9 Slow-Paced Towns to Visit in South Dakota
While Mount Rushmore is on every American’s bucket list, the great state of South Dakota has so much more to explore! The terrain of South Dakota is one of the most unique and diverse places in the continental United States, with Badlands formations, sweeping plateaus, glacial formations, and picturesque mountains. Nested throughout the great wilderness of Mount Rushmore State are darling towns with a deep history and friendly locals. So, pack a bag (and a good pair of hiking boots!) and get ready to explore these rural, slow-paced South Dakota towns.
Deadwood
Street view of downtown Deadwood, South Dakota, USA. Editorial credit: Bo Shen / Shutterstock.com
Yes, Deadwood is the one set in the iconic HBO series of the same name. While it’s no longer a hub for dangerous gunslingers and outlaws, it’s a kitschy tourist attraction with live entertainment, gambling, and historical tours. Main Street often holds live events like Wild West reenactments, but if you miss a live performance, you can catch a show at Outlaw Square or at the Deadwood Mountain Grand Events Center. These centers host everything from live music to rodeos, car shows, and professional competitions.
After walking the same path as Calamity Jane on Main Street, you can relax and unwind in the scenic landscape of the nearby Black Hills National Forest. While Deadwood is a great retreat in the summer, it’s just as impressive in the colder winter months. The Terry Peak Ski Resort is just a few miles from downtown and is a great spot for skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling. No matter what time of year you visit Deadwood, it’s sure to be a memorable trip!
Hot Springs
Summer skyline and landscape of South Dakota’s Black Hills.
Interested in natural history? Then there’s no better stop than Hot Springs! Hot Springs is home to the Mammoth Site, which is famous for being the largest concentration of Columbian mammoths on the planet. Visitors can take a self-guided tour through amazing Ice Age exhibits and witness a real-life paleontological dig site! And if you want to get up close and personal with real-life fossils (and not the casts found in urban natural history museums), the World Fossil Finder Museum is a must-see. It’s home to the iconic Debby Sue, a 47.5-foot-long Tylosaurus Rex.
However, Hot Springs's biggest claim to fame is its (you guessed it) hot mineral springs! There's nothing better than soaking your tired bones in healing mineral waters at the Moccasin Springs Natural Mineral Spa or Evans Plunge Mineral Springs. The natural mineral waters bubble up through a natural red rock formation for well over 140 years. The hot springs made this area famous over 100 years ago, and many of the original structures surrounding the spring are restored to their former glory. There’s no better way to relax over a weekend than to explore America in prehistoric times and then take a long, hot soak in a mineral spring!
Spearfish
D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery in Spearfish, South Dakota. Editorial credit: Bo Shen / Shutterstock.com
Calling all wildlife enthusiasts! If you’re ready for an outdoor adventure, Spearfish will scratch that itch as it is one of South Dakota's most beautiful areas of the Black Hills. Did you know that the limestone palisades of Spearfish Canyon are even older than the Grand Canyon? Spearfish Canyon is a great spot to snap a few pictures of unique local wildlife like mountain goats, porcupines, and bobcats. And be sure to save some storage on your phone to take pictures of the stunning Bridal Veil Falls.
But downtown Spearfish is just as amazing as the surrounding untapped wilderness. The downtown district is rich in heritage, uncrowded, and cozy, with a public outdoor fireplace, clocktower, and tree-lined streets. One of the best stops in Spearfish is the Matthews Opera House and Art Gallery, to catch a live show or just browse their collection of unique artwork. If you plan your retreat in the summer, Downtown Friday Nights transforms Main Street into a full, family-friendly block party! With spectacular nearby parks and a friendly downtown district, Spearfish is a delightful way to spend a long weekend.
Wall
The name of this South Dakota city doesn't exactly evoke excitement. However, it earned its unique name due to its location on the outside (or the wall) of the Badlands. Wall was once described as the “geographical center of nowhere”, but has transformed into one of the most iconic and kitschy tourist attractions in the state. There’s no better example of Wall’s charm than the 80-foot dinosaur right outside Wall Drug. You may have never heard of Wall before, but you’ve likely seen pictures of this iconic dinosaur! Snapping a photo with this dinosaur has become a wholesome American right of passage.
Wall was once a pitstop to Mount Rushmore but now transformed into a tourist destination in its own right. Before trekking out into the Badlands, check out the National Grasslands Visitor Center to learn more about the trails and local wildlife in the area. While the Badlands is considered rugged and challenging for hikers, there are accessible trails, like the Door Trail, that provide a paved path to enjoy the views. The natural beauty of Wall and the friendly, quirky town make it so much more than a pit stop!
Mitchell
At first glance, Mitchell looks like your ordinary Midwest town. Charming landscaped sidewalks shaded by trees, old 19th-century brick buildings, and inviting little cafes (like Koinonia Kafe). However, towering in the center of town is Mitchell's crown jewel: the Corn Palace! A unique piece of American folk art, the palace is an unusual juxtaposition of opulence and folksy charm. It's decorated annually with corn murals and, at night, hosts a stunning LED light show. There’s nothing quite like it in the entire world, and it’s a testament to Mitchell's undeniable charm.
