25 Secluded Lakeside Towns in Eastern South Dakota

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By Wtshymanski (talk) – Own work, CC BY 3.0

Eastern South Dakota hides a string of lake towns where prairie grasses meet mirrored water and life moves at a slower tempo. Each community on this list keeps its headcount low, its horizons wide, and its streetlights few, giving travelers room to breathe and residents space to rest.

From pine-rimmed coves to glacial bluffs, these places prove that isolation can feel inviting when it comes with a good fishing dock or a porch facing endless sunset. We walk through 25 such towns, counting down to the quietest of them all. Pack a thermos and a camera; the road in is half the reward.

25. Henry – A Quiet Haven Near Lake Kampeska

Google Street View

Henry, with barely 250 residents, sits quietly along the Big Sioux River just west of Watertown, buffered by wetlands and the quiet bends of Lake Kampeska nearby. The town feels hushed, its streets lined with cottonwoods and only a scattering of small shops.

Locals fish the lake for walleye, paddle calm backwaters, and picnic at quiet spots that tourists rarely discover. Farming and small trades sustain the economy, while the river and lake form a natural boundary against outside noise.

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The vibe here is simple, almost timeless, with tractors humming louder than any passing car. At night, the air fills with frogsong and the faint splash of fish breaking water. Henry feels like a soft pause between water and prairie.

Where is Henry?

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Henry rests in Codington County, about 12 miles southwest of Watertown. It lies a few miles north of U.S. Highway 212, tucked far enough away to avoid through-traffic.

Access comes by a short drive across farmland and tree lines that hide the town until the last turn. Once you arrive, the river and lake create a hushed border that feels far from the bustle.

24. Bradley – Stillness Beside Dry Lake

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Bradley, a settlement of fewer than 100 people, rests quietly on the southern edge of Dry Lake, where prairie grass rolls right into cattail marshes. Its seclusion stems from its size and the fact that only gravel backroads connect it to larger routes.

Visitors walk sandy shorelines, watch pelicans drift overhead, or drop a line in the shallows for perch. Farming remains the mainstay, with scattered barns dotting the horizon and fields stretching wide.

Bradley has no rush-hour, no neon, only the rhythm of wind and water. On cool evenings, the horizon glows pink, and silence deepens in the hollows of the cattails. Bradley is less a town and more a lakeside whisper.

Where is Bradley?

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Bradley is in Clark County, about 30 miles northwest of Watertown. It sits just off U.S. Highway 212, reached by two-lane blacktop that dwindles to gravel near town. The road passes through cornfields and quiet wetlands that shield it from view.

By the time you reach the shoreline, it feels like you’ve arrived at a place tucked into its own time.

23. Hazel – A Prairie Hamlet Near Lake Pelican

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Hazel, population under 100, lives in the long shadow of Lake Pelican, where migratory birds outnumber locals in spring. It is secluded by distance—far from interstate noise, with only narrow section roads leading to its heart.

The town vibe is neighborly and hushed, centered on a café, a post office, and the quiet hum of farm machinery. Visitors take gravel drives to Lake Pelican’s public access, watch sunsets flare across the water, or explore backroads where deer dart from tree lines.

Farming is the only true industry, and it keeps the pace as steady as the seasons. At dusk, owls call from windbreaks and headlights are rare. Hazel feels like prairie life distilled to its simplest form.

Where is Hazel?

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Hazel sits in Hamlin County, 20 miles southeast of Watertown. It lies just east of U.S. Highway 81, though you’d never know it by the silence that fills the streets.

The trip requires branching off onto county roads lined with farmland and groves of trees. When you arrive, the presence of the nearby lake makes it feel like a hidden retreat.

22. Florence – A Village by Willow Lake

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Florence, with just over 350 residents, perches quietly near the northern shore of Willow Lake. Its seclusion is anchored by geography—lakes and wetlands block growth, and the absence of industry leaves the town unhurried.

Visitors stop at a single café, fish for bluegill in Willow Lake, or explore winding gravel trails that vanish into cattails. Farming and seasonal guiding sustain the small economy.

The mood here is calm and practical, softened by the sight of barns leaning against the horizon. At night, the lake surface mirrors the stars so completely that it feels like two skies stacked together. Florence offers that rare sense of stillness only found where water and prairie meet.

Where is Florence?

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Florence is in Codington County, about 18 miles northwest of Watertown. It sits just off U.S. Highway 20, though the lake and wetlands isolate it from the highway’s rhythm.

