Home · States · South Dakota · Map
SDSouth Dakota Map
South Dakota on the US map
South Dakota is located in the Midwest region of the United States — specifically the plains subregion. With an area ranking of #17 of 50, it is a moderately-sized state. The map above highlights South Dakota in gold and color-codes the other 49 states by region.
Key cities
The capital of South Dakota is Pierre. The largest city by population is Sioux Falls. As is the case with most US states, the capital is not the largest city — this is by design, dating back to the late 18th and 19th centuries when state founders deliberately chose smaller, more centrally located towns to host state government and avoid concentrating political and commercial power in the same place.
Borders and neighbors
South Dakota shares land borders with 6 other US states: North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana.
Geographic features at a glance
- Total area rank: #17 of 50
- Population: under 1 million
- Coastline: landlocked (no ocean access)
- Great Plains: yes — part of the central US plains
- Missouri River: bordered or crossed by
How to use this map
The map above is interactive — click any state to see its facts and history. South Dakota appears in gold to make it easy to find. The other states are colored by region: Northeast (blue), South (red), Midwest (orange), and West (green). This color coding follows the standard US Census Bureau region definitions and helps you build a mental map of US geography as you explore.
Bordering states
South Dakota shares borders with 6 other US states.
Practice US geography daily
Statedoku is a free 3×3 daily puzzle that quietly teaches US geography. South Dakota appears as the answer or as a constraint clue on most days that match its region, borders, or quirks.
Play today's puzzle →Common questions
Where is South Dakota located?
South Dakota is in the Midwest region of the United States. Its capital is Pierre and its largest city is Sioux Falls. The state ranks #17 of 50 by total area.
What states border South Dakota?
South Dakota borders North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana. That's 6 bordering states in total.
Is South Dakota on the coast?
No, South Dakota is landlocked. It has no ocean coastline and no Great Lakes shoreline.
What time zone is South Dakota in?
South Dakota observes Central Time (the state spans multiple time zones).
Similar states
If you found this page useful, you may also want to explore states with similar geography, history, or culture: