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Published on November 18, 2021. Last Updated on November 30, 2025.
If you’re planning a road trip through the Midwest, one stop you absolutely can’t miss is Wall Drug. This iconic roadside attraction has been drawing in travelers for decades with its quirky charm and unique offerings. From delicious donuts to a larger-than-life dinosaur and jackalope, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Wall Drug. In this blog post, we’ll dive into 5 things to do when visiting Wall Drug.
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We visited the famous Wall Drug on day seven of our Arizona to South Dakota family road trip. After spending the night in Wall, SD, we spent the morning exploring Wall Drug. Later that day we visited the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site before hiking and camping at Badlands National Park.
The details: Wall Drug
Wall Drug Pharmacy is located at 510 Main St Wall, South Dakota 57790. The famous tourist site is about 3 minutes off of Interstate 90 in Wall, South Dakota. Wall Drug is open from 8am-8pm daily. The sprawling Wall Drug features a mall with many shops, a splash pad, and much more. Hungry and foodie travelers check out Wall Drug’s Western Art Gallery Restaurant. They have buffalo burgers and homemade rolls on the menu. And these are just a few highlights. Wall Drug is a great family friendly pit stop on your Black Hills adventure!
And, of course, Wall Drug has plenty of what it is famous for:
- 5 cent coffee
- Homemade donuts
- Free Ice Water
For the most up-to-date information, visit the website.
How far is Wall Drug from ..?
Great question! Here are some approximate mileages and distances from Wall Drug in Wall, South Dakota to nearby sites and towns. This is to help with planning those family road trips.
- Badlands National Park- approximately 7.5 miles or a 10 minute drive
- Minuteman Missile National Historic Site Visitor Center – approximately 21 miles or a 20 minute drive
- Rapid City – approximately 295 miles or a four hour drive
- Sioux Falls – approximately 75 miles or a one hour and 40 minute drive
- The Black Hills – approximately 95 miles or a hour 45 minute drive depending on exactly where you are driving in from
- Mount Rushmore – approximately 77 miles or a one hour and 20 minute drive
- Devil’s Tower National Monument – approximately 160 miles or a 2.5 hour drive
Fun Fact! Wall Drug Pharmacy, founded in 1931 by Dorothy and Ted Hustead, gained notoriety for offering travelers free ice water. It still offers free ice water today!
Our visit to Wall Drug
Our experience of Wall Drug began the day before during our evening drive to the small town of Wall. On I-90, we were greeted by many many road signs advertising Wall Drug along Interstate 90. The signs build up anticipation for our visit to Wall Drug. And they also kept us entertained along the way. It was a fun game for Buddy and I to spot the signs along the way.
We visited Wall Drug on a Thursday morning in mid July. The night before we stayed at the cute and charming Frontier Cabins in Wall, SD. The next morning, we checked out of our hotel and headed over to Wall Drug. We arrived around 9:30 am for some famous 5 cent coffee and donuts.
After enjoying our donuts, we bought some souvenirs. Then we visited Backyard before we set out on our next adventure. All in all, we stayed at Wall Drug for almost exactly an hour and a half.
5 Fun Things to do at Wall Drug
1. Eat a donut
As soon as you arrive at Wall Drug, you’ll be greeted by a sprawling complex of shops, restaurants, and attractions. One of the first things you should do is grab a freshly made donut from the Western Art Gallery Restaurant. These mouthwatering treats are a favorite among visitors and are the perfect way to start your adventure at Wall Drug.
Pro Tip: The donuts are perfect for foodie travelers!
We absolutely recommend getting a donut. Wall’s Drug Donuts are delicious! Sal and I each ordered a maple frosted donut and Buddy opted for the plain donut. The donuts had the slightest hint of lemon. I usually do not like deserts with citrus, but these donuts were good. I especially loved the texture of the plain donut. We highly recommend stopping by the restaurant for a baked treat!
2. Enjoy the 5¢ Coffee
When you are getting your donut, don’t forget to pair it with Wall Drug’s famous five cent coffee. make your way over to the coffee counter and order your cup of joe!
During our visit, we were determined to try the 5¢ coffee! However, as first timers, it took us a while to find where the coffee was served. We finally found the coffee. But, we did not know that we could go up to the coffee, drop a nickel in the box and pour a cup. We thought you had to order at the counter. This led to confusion, a 5¢ change on our credit card. Plus, we also held up a line of tourists eager to get their donuts. Oops!
Don’t make our mistake! Put your nickel in the box and get your cup of 5 cent coffee!
3. Check out the Backyard
After fueling up with donuts and coffee, visit the Backyard! Wall Drug’s Backyard is an outdoor area that is the perfect place for road tripping families to stretch their legs . The Backyard features a mini-splash pad, an arcade, the Wall Drug Mining Company, a large Jackalope, and a massive roaring T-Rex. The T-Rex looks like it is straight out of Jurassic Park.
