Top 12 South Dakota Towns To Visit In 2025

As one of the least populated states in America, South Dakota doesn't inspire travelers to come and explore its offerings. However, this doesn't take away from its distinct charm beyond the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The state is home to underrated national parks, a rich historical heritage, enduring Native American heritage, and spectacular natural landscapes across its modest territory. These are best explored in its cool, small towns, where down-to-earth locals demonstrate a unique sense of hospitality.

Whether seeking to immerse in captivating Wild West heritage in Deadwood or explore the state's formative years in Custer, there is no shortage of fun experiences. The top South Dakota towns to visit in 2025 promise a mixed bag of surprises that expose the true heart and soul of the Mount Rushmore State.

Spearfish

This small town in Lawrence County welcomes tourists to experience the sights and sounds of the Black Hills region while promising fun fly fishing opportunities. These are readily available at Spearfish Parks and Recreation, which presents a playground for hiking, camping, biking, cross-country skiing, and fishing in the fast-flowing Spearfish Creek. The High Plains Western Heritage Area Center provides a glimpse into the past using interactive exhibits across a 20,000-square-foot space. The collection ranges from Western art and artifacts to other historical displays, highlighting life during the American Indian occupation and the Old West Pioneer era.

Since its construction in the early 1900s, the Matthews Opera House and Arts Center have been the local cultural hub, entertaining audiences with unique exhibitions and captivating performances. The arts will come to a head during the Festival in the Park on July 18-20, 2025, as over 200 vendors gather at Spearfish City Park to showcase their diverse creations.

Aberdeen

Home to Northern State University, this adorable college town excites with its youthful vibrance and world-class attractions. The Brown County Speedway is an excellent example, known to host adrenaline-inducing car races that draw motorsport fans from around the region. Aberdeen's quaint history is preserved and interpreted by the Dacotah Prairie Museum. This rustic building stores rotating and permanent exhibits chronicling historical events in the city and its neighbors. Outdoorsy tourists can access over 200 acres of play space at Wylie Park and take advantage of camping, swimming, sports, and picnicking activities.

Meanwhile, those who visit with kids will have a blast at Allevity Entertainment, which offers several family-friendly attractions, such as arcade games, laser tags, climbing walls, and bumper cars.

Dell Rapids

Dell Rapids is a small community of around 4,000 residents with an impressive list of world-class points of interest, hence the nickname "Little City with the Big Attractions." It has the Dell Rapids Museum to outline its colorful history. The venue achieves this through archives, documents, and relics shedding light on the past. Guests can access remarkable golfing opportunities at Rocky Run Golf Course. Its 18 holes present challenging play for amateurs and pros, surrounded by beautiful nature.

If you love movies, you can catch the latest Hollywood productions at Dells Theatre. But if you are more interested in festivals, you can visit during Quarry Days in June 2025 and mingle with locals and other tourists while indulging in craft shows, parades, and 5K runs and walks.

Fort Pierre

Not to be confused with the capital, Pierre, Fort Pierre is one of the oldest South Dakota towns to visit in 2025. It is steeped in history and takes tourists on a riveting journey through local and state history. It has a vast selection of vintage treasures, starting with Fort Pierre Chouteau National Historical Landmark. This vital site preserves the legacy of one of the largest fur trading posts along the Missouri River in its heydays. Elsewhere, the Fort Pierre Depot Museum focuses on the region's railroad past by exhibiting memorabilia and relics dating back to the early 20th century.

Beyond the history, Fort Pierre beckons tourists to indulge in outdoor adventures at the Oahe Downstream Recreation Area. This unique nature space on the banks of the Missouri River and the shores of Lake Oahe presents opportunities for fishing, camping, boating, and paddleboarding.

Watertown

Watertown is a vibrant locality with an artsy feel, known for its respectable cultural venues and historical points of interest. Art lovers can look forward to an exciting time in the town, with a chance to watch compelling stage productions at the Goss Opera House. The rustic venue has hosted musical shows since the late 19th century and is celebrated for its world-class acoustics. Meanwhile, visual art lovers can get absorbed in the impressive works of Terry Redlin at the Redlin Art Center, including over 150 of his original oil paintings.

For the historically inclined, the Mellette House transports guests back to the 19th century, in the former home of South Dakota's first governor. It is a unique perspective into the lives of the upper middle class at the time. Finally, Bramble Park Zoo offers travelers exotic encounters with over 100 animal species across a 15-acre sanctuary, including emus and wallabies.

Mitchell

Mitchell is the seat of Davison County and stands out for its captivating historical heritage, which goes back to when it was a Native Indian territory. According to the Dakota Discovery Museum, there is a lot to dig up about Mitchell's history beyond its 1883 founding. This sprawling site exhibits art, artifacts, and historical facts depicting the lives of pioneers and Native Americans. Along the shores of Lake Mitchell, the Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village preserves archeological information about the Mandan tribe.

