Plan Your Visit

Our depots are centrally located in both communities, where you will find a broad variety of shops, small museums, family tourism attractions, and restaurants just a few blocks from the depots. Peak tourism season is Memorial Day to Labor Day, so we recommend looking up store hours and availability if you are visiting in the spring or fall shoulder seasons.

Choosing an immediate return train will not offer enough time to explore the town, but you can delay your return by choosing a later return train. Trains complete the round-trip in roughly 2-1/2 hours, with multiple options throughout the day to extend your layover. Keystone offers original mining and early settler history with lots of family-oriented tourism attractions all within a half-mile walk of our depot. Hill City has more year-round shops and restaurants, as well as museums and local art galleries also within a half-mile walk. The South Dakota State Railroad Museum is located right next to the Hill City Depot and is a featured partner of the 1880 Train. Both towns are very close to Mount Rushmore so you can easily drive to the National Monument in less than 20 minutes from either depot.

• Amenities

  Restrooms: Restrooms are located at both depots, but not on board the train. Hill City Restrooms are located in the brick building next to the Hill City Depot. Keystone Restrooms are located inside the Keystone Depot. Public restrooms are also located right across the street at the information center. Restrooms are ADA accessible.

  Shopping: Hill City & Keystone both offer a depot gift shop. Similar items are offered at both depots. View maps of the Hill City Depot and Keystone Depot.

  Picnic Area: The Hill City Depot features a guest picnic area between the Depot and the SD State Railroad Museum. All food purchased on the property is welcome onboard the train.

  Kids Play Area: The Hill City Depot offers an area where kids can “let off some steam!”

  High-Liner Patio: The High-Liner has a covered patio with seating for approximately 50 people located trackside in Hill City. Stop by for full meals or just an ice cream cone and watch the trains pull in and out of the station.

  Photo Opportunities: Photo ops with Chug are available at both the Hill City & Keystone Depots.

  ATM: An ATM is located inside the Hill City Depot, and in the Turtle Town store near the Keystone Depot.

  Drinking Fountains: Hill City Depot - A drinking fountain is located outside of the restroom building.

• Accessibility

  

  The 1880 Train is accessible to wheelchair riders or those who need additional assistance boarding in our BLUEBIRD passenger car. A lift is utilized to board at Hill City and a high-level platform with ramp is used at Keystone. We are limited to two wheelchairs per departure on a first-come, first-serve basis, so advance reservation of wheelchair seating is strongly recommended.

  Wheelchair designated seats are 1A and 1D in the BLUEBIRD and feature open floor space with an additional window. Companions can sit adjacent to the wheelchair in seats 1B and 1C. Additional members of the party should select seats in rows 2 and higher adjacent to their wheelchair rider. Please leave the other Row 1 wheelchair seat across the aisle available for a second wheelchair party.

  Guests who require the lift to board, but are able to transfer to a regular seat should choose seats in Row 3 and higher in BLUEBIRD to leave Rows 1 and 2 for parties with wheelchairs. Our on-train conductor and brakeman, designated by black uniforms and hats, will help be happy to stow walkers, canes, or wheelchairs used to board.

• Depot Maps & Parking

  Holiday Express Map
  Hill City Depot Map
  Keystone Depot Map
  Town of Keystone Map

  Hill City Depot Parking: Free parking (including RV) is available at the Hill City Depot. Please refer to the Hill City Depot map for parking location information.

  Keystone Depot Parking: City parking near the Keystone Depot is all 3 hour public parking. We suggest parking in one of two paid lots in Keystone. The first is located north, across the street from the train station. The second is located in front of the Borglum Story Museum, 1 block south of the Keystone Depot. The cost is $5 for all day, payable at a self-serve station in either of the parking lots. Please refer to the Keystone Depot map for parking location information.

• South Dakota State Railroad Museum

  
  
  

  Talk about the best and most convenient location for a railroad history and interactive experience in South Dakota - right next to the Black Hills Central Railroad's depot in Hill City! The museum focuses on educating the public on the railroad companies that have served South Dakota from 1872 to the present time through educational experiences, memorabilia and collections.

  Receive $2 off museum admission with an 1880 Train ticket!

  Questions regarding the Museum can be directed to sdsrrm@gmail.com or by calling 605-574-9000.

• Itineraries

  There are many things to see and do in the area! Check out these sample itineraries to help you plan your visit.

  View Itineraries