South Dakota
The Best Small Towns in South Dakota to Chill Out In 2024
South Dakota is a prairie state, widely famous for Mount Rushmore National Park and the thousands of tourists it brings to the state around the year. However, this beautiful state is much more than that. In fact, its small towns are the most underrated features of the state. Be it history concerning the gold rush, driving through some of the best routes, or taking in some local color, the small towns in South Dakota can offer everybody something that they can cherish for years to come.
Deadwood
Deadwood is a charming river town very well known for its Wild West heritage. History indeed comes alive in this town with the Adams Museum. The museum has gathered an extensive collection of artifacts from the gold rush days of Deadwood. Other activities include touring the Broken Boot Gold Mine, where visitors are taken under the earth to learn of mining in the 19th century. The very scenic Mount Moriah Cemetery offers a glimpse into the final resting place of many of the West’s most notorious outlaws, with huge, lush landscapes to either side of innovative boutiques and restaurants chockablock full of old-time character.
Spearfish
Aerial view of Spearfish, South Dakota.
Spearfish is a beautiful small town surrounded by gorgeous natural landscapes. With the vistas of limestone cliffs, green forests, and tumbling waterfalls, Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway is undoubtedly not a road to pass by. Bridal Veil Falls, and Roughlock Falls are two favorites along this path—either for a casual hike or to indulge in a beautiful picnic. Back in town, the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery and Archives is very interesting; it’s where one learns the history of fish culture and conservation. The grounds are well kept for a very leisurely walk. Spearfish has a very lively arts community with many galleries and theaters featuring local talent where visitors can kill time.
Custer
View of Mt. Rushmore Road in Custer, South Dakota. By Jared Winkler, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Custer is described as the gateway to Custer State Park and is known as the oldest town in Black Hills. A trip here will open a new world for visitors, with numerous bison herds, scenic drives, and lakes such as Sylvan, offering not only kayaking and swimming but the tranquility of simply being on its shores. The 1881 Courthouse Museum, which is downtown in Custer, pertains to pioneer history in over a hundred exhibits, from Indian artifacts to displays on antiquated mining equipment. The Crazy Horse Memorial mountain carving project exhibits the culture and artistry of Native Americans in grand proportions. This tiny chartered town of less than 2,000 has this small, unique downtown area full of shops, galleries, and, of course, eateries loaded with local delights—way more than necessary for any easy getaway.
Hill City
Bikes and bikers gathering in Hill City, South Dakota. Editorial credit: mcrvlife / Shutterstock.com
Hill City packs a lot of punch when it comes to attractions and quaint charm. It is incredibly close to Rapid City. Dubbed the “Heart of the Hills,” it features the Black Hills Central Railroad, operating a scenic 20-mile round trip aboard vintage steam trains through Black Hills. Supplementing this experience is the South Dakota State Railroad Museum, a journey deeper into the history of railroads in the area. The Jon Crane Gallery – and his beautifully realized landscapes done in watercolor – will thrill any art lover. The Black Hills Institute of Geological Research near here also maintains some interesting fossil and mineral exhibits for the more scientifically inclined.
Vermillion
Vermillion is a small college town in rural South Dakota.
Vermillion is a small town, vibrant and proud of itself concerning culture and learning. Located near the Missouri River, it is the birthplace of the University of South Dakota and is home to a few very edgy museums — the National Music Museum, for example, is home to one of the best collections of musical instruments in the world. The W. H. Over Museum has an interesting collection of the natural and cultural history of the area. Downtown Vermillion has been beautifully decorated with chic little shops, outdoor cafes, and restaurants displaying local artwork and foods. Visiting opportunities exist at the nearby Missouri National Recreational River for fishing, boating, and birdwatching in a pristine natural setting.
Hot Springs
Hot Springs City Hall in South Dakota, below the Pioneer Museum. Editorial Credit: Don Barrett via Flickr
Hot Springs is a scenic small town famous for its naturally warm mineral waters and historic charm. Evans Plunge Mineral Springs, since 1890, beckons with indoor and outdoor pools supplied with the natural water that comes from the springs. Yet another really nice point of interest is the Mammoth Site, an active paleontological dig site and museum portraying insight into prehistoric times. Many beautiful sandstone buildings adorn Hot Springs; one of the historic buildings is the Pioneer Museum, containing antiquities left behind by some of the early settlers in this area. There are parks and trails—among them, the Freedom Trail—with serene hiking and picnicking areas that allow for a great reason to be in Hot Springs for relaxation.
De Smet
De Smet is a charming, quaint small town that holds the nickname “Little Town on the Prairie,” all because of attracting tourists who were enthusiasts of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books. The guided tours of Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Homes gave views of areas that were her childhood homes and the famous author, as well as areas that inspired her famous books. The Ingalls Homestead, located in the town, is actually a living history site where visitors can personally relive and learn how to live as pioneers. Other significant historical buildings that have been well-conserved are the Kingsbury County Courthouse of De Smet and its railroad history at the De Smet Depot Museum.