But a trip to the Corn Palace is just a pit stop while you explore the wonder of Mitchell. The Dakota Discovery Museum is a family-friendly spot to explore artifacts and displays to learn more about the region of Mitchell. Another great stop is the Palace Park Mall. Near the Corn Palace, it offers a wide variety of charming shops (like the Happy Place), cafes, and picnic areas. While life moves a little slower in Mitchell, it’s never boring!
Keystone
Keystone, also known as the Black Hills Playground, is the perfect representation of South Dakota. The rustic city streets with an Old West vibe are shadowed by the mountains of the Black Hills. Walking the sleepy streets of Keystone feels like stepping back in time without losing the modern amenities of home. More importantly, Keystone is a traveler’s last stop before Mount Rushmore!
While Mount Rushmore is certainly one of America’s must-see attractions, the town of Keystone has so much more to discover. After being inspired by Mount Rushmore, the National Presidential Wax Museum is a great experience for the whole family. It hosts 100 life-like wax figures, including all U.S. presidents. They even have a museum scavenger hunt that is both educational and fun for the little ones! You can learn even more about Mount Rushmore and its creator in the Rushmore Borglum Story. Come for Mount Rushmore, and stay for the old-time charm of Keystone.
Yankton
Yankton, South Dakota, a college town in the Midwest located on the Missouri River.
The slow-paced town of Yankton is a nature-lovers paradise 12 months out of the year. The residents of this charming city don’t burrow away in the cold winter months; they get outside and enjoy the beauty of nature all year round! On the banks of the Missouri River on the South Dakota and Nebraska border, it’s a wonderful blend of historic attractions and natural beauty. The Lewis and Clark Recreation Area is among the most visited park in the state and for a good reason! It offers lovely nature trails and scenic overlooks of Lewis and Clark Lake.
As the first capital of the Dakota Territory, Yankton has a rich and vibrant history. The charming streets feel like stepping back in time, and the Victorian-style Cramer-Kenyon Heritage Home gives visitors an opportunity to explore the town’s past. If you love shopping, the Meridian District offers plenty of opportunities to shop in cozy shops like River City Relics and Threads, and you can take a long walk over the iconic Meridian Bridge for a better view of the area. With friendly locals who don’t hibernate for the winter, Yankton is a great place to explore no matter what time of year.
Vermillion
Vermillion, a small college town in rural South Dakota.
It’s hard to experience everything Vermillion has to offer in a single weekend! It has unique stops often found in larger cities, with the slow-paced charm of a small, tight-knit community. There’s no better demonstration of the heart of Vermillion than the downtown district (listed on the National Register of Historic Places). Start your day off at the Bean Community Coffeehouse and stroll through the over 90 shops and art galleries downtown. The Austin-Whittemore House is a great place to explore antique relics in an Italian Villa-style home built in the late 1800s and allows you to take a self-guided tour of the estate at your own pace.
Vermillion provides amazing opportunities to get lost in nature on the banks of the Missouri River. The North Alabama Bend Wildlife Area offers scenic hiking trails and a boat launch to the Missouri River, where you can spend the day on the water. Fun fact: it earned its name not from the state of Alabama but from the steamboat named North Alabama that sunk in the Missouri River. From sites with a storied past to a thriving downtown district and local beauty nearby, Vermillion is well worth the drive!
Custer
Ready to explore the wonders of the Black Hills? A visit to Custer puts you in the heart of some of South Dakota's most iconic attractions. It’s around a 30-minute drive from Mount Rushmore and surrounded by the beauty of Custer State Park and Wind Cave National Park. As one of the oldest towns in South Dakota, Custer was once a thriving mining town and transformed into a hub for tourists seeking to explore the majesty of the Black Hills. With a thriving downtown district with amazing food (seriously, The Custer Wolf is some of the best pub food in the area!) and shopping, it provides all the needed amenities before trekking out into the wilderness.
One of the must-see locations while in Custer is Custer State Park. Admire the granite peaks of the Black Hills via scenic hiking trails or canoes along the calming shores of Sylvan Lake. Ready for even more adventure? Jewel Cave National Monument is an often-overlooked natural wonder of South Dakota. It provides over 200 miles of walking paths through a maze of caves with colorful formations. It earned its name due to the stunning beautiful calcite crystals on the walls of the cave, and it’s a must-see for visitors of Custer. The fun and natural beauty found in Custer will make Mount Rushmore an afterthought!
Escape to South Dakota’s Scenic Small Towns
There’s a reason why South Dakota is sometimes referred to as the “land of infinite variety”, and that’s because there is so much to see and do! Outside of Mount Rushmore, there are the Badlands, the Black Hills, and crystal-clear lakes like Sylvan Lake. Trek underground and explore limestone caves in Custer, or shop for treasures in the Meridian District in Yankton. Every explorer needs a good base camp to recharge, and these slow-paced South Dakota towns are as welcoming as they are beautiful. So what are you waiting for? Adventure awaits in South Dakota!
