Deadwood, South Dakota

What to Do, Where to Eat, and What to See on Your Next Trip to Deadwood, South Dakota

Visiting the Black Hills and wondering how to spend your time in Deadwood, South Dakota?
 
Or perhaps you live somewhere else in the Hills and are heading to Deadwood for a day trip?
 
Deadwood has a ton of fun events scattered throughout the year, whether it’s Deadweird, Wild Bill Days, the Wild West Songwriters Festival (my personal favorite), or one of their summer concert series.
 
Before you make a trip to the area, check out their event schedule first to see what’s going on.
 
Here are my suggestions on what to do, where to eat, and what to see on your next trip to Deadwood.
 

My perfect day in Deadwood

First, I thought I’d share a curated list of my favorite things to do in Deadwood. Your local guide to the area!
 
  • ‌Start with a coffee and donuts at Lou Lou's Bombdiggity's (the old fashioned ones are my favorite!)

  • Tour the Adams museum or walk through the Mount Moriah Cemetery (see Wild Bill and Calamity Jane)

  • Hike up to Mt Roosevelt or Friendship Tower (some of the best 360 views in the area)

  • Lunch break at Jacob’s Brewhouse (be sure to grab some of their beer on the brewery side!)

  • Take a tour of the Broken Boot Gold Mine

  • Rent e-bikes to go down the Mickelson Trail

  • Walk through the shops on Main Street, put a few bucks on the penny slots or on a hand of Black Jack

  • Grab a whiskey at Saloon #10 (a must-visit bar when you visit Deadwood), and enjoy some live music during the summer. Saloon #10 has live music, a fun western and historical vibe.

  • Wrap up your day with dinner at the Deadwood Social Club (don’t skip dessert, their cheesecake is amazing!)

Where to eat

Whether you’re visiting Deadwood specifically, or the great Black Hills area, there are some amazing restaurants I’d be sure to hit! 
 
14 of My Favorite Lunch Spots
 
  1. Jacob’s Brewhouse (Deadwood)

  2. Sturgis Brewing (Sturgis)

  3. The Knuckle Saloon (Sturgis)

  4. The Green Bean Coffeehouse (Spearfish)

  5. SteerFish (Spearfish)

  6. Sawyer Brewing Co. (Spearfish)

  7. Dough Trader (Spearfish)

  8. Antuñez (Spearfish)

  9. The Sled Haus (Lead)

  10. Harriet & Oak (Rapid City)

  11. Thai Thai (Rapid City)

  12. Murphy’s Pub (Rapid City)

  13. Tally’s Silver Spoon (Rapid City)

  14. If you’re making the trek to the Southern Hills, Skogen Kitchen is a must visit! (Custer)

7 of My Favorite Coffee Shops
 
  1. Jacob’s Brewhouse (Deadwood)

  2. Lotus Up Espresso & Deli (Lead)

  3. The Green Bean Coffeehouse (Spearfish)

  4. Creekside Bean & Vine (Spearfish)

  5. Sturgis Coffee Co. (Sturgis)

  6. The Hotel Sturgis (Sturgis)

  7. Harriet & Oak (Rapid City)

What to do 

8 Must-Do Adventures
 
  1. Rent bikes to ride the Mickelson Trail

  2. Rent ATVs / side-by-sides and explore hundreds of miles of trails

  3. Rent snowmobiles to explore as well!

  4. Take kayaks over to Jenny Gulch at Pactola Lake

  5. Rent a boat, kayak, jump off the clips, or catch some fish at the marina at Sheridan Lake. (Reach out to Marina At Sheridan Lake for more info!)

  6. Star gazing at the Badlands National Park

  7. Watch the hot air balloons launch from the Stratabowl

  8. Take a hike! Be sure to check out Friendship Tower and Devil's Tower

6 Activities Within a 30-Minute Drive of Deadwood
 
Need some ideas of things to do within 30-minutes of Deadwood? I’ve got you covered.
 
  1. Drive through Spearfish Canyon (fall colors are the best, but really anytime of the year is stunning)

  2. Walk down Main Street in Deadwood, catch a reenactment of the Trial of Jack McCall, grab a whiskey from Saloon #10 (go upstairs to the Deadwood Social Club for some of the best cheesecake you’ll ever have)

  3. Visit the Sanford Lab Visitor Center in Lead to hear about all the physic experiments happening a mile underground in the old Homestake Gold Mine

  4. Hike up to Mt. Roosevelt (or Friendship Tower) to see 360 views of the Black Hills

  5. Rent a bike for the Mickelson Trail

  6. Head up to Terry Peak for a day of skiing / snowboarding or just for a scenic drive

8 Attractions Within a 2-Hour Drive of Deadwood
 
If you have a little more time to explore, check out these attractions all within 2-hours of Deadwood.
 
  1. Mt. Rushmore

  2. Crazy Horse

  3. Devil’s Tower

  4. Custer State Park

  5. Skogen Kitchen (the best meal you’ll have, period)

  6. Badlands National Park

  7. Vineyards in Hill City

  8. Hot Springs (soak at Moccasin Springs)

5 Kid-Friendly Activity Ideas
 
Wondering where to take your kids during your visit? Here a few fun things to do.
 
  1. The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs

  2. Reptile Gardens in Rapid City (hot tip: kids under 4 are free!)

  3. Easy hikes: Mt. Roosevelt / Friendship Tower in Deadwood

  4. Live music in the summer in Deadwood

  5. Splash pad at Manuel Brothers Park in Lead

  6. Sturgis Brewing in Sturgis is such a great place to let kids run around in the back while enjoying some local beer and food

10 Popular Hikes in the Area
 
Where are my fellow hikers? Hit one of these popular trails during your visit.
 
  1. Little Devils Tower & Black Elk Peak

  2. Devils Bathtub Trail

  3. Roughlock Falls & Spearfish Falls Loop, Spearfish Canyon

  4. Crow Peak, Spearfish, Black Hills

  5. Sunday Gulch Trail, Sylvan Lake

  6. Cathedral Spires, Needles Highway

  7. Flume Trail & Spring Creek Loop, Sheridan Lake

  8. Lovers Leap, Custer State Park

  9. Hippie Hole

  10. Mt Coolidge Lookout

Where to shop

The Black Hills has some amazing local shops and boutiques. Be sure to stop by my favorites.
 
  1. Freckled Fox (Spearfish)

  2. Two Broke Girls (Spearfish)

  3. Sturgis Coffee (Sturgis)

  4. Black Hills Rally & Gold (Sturgis)

  5. Aurora Grace (Rapid City)

Where to stay

Lastly, need a place to stay?
 
Our vacation rental, Bent Oak Lodge, is right outside of Deadwood and is the perfect home base for your stay in the Black Hills! Check our availability here!

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