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Ingalls Homestead, De Smet, SD
AttractionsFamily FavoriteHistory Buff

Ingalls Homestead

20812 Homestead Road · De Smet, SD

Why you should go…

Ingalls Homestead sits on the prairie land near De Smet that Laura Ingalls Wilder's family homesteaded, and it is run as a hands-on living history site. A covered wagon ride, where every visitor gets a turn driving the team, carries you to a one-room schoolhouse. Back at the exhibits you can twist hay and grind wheat as in The Long Winter, wash clothes on a washboard, and make a corncob doll or a jump rope to take home. Most families spend half a day.

  • #laura ingalls wilder
  • #living history
  • #covered wagon ride
  • #little house on the prairie

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Ingalls Homestead, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    Family Favorite

    Children's Museum of South Dakota

    Under $25

    A 44,000 square foot hands-on children's museum in Brookings with a full-size animatronic T. rex.

    37 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Quirky Fun

    Corn Palace

    Free

    See giant murals made from ears of naturally colored corn covering the walls of a domed arena in downtown Mitchell.

    51 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Attractions
    Quirky Fun

    Porter Sculpture Park

    Under $25

    Roadside prairie park with more than 60 giant metal sculptures made by self-taught artist Wayne Porter.

    52 mi awayMore like this