Planning a ghost town road trip to Marietta, South Dakota starts in Edgemont, just 8 miles southeast of this forgotten railroad settlement. You’ll trade paved roads for gravel stretches, so bring a high-clearance vehicle, paper maps, and extra water. Visit in late spring or early fall for the best conditions. Nearby ghost towns like Ardmore and Awanka make natural additions to your route. Stick around — there’s much more to uncover about making this trip unforgettable.
Key Takeaways
- Marietta is roughly 8 miles northwest of Edgemont; start there, top off your gas, and grab paper maps before heading out.
- High-clearance vehicles are recommended, as roads transition from paved to gravel; slow down on loose surfaces for safer travel.
- Pair Marietta with nearby ghost towns like Ardmore and Awanka to build a fuller, more rewarding exploratory road trip loop.
- Visit in late spring or early fall for the best temperatures, clearest skies, and most visually striking ghost town photography conditions.
- Respect private property boundaries, research land ownership beforehand, and prepare for limited cell service throughout the entire route.
What’s Left to See at Marietta, South Dakota Today?
What remains of Marietta today tells a quiet story of abandonment and time. You’ll find the Marietta remnants centered around the old CB&Q railroad corridor, where tracks once connected this small settlement to the wider plains economy.
The Tubbs Gravel Pit stands as the most recognizable landmark, offering a tangible anchor to the town’s industrial past.
The historical significance of Marietta lies in its quiet persistence against the landscape. The Cheyenne River flows nearby, indifferent to the town’s disappearance.
You won’t discover bustling structures here, but that’s precisely the appeal. Empty foundations, scattered gravel, and open sky reward explorers who appreciate raw, unfiltered history.
Marietta doesn’t perform for visitors — it simply exists, weathered and honest, waiting for those willing to look closely.
How to Get to Marietta From Edgemont
Reaching Marietta takes roughly 8 miles of northwest travel from Edgemont, a small town in southwest South Dakota that serves as your practical jumping-off point.
From Edgemont, follow the Edgemont routes heading northwest, keeping Route 71 nearby as your orienting landmark. You’ll shift from paved roads onto gravel stretches, so slow down and watch for loose surfaces. A high-clearance vehicle handles these conditions better than a standard sedan.
A few essential travel tips before you go: carry paper maps since cell service gets spotty fast, bring extra water, and top off your gas tank in Edgemont.
The Cheyenne River and old CB&Q railroad corridor guide your general direction. It’s remote, it’s raw, and that’s exactly what makes this drive worth taking.
Which Ghost Towns Near Marietta Are Worth Adding to Your Route?
Once you’ve explored Marietta, you can easily extend your route to include several fascinating ghost towns scattered across southwest South Dakota.
Ardmore draws you in with its empty structures standing quietly on the rolling plains, while Scenic offers the quirky charm of a Longhorn Saloon and a combined church-jail building.
If you’re mapping out your circuit, adding Awanka — settled in 1888 — rounds out a compelling stretch of abandoned history without backtracking too far from Edgemont.
Nearby Ghost Towns Worth Visiting
Since Marietta sits in the heart of southwest South Dakota’s ghost town country, you’d be doing yourself a disservice by stopping at just one abandoned site.
The region’s scattered settlements tell compelling stories of regional history, and each stop rewards curious travelers with something unique.
- Ardmore – Wander through abandoned buildings sitting quietly on rolling plains, frozen in time.
- Scenic – Explore the iconic Longhorn Saloon and an unusual combined church-jail building that captures frontier contradictions perfectly.
- Mystic – Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1986, this site offers historically protected remnants worth photographing and studying.
String these destinations together along gravel roads and two-lane highways, and you’ll experience southwest South Dakota’s ghost town landscape with genuine depth and freedom.
Planning Your Ghost Town Route
Several ghost towns scattered across southwest South Dakota make natural additions to any Marietta road trip, and stringing them together transforms a single stop into a full-day circuit.
Ardmore sits nearby on rolling plains, its empty structures quietly reflecting rural abandonment across the region.
Awanka, settled in 1888, carries genuine ghost town history with a post office that operated into the early twentieth century.
