Film South Dakota
Locations Tour Video
Get Your Shot in South Dakota
South Dakota’s breathtaking landscapes include sprawling prairies, glacial lakes, dramatic mountains and striking geological formations. The state welcomes millions of annual visitors that come to experience iconic attractions like Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Crazy Horse Memorial and Badlands National Park. The state is steeped in Native American culture, iconic small-town living and real-life cowboys. Westerns, thrillers and contemporary dramas have all utilized South Dakota’s diverse backdrops.
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Info
Locations
Incentives
Film Credits
About South Dakota
South Dakota offers filmmakers and producers excellent – and economical – ways to achieve their cinematic vision. With room to work and beauty to work with, South Dakota’s legendary rock formations, wildlife and open prairies make it the perfect location for iconic backdrops or intimate interiors. In South Dakota, you’ll find experienced crews, a low cost of doing business and incredible locations for your next film.
General Info for South Dakota
Weather in South Dakota (Rapid City)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Average high in ºF | 33 | 39 | 47 | 57 | 67 | 77 | 86 | 86 | 75 | 62 | 45 | 36 |
| Average low in ºF | 11 | 16 | 23 | 32 | 43 | 52 | 58 | 57 | 46 | 35 | 22 | 13 |
| Av. precipitation in inch | 0.37 | 0.46 | 1 | 1.9 | 3 | 2.8 | 2 | 1.6 | 1 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 0.4 |
Average Daylight Hours in South Dakota
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Daylight Hours | 9.2 | 10.2 | 12 | 13.3 | 14.4 | 15.2 | 15 | 14 | 12.3 | 11 | 9.4 | 8.6 |
Permitting Agencies
There are a variety of agencies within the state of South Dakota that require permits. Below is a list of those agencies and their general timelines for processing permits:
First Aid & Medical Services
Monument Health Rapid City Hospital
353 Fairmont Blvd, Rapid City
Open 24 hours
https://monument.health/
Sanford USD Medical Center and Hospital
1305 W 18th St, Sioux Falls
Open 24 hours
https://www.sanfordhealth.org/
Avera McKennan Hospital
1325 S Cliff Ave, Sioux Falls
Open 24 hours
https://www.avera.org/
A Few Filming Locations in South Dakota
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Badlands National Park
Historic Deadwood
Custer State Park
The Missouri River
Badlands National Park
Category: Natural Landscapes & Parks
Badlands National Park boasts 244,000 acres of buttes, canyons, pinnacles and spires. The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including prairie dogs, bighorn sheep and buffalo. Skeletons of three-toed horses and saber-toothed cats may also be found amid the park’s rocky terrain. From narrow pathways to open land, the Badlands possess a rare combination of landscapes guaranteed to captivate any audience. The park was most recently featured in the Academy Award-winning film Nomadland (2020).
Historic Deadwood
This 1870s gold rush town became a National Historic Landmark in 1961 and has since been the pinnacle of Old West history and culture. Surrounded by the Black Hills National Forest, the town features a variety of casino interiors as well as historic buildings with unique architecture inside and out. Must-see outdoor spots include Mount Moriah Cemetery and Mount Roosevelt, also known as the Friendship Tower.
Custer State Park
Few truly wild places remain in the American frontier. Custer State Park is one of them. Located in the Black Hills, the park is home to various wildlife and magnificent scenery spanning 71,000 acres. Past its granite pinnacles that reach the sky and forest of ponderosa pine lies the famous Needles Highway. Custer State Park is overflowing with wildlife, scenic offerings and a variety of trails & undisturbed nature.
The Missouri River
The Missouri River gives South Dakota more miles of shoreline than Florida, meaning that filmmakers will have access to loads of shoreside landscapes and open-water filming opportunities. The river has islands and four reservoirs — Lake Oahe, Lake Sharpe, Lake Francis Case and Lewis & Clark Lake — that all offer perfect opportunities for diversified shots along the waters of the ‘Mighty Mo’.
Incentives & Rebates
When you film in South Dakota, your crew can enjoy no personal or corporate income tax. South Dakota also offers its resources and assistance to help you secure locations and special permissions and permits, and to connect you with the best local experts to make your dream shoot a reality.
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Film Credits for South Dakota
South Dakota is the definition of a hidden gem. To witness its sunsets is to stand face-to-face with the story of Earth
itself. There is a purity to the natural light that lends each image a fairytale realness that personifies the idea of
escapism. This light is girdled by endless landscape and vibrant locations that fuel storytelling opportunities and opens
a door to America as its most primal. South Dakota is also replete with industry professionals with unrivaled work ethic
and creative drive. The filmmakers I know who have shot here want to keep the secret for themselves, but some
treasure must be shared. South Dakota is America’s best kept filmmaking secret.
Film Credits
- Nomadland
- Armageddon
- Starship Troopers
- Dances with Wolves
- National Treasure: Book of Secrets
- North by Northwest
- Nebraska
- How The West Was Won
- The Neverending Story III
- Into The Wild
- The Bachelor (ABC)
- Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (Food Network)
For a complete list of film credits, visit https://sdvisit.com/south-dakota-filmography.
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Rebecca Cruse
South Dakota Department of Tourism
Phone: 605-773-3301
Email: filmsd@state.sd.us
Website: https://sdvisit.com/film-south-dakota