OUR BLOG

Whether you’re visiting from the west or heading back east, we’re happy to welcome you to Aberdeen.

The east-west route through Aberdeen, U.S. Highway 12, was the country’s first transcontinental highway billed “The Yellowstone Trail.” It was first established in 1912 — the stretch between Ipswich and Aberdeen — and runs from Massachusetts to Seattle.

On your way, you might be looking for a quick place to stretch your legs, or you might be looking for a way to spend an afternoon before crashing in Aberdeen. Either way, there are some neat stops along the way.

Missouri River Recreation

There are several state parks and recreation areas along the Missouri River, with nearby cities as far north as Pollock and as far south as Gettysburg.

A day pass to state parks is $8 per vehicle, or $36 for an annual pass that’s good from Memorial Day weekend 2021 to that same time next year.

Each park has unique views and amenities — some are better for hiking and some offer a place to target practice. Either way, a great way to spend an afternoon on your way to Aberdeen.

• West Pollock Recreation Area
  • Boating.
  • Camping.
  • Fishing.
• Indian Creek Recreation Area
  • Canoeing/Kayaking/Paddleboarding.
  • Historical interest.
  • Trapshooting/rifle range.
• Revheim Bay Recreation Area
  • Archery range.
  • ATV & Off-Highway Vehicles.
  • Swimming.
• Swan Creek Recreation Area
  • Boating.
  • Camping.
  • Fishing.
• West Whitlock Recreation Area
  • Birdwatching.
  • Canoeing/Kayaking.
  • Hiking.

Lemmon

If you’re heading to Aberdeen from the west via U.S. Highway 12, you might just be heading through Lemmon.

This city of about 1,200 people lies about 200 miles west of Aberdeen on Hwy. 12 and is filled with hidden gems and nearby parks.

• Found object sculptor John Lopez lives outside of town, and has a gallery on Main Street.
• Petrified Park
  • The world’s largest collection of petrified wood takes up a city block in Lemmon.
• Leonardo DiCaprio won his only Oscar for his portrayal of Hugh Glass in 2015’s “The Revenant.” In real life, Glass was famously attacked by a grizzly bear outside of what is present-day Lemmon.
  • A marker memorializing Glass can be found south of Lemmon near two state parks.
• Shadehill Recreation Area
  • Archery range.
  • Historical interest.
  • Horseback Riding.
• Llewellyn Johns Recreation Area
  • Camping.

Faith

• ???? Home of SUE the T-Rex; they now reside in Chicago at the Field Museum.

Hoven

• St. Anthony of Padua, Cathedral of the Prairie.

Mobridge

This city gets its name from the bridge that preceded it. Before the town was established, people were sending mail to the Missouri River Bridge, but abbreviating the river’s name to Mo. The city proper lies to the east of the river.

Features include:

• The Sitting Bull Memorial: Located seven miles southwest of town.
• Riverfront walking path: a two mile recreation trail that hugs the Missouri River.

Eureka

Eureka is a hotbed for Germans from Russia history, including the Eureka Pioneer Museum.

When you stop, check and see if the Eureka Kuchen Factory is open.