There are also water stations in the backyard, Prairie Parlor where you can grab something to eat, and a building with historic photos. Wall Drug’s Backyard is a photo-worthy spot and a hit with kids and adults alike.
Our absolute favorite place at Wall Drug was the Backyard. We really enjoyed the outdoor area and could have spent more time there. The Backyard had great music and a mini-splash pad area that Buddy was too old to play in.
And we absolutely loved the Backyard’s animatronic T-Rex. T Rex activates every few minutes or so and it puts on a great performance! We watched a few cycles of the T-Rex in awe before adventuring outside. There was also a giant jackalope where people were lined up to take photos. In addition to the jackalope, the Backyard offers many options for family photo shoot. We filmed a Movement Postcard under the sign greetings from the Black Hills sign. But, unfortunately, I could not convince Buddy or Sal to take a photo with me on the giant Jackalope.
4. Get the free ice water
And now for what Wall Drug was first famous for – free ice water. Make sure to stop grab your free ice water! Refreshing after a long drive on a warm summer day.
About the free ice water, we know it is there but, we did not find it! While we did find lots of water stations in the Backyard, we did not find any free ice water. We overheard fellow tourists walking around Wall Drug chatting about the ice water. But we did not find it. Wall Drug is big and its large size also made it difficult for us to find things. We are hopeful to return and find the free ice water next time!
If you find it, let us know in the comments below. Hopefully you have better luck than we did!
5. Send a postcard
Don’t forget to send a postcard from the famous Wall Drug pharmacy while you’re there. With plenty of postcards in the many shops and a mailbox onsite, it is easy to send postcards to loved ones from the famous Wall Drug!
A few years ago, Buddy began the tradition of sending postcards to his grandmother from every place he visits. Given that we had been camping and hiking, we had not had a chance to send a postcard. When we found the post office box, Buddy bought a Wall Drug postcard, wrote a note in the store, and mailed it out then and there! I always carry a pen and postcard stamps in my favorite travel purse, my anti-theft messenger bag by Travelon exactly for this reason. We never know when a post office box might pop up!
We were absolutely delighted to find a post office box inside of Wall Drug. Usually, we have to seek out the nearest post office when we travel. But not at Wall Drug. It really is a one stop shop.
A Teenager’s Perspective
I thought Wall Drug was going to be a small place. I underestimated its size and how much it offered. It was fun, but also overwhelming with all the shops, knickknacks, and decorations. A lot of the shops at Wall Drug blend into each other, so it makes it hard to find things. My advice is to look for a map when you get there so you can find your way around.
Wall Drug is a nice place to get out and walk around after sitting in the car for so many hours. I think teens would like the arcade. And the donuts.
Wall Drug Fast FAQs
1. Is Wall Drug worth visiting?
In our opinion yes. Wall Drug is definitely worth visiting if you are looking for a fun and unique roadside attraction during your travels.
2. Is Wall Drug a tourist trap?
While some may consider it a tourist trap due to its popularity, there is no denying that there is something special about this quirky destination. And in our opinion, tourist trap or not, a visit is totally worth it!
3. How long does it take to go through Wall Drug?
That depends on you and how much you want to see and do at Wall Drug. If you are eating a meal at the Western Art Gallery Restaurant for example, you will stay longer than if you are just passing through. Plan on spending at least an hour or two exploring all that Wall Drug has to offer. We spent an hour and a half at Wall Drug and saw and did everything we wanted to see and do (except that ice water – lol!).
4. Does wall drug still have 5 cent coffee?
Yes! They still have 5 cent coffee!
Final Thoughts
Being from the Southwest, we had not heard of Wall Drug before our trip to South Dakota. After our trip, however, we now recognize a Wall Drug bumper sticker and understand the Wall Drug references we hear.
Overall, we enjoyed our time at the famous Wall Drug. It was an incredible and unique experience. We look forward to traveling back one day. Especially now that we know the lay of the land, and how to get that famous 5¢ coffee!
So pack up the car and make sure to add South Dakota’s Wall Drug to your list of must-see destinations. Especially if you are visiting Badlands National Park!
FOLLOW US!
Are you visiting Wall, South Dakota? Have you been to Wall Drug? What was your favorite part? Let us know in the comments!
Do you have questions about family travel or traveling with teens? Feel free to reach out! We are happy to chat and share our experiences and look forward to connecting with you.
If you enjoyed reading this, check out these blog posts!
- 10 Small But Important Tips for Camping at Cedar Pass Campground in Badlands National Park
- Top 5 Tips for an Exciting Adventure – Mount Rushmore
- Top 5 Tips for Hiking in Badlands National Park: Notch Trail and its Famous Ladder
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