6 Most Scenic Small Towns in South Dakota
South Dakota is part of the Midwest’s Great Plains region and is popular among travelers for its dramatic landscapes and its storied history. In addition to its must-visit major attractions such as Mount Rushmore, it’s also home to several attractive small towns that offer visitors an opportunity to enjoy an authentic South Dakota experience without the huge crowds.
From the picturesque Black Hills to the stark beauty of the Badlands, these towns also serve as jumping-off points from which to explore some of America's most iconic natural wonders while offering up a glimpse into the heart of the West. Among them, Spearfish, Hot Springs, Hill City, Dell Rapids, Custer, and Wall all stand out for their scenic beauty and their rich cultural heritage, making them ideal travel destinations. Find out more about this list of the six most scenic small towns in South Dakota.
Spearfish
Its location on the I-90 near the state border with Wyoming makes Spearfish an easy South Dakota travel destination to get to. Spearfish Canyon, a deep and narrow gorge carved out by Spearfish Creek, is excuse enough for a visit, especially for outdoor enthusiasts. This spectacular natural attraction is renowned for its dramatic limestone cliffs and cascading waterfalls and is even better if visited when its foliage changes color in the fall.
Other top things to do in Spearfish include visiting the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives, home to the country’s largest collection of fisheries artifacts and documents; and the High Plains Western Heritage Center with its exhibits dealing with the country’s Western expansion, including an original homestead cabin, a stagecoach, as well as a chuck wagon. The downtown is also fun to explore and is home to Black Hills State University, which gives it a youthful energy that’s very apparent in its downtown bars, cafés, and restaurants.
Hot Springs
Tucked away in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota, the town of Hot Springs is a charming and extremely scenic small town that certainly lives up to its name. Well-known for its naturally warm mineral springs believed to possess healing properties, the springs flow right through the town providing a natural spa experience that has attracted visitors for generations. A highlight is the historic Evans Plunge, the oldest mineral spring pool in the area which offers a unique swimming experience in waters enriched with minerals.
Hot Springs’ location in the scenic Black Hills makes it a must-visit for outdoor enthusiasts. From here it’s only a short distance to Wind Cave National Park, one of America’s most complex cave systems with over 80 miles of passages, some accessible through guided tours. The park is also home to abundant wildlife, including bison and elk.
Hill City
Hill City is a pleasant (and scenic) 30-minute drive southwest of Rapid City and makes for an excellent South Dakota day trip. It’s so pretty, in fact, that it has earned the nickname of the "Heart of the Hills" for its idyllic Black Hills setting. It’s also the perfect spot from which to explore top South Dakota attractions like nearby Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial, and the vast Black Hills National Forest.
Established in 1876 after the discovery of gold in the area, it rose in prominence as a railway town and is home to a vintage steam train. Known as the 1880 Train, this historic railway nowadays offers scenic tours through the Black Hills. More can be learned about this rich heritage at the South Dakota State Railroad Museum. The Museum at Black Hills Institute is another must-visit and presents another facet of the town’s heritage, housing one of the world’s most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeletons.
Dell Rapids
Located off the I-29 just 20 miles north of Sioux Falls, it’s for good reason that savvy marketers coined the name "The Little City with Big Attractions” to describe Dell Rapids. Dell Rapids’ exquisitely preserved historic downtown core is one of the community’s top attractions and consists of nearly 40 beautifully preserved buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many built using local pink Sioux Quartzite.
Downtown highlights include the Grand Opera House of 1888 and the Carnegie Public Library of 1910, part of a charming urban scene that’s enhanced by the Big Sioux River which runs through the town.
Custer
Custer is another scenic town in South Dakota that’s set in the beautiful Black Hills. It’s also just a stone's throw from Custer State Park, a 71,000-acre preserve that’s home to bison and other wildlife and is also a popular spot for hiking and biking, as well as camping adventures. The town also serves as a base for exploring the Mickelson Trail, a spectacular 108-mile route along old railway lines that includes a three-mile-long paved section in Custer.
The Skywalk Trail Overlook is a great spot to visit for views over the town and the Black Hills, as is the neighboring Big Rock Park. For a truly remarkable (and memorable drive), follow the scenic Needles Highway from downtown Custer for a chance to pass through the famous Needles Eye Tunnel, one of the narrowest road tunnels in the USA.
Wall
The tiny town of Wall sits handily astride the I-90 highway in central South Dakota, making it an easy stopover for those traveling between Wyoming and Minnesota. It’s famous as the gateway to the Badlands National Park, a vast area of the state that’s popular for its striking geological formations and prehistoric fossils. This rugged, moon-like scenery is also a popular spot for hikers and fossil hunters.
The town is also home to the famous Wall Drug Store, a unique shopping and entertainment complex that started life as a small pharmacy in 1931. Over the decades, it has grown into a sprawling attraction featuring a variety of shops, eateries, and quirky displays, including a notable collection of Western art and a life-size animatronic T-Rex. The Drug Store's clever marketing campaign, offering free ice water to thirsty travelers, has made it a cultural icon and a must-visit location on any road trip through the area.
The Final Word
South Dakota's most scenic small towns, including Spearfish, Hot Springs, Hill City, Dell Rapids, Custer, and Wall, each offer a unique window into the “Mount Rushmore State.” From the lush landscapes of the Black Hills to the healing waters of Hot Springs and the historic charm of Dell Rapids, these communities offer travelers an opportunity to experience an authentic slice of Midwest life, past and present. Whatever your travel style, these six most scenic small towns in South Dakota deserve to be explored.
