Wall Drug
Wall, SD
Free ice water brought travelers here in 1936. Now a block-long maze of shops with an animatronic T. rex and 5-cent coffee.
Wall Drug in Wall, South Dakota, is a drugstore and souvenir complex on the edge of the Badlands that became famous through an advertising idea from the 1930s. Ted and Dorothy Hustead bought the small store in December 1931; in the summer of 1936 Dorothy came up with the idea of offering thirsty travelers free ice water, and signs were put up along the road to advertise it. The ice water is still free today.
Today the complex includes a restaurant seating more than 500, a Western art gallery with more than 300 original paintings, a traveler’s chapel, Western wear and souvenirs. In the backyard stand a giant brontosaurus and a mechanical Tyrannosaurus rex that, according to Atlas Obscura, roars and emits smoke every twelve minutes in summer. Wikipedia cites about two million visitors a year; older figures give an area of about 7,000 square meters (76,000 square feet).
Wall sits on I-90, and exit 110 also leads to the Badlands Loop Road. The store therefore makes a good stop on a drive through the Badlands.
- Nearest town
- Wall, SD
- Category
- Roadside oddities
- GPS
- 43.9936, -102.2410
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in August and October. Cold, short days in December–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
© Shadowmeld Photography · CC BY-SA 4.0Badlands National Park
© Andrew Parlette from Elkridge,MD, US · CC BY 2.0Cedar Pass Campground
© Chad Davis from Minneapolis, United States · CC BY 2.0Custer State Park Wildlife Loop
© Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand · Public domainMount Rushmore National Memorial
Campsites nearby
- Sleepy Hollow Campground & RV ParkCampsite0 mi from Wall DrugCaravans
- Buffalo Gap National GrasslandCampsite6 mi from Wall DrugTentsCaravansFree
- Sunrise Campground & RV ParkMotorhome stopover11 mi from Wall Drug · 47 pitchesMotorhomes
- 24 Express Camp GroundMotorhome stopover12 mi from Wall DrugMotorhomes
- Badlands Hotel and CampgroundCampsite22 mi from Wall DrugTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Cedar Pass CampgroundCampsite23 mi from Wall Drug · 96 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityShowers
All campsites in South Dakota · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Wall Drug?
Wall Drug is in Wall, SD, at GPS 43.9936, -102.2410. It is about 23 mi from Badlands National Park.
Can you camp near Wall Drug?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Sleepy Hollow Campground & RV Park, about 0 mi away; within 25 mi there are 8 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Wall Drug?
Wall Drug is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Badlands and the Black Hills with kids.
What is there to see near Wall Drug?
Places worth a stop nearby: Badlands National Park (11 mi), Cedar Pass Campground (22 mi), Custer State Park Wildlife Loop (59 mi) and Mount Rushmore National Memorial (61 mi).
When is the best time to visit Wall Drug?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)