1880 Train (Black Hills Central Railroad)
Formerly Black Hills Central Railroad
Narrated steam train ride between Hill City and Keystone in the Black Hills, on the original line built to serve the area's mines and mills; runs mid-May to December.
Ways to visit
Steam train ride, Hill City to Keystone (regular season) Seasonal
Only the Holiday Express is on sale now; the regular rides run mid-May to December and the exact dates are not stated.
- What you see
- Exhibits1880train.com, 2026-11-06
- How
- Timed ticket · about 2.5 hours1880train.com, 2026-11-06
- When
- Daily departures from Hill City and Keystone from mid-May through December; departure times are chosen when you buy. The round trip takes about 2.5 hours (one hour each way with a 15-minute layover). Peak season is Memorial Day to Labor Day.Season: (Departs daily from mid-May through December; exact opening and closing dates are not stated. Currently booking only the Holiday Express through January 2.)1880train.com, 2026-11-06 · 1880train.com, 2026-11-06
- Booking
- Not stated · online or by phone or on siteTickets can be bought online in advance or at either depot on the day; seating is assigned and advance booking is recommended. Tickets must be picked up 30 minutes before departure.Book ↗1880train.com, 2026-11-06
- Cost
- PaidRound trip, adult: $43 · Round trip, child (2-12): $23 · One way, adult: $38 · One way, child (2-12): $21Infants 23 months and under on a lap are free. A boxed-lunch option (adult $60, child $40) is sold for the 11:30 a.m. Hill City departure only. No refunds unless the train does not run.1880train.com, 2026-11-06
- Requirements
- None stated.
Holiday Express (one-hour round trip to the North Pole) Seasonal
- What you see
- Exhibits1880train.com, 2026-11-06
- How
- Timed ticket · about 60 minutes1880train.com, 2026-11-06
- When
- Select dates November 25 to January 2, with departures at 11:00 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. on most dates (fewer on some). The one-hour round trip leaves from Hill City; see the schedule page for each date.Season: 2026-11-25 to 2027-01-02 (Select dates from November 25 to January 2; the schedule page lists each date.)1880train.com, 2026-11-06
- Booking
- Not stated · onlineThe schedule page says it is booking only the Holiday Train through January 2; seating is assigned.Book ↗1880train.com, 2026-11-06
- Cost
- Not stated on the official pageThe schedule page lists no Holiday Express price. A First Class upgrade is offered at all departures.1880train.com, 2026-11-06
- Requirements
- None stated.
About
The 1880 Train runs a 20-mile round trip between Hill City and Keystone on the route laid in the late 1880s to serve mines and mills, with steam locomotives on summer departures. Narration covers the mines, camps and towns along the line, and children can meet the crew while the engine takes on water. The regular schedule runs from mid-May to December; for now only the Holiday Express is on sale. Wheelchair seating needs a reservation.
Run by: Black Hills Central Railroad.
Getting there
Hill City, SD
Trains leave from depots in Hill City and Keystone. The pin is the Hill City end of the line and is only approximate: check the depot map on the official site.
The pin marks the meeting point (43.93220, -103.57300). Show on our map · Google Maps · Apple Maps
Reservations: 605-574-2222
Last checked 2026-11-06. Sources are listed below.
Sources
- 1880train.com/plan-your-visit · official page · read 2026-11-06For: name; phone and email; Steam train ride, Hill City to Keystone (regular season): open or closed; Steam train ride, Hill City to Keystone (regular season): kind of visit; Steam train ride, Hill City to Keystone (regular season): days and hours
- wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityData/Q4920… · Wikidata · read 2026-11-06For: location
- 1880train.com/plan-your-visit/frequently-as… · official page · read 2026-11-06For: who runs it; Steam train ride, Hill City to Keystone (regular season): what you see; Steam train ride, Hill City to Keystone (regular season): days and hours; Steam train ride, Hill City to Keystone (regular season): booking; Steam train ride, Hill City to Keystone (regular season): requirements
- 1880train.com/schedule-tickets · official page · read 2026-11-06For: Steam train ride, Hill City to Keystone (regular season): cost; Holiday Express (one-hour round trip to the North Pole): open or closed; Holiday Express (one-hour round trip to the North Pole): what you see; Holiday Express (one-hour round trip to the North Pole): kind of visit; Holiday Express (one-hour round trip to the North Pole): days and hours; Holiday Express (one-hour round trip to the North Pole): booking; Holiday Express (one-hour round trip to the North Pole): cost; Holiday Express (one-hour round trip to the North Pole): requirements
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