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South Dakota offers retirees various outdoor activities, hometown hospitality, and a laid-back lifestyle. Retirees choosing South Dakota benefit from a lower overall cost of living, greater safety with a lower crime rate, and no state income tax. Healthcare services are available throughout the state, despite the low population. Retirees experience four seasons: cold winters, mildly humid spring and summer, and a long and colorful fall.

Sioux Falls is the largest community, with more than 80 public parks and miles of trails in town, as well as recreational options for seniors. The most popular part is Falls Park, boasting 120-plus acres of scenic waterfalls. The city also has 30 miles of biking or hiking paths. The Big Sioux River and multiple national or state parks surround Sioux Falls. The economy is strong, offering seniors ample opportunity to find work in various industries. Experience culture and art at the Washington Pavilion or stroll through the town center to experience local farmer’s markets, art galleries, retail shops, and restaurants. The medium home price in Sioux Falls is about $350,000.

Retirees looking for affordable options outside a town the size of Sioux Falls have plenty of options within a two-hour drive. Here are eight charming South Dakota communities to retire around Sioux Falls — places where retirees can get away from it all and still be close enough to enjoy all that the Sioux Falls area offers.

Brookings

Brookings is not far from the Minnesota border and is under an hour’s drive from Sioux Falls. Retirees looking for unique neighborhoods or senior living options can find various options in Brookings. The city has a strong job market and offers premium healthcare services. New residents considering moving to Brookings can participate in the Live in Brookings initiative to help find housing, jobs, set up utilities, and find local recreation and entertainment. Brookings is home to South Dakota State University, the South Dakota Art Museum, and the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum. The median home price in Brookings is around $300,000.

Mitchell

Mitchell is the perfect combination for retirees. Retirees can visit several museums like the Dakota Discovery Museum, the Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village, or the Corn Palace. Golf at the Wild Oak or choose a recreational activity from the Mitchell Aquatic Center. Mitchell hosts year-round fishing and cultural festivities at Lake Mitchell. Retirees can also enjoy Lake Mitchell’s water activities, including swimming, boating, hunting, and fishing. Enjoy the arts at the high school's Mitchell Performing Arts Center, which includes the annual Palace City Jazz Festival. Take walks along the lake or enjoy a walking art tour through town. There’s also camping locally or walking through a local park like Dry Run Creek Park. The median home price is a lower than the state median, too.

Salem

Retirees looking for a remote lifestyle in the countryside find themselves in Salem. Salem is only a 45-minute drive from Sioux Falls, but it is quite different. Salem has direct access to Lake Vermillion Recreation State Park. Retirees can fish, swim, boat, or nearly any other water activity at Lake Vermillion. There are also biking and hiking trails. Take up bird watching and spend hours in the fresh air. Retirees can take a daily walk through the nearby Porter Sculpture Park. Consider joining a local bowling team at Thunder Alley. Salem is the perfect country retirement community where proximity to a larger city is necessary. The median home price in Salem is about $235,000.

Chamberlain

Founded in 1881, Chamberlain is one of South Dakota’s oldest cities; it's located two hours from Sioux Falls. Chamberlain sits on the east side of the Missouri River. Retirees will find a welcoming town immersed in Lakota and Dakota cultures. Museum lovers enjoy visiting the Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center and the South Dakota Hall of Fame. The Roam Free Park offers a unique panoramic view of the area. Retirees can take part in year-round Native American cultural festivals and gaze up in wonder at the 50-feet-tall Dignity of Earth and Sky sculpture, which stands on a bluff. Road trip lovers will enjoy driving the Native American National and Scenic Byway, which generally follows a similar course as the Missouri River over the rolling hills of grass dotted with bison herds. There are plenty of dining options in town, including barbeque at The Smoking Mule or a variety of food at the Main Street Cafe & Market. Health services are found right in town. The median home price is retirement-friendly at around $210,000.

Vermillion

Vermillion is just a one-hour drive from Sioux Falls and sits on top of a bluff above the Vermillion River and, a bit farther away, the Missouri River. Vermillion is the home of the University of South Dakota (USD) and its DakotaDome, which hosts a number of different sporting events. The city hosts the State Summer Games of the South Dakota Special Olympics and the state’s Pro-Am Golf Tournament. Retirees looking for art and cultural events will enjoy the annual Shakespeare Festival in late June or the free live music series in July and August at Ratingen Platz. Vermillion hosts the Vortex Film Festival and Oktoberfest in September. Local art galleries and museums include the Austin-Whittemore House and a sculpture walk on the USD campus. Vermillion is home to the National Music Museum (again, on the USD campus) and the Coyote Twin Theater. The median home price in Vermillion is about $250,000.

Platte

Near to both Chamberlain and Vermillion is the city of Platte. Platte borders Platte Creek, which is a tributary of the Missouri River at Lake Francis Case. Platte provides a small-town South Dakota experience. Fishing options abound with Platte Creek, the Missouri River, and Lake Francis Case. There are plenty of opportunities for boating and other water activities as well. For those not into water, consider a lakeside or riverside picnic at one of many public parks, like the Platte South Park. Platte is home to the Melcher Museum and the Platte Heritage Society and Museum. Visit the Lyric Theater and enjoy new modern movies every week. Platte has several local healthcare options, too. Everything a retiree needs is here in a small, unassuming, and quiet country town. The median home price is in the mid-$200,000s.

Lake Andes

For retirees with a bit more to spend, there’s Lake Andes. Lake Andes has access to the wonderful Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is 5,600 acres and is home to thousands of species of waterfowl and waterbirds. The sanctuary is public and open from sunrise to sunset daily. The refuge may close off access to certain areas during waterfowl hunting season or when hatchlings arrive in the spring. The refuge is the best place to watch many migrating birds, including ground-nesting owls. The city includes the Fort Randall Hotel & Casino for retirees who are into gaming. Retirees can find local healthcare facilities and options for senior living communities. Lake Andes is a quiet community that generally loves the outdoors and the close-knit community of a small town. The median home price is lower than the state median home price.

Yankton

Last but not least is Yankton. Yankton is home to Mount Marty University and Yankton College. Healthcare services are local and provided by the Avera Sacred Heart Hospital. The Huether Family Aquatics Center is in Yankton, too, and it features pools, water slides, swimming, and fitness classes. Yankton sits near the Missouri River along the state's border with Nebraska. Lake Yankton is nearby, and there’s also the Lewis and Clark Recreation Area. The area offers camping, marinas, sandy beaches, and trails for hiking or biking. All the water access one needs is local. Yankton has 14 public parks, including Riverside Park. Riverside Park hosts the annual Yankton Riverboat Days & Summer Arts Festival, which includes live music shows and an art festival. Golfers will find the Fox Run Golf Course offers more than just a course. There are leagues, a fitness center, and clinics. There are several local healthcare options to make receiving quality care simple. The median home price is about $300,000.

South Dakota is an affordable and active choice for retirees. The state has a plethora of outdoor activities and cities in a variety of sizes. Retirees have multiple options depending on the type of community preferred. Retirees in South Dakota benefit from a lower overall cost of living and a crime rate that's usually lower than the national average. With the added benefit of no state income taxes, retirees should definitely consider relocating to one of these eight charming South Dakota communities around Sioux Falls.