We love South Dakota’s small towns; they have a certain charm and a real sense of community. Some of our small towns rely a lot on tourism, and in summertime they really come alive. These towns in the Black Hills are lucky to be surrounded by incredible beauty, and they have a lot to offer visitors, too. Take a look!
- Deadwood
JohntheBear/Tripadvisor Deadwood has a reputation as the Old West town of the Black Hills, and visitors love the Main Street gunfights and Wild West attractions. The town has only 1,300 or so residents, but it’s full of historic charm.
- Hill City
Eagle525/Tripadvisor We can’t imagine why fewer than 1,000 people live in this gorgeous Black Hills town. It’s famously the site of the 1880 Train, and is just packed with scenic beauty year-round.
- Spearfish
City of Spearfish/Facebook Spearfish isn’t exactly tiny - in fact, it’s home to around 11,000 people. But it’s such a wonderful place to visit in the summer months that we just had to include it in this list. Spearfish Canyon is just packed with hiking trails, and some beautiful waterfalls to boot, and you’ll find plenty of charm in the town itself.
- Custer
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/flickr This little town may only have 2,000 or so full-time residents, but it’s one of the most visited in the entire state. Custer State Park is just full of recreation opportunities, and the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore bring thousands of visitors here.
- Sturgis
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally/Facebook If you choose one town in the Black Hills that comes alive during the summer, it’s definitely Sturgis. This normally sleepy little town is home to fewer than 7,000 people, but during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, it’s packed with as many as 700,000. This town is worth a visit when the rally isn’t going on - it has plenty of gorgeous Black Hills scenery, and a vibrant Main Street.
- Lead
City of Lead Like many towns in the Black Hills, Lead has a vibrant mining history. In fact, it’s home to the Black Hills Mining Museum, which is a must-visit if you’re interesting in learning more about the history of this stunning place. The town has around 3,000 residents, and it’s quaint and unique.
- Hot Springs
devriesm/wikimedia Hot Springs is home to around 3,500 people, but it definitely draws a crowd during the summer months. Swim at Evans Plunge, or visit Mammoth Site of Hot Springs. The Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary is a sight to behold, and the Angostura Recreation Area offers fishing, boating and hiking opportunities.
- Keystone
TravelingOtter/Wikimedia Keystone is a truly tiny town, with less than 400 residents, but it’s the gateway to Mount Rushmore, so it sees thousands of visitors every summer. You’ll love this charming little place, and you’ll find plenty of natural beauty surrounding it.
Of course, if you want to avoid tourists, your best bet is to wait until fall to visit these pretty little towns. The Black Hills offer some stunning fall foliage, and the summer crowd will have left…leaving you some peace and solitude.
JohntheBear/Tripadvisor
Deadwood has a reputation as the Old West town of the Black Hills, and visitors love the Main Street gunfights and Wild West attractions. The town has only 1,300 or so residents, but it’s full of historic charm.
Eagle525/Tripadvisor
We can’t imagine why fewer than 1,000 people live in this gorgeous Black Hills town. It’s famously the site of the 1880 Train, and is just packed with scenic beauty year-round.
City of Spearfish/Facebook
Spearfish isn’t exactly tiny - in fact, it’s home to around 11,000 people. But it’s such a wonderful place to visit in the summer months that we just had to include it in this list. Spearfish Canyon is just packed with hiking trails, and some beautiful waterfalls to boot, and you’ll find plenty of charm in the town itself.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM/flickr
This little town may only have 2,000 or so full-time residents, but it’s one of the most visited in the entire state. Custer State Park is just full of recreation opportunities, and the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore bring thousands of visitors here.
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally/Facebook
If you choose one town in the Black Hills that comes alive during the summer, it’s definitely Sturgis. This normally sleepy little town is home to fewer than 7,000 people, but during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, it’s packed with as many as 700,000. This town is worth a visit when the rally isn’t going on - it has plenty of gorgeous Black Hills scenery, and a vibrant Main Street.
City of Lead
Like many towns in the Black Hills, Lead has a vibrant mining history. In fact, it’s home to the Black Hills Mining Museum, which is a must-visit if you’re interesting in learning more about the history of this stunning place. The town has around 3,000 residents, and it’s quaint and unique.
devriesm/wikimedia
Hot Springs is home to around 3,500 people, but it definitely draws a crowd during the summer months. Swim at Evans Plunge, or visit Mammoth Site of Hot Springs. The Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary is a sight to behold, and the Angostura Recreation Area offers fishing, boating and hiking opportunities.
TravelingOtter/Wikimedia
Keystone is a truly tiny town, with less than 400 residents, but it’s the gateway to Mount Rushmore, so it sees thousands of visitors every summer. You’ll love this charming little place, and you’ll find plenty of natural beauty surrounding it.
Which of these little towns is your favorite?
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
