As a resident of South Dakota for eight years, I got my fair share of flea market shopping done while living in the state.
Flea marketing, along with thrift shopping, is the best way to score antique, vintage, and collectible items.
Estate sales are also quite popular for the farmstead homeowners in this Midwestern state.
Expect to see plenty of pheasant feathered home decor, tractors of all sizes, the color Hunter Orange, and camouflage with occasional fleece, rhinestone, and cowboy leather.
These are the signature looks of a SoDak resident.
The state flea markets showcase the best new and used of these finds.
Contents
The 10 Best Flea Markets in South Dakota
Benson’s Flea Market
If you are East River in the biggest city in the state with the most people, that would be Sioux Falls, SD.
Here there are almost 193,978 residents, which is twice as many as the second most populated place, Rapid City, which has 81,502 residents.
As you can expect, the flea markets here are going to have the biggest crowds.
Take stock of Benson’s Flea Market, which is located in the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds.
This is the largest flea market in Sioux Falls with nearly 120 vendors selling used and new goods.
The fairgrounds are also where South Dakota hosts the annual Sioux Empire Fair, in its 83rd year as of 2022.
Picker’s Antique Mall
Picker’s Antique Mall is also categorized as a flea market where you can buy collectible and vintage items.
Also in Sioux Falls, SD, this marketplace is located in a giant warehouse.
Vendors have their wares on display in their booths.
Expect to find a lot of wood furniture sold here, along with ceramic figurines, metal signs, and vintage toys.
There are over 100 vendor booths at Picker’s Antique Mall selling dolls, sports memorabilia, kitchen appliances, and jewelry.
You can even buy unique works of art at this market that we classify as a flea market:
- The big difference, I believe, between a proper flea market and an antique market is there will generally be a person selling in person at a flea market.
- That is not generally the case at an antique market, which is a selling space for people who do not sell in person.
Four Seasons Flea Market
The Four Seasons Flea Market is held in Madison, SD, a small town with 6,769 residents.
Madison is only 51 miles northwest of Sioux Falls and easy to access from the metro area.
You can plan a trip from Benson’s to Four Seasons within an afternoon.
Being a small rural location, the Four Seasons Flea Market is a nice change of pace from the busy Sioux Falls traffic, too.
At the Four Seasons Flea Market, there is a huge consignment shop with more than 1,000 consignors.
The shops are all indoors and can be found on four floors on 3rd Street in Madison, SD.
Peddlers Market Antiques and Collectables
Next from Madison, drive only 65 miles straight north on US-81 and you arrive at the Peddlers Market Antiques and Collectables in Watertown, SD.
The small town of Watertown has lots of water activities, including Pelican Lake and the Sandy Shore State Recreation Area on Lake Kampeska, and the Family Aquatic Center.
A population size of 22,156 makes Watertown one of the more popular places to live in South Dakota.
As for the Peddlers Market, this is a 9th Avenue hotspot with the market open daily.
They sell collectibles and antiques, as well as crafts and home decor.
You can also buy arts and crafts, such as metalwork or woodwork.
There are generally 100 vendors at the Peddlers Market for your shopping delights.
Old West Trading Post
Now we are driving west out of the East River territory and away from Watertown about 200 miles and out of the Siouxland Empire.
Here you are getting to Chamberlain, SD, an interesting town with tons of Native American history that is based right on the Missouri River.
This is the river that divides the state both geographically and culturally, thus East River versus West River.
Before you drive over that river on the major bridge, make sure to look up and over at the rest area.
In the Chamberlain-Oacoma area, there is a 50-foot tall stainless steel statue featuring 128 diamonds.
The statue is a native woman called Dignity of Earth and Sky dedicated to the Native Nations of the Great Plains.
Stop in Chamberlain and visit the Old West Trading Post.
You can buy used and new goods made by local tribes, as well as commercial and international businesses.
If you are traveling from out of town, call or email the flea market to schedule an appointment for your own private shopping time.
Wall Drug
Next, we have Wall Drug, which is located in Wall, South Dakota, 150 miles west and almost to the Badlands.
In fact, Wall Drug is the last stop for any shopping for hundreds of miles both ways off of the main I-90 traveling east to west.
There are souvenirs galore plus other strange toys and off-the-wall signs you can only find here at Wall Drug.
By the way, if you are driving through South Dakota, you will see dozens if not hundreds of billboards directing you to the free ice water and 5-cent coffee at Wall Drug.
I cannot leave out Wall Drug Store, which is not named a flea market but should be based on the reviews online and of myself.
Visiting Wall Drug is like going back into another time and dimension.
Everything from western books and Native American artwork to turquoise dresses and leather cowboy boots is for sale at Wall Drug.
You can also get fried snacks and oversized scoops of ice cream in a cone.
I love stopping here on the way to the Badlands National Park, only a few miles from here.
St. Joe Antiques Mall
Driving west from Wall, the next big city 55 miles away on I-90 is Rapid City in the Black Hills area.
