You’ve read the books.
You’ve imagined Walnut Grove.
You’ve read about Plum Creek.

But what if you could really go there?

It’s time to put your feet on the actual soil and walk the same trails the Ingalls did.

This July 8-12, 2026, we’re embarking on a great adventure to Minnesota and South Dakota for The Little House on the Prairie Family Road Trip!

Travel with other families by bus to see the original homesites in Minnesota and South Dakota. We'll tour the cabins, wade in Plum Creek, attend outdoor pageants, and make unforgettable memories with our kids. These timeless stories will never be the same.

But don’t wait to sign up. Space is limited!

However you choose to travel to Minneapolis - by plane or by car - we'll start our adventure on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 with an orientation gathering and dinner together at a nearby hotel (to be shared with travelers) at 6:00 PM.

We'll get to know all the families coming, enjoy a wonderful meal together, and share details about what our trip will entail over the next few days.

If you drive to Minneapolis, you can park your car at one of the long-term airport lots and then take a complimentary shuttle from the airport to the hotel.

Your overnight stay at the hotel is included with your trip, along with a complimentary breakfast in the morning, provided by the hotel.

For our first stop, we'll travel two-and-a-half hours to visit the famed prairie-town of Walnut Grove, MN, where the Ingalls family built a cabin near Plum Creek.

We'll start at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in the late morning, enjoy a provided lunch in-town, and then head to the original dug-out site to see the exact spot where the Ingalls family lived in a cabin next to Plum Creek.

Just like Laura and Mary, we'll dip our feet into these very waters!

In the evening, we'll enjoy a dinner (on your own) at a lovely vineyard and restaurant on the outskirts of town. We'll spend the night at a hotel in Marshall, MN and prepare for a big day ahead! (Keep in mind that hotels are sparse in this rural area.)

After enjoying a complimentary breakfast at our hotel in Marshal, MN, we'll travel about two hours to the town of De Smet, SD where the Ingalls family moved after Walnut Grove and where Laura met and married Almonzo.

We'll tour the homes and school where the Ingalls children attended, visit the gravesites of Pa, Ma, Mary, Carrie, and Grace, and visit the Loftus Store.

After a provided lunch in a local park, we'll spend the afternoon at the Ingalls Homestead outside of town where our children will be able to drive a team of horses, make cornhusk dolls, visit a one-room schoolhouse and enjoy period activities.

In the evening, we'll treat ourselves to dinner (on your own) at the nearby Pageant Grounds, and then watch the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant, an annual outdoor drama created by the De Smet resident. We'll retire to a hotel in Madison, SD.

A new era comes to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant prairie stage! We'll be watching the final installment of Laura’s Dakota Stories: "Daughter of the Prairie."

This new summer theatrical production follows Laura and her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, as they craft Laura’s childhood memories of the founding of De Smet and homesteading with her family into the beloved Little House books.

Held on an outdoor, prairie stage overlooking the Big Slough and cottonwood trees planted by Charles Ingalls... this prairie setting highlights the simple beauty of Laura’s stories. Enjoy music, wagon rides, and activities before the performance!

After a complimentary breakfast at our Madison, SD hotel, we'll travel back to Walnut Grove, MN for their annual Village Fair to celebrate the Little House legacy.

The Village Fair features child-friendly, hands-on activities like corn husk doll making, seed art, and gunny sack races, along with special attractions such as a costume booth, historic bus tours, and the beloved Laura and Nellie Look-Alike Contest.

With food and craft vendors, interactive games, and engaging music and skits, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. You'll be able to enjoy lunch (on your own) among the various food trucks and vendors at the fair, from 11 AM to 5 PM.

After the Village Fair, we'll travel to the Pageant Grounds where we'll enjoy dinner (on your own) and watch the Wilder Pageant: "Chasing the Dream."

After the Pageant, we'll retire to our Marshall, MN hotel.

The Wilder Pageant - "Chasing the Dream" - is a family-oriented outdoor drama based on the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder in Walnut Grove. It is a live performance with all characters from the Walnut Grove area.

Laura narrates the story, reflecting on her life in Walnut Grove in the 1870’s. The hillside amphitheater has been developed to allow for extensive lighting, sound, and special effects. Food and beverages are available at the concession stand.

We're sure to gain a greater sense of the history and a deeper understanding of the joys and hardships that challenged our ancestors when settling the prairie.

After a complimentary breakfast at our Marshall, MN hotel, we'll board our bus one last time to return to Minneapolis, MN by 12:00 PM - in time to catch afternoon flights or start making the road-trip back home.

We'll spend the two-and-a-half-hour bus ride sharing highlights from the trip and reflecting on everything we experienced. We can't wait for you to join us!