Getting Around Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls is a sprawling, car-oriented city at the junction of Interstates 29 and 90, with a third interstate, I-229, looping from the southwest to the northeast corner. Most of the city is reachable via interstate, and the roads are generally well-maintained, with the occasional summer road construction. Traffic is light by typical North American standards, so driving is the easiest and most flexible way for a visitor to get around. If you are arriving by car, note that most of the major attractions, shopping areas, and dining establishments cluster near two east-west roads, 12th Street and 41st Street, while Minnesota Avenue also has a large selection of restaurants and shops.
Rail, Metro and Tram
Sioux Falls has no rail, metro, or tram network for visitors to use. The city's history was shaped by the arrival of the railroads in the 1880s, but today there is no passenger rail service to plan around. The closest thing to a tram is a seasonal trolley, described below.
Buses and Public Transport
Public transit in Sioux Falls is provided by Sioux Area Metro, branded as SAM Transit, which operates both bus and on-demand services plus paratransit. The network is made up of a set of color-coded routes — Black, Green, Pink, Purple, and Orange among them — radiating from a downtown hub called the TBS Downtown Depot, which serves as a key timepoint for the system. Notable transit corridors include West 41st Street, East 10th Street, West 12th Street, South Minnesota Avenue, and North Cliff Avenue.
For a visitor, the practical points are these:
- Fares are inexpensive, and discounted multi-ride books are available.
- Buses generally run every half-hour during the day, but nearly all routes stop running by 7PM, and weekend service is very limited.
- Summer Fridays are free on bus and paratransit, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
- Routes and stops change with construction and service updates, so check the agency's real-time service alerts before you travel.
In short, the bus can work for daytime trips along the main corridors, but it is not a reliable option for evenings or weekends.
Trolley
Sioux Falls Transit operates a trolley through downtown, running from Falls Park to the Washington Pavilion. It operates Monday through Saturday from 10AM to 8PM during the summer, and on Saturdays through the fall. This is the most visitor-friendly transit option if your plans center on downtown attractions.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are generally available, with a handful of services operating in the city and fares that are reasonable by U.S. standards. Ride-hailing is available through Lyft, which has served the Sioux Falls area since 2017; Uber does not operate there. Courier and dispatch services also exist for onward car transportation from the bus station to other parts of South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota.
Walkability
Walking is practical mainly in and around downtown, where the trolley connects Falls Park and the Washington Pavilion and where the bus hub is located. Beyond the downtown core, the city is spread out and oriented around interstate travel, so most visitors will find a car, taxi, or ride-hailing more practical for getting between attractions, shopping areas, and hotels.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD), also known as Joe Foss Field, is the major airport in the area and sits at 2801 N. Jaycee Lane. It is served by most major U.S. air carriers, with nonstop service from a range of hubs including Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Las Vegas, Orlando, and Phoenix/Mesa, plus seasonal service from Atlanta and Detroit. The airport is small but clean and efficient, with most of the services you would expect at a typical North American facility.
For reaching the city from the airport:
- Rental cars: Avis, Enterprise, Hertz, and National all have counters in the terminal building.
- Taxi: Cross Courier & Dispatch is a recommended taxi service from the airport; other local taxi companies also operate in the city.
- Ride-hailing: Lyft is available in the Sioux Falls area.
By road, the airport is reached from Exit 83 off I-29 (60th Street North) and also from Exit 399 off I-90 (Cliff Avenue).
Arriving by Long-Distance Bus
Jefferson Lines provides bus service into Sioux Falls from a number of U.S. and Canadian cities, and connections with Greyhound and other carriers make the city accessible from across the continental U.S., Canada, and Mexico. All buses arrive and depart from the Sioux Falls Bus Depot at 1500 W. Russell Street, which is within walking distance of the Sioux Falls Arena & Convention Center and surrounding hotels. The terminal is clean and comfortable, with a TV lounge, internet cafe, souvenir gift store, and snack bar.