South Dakota is the Mount Rushmore State. SCS also uses the unofficial nickname “Coyote State” in one of its depot previews. The capital is Pierre, the largest city is Sioux Falls, and since September 24, 2026 the whole state has been a map expansion for American Truck Simulator. This guide covers the real state first, then the game content.

Geography and landscape

South Dakota covers about 77,000 square miles, the 17th largest state by area. The Missouri River runs through the middle and splits it into two different worlds.

East of the river, the land is rolling prairie and farmland, dotted with natural lakes left behind by glaciers. West of the river you find ranchland, the eroded formations of the Badlands, and the pine-covered Black Hills.

The climate is continental, with cold dry winters and warm summers that bring frequent thunderstorms. Open-prairie highways such as US-14, US-18 and US-212 can see wind-driven snow in winter.

Major cities

Sioux Falls sits in the southeast corner where I-29 meets I-90. It is the state’s largest city and a hub for healthcare and banking.

Rapid City is the second largest and the gateway to the Black Hills. Aberdeen, Brookings, Watertown and Mitchell follow, and Mitchell is known for its Corn Palace.

Pierre is small, at roughly 14,000 people. It sits on the Missouri River between Lake Oahe and Lake Sharpe, and it is a quiet capital by any standard.

Transportation and highways

Two interstates carry most of the freight. I-90 crosses the state east to west for about 413 miles. I-29 runs about 252 miles down the eastern edge. Short spurs serve the big cities, I-190 in Rapid City and I-229 around Sioux Falls.

Key US routes include US-12, US-14 and US-212 across the width of the state. US-83 runs north from I-90 at Murdo toward Pierre, and US-385 climbs through the Black Hills. South Dakota has no toll roads.

There is no international border here. The state lines are with Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and North Dakota.

The bridges over the Missouri River have their own stories. A new bridge now links Pierre and Fort Pierre, with a ribbon cutting in March 2025. In Yankton, the Meridian Bridge dates from 1924. SCS also points out the Mobridge crossing, which is split by a time zone line.

Economy and industries

Agriculture is the state’s top industry. The leading commodities are corn, cattle, soybeans, wheat and hogs, and South Dakota is also a major ethanol producer.

Manufacturing adds a freight angle truckers will like. Trail King builds heavy trailers in Mitchell, and Brookings is home to the sign maker Daktronics. Sioux Falls adds healthcare, finance and food processing.

Tourism, led by the Black Hills, is the second largest industry. Most of the freight moves along I-90 and I-29.

Landmarks and attractions

Mount Rushmore was carved between 1927 and 1941, with presidential heads about 60 feet tall. The Black Hills are sacred to the Lakota, who know the mountain as Six Grandfathers. The Crazy Horse Memorial is nearby.

Badlands National Park offers fossil beds and sharp rock formations. Sioux Falls has its waterfalls, Mitchell has the Corn Palace, and Deadwood preserves Wild West history. Pierre’s State Capitol dates from 1910.

American Truck Simulator

Status: Released. The DLC launched on Steam on September 24, 2026.

According to SCS, the expansion includes:

• 13 cities, 21 towns and settlements, and 10 custom depots
• Connections to Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska and Iowa
• Landmarks including Mount Rushmore, the Corn Palace, the Sioux Falls waterfalls and the Dignity of Earth and Sky sculpture
• Natural areas including the Black Hills, the Badlands and the landscape around Reva

The 13 cities are Aberdeen, Brookings, Buffalo, Fort Pierre, Mitchell, Mobridge, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Spearfish, Watertown, Winner and Yankton. SCS has shown towns such as Hot Springs, Wall, Sturgis, Deadwood, Belle Fourche, Faith, Huron, Redfield and Timber Lake.

The depots follow the state’s real economy:

• Trailer plants in Watertown and Mitchell
• A food factory in Sioux Falls
• An ethanol plant in Watertown
• Farm and livestock depots
• A quarry in Spearfish
• An oil service depot in Mobridge

Owners of the Special Transport DLC get three oversize routes. One example is hauling a large silo or tank from Winner to a farm depot in Mitchell.

The launch World of Trucks event, Cruising South Dakota, rewards visiting all 13 cities with a Call of the Badlands paint job. Jobs to or from Rapid City earn a Quartz Triceratops cabin item.

Map connections

SCS lists connections to Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska and Iowa, all released ATS DLCs. Because these are official maps, no map combo is needed. You only need to own and enable them. According to the community Truck Simulator Wiki, I-90 runs from Wyoming to Sioux Falls in game, and I-29 enters from Iowa.

To the north, North Dakota was announced by SCS on August 2, 2026, with no release date yet. SCS has not announced Minnesota.