True to its name, Hot Springs can warm you with naturally heated mineral water. Five thousand gallons of the stuff flow each minute into Evans Plunge, which is a hot springs resort said to be the oldest tourist attraction in the Black Hills. Following a plunge into the constant 87-degree water, you can dive into other thermal pools at Moccasin Springs Natural Mineral Spa or dig into The Mammoth Site, which is a museum and National Natural Landmark that “boasts the largest concentration of mammoth remains in the world.” Over 60 of those formerly fuzzy pachyderms have been excavated from their prehistoric resting place. The ground is cozy in Hot Springs.
From “deeply authentic” Lead to scholarly Madison to culinary Custer to Waubay-adjacent Webster to fish-filled Spearfish to mill-filled Milbank to hilly Hill City to hot springsy Hot Springs, South Dakota’s small communities can keep you safe and comfortable while you explore the state’s countless canyons and monuments. Badlands can be paired with good food, good entertainment, and good sleep.