1880 Train (Black Hills Central Railroad)

About

The 1880 Train is a narrated steam excursion run by the Black Hills Central Railroad, the oldest continuously operating standard-gauge tour railroad in the country. It began in 1957, when a steam railroad enthusiast set out to recreate what riding a passenger train in the 1880s felt like, which is where the name comes from. Vintage steam locomotives, some dating to the 1880s, pull open and enclosed passenger cars on a 20-mile round trip between Hill City and Keystone, South Dakota.

The ride runs about an hour each way, with roughly a 15-minute layover at the far depot before the return, so plan on two and a half to three hours for a round trip. Conductors narrate the route as it climbs through pine forest and past old mining sites along the creek. A one-way ticket lets you get off at either end and arrange your own return instead of riding back.

For the 2026 season, which runs from mid-May through December, a round-trip adult ticket costs $43 and a one-way ticket costs $38, with lower fares for children ages 2 to 12 and free admission for infants. An 11:30 a.m. departure from Hill City can include lunch for an added cost. Departure times vary by month, so check the schedule before you plan your day.

Hill City sits about 27 miles southwest of Rapid City. Its small downtown, an easy walk from the depot, has galleries, shops, and restaurants, and the South Dakota State Railroad Museum sits right next to the Hill City depot. Keystone, at the other end of the line, is about 3 miles from Mount Rushmore National Memorial, so many riders combine the train with a stop at the monument the same day.

There are no restrooms or food service on the train, so use the depot restrooms before you board. Snacks and sandwiches are sold at both depots and at the High-Liner Eatery next to the Hill City depot, and food bought on the property is welcome on board. Hill City also has two free Level 2 electric vehicle chargers.

Accessibility

The 1880 Train is wheelchair accessible, with reserved seating and boarding assistance, though only two wheelchairs can be accommodated per departure and a reservation is required.

Both depots have accessible parking. Hill City offers free on-site parking with marked accessible spaces. Keystone has limited three-hour on-street parking near the depot with accessible spaces close by, plus paid all-day lots a short walk away.

Boarding differs by depot. At Keystone, the platform is level with the train cars, so wheelchair users can board without a lift. At Hill City, boarding normally means climbing four steps into the Bluebird car, but the Bluebird car has a vertical lift for anyone who needs it. Rows 1 and 2 of the Bluebird car are reserved for wheelchair users and their families, first come, first served, so reserve ahead to secure a spot.

Restrooms are ADA-compliant at both depots; there are none on board the train itself. Only ADA-defined service animals are allowed. The company's stated policy is that emotional support, comfort, and therapy animals do not qualify and are not permitted.

If you need boarding help or travel with a mobility device larger than a standard wheelchair, call the reservation line at (605) 574-2222 before booking, or add a note to your online reservation. Staff can also advise on which side of the car, A/B or C/D, to reserve if more than one wheelchair user is traveling together. The ride includes a steam whistle and visible engine smoke, worth knowing if you or a companion is sensitive to loud sound or smoke.

Checked by Accessible America, August 2026. Report a change

More accessible places in South Dakota

• Jewel Cave National Monument (Custer)
• Minuteman Missile National Historic Site (Philip)
• Akta Lakota Museum & Cultural Center (Chamberlain)
• Crazy Horse Memorial (Crazy Horse)
• South Dakota Art Museum (Brookings)
• Wind Cave National Park (Hot Springs)

Photo credits

• A steam locomotive pulls red passenger cars through Black Hills grassland and pine forest.: Drew Jacksich from San Jose, California Republic, CC BY 2.0 (source)
• A vintage rail car waits at the depot platform beneath a wheelchair boarding sign.: Eric Friedebach, CC BY 3.0 (source)
• A red passenger coach named Battle Creek sits at the platform with forested cliffs behind it.: Didier Duforest, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
• Entrance sign reading 1880 Train, Black Hills Central Railroad, at the Hill City Depot.: Runner1928, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
• Black Hills Central Railroad depot in Hill City with a paved parking area out front.: Runner1928, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
• 1880 Train steam locomotive pulling open-air passenger cars through the Black Hills.: David Wipf, CC BY 2.0 (source)