8 Off-The-Grid South Dakota Towns To Visit In 2025
Natural beauty is stitched into every corner of South Dakota. With wide skies and sprawling landscapes, the state feels tailor-made for those who love the outdoors. From Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone to the thick pine forests of the Black Hills in Custer, South Dakota delivers some of the country’s most memorable scenery. These places may not always show up on the first page of travel guides, but they reward visitors with memories of a lifetime. If you are planning to explore the quieter side of the state in 2025, these eight off-the-grid South Dakota towns are a great place to start.
Custer
Custer, a hidden gem nestled in the Black Hills, and known as the oldest town established by European Americans in the region. Custer State Park lies just beyond the town’s edges, stretching over 71,000 acres of wild hills and open prairie. Bison herds roam the grasslands, and it is not unusual to spot prairie dogs, elk, or bighorn sheep while driving the scenic loop. Further out, the Black Hills National Forest unfolds like a never-ending map of pines and peaks. With over 1.25 million acres of wild country, it has 450 miles of hiking trails and reservoirs stocked for fishing.
Back in town, Adventure Rentals equips visitors for an exciting journey. Whether you want to cruise scenic roads or tackle rugged back trails, their lineup of off-road vehicles and knowledgeable crew sets you up for the move. Just up the street, the 1881 Courthouse Museum anchors Custer’s story. Housed in a historic building, it features exhibits on Lakota traditions, the arrival of early settlers, and the famed expedition led by George Custer.
Keystone
Keystone, a historic mining town, took its name from a local mine, likely inspired by the keystone Masonic symbol. Today, the town is an ideal place to have an adventure-filled family vacation. The most famous attraction, of course, is Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Carved into the mountain’s granite face by sculptor Gutzon Borglum, of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt tower above the forested hills, drawing visitors from around the world. Just down the road, Rushmore Tramway Adventures brings a bit more adrenaline into the picture. Glide above the treetops on the scenic chairlift or make your way back down via the alpine slide. Panoramic views and fresh mountain air are guaranteed with every ride.
For an even more thrilling experience, spend time at Rush Mountain Adventure Park. This family-friendly spot is home to Rushmore Cave, where underground chambers and sharp rock formations unfold in dramatic detail. Above ground, the Eagle Zipline Ride and Gunslinger 7-D Interactive Ride make for an action-packed afternoon. Additionally, to step back into the region’s mining roots, take the original tour at Big Thunder Gold Mine. Founded in 1892, this walk-through experience covers early gold rush history and features the largest display of historical mining gear in the Black Hills. Kids and adults can try their hand at gold panning just outside the mine’s entrance.
Milbank
Milbank is a quiet town rooted in history, founded in 1880 and named after railroad director Jeremiah Milbank. The main attraction in the town is the Milbank Grist Mill, originally built in 1884 by English settler Henry Holland. Fully rebuilt in 2009, this towering windmill stands 44 feet tall with four massive sails, each seven feet wide and thirty feet long. Nearby, Mill Park provides a peaceful green space for walking and reflection beneath the mill’s silhouette. A short drive north leads you to Lake Farley Park, a popular place where kids gather across playgrounds, families swim from sandy beaches, and paths are full of bikers and walkers. Basketball and volleyball courts are always in use here, especially during the annual Farley Fest, a summer weekend packed with food, music, and all-ages fun under the sun.
Furthermore, Hartford Beach State Park draws boaters, swimmers, and anglers to its shoreline. The park’s boat ramp and fish-cleaning station stay busy when the weather is good, while campers make use of shaded picnic spots and open spaces by the water. When it is time for a slower pace, locals head to Whetstone Creek Golf Course. Kept in fine shape by a dedicated crew, this course has wide fairways and just enough challenge to keep each round interesting.
Garretson
Garretson is a town that feels complete with dramatic stone canyons and picturesque parks. To start, Palisades State Park is the crown jewel here. Its jagged cliffs, carved from 1.2-billion-year-old Sioux Quartzite, rise up to 50 feet. Wander among these stone giants or climb their weathered edges, and the vibe of this landscape is unmistakable. Split Rock Park is another treasure, where visitors will find a small waterfall, a swimming area, a playground, and three unique bridges.
Just outside town is Devil’s Gulch, where legend claims Jesse James made his famous escape. Trails like Wiese Hiking Trail and the Devils Falls Crossbridge meander through the gulch, weaving between thundering waterfalls and shadowed rock corridors. Humble Hill Winery rounds it out with a slow-down experience worth savoring. Perched just above town, the winery looks out on waves of pale stone and winding fields. From this high point, the sky feels bigger, and a glass of local red or white seems to last a little longer in your hand.
