Coffee for five cents. That’s still on the menu at one famous interstate stop, and I can’t get over it.
The pies are the real headline, though. This place sells around 50,000 homemade slices every year. Sour cream raisin has a loyal fan club all its own.
It all started with a small grocery store back in 1919. Today it’s a sprawling South Dakota stop with buffalo burgers, a grocery store, a boutique, and mounted wildlife watching your every move.
What gets me is how one roadside stop became a road trip tradition. I’d happily plan a whole drive around a slice of pie, and something tells me I’m far from the only one.
Those Pie Numbers Will Make Your Sweet Tooth Sit Up Straight
Fifty thousand slices. That’s roughly how much homemade pie Al’s Oasis sells in a single year, and the math is a little dizzying.
The restaurant calls them its World Famous Homemade Pies. Honestly, with numbers like that, the nickname feels earned rather than bragged about.
Sour cream raisin is a notable family favorite here. If you’ve never tried one, it’s a classic Midwestern pie worth sampling at least once.
The pie tradition runs deep at this stop. Back in the early 1950s, Veda Mueller was known for her baked apple pies at a tiny lunch counter.
That little counter had just ten stools. Now the pie case serves travelers from all over, but the homemade spirit carries forward.
Here’s a smart road trip move. Order your slice early in the meal, since popular flavors can run out as the day goes on.
You could also grab dessert first and dinner second. Nobody is grading your choices on a cross-country drive.
Either way, skipping pie here feels like visiting the Grand Canyon and staring at the parking lot. You technically came, but you missed the point entirely.
A Buffalo Burger Leads A Menu Built For Hungry Travelers
Buffalo on a bun is the star at Al’s Oasis. The menu proudly lists it as the World Famous Buffalo Burger, and it’s a fitting choice in South Dakota.
Bison are woven into the history of the Great Plains. Eating one in a burger feels like a tasty little geography lesson.
The comfort food lineup keeps going from there. You’ll find Indian Tacos, Grilled Walleye, and a classic Hot Beef Sandwich.
Walleye is the official state fish of South Dakota, by the way. Ordering it here is basically showing some state pride with a fork.
The kitchen focuses on traditional homemade food and South Dakota specialties. It also aims for locally sourced ingredients when possible.
That approach gives the menu a real sense of place. You’re tasting the region instead of grabbing the same meal you’d find at any highway exit.
A full salad bar is also available for lighter appetites. It’s a handy option when one person wants greens and another wants a hot beef sandwich.
My advice? Split a few regional dishes with your travel crew. Sharing means more flavors and fewer arguments about who ordered better.
Breakfast Starts Early And The Weekend Buffet Sweetens The Deal
Early birds, rejoice. The restaurant opens at 7 a.m. every day, and breakfast runs until 11 a.m.
That timing works beautifully for road trippers. You can roll out of a nearby campground or hotel and fuel up before hitting I-90.
Weekends bring something extra to the table. A Breakfast Buffet runs on Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Those longer buffet hours are a gift for slow mornings. Sleeping in a little won’t cost you a hearty plate.
Then there’s the coffee situation. Al’s Oasis still offers coffee for five cents, which sounds like a typo but isn’t.
That nickel cup is a fun throwback to another era. It’s also probably the best deal you’ll find along the entire interstate.
Plan to arrive near opening if you like a calmer start. Morning is a great time to linger over coffee before the day’s travel kicks in.
And yes, pie at breakfast counts as a reasonable life choice. You’re on vacation, and the pie case is right there waiting.
Over A Century Of History Started With One Small Grocery Store
In 1919, a German immigrant named Albert Mueller opened a grocery store in Oacoma. Back then, the town was a cattle town.
Nobody could have guessed that store would become a famous interstate landmark. Small beginnings sometimes grow into big stories.
In the early 1950s, Albert’s son Alfred and his wife Veda moved the business. They relocated it to the spot where Al’s Oasis stands today.
At that time, it was a small grocery with a ten-stool lunch counter. Veda’s baked apple pies and fried hamburgers helped build its reputation.