Mitchell is also renowned for housing the World's Only Corn Palace. This quirky attraction, sporting an elaborate Moorish Revival facade, intrigues visitors with over a dozen shades of corn. The venue also hosts the Corn Palace Festival, a 5-day extravaganza scheduled for August 21, 2025.

Canton

Canton sits about 20 minutes from Sioux Falls, serving as a prime destination for outdoorsy travelers with beautiful natural scenery. It is home to the sprawling Newton Hills State Park, a 1,063-acre oasis teeming with lush greenery and a hub for campers, hikers, anglers, and boaters. Golfing enthusiasts in town can practice their swing on the manicured greens and fairways of Hiawatha Golf Club. Its nine holes present a test for both beginners and intermediate players.

Canton also boasts a colorful history that has been conserved at the Canton Depot Museum. A tour of the retro facility reveals a vast collection of old documents, photographs, and archives highlighting Canton's backstory. While there are many events worth attending in the town, the Annual Pumpkin Festival, to be held in September 2025, is one of the most anticipated.

Deadwood

This adorable gem in the Black Hills region attracts a barrage of curious vacationers, dying to discover its Wild West history and gold rush heritage. Its historic downtown district feels frozen in time, providing a glimpse into the 19th century when gunslingers, gamblers, and streetwalkers ruled the streets. The saloon where the notorious Wild West figure Wild Bill Hickock was shot dead remains intact, and so does his graveyard at Mount Moriah Cemetery. You can learn more about Deawood's past and other infamous outlaws like Calamity Jane and Deadwood Dick at the Adams Museum.

More Wild West lore awaits discovery at the Brothel Deadwood. This century-old location focuses on the illegal sex industry in the town before it closed shop in 1980. But for a change of scenery, consider visiting the Mount Roosevelt Memorial for an interesting piece of friendly history between a local gentleman and Theodore Roosevelt.

Keystone

Keystone is another fascinating destination in the Black Hills, famed for its gold mining and lumbering heritage. It maintains several relics from the gold rush heydays, including the Big Thunder Gold Mine. This defunct mining site reminds guests of the hullabaloo in the community through tangible experiences, such as gold panning in a replica mill. However, you can delve deeper into Keystone's past at the Keystone Historical Museum. Housed inside a Victorian schoolhouse, it displays elaborate artifacts and archives from the period.

Finally, you can't fail to visit the famous Mount Rushmore National Memorial. This iconic monument and intricate sculpture of four former United States presidents represents the carving heritage Keystone is known for. It is one of the best spots in town for a photo opportunity.

Hill City

Hill City is a small-town escape from Rapid City, inviting vacationers to immerse themselves in its natural allure and historical heritage. It has several worthwhile points of interest, starting with the Museum @ Black Hills Institute. This whimsical facility accumulated invertebrate and vertebrate fossils and minerals taken from the region, including dinosaur skeletons and meteorites. Meanwhile, the Hill City Depot offers guests an authentic trip down memory lane inside a 19th-century locomotive through the Black Hills region.

For a feel of the Hill City art scene, remember to stop by the Jon Crane Gallery & Custom Framing. Also, the town will host the Black Hills Film Festival in September 2025, an excellent opportunity for movie enthusiasts to mingle with peers and discuss their passion.

Custer

This small village of Custer County draws outdoor adventurers and history buffs equally, thanks to its rich past and natural treasures. It is a gateway to the expansive Custer State Park, a 71,000-acre recreational playground with countless opportunities. Its rich mix of flora and fauna attracts mountain bikers, hikers, campers, wildlife viewers, fishermen, and other adventurers. Custer's history intertwines with the gold mining in the Black Hills. You can learn about this at the Courthouse Museum, which dates back to 1881 and preserves information about Custer since its 1875 founding.

While exploring the history, use the chance to catch a riveting stage performance at the Black Hills Playhouse. This cultural hub opened its doors in 1946 and has showcased comedies, musicals, dramas, and other live shows ever since.

Brookings

Brookings is a charismatic college town and home to the South Dakota State University, reputed for its lively art scene. The Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center is where enthusiasts often gather to watch theatrical productions by professional talent as visual art lovers gravitate towards the South Dakota Art Museum. Meanwhile, the Brooking Summer Art Festival, planned for July 2025, highlights the annual events in Brookings, bringing together more than 175 artists and crafters from across the region to celebrate the arts.

Away from the arts, South Dakota has a colorful history relating to farming that has been stored at the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum. A walk through the facility exposes you to archaic farm implements, tools, toys, and other memorabilia on display.

Final Thought

Despite being grossly overlooked by travel magazines and travelers, South Dakota has the charm to make your visit as gratifying as any other notable state. It has something to excite all types of vacationers, from historians and thrill seekers to culture connoisseurs and ardent outdoorsmen, as demonstrated by the top South Dakota towns to visit in 2025. As you plan the itinerary for your 2025 travels, fit the Mount Rushmore State into your schedule for a chance to discover gold rush heritage in Keystone and a fascinating Wild West folklore in Deadwood.