Access comes by a short, curving road that dips into a tree-lined hollow. Reaching town feels like stepping off the map into a pocket of water and quiet.

21. Wallace – Shelterbelts and Lake Poinsett’s North Edge

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Wallace, with fewer than 100 residents, sits just north of Lake Poinsett, shielded by thick shelterbelts of spruce and cottonwood. Its seclusion comes from being bypassed by highways and hidden behind the dense tree lines that line county roads.

The town’s modest rhythm is marked by church gatherings, fishing trips, and fields of sunflowers that brighten every August. Visitors fish the lake, take quiet walks under tall trees, or stop at the old town hall, which still hosts potlucks.

Farming and seasonal lake rentals providea modest income. Evenings hush to crickets and loons calling from distant coves. Wallace feels less like a stopover and more like a place meant for staying still.

Where is Wallace?

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Wallace is in Codington County, 30 miles south of Watertown. It’s reached by county blacktop that narrows between tree rows before opening onto farmland and water.

State Highway 28 runs several miles away, keeping through-traffic distant. By the time you find Wallace, it feels hidden on purpose.

20. Naples – A Prairie Hamlet Near Clear Lake

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Naples, population under 30, is a speck on the prairie where a handful of homes cluster beside wheat fields. Its seclusion lies in its smallness and in the way only gravel roads connect it to neighboring towns.

Visitors use it as a quiet gateway to Clear Lake or pause to photograph its old grain elevator against an endless sky. There are no shops, just farmsteads and silence that stretches for miles.

Life is rooted entirely in agriculture, with fields and cattle forming the only true economy. Even the wind seems to slow here, brushing softly through tall grasses. Naples reminds you that towns can be as fleeting as the prairie clouds.

Where is Naples?

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Naples is in Deuel County, 14 miles southwest of Clear Lake. The nearest highway is U.S. 212, about seven miles to the north.

Reaching town means following gravel that winds past barns and sloughs. Arriving, you’ll find more sky than structures, the true hallmark of its seclusion.

19. Revillo – A Border Village Surrounded by Lakes and Fields

Wikipedia: By Ammodramus – Own work, CC0

Revillo, home to about 100 people, lies close to the Minnesota line in a patchwork of farmland and prairie lakes. Its remoteness is amplified by distance from any major city and its location on county roads that see more tractors than cars.

The town has a scattering of churches, a café, and ball fields that buzz only on summer weekends. Visitors can fish nearby Hendricks Lake, wander prairie backroads, or watch geese wheel over corn stubble.

Farming is the anchor, tying families to the soil for generations. At night, porch lights glow faintly against horizons that stretch unbroken. Revillo feels like a town the world forgot, and that is its gift.

Where is Revillo?

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Revillo sits in Grant County, six miles from the Minnesota border. It’s about 25 miles south of Big Stone City, reached by county roads that weave through farmland and low wetlands.

The closest major route is U.S. 212, about 12 miles north. By the time you arrive, the absence of noise and light makes its quiet absolute.

18. Stockholm – Glacial Bluffs Above Lake Marsh

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Stockholm, with a population under 100, perches on glacial bluffs where prairie drops sharply toward Lake Marsh. Its seclusion comes from the hills and lakes that surround it, making through-traffic impossible.

The vibe is timeless, with old churches, century-old homes, and gravel lanes that end abruptly at lake overlooks. Visitors hike trails along the bluffs, picnic beside quiet waters, or admire wildflowers carpeting the ridges in spring.

Farming and small-scale tourism shape life here. Sunsets from the bluff seem to stretch on forever, painting both sky and water. Stockholm is the kind of place where even silence has depth.

Where is Stockholm?

Bing Maps

Stockholm lies in Grant County, 15 miles west of Big Stone Lake. It is reached by county roads that twist through glacial moraines before cresting the bluff.

The nearest highway is U.S. 212, still miles away, keeping it off casual travel routes. Once you reach the top, the views themselves are the only signposts you need.

17. Strandburg – Prairie Heights with Lake Views

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Strandburg, population about 70, stands on a high ridge where windbreaks of pine shelter a handful of houses. Its seclusion comes from its perch above farmland and its absence from any highway corridor.

The town is calm and rural, with a church, a post office, and children playing on wide, empty lawns. Visitors stop to admire distant glimpses of lakes tucked into the prairie, wander county roads, or simply take in the views.

