Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday with a Trip to South Dakota

Next year, as America celebrates its 250^th birthday, destinations around the country are rolling out all the stops for travelers to commemorate the occasion in high style. However, while many travelers may first think to head to historic hot spots on the East Coast for their America 250 getaway, you might consider heading west instead, to South Dakota. The state offers a bevy of ways to celebrate, no matter what time of year you plan on visiting.

© Travel South Dakota

If you’ll be there on the big day, July 3, 2026, you can catch a fireworks display at Mt. Rushmore, which is notable because the landmark has not hosted a fireworks show since 2009, except for one crowd-less display in 2020.

For visits any other time, be sure to sign up for the South Dakota Stars & Stripes Passport, a digital passport that allows you to explore landmarks throughout the state celebrating America’s 250 years of history. You can check in and mark stops off the list as you go, earning points and unlocking rewards.

To catch two commemorative occasions at once, stop into Deadwood, South Dakota, next year as well. The historic town is celebrating its 150^th anniversary in 2026 and is the perfect spot to explore Wild West and gold rush history in spades.