The business kept growing over the decades. A 10,000-square-foot restaurant and warehouse addition was completed in May 1989.
Another big expansion arrived in 2003. That one added a 17,000-square-foot supermarket, a gift shop, and a clothing area.
Ownership changed in February 2022. RF Buche, CEO and president of G.F. Buche Co., acquired the business after already operating its grocery store.
The current owners plan to keep it a family-based business. They want to honor those humble roots, which is good news for pie history fans.
Groceries Come With A Side Of South Dakota Wildlife
Most grocery stores don’t come with a wildlife gallery. The Buche Foods store at Al’s Oasis does, featuring an impressive display of South Dakota animal taxidermy.
Kids will likely spend more time looking up than looking at shelves. Honestly, adults might too.
The store itself is well stocked and practical. It carries groceries, beverages, and plenty of convenience items for the road.
Campers and outdoor fans get extra help here. The shelves include supplies for camping, fishing, and hunting.
That’s especially handy near the Missouri River. Forgot something for your fishing trip? This store could save the day.
Buche Foods is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Those long hours make it easy to restock after dinner or before an early departure.
Think of it as a two-for-one stop. You can eat a hearty meal, then load up on snacks before getting back on I-90.
One tip: make a quick list before heading inside. Between the taxidermy and the variety, it’s easy to wander and forget what you came for.
Souvenir Hunters Should Budget Extra Time For The Boutique
Black Hills Gold jewelry sparkles near the front of the shopping list here. The River Front Boutique carries this classic South Dakota keepsake along with plenty more.
It’s the kind of souvenir that feels special. A keychain is nice, but jewelry with regional roots tells a better story.
Book lovers can browse local books and magazines. Families will find toys, and everyone can dig through South Dakota-made products.
Clothing is a surprisingly big part of the boutique. Brands include Silver Jeans, Columbia, Alfred Dunner, and Ruby Road.
Home decor rounds out the mix nicely. You might leave with something for your living room instead of just a fridge magnet.
The boutique is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. That schedule works well for a quick browse before or after a meal.
Here’s a sneaky strategy for families. Send one person to grab a table while others shop, then switch after dessert.
Just keep an eye on your trunk space. Road trips have a funny way of shrinking cars one souvenir at a time.
Nearby Fuel, EV Charging, And Shopping Make This A Convenient Stop
Fuel up the car and the family in one stop.
A Sinclair gas station is located near Al’s Oasis, making it convenient to refuel during your stop.
That convenience matters on long South Dakota drives. Fewer stops mean more time enjoying the scenery and less time hunting for pumps.
Electric vehicle drivers aren’t left out either. EV charging stations are available on-site.
Charging time pairs perfectly with a slice of pie. You could practically schedule your battery around dessert.
Families looking for entertainment can explore the shops and displays around the complex.
The grocery store’s wildlife displays and nearby souvenir shops give younger travelers something to explore before getting back on the road.
Parents know how valuable that is. A short break to explore the shops and displays can make the next stretch of highway more enjoyable.
Need a place to stay overnight? The Oasis Campground sits nearby, making this an easy base for a short stay.
So this stop covers a lot of ground. Food, nearby fuel, groceries, and shopping make this a convenient road trip stop.
Halfway Across The State Is The Perfect Excuse To Stretch
Location is a big part of the magic here. Al’s Oasis sits roughly halfway through South Dakota along Interstate 90.
That makes it a natural midpoint for cross-state drives. Your legs will likely agree it’s time for a break.
The address is 1000 E South Dakota, W Hwy 16, Oacoma, SD 57365. Look for Exit 260 off I-90.
The Missouri River flows close by, adding scenic value to the stop. Crossing the river is a memorable moment on any South Dakota road trip.
Many travelers heading west are bound for the Black Hills. Others traveling east are wrapping up their adventures and heading home.
Either direction, this stop fits neatly into the journey. It works as a lunch break, a dinner stop, or a full overnight pause.
The restaurant serves daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Those hours give you a wide window, even if your schedule gets wobbly.
Pro tip: plan your fuel and meal around this exit. Arriving hungry and nearly empty lets you knock out everything in one easy visit.