Farming defines its rhythm, with combines moving slowly through the fields each fall. Evenings hush until only the wind moving across high ground remains. Strandburg feels like the quiet roof of the prairie.

Where is Strandburg?

Bing Maps

Strandburg is in Grant County, 10 miles north of Revillo. It is reached only by gravel, winding up a ridge that leaves the lowlands far behind.

The nearest significant road is U.S. 212, nearly 20 miles away. Once on the ridge, it feels like a hidden village in the clouds of prairie.

16. Ortley – Hamlet Among Wetlands and Lakes

Google Street View

Ortley, with fewer than 70 residents, lies surrounded by pothole lakes and cattail wetlands that break up the road grid. Its seclusion is natural—water and marsh cut it off from expansion and keep roads meandering.

The town vibe is simple and rustic, with a grain elevator, a café, and quiet porches that look out over water. Visitors fish in nearby Drywood Lake, watch migrating ducks, or explore trails in the surrounding marshland.

Farming is the steady anchor, though waterfowl guiding brings seasonal visitors. Night skies are broad and clean, broken only by the silhouettes of geese flying low. Ortley feels like a town that floats between land and water.

Where is Ortley?

Bing Maps

Ortley is in Roberts County, seven miles west of Sisseton. The town sits just south of U.S. Highway 12, though wetlands muffle all sound and sight of traffic.

It is reached by a short spur that dead-ends into farmland and marsh. Arriving, the stillness of the lakes seems to swallow the world whole.

15. Twin Brooks – Quiet Village Beside Lake Alice

Google Street View

Twin Brooks, population under 70, hides near Lake Alice, where prairie meets mirrored water. Its seclusion comes from being tucked into farmland, bypassed by highways, and buffered by tree groves.

The town vibe is peaceful and family-centered, with a church, a few homes, and fields that roll right to the lake’s edge. Visitors enjoy kayaking, fishing, or watching sunsets blaze across water and sky.

Farming is the only economy, and it sustains life here with quiet steadiness. Nights are so silent that even the call of a single frog carries far. Twin Brooks is the sort of place where time stretches with the daylight.

Where is Twin Brooks?

Bing Maps

Twin Brooks is in Grant County, about 10 miles southeast of Milbank. It is accessed by county gravel roads that cut through farmland and end at the lake’s edge.

The nearest highway is U.S. 12, nearly six miles away. By the time you roll in, you feel wrapped in farmland and water in equal measure.

14. Kranzburg – Small-Town Life Near Lake Kampeska

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Kranzburg, home to fewer than 200 people, is hidden amid cornfields just east of Lake Kampeska. Though close to Watertown, its backroad location shields it from traffic and urban noise.

The vibe is quaint and grounded, with a Catholic church, a co-op, and a post office that doubles as a gathering place. Visitors stroll quiet lanes, photograph historic barns, or drive a short distance to fish at Kampeska’s public docks.

Farming is the anchor, though many also commute to nearby towns for work. At night, stars stretch bright and unbroken, as if the city lights never existed. Kranzburg feels like a secret tucked just out of sight.

Where is Kranzburg?

Bing Maps

Kranzburg sits in Codington County, eight miles southeast of Watertown. It lies just south of U.S. Highway 212 but is hidden by rows of corn and trees.

Access comes via county blacktops that dip into lowland fields before climbing into town. Reaching it feels like stumbling upon a forgotten prairie village.

13. South Shore – Ridge Town Above Lake Kampeska’s Sister

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South Shore, with about 230 residents, overlooks the smaller prairie lake that gave it its name. Its seclusion comes from its perch on a ridge and its distance from through-traffic, with only one road leading down to the lake.

The vibe is simple and friendly, with tidy streets, a town hall, and views of the lake from many backyards. Visitors fish or paddle at public access sites, wander gravel trails through fields, or photograph the sunsets from the ridge.

Farming is central, with corn and soybeans dominant, but the lake adds a seasonal flavor of recreation. Nights here are velvet dark, with the water below reflecting every star. South Shore feels like a town that breathes with the lake.

Where is South Shore?

Bing Maps

South Shore is in Codington County, 16 miles northeast of Watertown. It sits just north of U.S. Highway 20, perched above a lake hollowed into glacial ground.

The road climbs into town, curving sharply and leaving the highway behind. At the top, the horizon feels wider, the lake a secret jewel below.

