to contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, land, infrastructure, and livestock losses and damages.” said Richard Fordyce, Production and Conservation Under Secretary.

FSA’s Emergency Conservation Program and Emergency Forest Restoration Program can assist landowners with financial assistance to restore damaged land and conservation structures or forests.

“Our staff will work one-on-one with landowners to make assessments of the damages and develop methods that focus on effective recovery of the land.” said Jessica Michalski, Acting NRCS State Conservationist in South Dakota.

For more information about the disaster assistance program, click here.

Source link

South Dakota

Plaque unveiled at South Dakota Capitol for 100-year-old Medal of Honor recipient

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Plaque unveiled at South Dakota Capitol for 100-year-old Medal of Honor recipient

South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden, left, and Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen unveil a plaque for retired U.S. Navy Capt. E. Royce Williams in the Hall of Honor at the Capitol in Pierre on March 25, 2026. (Photo by Meghan O’Brien/South Dakota Searchlight)

By:Meghan O’Brien

PIERRE, S.D. (South Dakota Searchlight) — There’s a new name in the South Dakota Hall of Honor at the state Capitol building.

One-hundred-year-old South Dakota native and retired U.S. Navy Capt. E. Royce Williams was celebrated at a Wednesday ceremony where a plaque honoring him was unveiled, although Williams did not attend.

“In spite of being outnumbered and facing incredible danger, Captain Williams engaged the enemy with courage and skill,” said Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden. “Our state has always had a strong tradition of service, and Captain Williams is the very best of that tradition.”

President Donald Trump awarded Williams the Medal of Honor, the country’s highest military honor, at the State of the Union address earlier this year. The medal honors actions by Williams that had been classified for decades.

“His story was secret for over 50 years, he didn’t even want to tell his wife, but the legend grew and grew,” Trump said during the speech in February. “But tonight, at 100 years old, this brave Navy captain is finally getting the recognition he deserves.”

On Nov. 18, 1952, over Korean coastal waters during the Korean War, then-Lt. Williams, from Wilmot, South Dakota, led three F9F Panthers against seven Soviet MiG-15s. He disabled three enemy jets and damaged a fourth.

The Soviet jets, according to the U.S. Naval Institute, were “superior to the F9F in almost every fashion.” The mission was the only direct overwater combat between U.S. Navy fighters and Soviet fighters during the Cold War.

Williams, one of 11 Medal of Honor recipients from South Dakota, now lives in California. The Hall of Honor at the South Dakota Capitol is located in the hallway that visitors enter immediately after going through security.

Source link