SDSU Explore Tours

Welcome to SDSU Explore tours!

We offer guided tours of popular campus locations for both youth and adult groups. Below, you'll find a list of possible tour stops to choose from along with more information on each site. You'll note below that many of the available tour options are free, but some may require money for food (ice cream at the Dairy Bar), and others may have a recommended donation to help cover supplies.

Please note, if you are trying to set up a campus visit as a potential student, that can be done through SDSU Admissions.

Things to know when you are booking a tour:
  • Each SDSU Explore location has its own limit to how many people it can accept in one tour group. Generally, if your group is over 40 people, we will need to split the group into smaller groups. If we have to split your group, you will still be able to visit all the sites you request.
  • This program is for group tours. We do not book tours for family groups of less than 10 individuals.
  • If you are bringing a youth group to campus, you (teacher, 4-H coordinator, scout leader, etc.) are responsible for your class. You may not drop off your children and leave. We request your group have one adult per 10 children present.
  • Locations on campus can be busy places. Many groups book a few months in advance, but we ask you to book your tour at least 20 days in advance.
  • Most tour stops take around 40-45 minutes. Please keep this in mind when selecting how many locations you'd like to visit in one day.
  • When filling out the tour request form, you'll be asked to provide four date options that work for your group.
  • If your group is delayed or plans change on the day of your tour, please contact Sarah at 605-688-6226 so we can notify all tour locations.
  • If you need any additional accommodations (location for lunch, wheelchair access, etc.), please make those notes in the request form.
  • Submitted tour request forms will be processed in the order they are received. Some times of the year are busier than others with the number of requests that come in. Someone will reach out with updates if the planning period will exceed one week.
  • Once your tour is fully booked, you will receive a confirmation of the date and schedule via email along with additional information like parking, loading and unloading zones, etc.
  • If you have additional questions before submitting a tour request, email sdsu.exploretours@sdstate.edu or call 605-688-6226.
Twelve children and the SDSU Jackrabbit mascot standing in front of a building labeled "Agricultural Heritage Museum".
South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Agricultural Heritage Museum

The South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Agricultural Heritage Museum is the official state museum that collects, preserves and interprets the history of agriculture and rural life in South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã.
Six children and adult looking at a painting up close. The painting has a girl and her mother in the foreground and a few buildings behind them.
South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Art Museum

The South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Art Museum offers many opportunities for adults and students to learn about art, history, culture and much more.
A black calf laying down in straw.
Cow-Calf Education and Research Facility

This new facility strengthens SDSU’s rank among the top universities in beef cattle teaching and research. Come visit to learn more!
A female in a white shirt and hairnet filling a half gallon ice cream container with ice cream. The ice cream container is light blue with grass around the bottom and the SDSU Dairy Bar and SDSU logos on it.
Davis Dairy Plant

The Davis Dairy Plant processes approximately 18,000 pounds of milk a week. Dairy products manufactured include cheese, butter, beverage milk and more than 60 flavors of ice cream and sherbet.
Two children in front of an ice cream display case looking at flavors of ice cream.
Dairy Bar (Ice Cream Only)

Attached to the Davis Dairy Plant, the SDSU Dairy Bar offers dairy products manufactured by students in a pleasant setting.
Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. This stadium is mostly brick with windows in the center of the building. There is a parking lot in front of the building with multiple cars parked.
Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium

The stadium, which was constructed in phases on the previous Coughlin-Alumni Stadium site, seats approximately 19,300 spectators and cost an estimated $65 million. Come take a look!
A large gray horse and small brown horse with white points grazing in a field of grass.
Equine Teaching Facility (Horse Unit)

Come visit the South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State College horse barn, built in 1925, and experience a historic facility that has been serving the people of South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã and offering valuable educational opportunities for years!
A tin and concrete feed mill with grass in front. There is also a sign that says "Feed Processing Research Unit".
Feed Processing Research Unit (Adults Only)

The Ruminant Nutrition Center at South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University is home of the university research feedlot. The 50-pen research facility is capable of performing production-scale feedlot management comparisons.
Photo of pink tulips
McCrory Gardens

McCrory Gardens is a botanical garden and arboretum operated and maintained by South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University.

Workers placing meat in the cooler at the SDSU Meat Lab.
Meat Lab

The Meat Lab is located on the west end of the Animal Science Complex. The lab allows students to create their own meat products and conduct research. Products are for sale at the lab's retail space.
Multiple black cattle eating feed out of a feed bunk.
Ruminant Nutrition Center (Feedlot)

The 50-pen research facility is capable of performing production-scale feedlot management comparisons. Take a look!
A sheep in a pen standing on hay.
Sheep Research and Teaching Unit

The SDSU Sheep Research and Teaching Unit, located 1.5 miles north of the main campus, maintains a closed ewe flock of 250 commercial Polypay and 125 purebred Hampshire ewes. Visitors are welcome!
A man in navy coveralls holding a piglet in a swine barn.
Swine Education and Research Facility

The $7.4 million SDSU Swine Education and Research Facility consists of three buildings including a Sow Teaching and Intensive Research Complex, On-Site Wean-to-Finish Research Barn and an Off-Site Wean-to-Finish Production Barn.