12. Lake Preston – Prairie Shores at Twin Lakes

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Lake Preston, with about 500 residents, hugs the eastern edge of Twin Lakes in Kingsbury County. Its seclusion stems from its location far from interstates and the wide wetlands that surround the town like a moat.

The vibe is rooted and practical, with a small school, a main street café, and fishing boats parked in driveways year-round. Visitors fish for perch on Twin Lakes, explore Laura Ingalls Wilder heritage sites nearby, or birdwatch in the marshes.

Farming and lake tourism together sustain the town. On quiet nights, loons and frogs echo together across the water. Lake Preston is the sort of place where prairie history and water still shape daily life.

Where is Lake Preston?

Bing Maps

Lake Preston lies in Kingsbury County, 25 miles northwest of Brookings. It sits along U.S. Highway 14, though wetlands slow travel and isolate the community.

The town is reached by long, flat stretches of prairie road broken by sudden glacial lakes. Arrival feels like finding a shore where time itself pauses.

11. De Smet – Historic Prairie Town Beside Silver Lake

Wikipedia: By Winkelvi – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

De Smet, home to about 1,100 residents, is best known for its ties to Laura Ingalls Wilder, yet it remains secluded in the wide sweep of Kingsbury County. Its seclusion is more atmospheric than geographic—though reachable by U.S. 14, it feels surrounded by open land and small lakes that mute the outside world.

The vibe is historic and story-filled, with preserved Ingalls family homes, a prairie museum, and quiet streets where horse-drawn wagons still roll each summer. Visitors walk trails around Silver Lake, tour the historic houses, or attend summer pageants on the open prairie.

Farming and heritage tourism sustain life here, tying the past to the present. Evenings settle with the hush of crickets and the soft ripple of lake water. De Smet feels like stepping into a living prairie storybook.

Where is De Smet?

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De Smet sits in Kingsbury County, 35 miles west of Brookings. It lies just off U.S. Highway 14, surrounded by lakes and open prairie that stretch in every direction.

Approaching town, the landscape opens wide and flat, with church steeples rising as the only landmarks. Arriving feels like crossing both time and land into a place preserved in prairie quiet.

10. Lake City – A 49-Resident Hamlet Between Roy and Enemy Swim Lakes

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Lake City holds roughly 49 permanent residents and rests between the spring-fed waters of Roy Lake and Enemy Swim Lake. Days fill with paddle boarding in Roy Lake State Park, walleye fishing from weathered docks, and short drives to Sica Hollow for berry picking among quartzite outcrops.

The local economy leans on two cabin resorts, small cattle operations, and a single bait shop that also sells homemade pasties every Friday. Town streets have no traffic lights and only one café, so conversation replaces commotion when evening settles in.

Towering red pines hush outside noise and leave space for loons to call across the coves. Night skies stay so dark that residents still follow shore paths by the glow of the Milky Way.

Where is Lake City?

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The hamlet sits in northern Marshall County, roughly 15 miles south of the North Dakota line. Glacial hills and dense pine groves block highway corridors, which keeps through-traffic almost nonexistent.

U.S. Highway 10 passes eight miles away; visitors branch north onto County Road 5 that winds past cattle pastures and birch stands before dipping toward the lakes. The nearest gas pump is in Waubay, so every arrival feels like crossing a quiet threshold into deep lake country.

9. Eden – Pickerel Lake’s Hilltop Sanctuary

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Eden counts about 89 residents who wake each morning to Pickerel Lake shimmering below their ridgeline homes. Photographers head to the town’s oak-lined overlooks at dawn for misty panoramas, while hikers take the nearby South Lodge Trail for wildflower scouting.

Farming and seasonal cabin rentals keep the modest economy moving, along with a co-op that still processes grain in a clapboard elevator built in 1924. Noise rarely reaches the village because rolling oak groves act as a natural sound wall.

Even during midsummer, tractors are louder than traffic and church bells mark the passing hours. From many porches, the only night lights come from fishing boats drifting far below.

Where is Eden?

Bing Maps

Eden rests on a prairie rise five miles west of Pickerel Lake in central Marshall County. State Highway 25 skirts the lake shore but bypasses the village, leaving only county gravel to reach town.

The elevation blocks cell signals in some hollows, adding another layer of quiet. Visitors usually turn east from Roslyn, climb a gradual hillside, and discover Eden just as the trees part to reveal sweeping water views.

