Home to the University of South Dakota, this town in the far southeast corner of the state, 62 mi/99 km south of Sioux Falls, gets its name from the deep-red clay found along the Vermillion River.
Though they lie about 95 mi/152 km away, Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge and Karl E. Mundt National Wildlife Refuge may be worth a stop for those heading west from Vermillion. In fall and winter, the largest concentration of bald eagles in the U.S. (apart from Alaska) migrate to the Mundt Refuge. Visitors to Lake Andes include waterfowl, 200 species of birds and deer. Hiking, fishing, hunting and boating are popular pursuits in the refuges and elsewhere in the surrounding area.
To request access to the full version of this destination guide, please provide your email address below. Your email address will only be used for verification purposes and will not be used for marketing purposes.