Explore the Charm of South Dakota’s Small Towns
Quietly nestled in these small towns of South Dakota are history, culture, and nature at their finest. Every town is different—there is the Wild West charm of Deadwood or the scenic beauty of Spearfish—suited to a lot of diversified interests. Whether visitors are hitting up historic landmarks, outdoor wonderment, or just soaking up some culture, these seven towns provide the perfect setting to kick it back a notch in 2024.
GRAND FORKS — UND senior guard Garrett Anderson had shot 1-for-7 from the field before he pulled up for a deep 3-pointer in overtime.
It was a make-or-break shot for the Fighting Hawks, who trailed South Dakota State by two points with 20 seconds remaining.
Anderson’s triple fell. On a Saturday afternoon at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center where several Hawks provided clutch shots late, it was his 3-pointer that iced the victory.
Gabe and Reed Uelmen / Grand Forks Herald
“That was a huge three by Garrett,” UND head coach Paul Sather said. “Happy for him, because you feel it with him — when that floodgate opens a little bit of confidence, and not just as a scorer but just as a player, he keeps fighting for it, keeps working for it, keeps keeping the right mindset.”
UND won 90-87, earning its third-straight win over the Jackrabbits and improving to 2-0 (8-10 overall) in Summit League play.
South Dakota State, hot off the heels of a commanding New Year’s Day win over Omaha, fell to 1-1 in conference (8-9 overall).
“These two first league games, you need to protect your home court if you want any chance to be in play at the end of this year,” Sather said. “It’s a great way to start. But you also need to go on the road and win some games. And as I tell the guys, it’s not who, when or where, it’s how you show up to play. And having that mentality, it’s not home and road, it’s ‘Are you ready to go today?’”
The Hawks needed just about everyone to stave off SDSU.
Redshirt sophomore guard Zach Kraft and freshman guard Anthony Smith III led the way with double-digit point totals in a first half that was a high-scoring, fast-paced affair.
Gabe and Reed Uelmen / Grand Forks Herald
UND shot 64.3%, South Dakota State 55.6%. By halftime, the Hawks had a slight 50-45 lead.
The shooting cooled down in the second half and in overtime. In those final two frames, the Hawks turned to a variety of players, from the starting lineup to the bench, to keep up with the Jackrabbits.
“It’s hard to sustain that for 40 minutes, but we were able to kind of get ourselves back,” Sather said. “Our bench was fantastic in that first half. … We sustained it, we got back in, we stayed there within distance of it, and guys made plays. We had opportunities to make plays and close the game, but we had plays that were made to get us into overtime and win in overtime.”
Redshirt freshman Greyson Uelmen finished with a team-high 17 points and nailed the final two free throws in overtime to seal the win.
Gabe and Reed Uelmen / Grand Forks Herald
Kraft, who ended with 14 points, splashed a 3-pointer with 47 seconds left in regulation to take a 79-77 lead.
Junior forward George Natsvlishvili came off the bench and tied up the game just minutes earlier with a clutch second-chance layup. He also nabbed a key basket with 1 minute, 56 seconds left in overtime.
Before South Dakota State managed to rally back for its first lead of the second half, a free throw and a layup from Smith kept the Hawks’ offense on pace with the visitors. He finished with 16 points.
UND’s bench contributed 39 points.
Gabe and Reed Uelmen / Grand Forks Herald
“I felt like our bench won the game today,” Kraft said. “In the first half, (Smith) came into the game, knocked down that three at the end of the half, and then Wylee (Delorme) in the second half, five rebounds, scoring off the offensive rebounds, it’s huge for us.”
Delorme put together his best game as a Hawk in the win. The sophomore guard from Devils Lake constantly attacked the offensive glass, flexing some creativity with slick drives to the rim.
He earned a season-high 12 points.
Gabe and Reed Uelmen / Grand Forks Herald
“We’ve seen him more of a shooter (in practice), I haven’t really seen the behind-the-back, step-through and float,” Anderson said. “That was kind of new, that was a tough move. But he’s gotten to it in practice for sure.”
Kraft, Uelmen, Smith, Delorme and senior guard Eli King all finished with 12 or more points.
“We just relied on our guys that make those tough shots and are built for those moments,” Delorme said. “Seventh, eighth man off the bench — like Marley (Curtis), Marley can have a double-digit day too. All of us can go for 10 points, but it’s just a matter of making the easy plays and just using each other.”
UND will face its first road test of the conference slate this Thursday, when it travels to Omaha.
Gabe and Reed Uelmen / Grand Forks Herald
The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 3, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 3 drawing
18-21-40-53-60, Powerball: 23, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 3 drawing
01-02-28-30-43, Lucky Ball: 07
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from Jan. 3 drawing
03-04-05-25-42, Star Ball: 03, ASB: 02
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Dakota Cash numbers from Jan. 3 drawing
07-13-17-28-30
Check Dakota Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
- Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
- Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.
When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 28, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 28 drawing
12-17-25-34-42, Lucky Ball: 09
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
- Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
- Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.
When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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