The Best Hotels to Book in Pierre, South Dakota

Across the Missouri River from the main city is Fort Pierre, where the AmericInn by Wyndham sits right on the waterfront. If the river views get you in the mood for a swim, there’s a small indoor pool and hot tub set beneath an impressive vaulted wooden ceiling. A classic US motel-style breakfast is included in the room fee, with make-your-own waffles, scrambled eggs and fruit – the perfect way to start a day of exploration. If you’re arriving or leaving by plane, there’s also a free airport shuttle service on request.

The indoor playland pool, with a bullfrog water slide and a mushroom fountain, is the highlight of this charming, family-friendly hotel. Elegant gold, chocolate and cream interiors run throughout the spacious rooms, which can accommodate between four and eight people. When you’re not splashing in the pool, relax in the sheltered courtyard area, either on the deckchairs throughout the day or by the firepits in the evening. And with the South Dakota Discovery Science Center right across the road, the kids will never get bored.

No matter how long you plan to stay in Pierre, this cheery hotel is the perfect home away from home. With kitchen facilities in every room, including a fridge-freezer, a coffee maker, a microwave and a two-burner stove, you can stay in and cook whenever you like. There’s also a breakfast-in-bed service, where the fixings for a hearty meal are delivered to your fridge the night before. If you’re missing any ingredients, you can always pick them up from the handy on-site store.

If you want to stay in shape without leaving your hotel, Pierre has an answer in the form of this hotel. Across the river in Fort Pierre, the property has an indoor pool for a few early-morning laps and an adjacent fitness room with a rack of free weights, a couple of treadmills and a cycle machine. The dependable Holiday Inn Express hallmarks are all present here, including a free continental breakfast every morning with fresh cinnamon rolls and complimentary coffee provided throughout the day in the lobby.

Towards the northwestern end of West Sioux Avenue – the main drag through downtown Pierre – you’ll find the Governor’s Inn. The impressive South Dakota State Capitol is a mile (1.6km) away, and all along that route, you’ll find bars, cafes, restaurants and entertainment. Meanwhile, the riverside paths of Steamboat Park are only one block away. If you’re making your way up the Missouri River to Lake Oahe by boat, this hotel has plenty of boat parking spaces. Four-legged friends are welcome here, too.