8. Corona – Quiet Bluffs Above Lake Traverse

Google Street View

Corona’s population hovers near 100, and most homes sit a stone’s throw from 1,000-foot bluffs that drop to Lake Traverse. Anglers use hidden switchback trails to launch kayaks, while birders scan for pelicans riding thermals above the water.

Grain storage and small-plot soybeans support the few businesses, along with a century-old elevator that still loads rail cars weekly. The nearest four-lane road lies over 20 miles away, keeping the shoreline undisturbed and traffic scant.

A handful of streets end abruptly at prairie grass, making the town feel more like a lookout post than a settlement. Even on holiday weekends, the bluff-top picnic tables are rarely full.

Where is Corona?

Bing Maps

The village rests in Roberts County, three miles east of the Minnesota border and six miles south of the North Dakota line. State Highway 15 bypasses Corona by two miles, forcing drivers to detour onto a spur that dead-ends at the bluffs.

That short spur and the surrounding reservation land limit future development, preserving the quiet. Amtrak’s Empire Builder rumbles past once daily, but the nearest boarding stop is 45 minutes away in Fargo.

7. Big Stone City – Granite Shores and Endless Horizons

By Jon Roanhaus – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

About 450 people call Big Stone City home, sharing Main Street with storefronts trimmed in late-Victorian brick. Sunrise reflections on Big Stone Lake turn the water pink and gold, attracting painters who set up easels beside glacial granite boulders.

The town’s modest industries include a seed mill, a limestone quarry across the border, and seasonal cottage rentals that echo with migrating snow geese each spring. Despite its name, the “city” has only three intersecting streets and a riverside park that rarely fills beyond a few picnic blankets.

Wide water views replace skyline, and applause at high-school basketball games can be heard drifting out over the lake. Distance from metropolitan centers keeps nightlife minimal and stars bright.

Where is Big Stone City?

Bing Maps

This Grant County town hugs the Minnesota line at the southern tip of Big Stone Lake. U.S. Highway 12 touches the northern edge but bends away toward Ortonville, sparing downtown from heavy traffic.

Rolling moraines funnel most travel along lake contours, adding extra miles and deterring casual passersby. The nearest interstate on-ramp sits an hour south in Brookings, so visitors intentionally choose the slow route to reach these granite shores.

6. Astoria – Prairie Village Overlooking Lake Cochrane

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Astoria’s 132 residents live among weathered red barns, windbreaks of spruce, and wheat fields that roll toward Lake Cochrane. Summer afternoons bring canoeists to the clear water, while autumn weekends see locals hosting backyard pheasant feasts.

Small-scale grain farming and a pair of vintage seed cleaners form the economic backbone, with lakeside cabin rentals adding a seasonal boost. Gravel lanes connect acre-lot homesteads, and mail still arrives at the single counter in the co-op grocery.

The town sits well off paved roads, insulating it from traffic noise prevalent elsewhere on the prairie. Migratory waterfowl crowd the sky each spring, filling the air with sound in a landscape otherwise hushed.

Where is Astoria?

Bing Maps

Astoria stands on a low rise in Deuel County, five miles north of Lake Cochrane and eight miles west of the Minnesota border. No state highway crosses town; visitors exit Interstate 29 at Toronto, then follow gravel for 12 uninterrupted miles.

Surrounding cornfields create a sightline barrier, so rooftops only appear at the final bend. Lack of direct signage keeps the lake overlook a surprise even for lifelong South Dakotans.

5. Waubay – Wetland Labyrinth Between Waubay and Bitter Lakes

Google Street View

With 522 residents, Waubay feels larger than it looks thanks to two grocery stores and a beloved bait shop that doubles as a coffee counter. Wooden docks and boardwalks snake through cattails toward both Waubay and Bitter Lakes, giving anglers quick access to perch hotspots.

The town’s main incomes are wildlife-tourism guides, a small ethanol plant on the outskirts, and seasonal waterfowl hunting. Streets stay calm because two federal wildlife refuges sandwich the community, blocking expansion and muffling road noise.

Autumn sunsets paint the cattails gold, turning every evening commute into a scenic drive. An informal bird count held each May often logs more species than residents.

Where is Waubay?

Bing Maps

Waubay lies on U.S. Highway 12 in Day County, 35 miles west of the Minnesota border. Despite the highway, reeds and lakes force the road to slow into gentle curves, discouraging rushing traffic.

Additional wetlands north and south restrict alternate routes, adding to the tucked-away feel. Ample parking by the refuge visitor center makes it easy to turn off the pavement and roam quiet boardwalks within minutes of arriving.

