At first, it seemed like an oxymoron to me: Corn Palace? As a former Iowa farm girl, I worked in cornfields. It was often dusty and hot. The labor was exhausting—planting, discing weeds, and eventually harvesting. If there was a palace involved, I never saw it!
Turns out, the Corn Palace isn’t an oxymoron—it’s a real place in South Dakota that decorates, elevates, and celebrates corn, prairie life, and more! And yes, it’s really a palace!
The Corn Palace
Mitchell’s Corn Palace debuted in 1892, just eight years after the town was platted. Town fathers set out to prove that South Dakota could sustain prosperous grain harvests. They hoped the Corn Palace would attract settlers to the region.
Built for a communal harvest festival venue, the original wooden structure hosted fall celebrations complete with stage entertainment and community gatherings.
Architectural changes
By 1905, growing crowds necessitated a new building; a third and permanent Corn Palace rose in 1921. In the 1930s, decorative Moorish minarets and kiosks were added to recapture the palace’s early exotic flair.
Annual crop‑art murals
Every fall, an ever‑changing theme springs to life on the Palace’s exterior walls. Artists nail ear‑by‑ear twelve different colors of dried corn—red, brown, black, blue, white, orange, calico, yellow, and even green—to form large‑scale scenes.
In 2025, the theme “Wonders of the World” will feature the Eiffel Tower, Grand Canyon, and Taj Mahal in vivid mosaic.
Behind‑the‑scenes guided tours
During summer months, free guided tours reveal this “a‑maize‑ing” place. The tour also includes an engaging video on the Corn Palace’s story. Afterward, visitors can explore exhibits on mural creation, agricultural history, and decades of memorabilia.
Always free admission
General admission and parking at the Corn Palace are completely free year‑round. Hours vary seasonally but are generally 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (extended in summer). Note: There is no overnight camping on the Corn Palace grounds.
Annual festivals and celebrations
Throughout the year, the Corn Palace hosts special festivals and celebrations, like these:
• Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo (July): A high‑energy rodeo drawing competitors and spectators from across the Midwest.
• Corn Palace Festival (late August): A modern echo of the original harvest fest with carnival rides, cake decorating contests, live entertainment, and agricultural exhibits.
• Corn Palace Polka Festival (September): Celebrating Midwest German heritage with polka bands, dancing, and family fun.
Multi‑purpose venue
Inside, the Palace doubles as an arena for high school and college basketball, indoor concerts, trade shows, proms, and even circuses.
Why RVers like the Corn Palace
• Roadside icon: It’s one of the quirkiest and most photogenic stops on I‑90.
• Budget–friendly: Free admission keeps travel costs low. (Special events are the exception.)
• Family–friendly: Both kids and adults love the bright murals and free guided tours.
• Fall foliage and festivals: Plan for late August to catch the festivals and cooler temps.
• Midpoint stop: Mitchell is roughly halfway between Minneapolis and Rapid City, making it a logical overnight for Dakota travelers.
Nearby RV campgrounds
• R & R Campground & RV Park. Located just off I‑90 Exit 332, R & R offers 35 pull‑through sites and 44 back‑in sites. The campground also has 30/50-amp electric, water, and sewer hookups. On‑site amenities include a heated pool, playground, picnic shelter, free Wi‑Fi, dump station, and a pet‑friendly policy.
• Mitchell KOA Journey. Just 4.5 miles east of the Corn Palace on SD‑38, this KOA Journey features long pull‑through sites (up to 90 ft.). Visitors also enjoy 50-amp service, cozy camping cabins, tent sites, free Wi‑Fi, propane and firewood sales, mini‑golf, and a dog park. Check‑in is well‑lit after hours, and the general store stocks snacks, souvenirs, and RV supplies.
• Lake Mitchell Campground. Nestled on the shores of Lake Mitchell, this city‑run park has 48 full‑hookup RV sites (30/50-amp) and 9 tent sites. Guests enjoy fishing, swimming, canoe and paddleboard rentals, playgrounds, hiking trails, and a laundry facility.
You should stop!
The Corn Palace offers RVers a unique break from road travel. If your itinerary takes you near this iconic roadside attraction, you should definitely stop and see it for yourself!
Here’s the official Corn Palace website to plan your visit.
Have you toured the Corn Palace? Tell us about it using the comments.
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RVT1209
And after you get a picture of yourself by the giant fiberglass corn character at the World’s Only Corn Palace, swing by Wall Drug get that checked off the bucket list as well!
It’s fun! I admit I love “quirky” places and stops, but this place is truly unique and a great stop. I’ve seen it listed as a “don’t bother”, but I disagree, we both found it interesting and fun and well worth the stop. It’s so much larger than it looks from pictures too! Just try and imagine how long it must take to create all those scenes! Pretty impressive…
I am from South Dakota and proud to be called a South Dakotan. We do have some neat things to see traveling on interstate 90 going east to west or west to east. Make sure you stop at the Chamberlain rest stop to see Dignity a beautiful piece of art. The Badlands and Black Hills are a beautiful work of God‘s creation. Then there is Mount Rushmore as well as the Crazy Horse memorial. Then we have the unique western themed cities of Custer, Deadwood, as well as Sturgis where we have the largest motorcycle rally in the world. Oh and yes, I did forget another major stop and that is Wall Drug a must see stop for their Buffalo Burgers. But those places are just the tip of the iceberg.
Corn Palace was a fun stop-by place for an afternoon on our “take the long way” trip to see family in Indiana. We also recommend House on the Rock, Spring Green, Wisconsin as an off the path stop in. We did a one day stop but wish we’d have taken our time and did a second day. Check out their website, it’s an amazing place for all ages.
Thank you for the information, Gail! Rats! We blew by it today on our 241-mile drive from Salem, South Dakota to the Badlands National Park!?! Actually, it rained to varying degrees, was windy (thankfully mostly a tailwind), and chilly the entire drive, so we likely would not have stopped anyway. But, it looks and sounds very cool. Hopefully one day we will visit it. Meanwhile, have a great day and safe travels!
I’ll add my endorsement to both the Corn Palace and Lake Mitchell CG. It’s a 30 minute walk between the two.