1880 train

Hi, Visiting Mt Rushmore area in Sept. Just wondering if this 1880 train that runs in a circle between Hill City and Keystone allows you to get off and shop, etc, then get on and finish the trip. Or do you just stay on the train once you%26#39;re on. Sounds wonderful. Also, where%26#39;s the best place to stay, Custer, Keystone, or Hill City? Thanks

1880 train

The train runs from Hill City to Keystone and back to Hill City on the same track. Here is the schedule: http://www.1880train.com/train-schedule.html

If you search through the forums you can read what people think of Hill City vs. Keystone vs. Custer. I prefer Hill City.

1880 train

Hi,

Hav just returned from a visit to Hill City. We went on the 1880 train and spent two to three hours in Keystone. I had to phone to arrange this as booking via the internet seemed to only allow a round trip. We left Hill City on the 10/1030 train and returned on the 230 from Keystone. Keystone is very touristy but fun. The historic district is interesting. Personally I%26#39;m glad we made our base in Hill City.

Have a good trip.

You can get off and shop and take a later train back. We went from Keystone to Hill City. We took a mid morning train and arrived in Hill City just in time for lunch at the wonderful Alpine Inn. We had lunch and then spent a couple of hours roaming the shops and visiting Everything Prehistoric, a small dinosaur museum/shop. It was a nice day.

I personally liked staying in Keystone. It is touristy, but we found it very centrally located..within a couple of miles of Mt Rushmore, and honestly, we didn%26#39;t spend enough time there to mind the extreme amount of souvenir shops downtown. Hill City would be my 2nd choice, followed by Custer.

Enjoy your trip.

We visited the Black Hills area in June of 2008. One of our favorite things was the 1880%26#39;s train. The ride between Hill City and Keystone was absolutely beautiful! And the train itself is so charming. The ride is round trip with one hour travel time each way and an hour in between. We stayed at the Palmer Gulch Lodge and KOA in Hill City which was wonderful! Keystone is also a very quaint little town that looks like it was pulled from the pages of an old western town. There is so much to do in the area. Just make sure you make reservations for the train, when we were there people were being turned away because they were booked up. Have a great time!