Sisseton
While Sisseton may be a small town, it is surrounded by natural wonders and rooted in heritage. The best way to begin exploring this town is with a trek through Sica Hollow State Park, a landscape marked by legend and shaped by water. The park is a labyrinth of ten miles of multi-use trails. Water bubbles up from hidden underground springs, feeding mossy bogs, veiled waterfalls, and streams that go through the forest. A short drive from the park leads to Nicollet Tower. This 75-foot tower honors Joseph N. Nicollet, a French explorer who once mapped the Coteau Des Prairies in the 1830s. Climb to the top and you will see far into Minnesota and North Dakota. Down below, the Nicollet Interpretive Center shares the explorer’s story, alongside the evocative artwork of John S. Wilson.
In town, the Stavig House tells a deeper story, one of immigration, resilience, and changing times. Built in 1916 by skilled Scandinavian hands, the house blends Victorian details with the simplicity of Arts and Crafts design. Inside, three generations of a Norwegian-American family come to life through period furnishings, photographs, and artifacts that trace their journey from Norway to the prairie of South Dakota. Before wrapping up the trip, swing by the Valley View Country Club. The nine-hole course has a superior rating and has wonderful views of the valley to the east.
Lemmon
Your sense of wonder will deepen the moment you arrive in Lemmon, a quiet outpost where prairie skies meet curiosity and creativity. Right in the center of town, you will find the Lemmon Petrified Park, an entire city block transformed into a surreal world of fossilized stone, spires, and formations that seem pulled from another age. The 300-ton castle, complete with turrets and towering walls, stands as a tribute to imagination shaped by ancient wood and geologic time.
Just beyond downtown, the Grand River Museum invites visitors to trace the land’s deep history, from native cultures and early ranchers to life-sized dinosaur skeletons. If you are looking to just unplug from everything and enjoy, the Llewellyn Johns Recreation Area offers solitude with its small cluster of campsites and quiet trails. For something wholly unexpected, step inside the John Lopez Studio, where welded scrap metal is transformed into lifelike figures that seem to breathe with motion.
De Smet
De Smet feels like a step away from modern rush, where time slows and stories linger in the prairie wind. This quiet town, with fewer than 1,100 residents, holds a legacy rooted in the pages of American literature. It is where Laura Ingalls Wilder’s family made their final home and where her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, was born, both voices shaping generations of readers. The highlight for many is the Ingalls Homestead, where you can drive a pony cart, twist hay into fuel, wash clothes by hand, and grind wheat, all set against the backdrop of wide skies. A wagon ride across the open field leads to a one-room schoolhouse, where a simple desk and slate bring the pioneer classroom to life. To reconnect with the land itself, make your way to Silver Lake, shaped by ancient glaciers and still glinting under the prairie sun. It is shallow, still, and surrounded by a quiet, perfect place to reflect on the landscape that inspired so much of Wilder’s writing.
Furthermore, the De Smet Cemetery adds one more chapter to the story. On a gentle rise above town, you will find the final resting places of many family members featured in the Little House books, including Ma and Pa Ingalls, sisters Mary, Carrie, and Grace, and Laura’s infant son. It is a peaceful spot where readers often pause in silence. Golfers or those craving a slower pace will find the Kingsbury County Country Club welcoming, with its relaxed course layout, friendly clubhouse, and loyal local crowd. It is the kind of spot where no one rushes your game, and every story is worth listening to.
Hill City
Known as the “Heart of the Hills,” Hill City brings together heritage and natural beauty in a way that feels genuine. The town is rich in experiences, where galleries, railways, and wineries each tell a story rooted deep in the South Dakota soil. Begin with the 1880 Train, a steam-powered journey that rolls slowly between Hill City and Keystone. This 20-mile round trip goes past hillsides, mining sites, and glimpses of Black Elk Peak, giving a two-hour ride that feels like stepping into a different era. Back in town, the Museum @ Black Hills Institute reveals a collection of fossils and minerals gathered over five decades. From massive dinosaur skeletons to delicate invertebrate remains, each display feels like a direct line to a time when giants walked this land.
For something flavorful, head to Prairie Berry Winery, where five generations of winemaking have shaped a lineup that is both distinctive and award-winning. With over 1,000 international honors, wines like the Red Ass Rhubarb blend South Dakota ingredients with bold character. The tasting room’s views of the hills are just as memorable as the pours. Simultaneously, Hill City’s creative energy carries through with the Hill City Arts Council. Events like the Art Extravaganza and the Native American Quilt Show attract both local and regional talent, filling the streets with color, texture, and craftsmanship.
Wrapping Up
A real break means stepping away from the noise, and South Dakota makes that easy. Its lesser-known towns offer more than just a change of pace, they give you room to breathe. In Lemmon, ancient history is frozen in time, while Hill City blends mountain living with railroads and rustic vineyards. These off-the-grid places are not about flashy attractions or long lines. Instead, they lean into quiet beauty, open roads, and the kind of encounters that stay with you. In 2025, leave the crowds behind and take the road less traveled. You will find that South Dakota’s hidden corners are where the most memorable journeys begin.
