Vermillion

Around Vermillion

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Town and around · South Dakota · 15k people

Vermillion

Prairie roots, river spirit

Crimson red

Join the room Ask the neighbours

Welcome to Vermillion, home of the Coyotes and the mighty Missouri. Whether you're here for the university, the river, or just passing through, you'll find a friendly community with a lot of heart. Come for the chislic, stay for the sunsets over the river.

Clubs for Vermillion

No clubs for Vermillion yet.

The room

One room for everyone around Vermillion. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

Ask the neighbours

All

A good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.

Coming up

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Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Vermillion. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • University of South Dakota campus Home of the Coyotes and the historic Old Main.
  • National Music Museum Houses a world-renowned collection of instruments.
  • DakotaDome The indoor football stadium for the Coyotes.
  • Spirit Mound Historic Prairie A hill Lewis and Clark climbed, with prairie views.
  • Missouri River The big river that borders the town to the west.
  • Vermillion River Flows through town and into the Missouri.
  • Outdoors Walk or bike the Missouri River Trail
  • Outdoors Paddle or float the Vermillion River
  • With kids Visit the National Music Museum
  • With kids Play at Prentis Park
  • Evenings Bar hop on Main Street
  • Evenings Live music at local venues
  • Locals love Coffee shops
  • Locals love Riverfront trails

Through the year

  • Clay County Fair September The county fair with rides, livestock, and local food.
  • South Dakota Shakespeare Festival June Outdoor performances in the park.
  • Coyote Football Games Fall Home games at the DakotaDome.
  • Dakota Days Homecoming October USD's homecoming celebration with parade and events.
  • Vermillion Farmers Market Summer Local produce and crafts on summer mornings.

Vermillion has four distinct seasons with cold, snowy winters and hot, humid summers. Best: Spring and fall are the most pleasant times to be out.

Talk like a local

“Coyote”
The University of South Dakota sports teams or a student/athlete.
“The River”
The Missouri River.
“The Dome”
The DakotaDome stadium.
“The U”
The University of South Dakota.

Getaways

  • Yankton Visit the Meridian Bridge and riverfront.
  • Sioux City Check out the Hard Rock Casino and riverfront.
  • Sioux Falls See the falls and downtown.
  • Le Mars The Ice Cream Capital of the World.

Local flavour

Teams

  • South Dakota Coyotes NCAA Division I (Missouri Valley Conference)

Eat and drink

  • Chislic Cubed, deep-fried meat (often lamb or beef), a South Dakota staple.
  • Kuchen German-Russian fruit or custard dessert, common in the Dakotas.
  • Indian taco Fry bread topped with seasoned meat, beans, and vegetables.

Where people go

  • University of South Dakota campus Historic buildings, the iconic Old Main, and the National Music Museum.
  • Missouri River Nearby river bluffs and recreational areas.
  • Vermillion River A smaller waterway that runs through town.
  • Downtown Vermillion Small‑town shops, cafes, and the county courthouse.

Heritage and traditions

Vermillion is proud of its vibrant college-town culture, its deep ties to the Missouri River and the Lewis and Clark expedition, and its rich heritage of music and the arts, anchored by the University of South Dakota and the National Music Museum.

This time of year in Vermillion

  • Fall harvest and Dakota Days Fall The harvest season and university homecoming bring the community together.
  • Dakota Days Homecoming October The university's homecoming celebration with parades, tailgating, and alumni events.

Say it like a local: “Pop” — A carbonated beverage, often called 'soda' elsewhere.

Festivals

  • Clay County Fair September A traditional county fair with agricultural exhibits, rides, and local food.
  • South Dakota Shakespeare Festival June A summer festival featuring performances of Shakespeare's plays in the park.
  • Dakota Days Homecoming October The university's homecoming celebration with parades, tailgating, and alumni events.
  • Vermillion Farmers Market Summer (weekly) A weekly market featuring local produce, crafts, and community gathering.
  • Vermillion Christmas Walk December A downtown holiday event with caroling, lights, and shopping.
  • Vermillion Fourth of July Celebration July Community fireworks and festivities at a local park.

