Looking for an oasis on your road trip through the Badlands?
Then it’s time to refuel and refill in Wall, South Dakota for the next week of our
#SummerOfRestStops series!
Though it’s located in a town of around 700 people, Wall Drug attracts up to 20,000 visitors each day during its peak season — but it wasn’t always a bustling convenience store. Determined to attract visitors from the nearby highway, Wall Drug first became known for a simple premise: free ice water. Wall Drug capitalized on its small town’s billboards, crafting catchy slogans to direct travelers inside for a little refreshment. And if you’re driving I-90, you can even find an 80-foot dinosaur encouraging you to exit.
Today, the rest stop has much more than water to offer its visitors (and we’re not just talking about the five-cent coffee). Guests can peruse 300 original oil paintings in the Western Art Gallery Restaurant, or indulge in any number of fantastical photo opps, from a mini Mount Rushmore and a “bucki...