6 Underrated South Dakota Towns Worth The Drive In 2026

You’ll find some of South Dakota’s most memorable experiences in often unexpected places. Whether it’s a swim in ancient mineral springs, a walk to the old prairie mound that spooked Lewis and Clark, or visiting a quirky palace covered in corn, these six easy-to-get-to destinations are South Dakota gems just waiting to be discovered. Whether you fly in and pick up a rental, are visiting in an RV, or are just looking for some easy day trips to pad out your itinerary, these six towns each have something special that you simply won’t find anywhere else in the country. So, pack a cooler, fill the tank, and take a detour.

Hot Springs

An easy hour drive south of Rapid City at the southern edge of the Black Hills, visiting Hot Springs is a must. Situated in the scenic Fall River valley, many of the town’s well-preserved late-19th-century buildings were built from locally quarried sandstone, which gives them a unique pink and buff coloring.

The big draw here is the fascinating Mammoth Site. Discovered in 1974 and the only “in situ” (left-as-found) mammoth bone bed in North America, remains of more than 60 Columbian mammoths and three woolly mammoths have been recovered from the sinkhole that trapped them some 26,000 years ago. An elevated pathway winds around the still active excavation floor, offering glimpses of the bones of mammoths, giant short-faced bears, and even camels and llamas.

You’ll also want to take a swim at Evans Plunge Mineral Springs. Opened in 1890, it’s fed by natural springs that keep the water at a constant 87 degrees Fahrenheit. Highlights include indoor and outdoor pools, water slides, and a health club. For a quieter soak, Moccasin Springs Natural Mineral Spa offers a more refined experience in a pool and private tubs that were built in 1913.

Hot Springs is also handily located near Wind Cave National Park. One of the longest caves in the world, more than 160 miles of passages have so far been mapped, including a rare boxwork formation resembling a honeycomb.

Spearfish

Just 45 minutes north of Rapid City on Interstate 90, Spearfish is a scenic diversion you won’t regret. The Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway is a 22-mile stretch of road that follows a limestone gorge with several waterfalls accessible by short hikes from the road. These include Bridal Veil Falls, a half-mile walk from the highway, and Roughlock Falls. Though farther into the canyon, Roughlock rewards with a stunning rock and forest setting that’s especially nice in the fall.

In-town must-sees include the D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery. Established in 1896 to stock trout in Black Hills streams, the experiences include feeding rainbow and brown trout and watching them through underwater viewing windows. Tours of the restored Booth House from 1905, a vintage railroad fish transportation wagon, and the Von Bayer Museum with its vast collection of fisheries artifacts, are also available.

Downtown Spearfish is worth a wander, too. It’s here you’ll find the Matthews Opera House & Arts Center, built in 1906 and still hosting plays, concerts, and fine art exhibits.

Mitchell

Drive 73 miles west of Sioux Falls on Interstate 90, and you’ll wind up in Mitchell, home to one of the state’s most unique attractions: the World’s Only Corn Palace. Conceived in 1892 by local businessmen trying to attract farmers to move to the area, the current building dates to 1921 and is redecorated every year with new murals made from 275,000 ears of corn (admission is free).

A mile north of the Corn Palace, the Mitchell Prehistoric Indigenous Archaeological Site & Museum is South Dakota’s only public archaeological site and preserves a 1,000-year-old settlement on the shores of Lake Mitchell. Excavations are ongoing and regularly unearth tools, pottery, and bone implements. The site’s Boehnen Memorial Museum is also worth a look and displays artifacts recovered over decades of fieldwork.

You can also learn more about the region’s history at the Dakota Discovery Museum. Set on the Dakota Wesleyan University campus, it covers everything from tribal life to early settler days. Downtown is also worth a stroll for its murals and local shops like Einstein’s Vintage Clothing.

Chamberlain

Roughly 90 minutes west of Sioux Falls along Interstate 90 (traffic depending), the small riverside town of Chamberlain sits on the banks of the Missouri River, which separates the state’s eastern farmland from the open rangeland to the west. Pull over at the Chamberlain Lewis & Clark Welcome Center to see the remarkable Dignity of Earth and Sky.

Standing on a bluff above the river, this 50-foot-tall stainless-steel sculpture depicts an Indigenous woman holding a star quilt, a symbol of respect and honor in Lakota culture. The Welcome Center also features exhibits about Lewis and Clark’s 1804 journey through this stretch of the river.

You can learn more about local history at the Aktá Lakota Museum & Cultural Center. Exhibits of traditional clothing, tools, and artwork are all worth seeing. Nearby, the South Dakota Hall of Fame profiles notable South Dakotans across politics, sports, agriculture, and the arts.

Vermillion

An hour south of Sioux Falls, the university town of Vermillion is home to one of the finest musical instrument collections on the planet. The National Music Museum, located on the University of South Dakota campus in a historic Carnegie library building, boasts more than 15,000 instruments spanning five centuries and dozens of cultures. Among its seven recently renovated galleries are the world’s oldest cello, a rare Stradivari guitar, and a collection of instruments that once belonged to such legends as Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, and Johnny Cash.

Also on campus, the W.H. Over Museum houses South Dakota’s largest collection of natural and cultural history artifacts. Highlights include Dakota and Lakota artifacts, and an 8-by-20-foot mural depicting Lewis and Clark’s visit to nearby Spirit Mound.

Afterward, head a few miles north of town to visit the Spirit Mound Historic Prairie. The only spot along the entire Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail where you can walk in the explorers’ footsteps, it was here in 1804 that the explorers investigated a mound that the Oto, Omaha, and Sioux peoples believed to be inhabited by evil spirits. A short trail winds through restored native prairie to the top of the mount, where you can enjoy the same spook-free grassland views Lewis and Clark would have enjoyed.

Yankton

Yankton’s strategic location on the Missouri River, 90 minutes southwest of Sioux Falls, led to its becoming the first capital of the Dakota Territory from 1861 to 1883. A replica of the original 1862 Dakota Territorial Capitol can be seen in Riverside Park, where a mile-long loop takes in great views over the river.

You can learn more about the town and its connection to the river at the Mead Museum. Set in the grand old Mead Building dating from 1909, exhibits cover stories of steamboats, early settlers, and the territorial era. The Cramer-Kenyon Heritage Home is another must-visit. Built in 1875, it’s the only surviving territorial governor’s home in Yankton (tours are available).

Yankton’s most distinctive feature, though, is the Meridian Pedestrian Bridge. A former highway bridge built in 1924, you can walk from South Dakota into Nebraska with some great views of the Missouri River below.

Six Good Reasons To Slow Down

If you’re one of the nearly 15 million people planning to visit South Dakota this year, you’ve probably already got your trip pretty much set, with Sioux Falls and Mount Rushmore likely topping your list. But in between these must-visit destinations, there’s this collection of smaller, often skipped-over small towns that you should get to know.