Landmarks with a story

  • Spirit Mound Historic Prairie A sacred hill visited by Lewis and Clark in 1804, now preserved as a natural and historic landmark.
  • National Music Museum Houses one of the world's most comprehensive collections of musical instruments, spanning cultures and centuries.
  • University of South Dakota Campus The oldest university in the state, with historic buildings like Old Main and a vibrant campus atmosphere.
  • W.H. Over Museum A natural history and anthropology museum with exhibits on the region's Native American cultures and pioneer history.
  • Clay County Courthouse A historic courthouse building in downtown Vermillion, representing early 20th-century civic architecture.
  • Old Main The iconic central building of the University of South Dakota, dating to the 1880s.

Food traditions

  • Chislic Deep-fried cubes of meat (often beef or lamb) served with saltine crackers and hot sauce—a South Dakota specialty and a social food at bars, fairs, and game-day gatherings.
  • Kuchen A German fruit-filled pastry brought by early settlers, often enjoyed with coffee.
  • Indian tacos A Native American dish of frybread topped with taco fixings, reflecting the region's Lakota heritage.
  • Bison burgers Lean, flavorful burgers made from bison, a nod to the Great Plains' native animal.
  • Chokecherry jam A tart wild berry preserve, often made at home and sold at local markets.

Music and arts

  • University of South Dakota music program A strong academic music department with performances throughout the year.
  • National Music Museum A world-class collection of musical instruments, attracting scholars and visitors.
  • South Dakota Shakespeare Festival An annual summer theater event in the park, drawing audiences from across the region.
  • Vermillion Community Theatre Local productions of plays and musicals, often featuring university talent.

A little history

  • 1804 Lewis and Clark expedition visits Spirit Mound
  • 1859 Vermillion founded as a steamboat port on the Missouri River
  • 1862 University of South Dakota established (originally as the University of Dakota)
  • 1880s Railroad arrives, boosting trade and settlement
  • 1979 DakotaDome built, one of the first air-supported domed stadiums for football

Rivalries

  • USD vs SDSU (Coyotes vs Jackrabbits) The big South Dakota rivalry.
  • USD vs North Dakota (Fighting Hawks) Conference matchup with history.
  • Vermillion vs Yankton high school football Local town rivalry.
  • Game day Coyote football tailgating
  • Game day University basketball games
  • Outdoors Walk or bike the Missouri River Trail
  • Outdoors Paddle or float the Vermillion River
  • With kids Visit the National Music Museum
  • With kids Play at Prentis Park

Locals speak with a mild Upper Midwestern accent, often saying 'pop' for soda and 'you bet' as an affirmative. The university brings a mix of accents, but the local dialect is distinctly South Dakotan.

Only here

  • Spirit Mound is a historic prairie site visited by Lewis and Clark, offering panoramic views of the plains.
  • The National Music Museum houses one of the world's most comprehensive collections of musical instruments.
  • The DakotaDome was one of the first air-supported domed stadiums for football.
  • The South Dakota Shakespeare Festival brings live theater to the park each summer.
New here? A few tips
  • Expect cold, snowy winters—invest in a good coat and be ready for sub-zero temperatures.
  • Vermillion is a small college town; the university is the heart of the community, so many events and activities revolve around it.
  • The Missouri River is a big draw—try fishing, boating, or just walking the trails along it.
  • Don't miss trying chislic, a local specialty, at a bar or during game-day tailgates.
  • Learn to say 'pop' for soda and 'you bet' as a friendly affirmation—it'll help you fit in.

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Nearby

Every area
YanktonSouth DakotaWhere the Missouri meets the prairie and history lives onSioux CityIowaWhere the rivers meet the hillsWayneNebraskaWhere the prairie meets the riverLe MarsIowaWhere the cornfields meet the creamerySioux CenterIowaWhere the tulips meet the prairieWagnerSouth DakotaWhere the prairie meets the river and community runs deep.Sioux FallsSouth DakotaWhere the prairie meets the fallsNorfolkNebraskaWhere the prairie meets hospitality.

Vermillion, SD. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.

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