This is the second biggest city in the state and the most popular place to visit for folks from out of state.
Rapid City is most famous for being next to the state’s most popular year-round attraction–Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, SD.
Generally, most visitors find a hotel in Rapid City, where there is the Rushmore Mall, as well as flea markets like St. Joe Antiques Mall.
This is the largest used shopping market in South Dakota.
More than 45 dealers hawk their used goods in a 21,000-square-foot indoor facility.
The items include antique furniture and sports memorabilia, as well as dishware and fine china.
You can buy artwork and military goods, plus Christmas decorations and clothes–all at St. Joe Antiques Mall.
Traders Market
And speaking of the Rushmore Mall in Rapid City, SD, there is the Traders Market.
This is definitely a flea market, as well as a second-hand store, arts and crafts show, and retail sales outlet–right inside of the mall.
Sounds too good to be true, but it is not!
Instead of battling the wild weather of South Dakota, you can enjoy the flea market all year long at Traders Market.
This indoor market is only open on the weekends from Friday to Sunday, though, so keep that in mind.
While you are in the Traders Market, you can find more than 100 vendors selling all kinds of items.
This includes hot dogs, jewelry, bath oils, and even just literal junk.
As an added bonus, you are also in the Rushmore Mall, where there is a food court and other shops to help round out your shopping experience.
The Farmer’s Daughter
The small town of Hill City, SD is right in the Black Hills area of Rapid City.
Drive just 30 miles southwest from Rapid City to the rural town of Hill City overlooking Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
This is a great place to stop and shop for antiques, gifts, home decor, and collectibles at The Farmer’s Daughter.
Located in Hill City, this hip shopping stop has been open for more than 17 years.
The flea market sells vintage signs, military flags, candles in glass jars, and garden accessories, plus other funky finds.
Stop in and find a souvenir on your way to look at Mount Rushmore or the nearly finished Crazy Horse Memorial along the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway.
Sturgis Swap Meet
As you leave the Rapid City area for flea market shopping, here is a secret one–the Sturgis Swap Meet.
Located in Sturgis, SD, this swap meet is where you can buy new and used motorcycles, motor scooters, minibikes, parts, accessories, and retail items.
In Sturgis, every August, there is the world’s largest motorcycle rally, with more than one million motorcycles riding in a very small Western town each year.
They take over the town where pup tents pop up all over the yards, and motorcycle riders spend a week and a half.
If you want the best goods, visit the Sturgis Swap Meet right before or right after the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
Also, try and attend the rally if you are a real motorcycle fan.
The 10 Best Flea Markets in South Dakota – Summary Table
| Flea Market | Address |
|---|---|
| Benson’s Flea Market | 100 Lyon Blvd, Sioux Falls, SD 57104 |
| Picker’s Antique Mall | 47065 271st St, Sioux Falls, SD 57108 |
| Four Seasons Flea Market | 223 N Egan Ave. Madison, SD 57042 |
| Peddlers Market Antiques and Collectables | 109 9th Ave SW, Watertown, SD 57201 |
| Old West Trading Post | 122 S Main St, Chamberlain, SD 57325 |
| Wall Drug | 510 Main St, Wall, SD 57790 |
| St. Joe Antiques Mall | 615 St Joseph St, Rapid City, SD 57701 |
| Traders Market | 2200 N Maple Ave, Rapid City, SD 57701 |
| The Farmer’s Daughter | 164 Main St, Hill City, SD 57745 |
| Sturgis Swap Meet | 1926 Lazelle St, Sturgis, SD 57785 |
South Dakota Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: South Dakota Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time of the year to go flea market shopping in South Dakota?
I would say the best time of the year to go flea market shopping in South Dakota is in the summer.
This is when more travelers drive through the towns and metro areas.
As a result, vendors and shops are more able to make money, and more likely to be open and selling their best items.
When is the worst season to try to shop at flea markets in South Dakota?
Based on weather conditions and temperature drops, avoid going to South Dakota for flea market shopping in the winter season.
This is in the months of November to February.
It is simply dangerous to drive on the highways as an out of towner.
Roads might even shut down due to blizzard conditions that are common during the winter months.
Choose to go during the spring, summer, or fall, when you are less likely to run into bad weather.
Also, the flea markets are more likely to be open and active during the warmer months.
How should an out of state shopper prepare for visiting flea markets in South Dakota?
Start by taking cash.
The majority of vendors may not accept debit or credit cards, and cash will always be accepted in this Midwestern state.
I lived in Platte, Brandon, and Harrisburg, SD, and from my experience, in Platte in particular, some stores won’t even take your card.
Use cash, and take small bills because the prices are lower in South Dakota on many items, especially second-hand and antiques.
However, items that are popular locally, such as pheasant or hunting-related goods, are likely to be more expensive due to local demand.
When traveling between cities for more than one flea market stop, you want to have plenty of fuel, food, water, and air in your tires.
This will save your life in a state where the speed limit is 80 mph on the highways and interstates, and you will not see a rest area or gas station for an hour at times.
