Tourism statisticsRegion2026
Black Hills Tourism Statistics: 61,340 Airbnb Stays
AirROI estimates 61,340 Airbnb stays in the Black Hills, in South Dakota, United States, in the 12 months to October 2026, with Rapid City the most booked town. The busiest month was July. All of South Dakota had 15 million visitors in 2025, Travel South Dakota reports.
Airbnb figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026. Read the method
- Estimated Airbnb nights
- 261,319
- Typical Airbnb stay
- 4.3 nights
- Busiest Airbnb month
- July
- From within the United States, among guests who left a review
- 96.6%
Key facts
Black Hills Tourism Facts
Each sentence names its place, period and source, so it can be quoted alone.
Official
- Travel South Dakota puts all of South Dakota at 15 million visitors in 2025.
Airbnb stays
- AirROI puts Airbnb stays in the Black Hills at 61,340 in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Airbnb stays in the Black Hills added up to 261,319 nights in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates a typical Airbnb stay in the Black Hills lasted 4.3 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 71 days ahead.
Busiest months
- AirROI ranks July the busiest Airbnb month in the Black Hills in the 12 months to October 2026, followed by June and August, with January the quietest.
- AirROI estimates the six busiest Airbnb months in the Black Hills ran unbroken from May to October in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Airbnb stays in the Black Hills in August were booked furthest ahead, about 101 days, against 36 days for January, in the 12 months to October 2026.
Guests
- AirROI estimates 96.6% of Black Hills Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026 were from within the United States.
By place
- AirROI estimates the Black Hills took 75.7% of all Airbnb stays in South Dakota in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Rapid City had the most Airbnb stays of the Black Hills' 10 towns in the 12 months to October 2026, at 18,336, ahead of Lead and Custer.
Official numbers
How Many Tourists Visit South Dakota?
Travel South Dakota counted 15 million visitors for all of South Dakota in 2025. On AirROI's estimates, the Black Hills accounted for 75.7% of Airbnb stays in South Dakota in the 12 months to October 2026.
| Figure | What it counts | Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 millionVisitors, all of South Dakota | Visitors traveled to and within South Dakota | 2025 | Travel South Dakota |
Airbnb stays
Airbnb Stays in the Black Hills
The Black Hills had 2,580 Airbnb homes in the 12 months to October 2026. They took an estimated 61,340 stays and 261,319 nights. A typical stay lasted 4.3 nights and was booked about 71 days ahead. AirROI's figures cover the 10 towns it tracks in the Black Hills; places it does not track are not counted, so every total is a floor.
- Airbnb homes
- 2,580
- Airbnb stays, estimate
- 61,340
- Airbnb nights, estimate
- 261,319
- Typical stay
- 4.3 nights
- Booked ahead
- 71 days
Busiest months
When Is the Busiest Time in the Black Hills?
On Airbnb, July was the busiest month in the Black Hills in the 12 months to October 2026, then June and August. January was the quietest. The six busiest months run unbroken from May to October.
July ranks first, January last
Airbnb months in calendar order, 12 months to October 2026. The number is the month's rank, and 1 is the busiest. The bar shows its part of Airbnb nights.
- Three busiest months
- Other months
From busiest to quietest: July, June, August, September, May, October, March, December, November, April, February, January.
Month by month: rank, typical stay and days booked ahead
| Month | Share of nights | Booked ahead |
|---|---|---|
| July | 12.6% | 90 days |
| June | 12.4% | 82 days |
| August | 11.1% | 101 days |
| September | 10.7% | 68 days |
| May | 8.7% | 62 days |
| October | 8.2% | 54 days |
| March | 6.8% | 38 days |
| December | 6.5% | 45 days |
| November | 6.1% | 47 days |
| April | 6.1% | 49 days |
| February | 5.6% | 36 days |
| January | 5.2% | 36 days |
Share is each month's part of the year's Airbnb nights. Typical stay and days booked ahead are AirROI estimates for stays in each month.
Where guests come from
Where Do Black Hills Airbnb Guests Come From?
Nearly all Black Hills Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026 were from within the United States (96.6%), AirROI estimates. Among the same guests, Sioux Falls was the top origin city at 3.1%, ahead of Denver at 1.3%. The figures rest on 162,544 reviews, written over many years.
96.6% from within the United States
Among guests who left a review, as of October 2026
- From within the United States 96.6%
- From abroad 3.4%
Top origin cities
Among guests who left a review
By town
Most Booked Towns in the Black Hills
Rapid City, Lead and Custer took 62% of Airbnb stays in the Black Hills in the 12 months to October 2026. July is the busiest Airbnb month in 7 of the 10 towns, led by Lead, and June in 3, led by Rapid City. Among guests who left a review, the share from abroad across these towns runs from under 1% in Powder House Pass to 4.6% in Rapid City.
| Rapid City | 18,336 |
| Lead | 12,545 |
| Custer | 7,385 |
| Spearfish | 4,491 |
| Sturgis | 4,208 |
| Deadwood | 3,241 |
| Hill City | 3,121 |
| Powder House Pass | 3,115 |
| Keystone | 2,660 |
| Hot Springs | 2,238 |
* Among guests who left a review. Stays, nights and other figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, and cover Airbnb only. US is the top origin in every town, among guests who left a review, so this column names the top country abroad. A town with no tourism page of its own links to its Airbnb market page.
FAQ
Questions About Tourism in the Black Hills
How many tourists visit the Black Hills?
South Dakota as a whole had 15 million visitors in 2025, according to Travel South Dakota. AirROI puts the Black Hills at 75.7% of Airbnb stays in South Dakota in the 12 months to October 2026. AirROI estimates 61,340 Airbnb stays in the Black Hills in the 12 months to October 2026, which counts bookings and not tourists.
When is high season in the Black Hills?
The busiest Airbnb month in the Black Hills in the 12 months to October 2026 was July, then June and August. The six busiest months run from May to October.
What is the quietest month in the Black Hills?
January was the quietest Airbnb month in the Black Hills in the 12 months to October 2026, ranking 12th of 12, and February ranked 11th. Stays in January were booked about 36 days ahead, against 101 days for August.
How long is a typical Airbnb stay in the Black Hills?
A typical Airbnb stay in the Black Hills lasted 4.3 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 71 days ahead. By month, stays ran from 3.4 nights in September to 5.4 nights in April.
Where do Airbnb guests in the Black Hills come from?
Of Black Hills Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026, 96.6% were from within the United States, AirROI estimates. Among the same guests, the top origin city was Sioux Falls at 3.1%, ahead of Denver at 1.3%.
What is the most booked town in the Black Hills on Airbnb?
Rapid City was the most booked town in the Black Hills on Airbnb, with an estimated 18,336 stays in the 12 months to October 2026, ahead of Lead and Custer.
Are Airbnb stays the same as tourists?
No. Travel South Dakota counts visitors (15 million in 2025 across South Dakota). An Airbnb stay is one booking on one platform, however many guests it holds. AirROI's 61,340 stays are estimates for the 12 months to October 2026.
Method
How These Numbers Are Made
Official figures come from their publishers, linked above, and were last checked in November 2026. Stays and nights are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, built from Airbnb listing data, and cover Airbnb only. Nights add up each town's stays times its typical stay, across 10 towns. Month ranks compare each month's part of Airbnb nights. Origin rests on 162,544 reviews and describes guests who left a review, not everyone who stayed. Read the method page.