Abortion in South Dakota: Laws, restrictions, and where to get care

Map of South Dakota in red and surrounding states in beige

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Abortion in South Dakota is banned with only one exception—to preserve the life of the pregnant person. That means most people must travel out-of-state to get care. Even for those who qualify under the law, extra barriers make it harder to access timely treatment in a timely matter. To make matters worse, fake abortion clinics (also called crisis pregnancy centers) operate across the state and often delay or block access to real, evidence-based care.

If you live in South Dakota and need abortion care, you still have safe, legal options. Many people travel to nearby states like Minnesota, Montana, and Wyoming

This guide walks you through what abortion costs in South Dakota, what state law allows, and how you can travel to a nearby state for abortion care. Hey Jane is a leading virtual abortion clinic in the U.S. and does not currently serve patients in South Dakota.

Is abortion legal in South Dakota?

As of June 24, 2022 South Dakota has a near-total abortion ban with only one exception—to preserve the life of the pregnant person. 

For the very few patients who qualify under the state’s near-total ban, additional laws create even more barriers to care. This means that in a possibly emergency situation, patients must deal with:

  • Delays and multiple visits: Patients must receive in-person counseling and then wait at least 72 hours before an abortion, often requiring more than one trip.
  • Restrictions on minors: Patients under 18 must get consent from their parent(s) and/or guardian(s) 48 hours before receiving abortion care.
  • Insurance coverage limits: South Dakota law prohibits Medicaid plans from covering abortion in most cases, leaving patients to pay high out-of-pocket costs.

What are the exceptions to South Dakota’s abortion ban?

Abortion in South Dakota is only permitted under one exception: to preserve the life of a pregnant person. There are no exceptions for abortion in cases of rape or incest.

Where can I get abortion care near South Dakota?

Abortion is banned except to preserve the life of a pregnant person in South Dakota, so there are no in-person abortion clinics in the state. Most patients travel to nearby states to get care. Each of these states has different laws, waiting periods, and clinic availability, so your best option may depend on how far along you are in your pregnancy and how soon you need care.

If you live in South Dakota, the closest states with better abortion access include Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, and Nebraska. It’s legal to travel for care, and you don’t need to be a resident of those states to get an abortion there.

Map of South Dakota and surrounding states, highlighting levels ofabortion access per state.

Where can I get abortion pills near South Dakota?

If you can travel, you may be able to get care through Hey Jane. Hey Jane provides access to abortion pills by mail to 22 states, including nearby Colorado and Minnesota. If you’re physically located anywhere in one of Hey Jane’s states, you can start your consultation right away. Once approved, you can have your medications shipped to any convenient in-state address—such as a hotel, short term rental, friend’s house, PO Box, or FedEx pickup location.

For in-clinic options, use trusted directories like INeedAnA and AbortionFinder.

City (South Dakota) Closest Hey Jane State
Sioux Falls, SD Minnesota
Rapid City, SD Colorado or Minnesota
Aberdeen, SD Minnesota
Brookings, SD Minnesota
Watertown, SD Minnesota
Yankton, SD Minnesota
Mitchell, SD Minnesota

Closest Hey Jane state refers to the nearest state where abortion care is available via telehealth.

What types of abortion are available?

If you travel to another state for care, or qualify for an exception to receive an abortion in South Dakota, there are two main types of abortion to consider:

  • Medication abortion (the abortion pill): Uses two medications, mifepristone and misoprostol to end a pregnancy. This option is available usually for up to 10 weeks.
  • Procedural abortion (in-clinic): A clinician removes the pregnancy during a short procedure. This option is usually available later into pregnancies, but the exact timeline depends on the state.

Both methods are safe, effective, and commonly used in the U.S. The right option for you depends on how far along your pregnancy is, your health history, and your personal preference. You can use our pregnancy calculator to understand how many weeks pregnant you are—as well as learn about your options.

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Beware of fake clinics in South Dakota

When looking for an abortion provider, make sure to use trusted resources like INeedAnA.com or AbortionFinder. That’s because there are fake clinics, (sometimes called crisis pregnancy centers) that may seem like a real clinic but are not—and they try to convince abortion seekers to continue their pregnancy. These fake clinics often use misinformation or scare tactics to prevent people from accessing real abortion care, and are not bound by HIPAA to keep medical information private. (Horrible, we know!)

South Dakota has at least 12 fake abortion clinics and 0 real ones due to the near-total abortion ban. Because fake clinics often change names or aren’t consistently tracked, different sources list slightly different information. If you’re not sure about a clinic, you can check either exposefakeclinics.com or crisispregnancycentermap.com

How much does it cost to get an abortion near South Dakota?

The average cost of abortion depends on factors like how far along the pregnancy is, what type of abortion you get, the provider you choose, and related costs like transportation and travel. While Hey Jane does not serve patients in Idaho, below are the average costs available in nearby states, reported to the research group ANSIRH.

Type of abortion Cost in Minnesota Cost in Wyoming Cost in Nebraska
Abortion pills from Hey Jane $299–$499 (as low as $0 with insurance) N/A N/A
Abortion pills (state avg.) $400 $350 $730
Procedural abortion (state avg.)* $738–$846 $675–$2,600 $925

*Depending on the gestational age of the pregnancy
According to UCSF's Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH) research 2017–2023.

How much does it cost to travel for an abortion?

Because South Dakota bans abortion in almost all situations, many abortion-seekers will need to travel out-of-state for care. That means that they may also need to budget for:

  • Transportation: Gas, bus tickets, or airfare to a state where abortion is less restricted.
  • Lodging: A hotel, rental, or friend’s place to stay if you need to remain overnight.
  • Childcare or time off work: Covering care for children or taking unpaid time away from your job.
  • Meals: Stocking up on easy-to-transport food or ordering take out while away from home.

Does Medicaid cover abortion in South Dakota?

Generally, no. South Dakota bans abortion except if your life is endangered. That is the only circumstance in which South Dakota’s Medicaid program covers abortion.

Can I get help paying for an abortion? 

Yes—abortion funds can cover the full or partial cost of treatment as well as travel if you're not able to get care locally. Learn more about abortion funds and how they might be able to help you get the care you need.

For assistance with care in Idaho (or traveling to a nearby state for care), check out the below local organizations. You can find more resources, including talk and text lines, legal help, and more here.

Fund Details
Indigenous Women Rising IWR’s Rain Fund supports Native and Indigenous people in the United States and Canada who need help paying for abortion care.
Justice Empowerment Network (JEN) JEN is a practical support fund that helps South Dakota abortion patients access transportation, childcare, lodging, interpreters, birth control, and other practical support.
Midwest Access Coalition A practical support abortion fund that assists people traveling to, from, or within the Midwest (including North Dakota) in accessing abortion care. Support can include travel planning and costs, childcare reimbursements, transportation, lodging, meals, and more.
Prairie Abortion Fund Helps abortion seekers in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota pay for their abortion and related expenses like travel, lodging, birth control options, and STI testing.
The Brigid Alliance Provides people seeking abortions with travel, food, lodging, child care, and other logistical support.

Tip: Many abortion funds and practical support organizations work together. If one fund can’t help right now, try another.

Stay up to date on South Dakota abortion laws

On July 29, 2025, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley  joined 15 other attorneys general from extremely restrictive states to call on Congress to restrict abortion care nationwide.

The threat to abortion in South Dakota has never been higher. Learn more about how Hey Jane has always stood up for abortion access.

Passionate about expanding and protecting abortion access? Take action and join the Un-Whisper Network.

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Hand holding abortion pills: mifepristone and misoprostolHand holding abortion pills: mifepristone and misoprostol
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