Things to Do in Brookings, SD

The 203 places we track in Brookings, SD span restaurants, bars, parks, museums, music venues, and outdoor spots — ranked by real visitor ratings, not paid placements. Rub'N Tug BBQ is one of the most-visited; the full list groups picks by category so you can match the day youre planning. Use the trip planner below the list to chain three or four into a single itinerary.

Brookings, SD stands out for its food scene, local culture, and a mix of indoor and outdoor things to do. Browse the category sections below to see which slice fits your trip — restaurants and bars for an evening out, parks and museums for a daytime plan, or live music and events for a night you wont forget.

Several places on this list are free or low-cost — parks, public art, free admission days at museums, and trails. Check the "Free Things to Do" filter above the list to see only no-cover spots, or browse parks and attractions for outdoor options that wont cost anything.

Yes — most visitors plan a 2–3 day weekend in Brookings, SD comfortably. A typical itinerary mixes one foodie meal (the city has plenty of $$ and $$$ spots), a daytime activity (park, museum, or attraction), and an evening out (bar, live music, or rooftop). Start with the trip planner below and well build a routed day-by-day plan around your picks.

The restaurants section below ranks the top-rated spots in Brookings, SD by visitor reviews. For a specific cuisine — tacos, BBQ, pizza, sushi, vegan — use the cuisine chips to filter. Reservations are common at $$$ and $$$$ spots; most $$ and below take walk-ins.

The kid-friendly filter above shows spots that explicitly welcome families — kids menus, room to move around, and tolerant staff. Parks, museums, and water parks (when in season) round out a day with kids. Build a kid-friendly itinerary with the trip planner; it sequences stops by drive time.