South Dakota’s hot springs are hidden away in the southern Black Hills.
Not to be confused with the Arkansas town of the same name, South Dakota’s Hot Springs sits in the state’s southwestern corner. With the Badlands National Park and Black Hills National Forest little more than an hour away and the borders of Wyoming and Nebraska nearby, it’s the perfect spot to escape the crowds or take a break from your road trip. Of course, you can’t come to Hot Springs without visiting the hot springs, so make a date at Moccasin Springs, have fun at the Evans Plunge water park, or enjoy the natural springs at Cascade Falls. It’s not all rest and relaxation: you can also hike at nearby Wind Cave National Park, view Ice Age fossils at the Mammoth Site, and admire the rugged landscapes from a hot air balloon. Campers have options, too, including RV parks with full hookups, well-situated Hipcamps, and several waterfront campgrounds at nearby Angostura Lake.