Rude Awakening For Out-of-Staters When Moving to South Dakota

It’s really no secret that South Dakota has been a hotspot for people looking to relocate from places like California, Washington, and Texas. This has been an ongoing trend for a few years now, but living in South Dakota is a lot different than taking a summer road trip through the Mount Rushmore State.

Before newcomers get too comfortable, here are the biggest culture shocks and rude awakenings out-of-staters experience after making the move.

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Things Out-of-Staters Need to Know When Moving to South Dakota

Credit: Canva

1. Prairie Wind & Winter Driving: Realizing that horizontal wind and ice are very different from just "cold weather." Most people from these states have never TRULY lived through a South Dakota winter. You might think "It's not that bad", but, you'd be mistaken. Temps regularly get below zero in January and February. And don't expect Spring to actually show up until at least Mid-April.
2. Things Close Early / Unwritten Pace: Finding out that late-night dining options and Sunday store hours are limited. Out in California, Texas, and even Washington, plenty of "All Night" options are out there for dinning... That's not really a thing in these parts, unless you happen to find a Denny's or Perkins.
3. Vehicle Winterization & Sales Tax: Zero income tax is great, but wheel tax, vehicle registration fees, and sales tax on services catch people off guard.
4. "South Dakota Nice": Realizing wave-and-pass driving and small-talk friendliness are actual expectations here. Don't expect to just leave a person's house when you say "See ya later". No way, Sally, that's just the warm up act... Literally, because your car needs to warm up in the driveway because it's -20 degrees below zero.