Looking for a Candy Shop Near Rapid City? It’s a Short Drive Up the Hill

Every summer, plenty of people in Rapid City search for a candy shop and come up mostly empty downtown. Here’s the honest local answer: the old-fashioned candy shops are up in the Hills, and one of them has been at it since 1977. We’re Turtle Town, we make everything by hand in small batches, and depending on which of our two shops you point the car at, we’re about thirty to forty minutes from Rapid City — usually on the way to somewhere you were already planning to go.

How far is it, exactly?

Our Keystone shop at 117 Winter Street is the close one — roughly a half-hour drive from Rapid City, straight out Highway 16 toward Mount Rushmore. If Rushmore is on your list, we’re three miles from the monument, so a candy stop adds almost nothing to the trip.

Our Hill City shop at 205 Main Street is a bit farther, closer to forty minutes, and it’s the one that stays open all year. Hill City’s Main Street also has the 1880 Train depot, galleries, and the Mickelson Trail, so the drive earns its keep even before the fudge.

What’s in the case when you get here

Both shops make candy the way it was made when the Keystone store opened in 1977: in small batches, by hand.

Fudge comes in thirteen flavors, worked on the marble slab — chocolate, penuche, maple nut, caramel pecan, and the rest of the case. Bear paws — pecans, caramel, and chocolate — are the Black Hills classic and the thing regulars ask for first. Beyond that there are hand-dipped truffles, sea salt caramels, toffee, salt water taffy, and a full sugar-free selection. Both shops also scoop ice cream — jumbo scoops, malts, and specialty sundaes — which settles most arguments about whether the kids ride along.

Make it part of a Black Hills day

Almost nobody drives out from Rapid City just for candy, and they don’t need to. Keystone pairs with Mount Rushmore and the Iron Mountain Road. Hill City pairs with the 1880 Train, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Custer State Park. Either way, the candy stop slots neatly between the big sights — and a box of fudge rides home better than most souvenirs.

Can’t make the drive?

We ship. Fudge, taffy, chocolates, and gift boxes go anywhere in the U.S. through our online store, and orders over $50 ship free. In the warm months we pack for the weather.

Come see us

Turtle Town Keystone — 117 Winter Street, Keystone, SD, open spring through October.
Turtle Town Hill City — 205 Main Street, Hill City, SD, open year-round.

Hours shift with the season, so if you’re making a special trip in the shoulder months, a quick call ahead is a good idea. Otherwise, just come up the hill. There is usually something still warm.