4. Lake Norden – Dairy Hamlet on Lake Poinsett’s Quiet North Shore

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Lake Norden hosts around 467 people and greets visitors with pastel silos and a century-old creamery that still ships cheese statewide. Early risers canoe reed-lined coves where loons send echoes across morning mist, while cyclists trace gravel loops through sunflower fields.

Dairy processing and lakefront cabin management supply most paychecks, augmented by summer ice-cream sales at the co-op window. Streets dead-end at water in three directions, replacing commuter traffic with waves lapping against boat lifts.

Because larger Lake Poinsett resorts crowd the south shore, the north remains slow and lightly developed. Locals joke that the loudest noise after dusk is the creamery whistle at 6 p.m.

Where is Lake Norden?

Bing Maps

This hamlet sits in Hamlin County, 10 miles northeast of U.S. Highway 81 and 25 miles northwest of Interstate 29. County blacktop narrows to one lane as it nears the lake, forcing drivers to slow.

Rolling cattail marshes hide the town from view until the final curve, adding an element of discovery. The nearest commercial airport stands 55 miles away in Watertown, keeping skies clear and evenings silent.

3. Wentworth – Tree-Fringed Hideaway on Lake Madison

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Wentworth shelters 171 residents beneath cottonwoods that line roomy lake lots. Vintage boathouses and gravel beaches invite lazy afternoons of swimming or casting for smallmouth bass. A modest grain elevator, a pair of landscaping firms, and seasonal cabin rentals shape the local economy.

Despite being only 30 miles from Sioux Falls, a web of gravel backroads and thick shelterbelts buffer sound and light. Even weekend visitors notice frogs louder than cars once dusk settles. Fall colors explode in the tree canopy, turning shoreline drives into quiet kaleidoscopes.

Where is Wentworth?

Bing Maps

The village lies in Lake County, five miles north of State Highway 34 and 12 miles east of Madison. Thick tree lines and winding section roads make direct approaches tricky, preserving the secluded mood.

Drivers usually reach town by following County Road 58, which skirts wheat fields before dropping into a wooded hollow. Limited signage along the highway keeps lake traffic delightfully light.

2. Vienna – Sleepy Crossroads Near Sprawling Lake Thompson

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Vienna counts just 45 residents and features a single-block downtown framed by sunflower fields that ripple toward Lake Thompson. Gravel roads lead to hidden boat launches where anglers chase jumbo perch without competition.

Local jobs revolve around row-crop agriculture and a small machine shop that services neighboring farms. Absence of retail chains, streetlights, and cellular towers combine to make nighttime so quiet that crickets seem amplified.

Visitors often find that the post office closes early because the clerk leaves to fish at dusk. A community fish fry on the fourth Saturday in August draws more bass than cars.

Where is Vienna?

Bing Maps

Vienna rests in Clark County, 10 miles east of Lake Thompson and eight miles south of U.S. Highway 212. Surrounding pothole lakes break up road grids, funneling traffic elsewhere and keeping the crossroads calm.

Reaching town usually involves a patchwork of gravel that deters casual detours. The closest gas station sits 12 miles away in Willow Lake, reinforcing the sense of being off the map.

1. Roslyn – Hilltop Town Overlooking Dry Wood Lake

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Roslyn’s 181 residents watch prairie skies from a hilltop that grants panoramic views of Dry Wood Lake and the rolling Coteau des Prairies. The town’s quirky highlight is the International Vinegar Museum housed in a straw-bale building, drawing culinary tourists each June for a tasting festival.

Farming, small-batch honey production, and museum ticket sales form the economic trio that keeps Main Street alive. Glacial hills surround the town, absorbing highway noise and breaking up cell coverage to create rare digital silence.

Backroads twist into gullies carpeted with wildflowers where meadowlarks provide the only soundtrack. Sunsets stretch unhindered, painting the town water tower in hues travelers seldom catch elsewhere.

Where is Roslyn?

Bing Maps

Roslyn sits in Day County, 12 miles north of State Highway 25 and 40 miles south of the North Dakota border. Its hilltop perch means roads climb sharply, discouraging large trucks and keeping traffic minimal.

The nearest four-lane route is Interstate 29, 55 miles to the east, requiring intent to reach this overlook. Most visitors arrive on County Road 1, a ribbon of pavement that feels almost private as it snakes through glacial knobs toward the town’s solitary water tower.


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