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Flat expanse in western North America
Photo: Jack Dykinga, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
The Great Plains of the United States of America consist primarily of wide open grasslands between the Rocky Mountains and the forests of the Midwest. While most of the land consists of farms and pastures, the Great Plains are also home to the Badlands and Black Hills, with the iconic Mount Rushmore. Once at the heart of the Old West, today the region has a relatively small population and is outside the average tourist's itinerary, but not justifiably so, as between the agricultural regions are picturesque canyons and mountain ranges.
By train
Amtrak serves part of this region.
By car
Most of the region is connected to the interstate highway system. Some roads in rural areas are in a very bad state however.
By bus
By train or bus
Greyhound bus has several routes through here as well. Service is relatively limited compared to other US regions, especially in South Dakota.
By plane
Many larger cities have regular air-commuter service to larger hub airports. Smaller towns may have smaller commuter flights with more limited service.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Grand Island · Regional · GRI
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Fargo is a charming western city of just over 100,000 in the Red River Valley of North Dakota. As the biggest city for more than 200 miles (350 km) in any direction, it's a cultural hub for the region, and its lively, walkable downtown is full of old-fashioned architecture and friendly cafes.
a city that straddles the border between Kansas and Missouri
Lincoln is the capital and second largest city of Nebraska, U.S. As the state capital, it offers several historical sites, as well as museums, art galleries, and other cultural venues.
Oklahoma City is the capital and principal city of the state of Oklahoma in the central Frontier Country region of the state. The sprawling city and its suburbs offer multiple sports venues, museums, regional food, and a mix of Native American and cowboy culture.
Omaha is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska, with about 486,000 residents in 2020. Tourist attractions in Omaha include history, sports, outdoors and cultural experiences.
near the Black Hills of South Dakota
Sioux Falls is a city of about 184,000 (2019) in Southeast South Dakota. Founded in 1883 in what was then known as the Dakota Territory, Sioux Falls has grown from a sleepy Midwestern town into a resort for shopping and tourism in the northern Great Plains.
Tulsa calls itself the "Oil Capital of the World." Here, the age of the oil boom found its center. A small town by US standards, metropolitan luxuries such as theater, fine dining, nightlife, and shopping are found in a state known for sparsely populated farming communities.
Wichita is the largest city in Kansas — since Kansas City is divided between the states of Kansas and Missouri. It is not the biggest or flashiest city in the US, but it is a medium-sized city with a small-town feel.
a multitude of cliffs and canyons
one of the few mountainous areas on the Great Plains
Chimney Rock National Historic Site is a United States National Historic Site located in the Nebraska Panhandle. It contains the famous landmark Chimney Rock, which helped emigrants on the Oregon Trail find their way.
Jewel Cave National Monument is in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The cave is the third longest known cave in the world, with over 208 mi (335 km) of mapped and surveyed passages as of 2020, and more being added each year.
four presidents' faces carved into a mountain
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site is a United States National Historic Site in South Dakota. Here you will find remnants of the Cold War, including an underground launch control center and a missile silo.
Scotts Bluff National Monument is a United States national monument in western Nebraska. Despite the name, there are only a few bluffs or rather large rock formations in this area.
Standing Rock Indian Reservation straddles the border between North Dakota and South Dakota. It is the country's sixth largest reservation at 3,750 square miles (9,250 km2).
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a national park in North Dakota, in the Badlands of the Little Missouri River. The terrain also includes open prairie and hard wood draws.
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