Recreation

Recreation in and around Aberdeen, South Dakota

Get outside and enjoy it!

Aberdeen’s distinctly different seasons provide opportunities for many activities, no matter if it’s spring, summer, fall, or winter. Hike or bike on our recreational trails. Fish in area lakes year-round with ice fishing in the winter. Golf on one of three beautiful courses. Rent a surrey and explore Wylie Park.

Refuge, Hunting, and Fishing in South Dakota

There are superb public and private golf courses. Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge, a short drive from town, is a nationally recognized wildlife sanctuary. South Dakota pheasant hunting draws outdoorsmen from across the United States each fall, and duck and goose hunters set decoys on the many small lakes and marshes that dot the fabled “prairie pothole country.” Some of the finest walleye fishing on earth can be found only 90 miles away on the Missouri River’s giant Lake Oahe. Scenic and sizeable lakes are near at hand, with Mina Lake and Richmond Lake only minutes away from Aberdeen, and the wet, wooded Glacier Lakes region is an easy, hour-long drive away in the rolling hills to the northeast.

Parks, State Parks, Camping, and More

Aberdeen is lucky to have the dedicated City of Aberdeen Parks, Recreation, & Forestry Department. We boast over 20 parks, plus more indoor facilities to spark imagination, learning, and growth. In addition to parks in Aberdeen, a short drive will get you to Richmond Lake State Recreation Area and Mina Lake State Recreation Area. Keep in mind, you can check out state park passes from the K.O. Lee Aberdeen Public Library! Along with our great park system, we have loads of opportunities for camping. Whether you’re a weekend warrior living in Aberdeen, just needing a quick break from life, or you’re visiting from out-of-town, we have a variety of campsites and cabins to fit any excursion.

Wylie Park and Storybook Land

As mentioned, Aberdeen has an enviable park system, highlighted by Wylie Park, with its swimming lake, water slide, go-carts, mini-golf, campsites, and bike trails. Adults and children alike are enchanted by Storybook Land and the Land of Oz, adjacent to Wylie Park. At Storybook Land, larger-than-life interactive storybook characters provide an adventure in imagination and memory. You can ride a small-scale train to tour the park or stroll lovely, landscaped walkways.

Sports

Sports fans pack the Brown County Speedway to watch auto racing. They bundle up in the Odde Ice Center to watch a game of hockey with the Aberdeen Wings, our North American Hockey League Team.

Northern State University fans cheer the winning wolves of Northern State University in exciting NCAA Division II sporting events in the impressive Barnett Center, where dynasties in both the men’s and women’s programs draw huge, noisy crowds. In 2021, NSU completed the new Dacotah Bank Stadium; the complex is on the college’s campus and is connected to the Barnett Center. It houses the Regional Sports Complex as well as the Koehler Hall of Fame Softball Field.

Youth and adult sports are enthusiastically followed and well-supported in Aberdeen as well. In addition to activities such as basketball and football, the community and school district offers youth programs in golf, hockey, BMX biking, baseball, dance, softball, and soccer. A new soccer complex adds a dozen regulation-size fields to existing fields. Hockey is played indoors in the new Odde Ice Arena. Aberdeen is home to the NEW The Hotshots Collegiate summer wood-bat baseball team. The Expedition League brings you high-level baseball and, just as importantly, a great way to spend a summer evening with your family.

Brown County Fair

Each summer the best party and family celebration in South Dakota takes place on the outskirts of Aberdeen when the Brown County Fair is held at the county fairgrounds. The Brown County Fair showcases the talents of the county’s 4-H clubs, livestock showings, and much more.

Looking for more things to do in Aberdeen, South Dakota? Visit our Events page for a full list of links and resources to event calendars in the area.