Is Minuteman Missile National Historic Site Worth a Visit?

Located just off I-90 in western South Dakota, Minuteman Missile National Historic Site is an easy stop when visiting Badlands National Park. But if you are not a history nut, you may be wondering if it’s worth a stop. Honestly, we think Minuteman Missile National Historic Site is one of the more overlooked sites when it comes to visiting the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota. 

The site preserves a nuclear missile silo and launch control facility located in the midst of ranchland in western South Dakota. But it doesn’t just tell the story of this particular facility… it tells the story of the height of the Cold War when we thought we might go to war at any moment.

Honestly, it is one of the most unique sites in the National Park Service, giving public access to what used to be one of the most secure sites in all of the US Military.

(Disclaimer: When we link to places where you can buy our stuff or places we stayed, we are using special codes that earn us commissions on the sales at no additional cost to you. Please see our Review Policy  for more information.)

Where is Minuteman Missile National Historic Site Located?

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site has three locations: the Visitor Center is located north of I-90 at exit 131. This is the same exit you would get off to go south to Badlands National Park to enter on the east side of the park. 

Read more about visiting Badlands National Park here.

If you keep going west, exit 127 has the Delta-01 Launch Control Facility (accessible by guided tour only). Going further west, off exit 116, you will find the Delta-09 Missile Silo, making this a very easy stop for anyone traveling on I-90, visiting Badlands NP or Wall, SD. All three sites have ample parking, so RVs can make the stop. 

Read more about visiting Wall Drug in Wall, SD here.

What’s at the Visitor Center?

If you visited Minuteman Missile National Historic Site many years ago, the visitor center used to be a trailer with very limited information. Since our first visit in 2012, the Park Service has constructed an impressive visitor center with extensive exhibits on these launch facilities as well as the Cold War in general. 

We always start with the park film then work our way through the exhibits. We were really impressed with how well the Park Service did with these exhibits. They captured the feeling of fear and paranoia of the Cold War, as well as the efforts taken by the servicemen and women to keep the country safe from nuclear war. 

Additionally, the exhibits at the visitor center go in depth on what to expect at the Delta-01 Launch Facility since tours of the facility are so limited in both size and availability. 

So, if you can’t get a spot on the tour of the Delta-01 Launch Facility, you can still have a thorough and worthwhile experience at the visitor center and the Delta-09 Missile Silo.

Touring the Delta-01 Launch Facility

In order to get a tour of the Delta-01 Launch Facility, you need to get a ticket from recreation.gov. The difficult part of getting a tour ticket is that tours are limited to six people and one ranger. The reason for this limitation is simple: the elevator used to descend to the actual control bunker will only fit seven people. Additionally, tours are not offered year-round and often depend on staffing.

When you get to the launch control facility, you will find a parking lot across the road from the gated launch facility where you will meet the ranger leading the tour. The ranger will then lead you across the road to a facility that, honestly, looks like a nondescript house with a large parking area. If it weren’t for the security fence and the communication antennas, you wouldn’t know what it was… intentionally. 

The security fence also kept the adjoining ranch’s cattle out, again, keeping up with the idea of being discreet. 

The tour takes you into the barracks area, where missileers, security forces and the most important member of the crew, the cook, lived while on shift. While the accommodations were not exactly luxurious, for the military, they are nice. 

The tour goes through the security forces guard room, which had state-of-the-art (for then) features to keep the facility secure. Then you descend about three stories underground to the bunker where the two missileers sat at their stations, awaiting the dreadful command to unleash their nuclear weapons.

In all, it is one of the most unique experiences in all the National Park Service and well worth your time.

Visiting the Delta-09 Missile Silo

Visiting the Delta-09 Missile Silo does not require any kind of tour, ticket, or reservation. The site, located off a dirt road south of I-90, has some exhibits about the missile and sites in the Plains, but much of that was also covered at the Visitor Center. 

What’s really cool is you can look down into the silo and see a test missile as if it were ready to launch. It does not take long to visit, but it is well worth your time. 

Final Thoughts on Visiting the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

In short, don’t pass on this site. It is really easy to visit even if you are just traveling through. If you are already planning a visit to Badlands NP, this is an easy thing to add to your itinerary. If you are already planning on staying a couple of days, make sure you get tour tickets while you are there. 

It’s easily one of the most unique stops you will make on your trip. Yes, I (Grant) am a history buff, but even Bonnie has now enjoyed all three of our visits. So, we encourage everyone to add it on even if it’s just a stop at the visitor center. You might be surprised at how much you learn!

---

Travel Resources