How One Author Explored Every South Dakota Town

Hey, if you're looking for a fresh idea for your next summer road trip? You might not need to leave South Dakota to find it; take a page from a guy who’s literally been everywhere in the state.

Meet Seth Varner, the man behind the book “Wandermore in South Dakota,” published in 2023. And when he says he’s seen South Dakota, he means all of it. Varner has visited every single incorporated community in the state. Yep, from Sioux Falls to the smallest blink-and-you’ll-miss-it towns that line the prairie.

According to Pigeon 605, Varner is on a mission to explore every U.S. state one by one, and he’s already checked off six, with a seventh currently in progress. But his South Dakota journey clearly left a mark. He didn’t just pass through; he soaked it all in, documenting the places to eat, things to see, and hidden gems you won’t find in the average travel brochure.

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His adventures kicked off back in March of 2020 when the University of Nebraska at Omaha shut down due to COVID. What started as a disruption quickly turned into a full-blown exploration project. Since then, he’s covered Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and now Colorado.

And South Dakota? It stands out. Varner was so taken with the state that he chose Deadwood for his bachelor party. He described it as a mix between Nashville and Las Vegas, which makes sense if you’ve ever spent a late night on Main Street.

Varner shares his travels along the way on social media, giving followers a front-row seat to his journey. Once he wraps up a state, he compiles everything into a “Wandermore” book, highlighting the best stops and stories from his travels.

He’s not always traveling solo, either. A close friend has joined him for a few of the stops along the way, and now his wife, Eliese, will be his permanent co-pilot going forward. Eliese climbed on board the trek when he set out to tour Minnesota’s 856 incorporated towns. She joined him for about 40 percent of those visits.

If you’re wondering where to go this summer, maybe the answer isn’t far. South Dakota has a lot to offer, from beautiful cities to quirky towns, historic landmarks, roadside diners, fantastic open spaces, and of course, the legendary faces, and they all are just waiting to be explored.

You can learn more about Varner and all of his state adventures here.

5 Things South Dakota Gave the World

South Dakota may not get much respect. We get a blizzard and it's a footnote on the national scene, but if Florida gets a bit chilly it's breaking news. But, maybe it's fine to be forgotten about. We kind of like being left alone on our quiet piece of the plains.

South Dakota has given a lot to the world though. Not just giant mountain carvings and settings for HBO shows, but awesome things that the rest of the world should thank us for.

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns