2024's 8 Most Beautiful Small Towns in South Dakota
South Dakota contains the most well-known and highly praised American monuments in the United States. The recognizable faces of Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse are just the tip of South Dakota’s tourist iceberg. In the territory and former hunting grounds of the Lakota and Dakota Sioux peoples, you will find 2024’s most beautiful small towns in South Dakota. From the state capital of Pierre to Hill City and Custer, which are closest to the most mentioned landmarks in America, these beautiful small towns shine with their own features and factoids that will have you coming back for more. So charter a map and point your finger at the many landmarks in the geographical center of the US, particularly in 2024’s most beautiful small towns in South Dakota.
Custer
Custer, almost 40 miles away from Rapid City, neighbors many of the most iconic national parks in America. Aside from the presidential countenances of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the one face in Crazy Horse Memorial, there are the sweeping woodlands of the Custer State Park and the deep caverns of the Wind Cave National Park. These oft-mentioned landmarks are certainly among the most beautiful and memorable attractions one can cherish around Custer. The town also happens to be the oldest town in the Black Hills, where one can observe dozens of modern-day cowboys corralling thousands of buffalo during the Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup & Arts Festival from September 26 - 28. There are also the Crazy Horse Volksmarch challenges on September 29, where thousands of people undergo an arduous 6.2-mile pilgrimage to the Crazy Horse Memorial. So if you are eager to see the masterful works of nature and man, you can stay a while in some of Custer’s best hostels, such as the Calamity Peak Lodge, Bavarian Inn, or Shady Rest Motel & Cabins.
Hill City
Hill City is another convenient stop-by towards South Dakota’s majestic monuments, such as Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and more. However, unlike its close neighbor, Custer, Hill City happens to be much nearer to the Jewel Cave National Monument, the third largest and longest cave system in the world. There may be wonders to behold in the underworld, but the surface world also has its appealing attractions. The Museum @ Black Hills Institute, for instance, houses the prehistoric fossils of dinosaurs that were unearthed from the Black Hills and nearby regions. One can familiarize oneself with the vibrant cultures and indigenous histories of the Black Hills at the CCC Museum of South Dakota, or you can hitch a ride at the Train Depot of Hill City, which has been in operation since the year 1880. Only about 14 miles from Custer, the sublime accommodations of the Alpine Inn, the EverSpring Inn & Suites, or the Black Hills Trailside Park Resort will have you refreshed and renewed for more adventures in the Black Hills.
Pierre
Strangely enough, the capital city of South Dakota, Pierre, is the second least populous state capital in the US. Over 14,000 people live in Pierre compared to the 200,000 population in Sioux Falls. Regardless of the size difference, Pierre is a pleasant destination on the banks of the Missouri River. Originally, Pierre was an Arikara and Sioux that William Clark and Meriwether Lewis visited in their legendary expedition. Some of the oldest buildings in South Dakota can be found here, such as the governor’s mansion, which has endured the ages since 1937.
There is also the Cultural Heritage Center for those who want to know more about the history of Pierre and South Dakota, in addition to the Flaming Fountain, which honors many war veterans. History enthusiasts might fancy touring Fort Pierre, the original fur-trading center of the Northwest that operated from 1832 to 1855. Rumor has it that a monument in Fort Pierre supposedly marks the spot where a lead plate from 1743 was buried, which claims that South Dakota belongs to France. Other than these historic landmarks, you can also admire more modern wonders, such as the Oahe Dam, which manages the flow of Lake Oahe, the Cheyenne River, and the Missouri River. So, for those of you who want to explore more of the second least populous state capital in the US, you can enjoy accommodations at the Historic Farr House or Hitching Horse Inn.
Brandon
Approximately 18 minutes away from the dense city of Sioux Falls, Brandon is a hub of biodiversity and activity in South Dakota. Travelers can admire the untamed and ferocious wildlife of the Big Sioux Recreation Area, while the Great Bear Recreation Park is a perfect destination for those eager for snowboarding and skiing during the coldest season of the year. More animals and organisms can be admired at the Beaver Creek State Nature Area, just as the East Sioux Falls Historic Site and the Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum are homes to many of South Dakota’s plant species and flowers. If there is sublimity to simplicity, then Brandon exemplifies this statement with its humble atmosphere and its proximity to some of the most serene and lush wilderness in South Dakota. So take a break from Sioux Falls and head over to the lovely community of Brandon.
Wall
About 50 minutes east of Rapid City lies the quaint town of Wall. As the gateway to the Badlands National Park, Wall is not the type of town to deter or repel travelers coming from all over the world. The Badlands Wilderness Overlook, the Pinnacles Overlook, the Yellow Mounds Overlook, and other locations that overlook striated mesas are just some of the many stellar regions in the Wall's neighboring badlands. Making a home out of this arid and arduous land are the thousands of American bison at Sage Creek Wilderness Area. Aside from these natural features, you can traipse about in the Delta-09 Minuteman Missile Silo (a remnant of the Cold War); peruse paleontological items at the Wall Drug Backyard; and taste free ice water from the Wall Drug Store. If you ever get exhausted from traveling through the badlands of Wall, you can always settle down in a comforting abode like the Hansen Inn & Cabins.
Vermillion
Situated close to the state borders of Nebraska and South Dakota, Vermillion is a town of remarkable charm and vermillion hospitality. The town stands atop a bluff that overlooks the majestic Missouri River. Vermillion is also the headquarters of the University of South Dakota, one of the best college towns in South Dakota. Within those school grounds are the National Music Museum, also known as America’s Shrine to Music; the W.H. Over Museum; and the Austin-Whittemore House, which are all perfect places for travelers to become more acquainted with Vermillion’s inception. Do not miss out on the South Dakota Shakespeare Festival from June 6 - 9 for a grand appreciation of the Bard. Only about one hour away from Sioux City, stay in the soothing rooms of the Prairie Inn amidst the nightly splendors of Vermillion.
Deadwood
Deadwood has seen its fair share of swashbuckling brawls and shootouts in the era of the Wild West. When it first began in 1876, gold miners and prospectors founded Deadwood as a major treasure trove of resources. Even famous outlaws like Calamity Jane, Seth Bullock, and Wild Bill Hickok plundered the riches of Deadwood, as best seen in the 2004 TV series Deadwood, and whose remains can be seen at the Mount Moriah Cemetery.
Despite its chaotic past, Deadwood is now a vibrant and vivacious settlement in the Black Hills National Forest. Within these lively and towering trees, you can traipse through the Tatanka Story of Bison or ascend the Mount Roosevelt Friendship Tower to get a better view of the region. The Adams Museum, aside from chronicling Deadwood’s gold-mining heritage, also exhibits a plesiosaur fossil and buckets of gold nuggets. No need to worry about lodgings because the Lodge at Deadwood and Historic Bullock Hotel are some of the many excellent places that will keep you cozy and satisfied in Deadwood.
Spearfish
Spearfish is a gorgeous small town replete with verdant routes and trails in the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. Follow the eternal waterfalls of these trails and head over to the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery to admire the many fishes in Spearfish. You might also fancy the unique natural pools called “Devil’s Bathtub” in Spearfish Creek. The avant-garde masterpieces of the Termesphere Gallery will leave you amazed by the masterful artistry of South Dakota’s residents, just as the High Plains Western Heritage Center—with its well-preserved models of stagecoaches, chuck wagons, and a model homestead—will offer you a glimpse of the pioneering past. Spearfish also happens to be the home of the prestigious Black Hills State University for those of you eager to be enlightened. Only 20 minutes from Deadwood, set your sights and aim for the arboreal beauties of Spearfish.
South Dakota certainly has a plethora of beautiful attractions, notably 2024’s most beautiful small towns in South Dakota. Education is prospering in university towns like Spearfish and Vermillion. The Wild West’s lawless adventures return to Deadwood's thriving industry. The Black Hill towns of Hill City and Custer give visitors convenient access to monuments like Crazy Horse, Mount Rushmore, and Wind Cave. So whether you are sightseeing the majestic animals in Brandon’s parks and landscapes or chatting with the many people in the least populous state capital of Pierre, you will not be disappointed by the sublimity and magnificence of South Dakota’s small towns.