Scenic offers something more theatrical — a Longhorn Saloon and a combined church-jail building you won’t forget.
If you’re heading toward the Black Hills, Mystic sits on the National Register of Historic Places and connects naturally via the Mickelson Trail.
Plan your route along gravel roads and two-lane highways, stay off private property, and you’ll cover serious ground without wasting a mile.
How to Build a Ghost Town Road Trip Around Marietta
To get the most out of your trip, you’ll want to anchor your route around Marietta and branch outward toward the southwest South Dakota ghost town circuit, connecting gravel roads and two-lane highways near Route 71.
From there, you can swing through Ardmore’s empty structures on the rolling plains or head toward Scenic, where the iconic Longhorn Saloon and the church-jail building make for unforgettable stops.
Keep Mystic on your radar too, since its National Register of Historic Places status since 1986 makes it one of the most historically rewarding detours you’ll find near the Black Hills.
Planning Your Route Effectively
Planning a ghost town road trip around Marietta works best when you anchor your route to Edgemont, the nearest town roughly 8 miles to the southeast.
From there, you’ll navigate gravel roads and two-lane highways that weave through South Dakota’s raw, open plains, connecting ghost town history with serious rural exploration.
Build your route using these three strategies:
- Start in Edgemont and head northwest toward Marietta, noting the old CB&Q railroad corridor along the way.
- Layer in nearby ghost towns like Ardmore and Awanka to maximize your mileage through abandoned settlements.
- Follow Route 71 south toward the Nebraska state line for a natural loop back.
Keep your tank full and your maps downloaded — cell service disappears fast out here.
Nearby Ghost Towns Worth Visiting
Once your route out of Edgemont is locked in, the real reward comes from stacking Marietta alongside the other ghost towns scattered across southwest South Dakota. Each stop adds another layer to your journey.
Ardmore exploration puts you face-to-face with empty structures standing defiantly on rolling plains, a quiet reminder of lives once lived. Push further and you’ll find Scenic, where the Longhorn Saloon and a combined church-jail building dare you to imagine the characters who passed through.
Mystic history runs deep too, earning a spot on the National Register of Historic Places since 1986, accessible via the Mickelson Trail. These towns don’t just complement Marietta — they complete the picture of a region that time walked away from without looking back.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Marietta?
When you visit Marietta matters more than you’d think for a ghost town sitting exposed on the open plains of Fall River County.
Weather considerations dramatically shape your experience here, where brutal winters and scorching summers define the extremes.
Seasonal attractions shift with the calendar, so timing your trip smartly makes all the difference:
- Late Spring (May–June): Mild temperatures open gravel roads after winter’s freeze, offering clear skies and manageable conditions for exploring the Tubbs Gravel Pit area.
- Early Fall (September–October): Cooler air returns, crowds thin out, and the golden plains create striking visuals around the Cheyenne River corridor.
- Avoid Winter: Snow blankets access roads, making navigation toward Edgemont’s remote outskirts genuinely dangerous for unprepared travelers.
What to Know Before You Drive Out to Marietta
Before you load up the car and head toward Marietta, there are a few hard realities about this ghost town that’ll save you from a frustrating—or genuinely dangerous—drive out to Fall River County’s empty plains.
Infrastructure here is minimal. Gravel roads dominate the route, and cell service disappears fast once you leave Edgemont’s outskirts. Bring paper maps, extra fuel, and water.
For ghost town photography, lighting matters more than timing—overcast skies soften harsh shadows across railroad remnants and weathered structures.
Arrive prepared with fully charged gear.
Historical preservation also shapes your access. Some land sits on private property, so respect posted boundaries and research ownership before wandering.
Marietta rewards curious, self-reliant travelers who prepare seriously—not those expecting maintained trails or roadside markers guiding every step.
Why Marietta Belongs on Every South Dakota Ghost Town List
Though dozens of ghost towns dot South Dakota’s windswept plains, Marietta earns its place among the most compelling through a rare combination of railroad history, geographic isolation, and raw, unfiltered desolation.
Its abandonment patterns mirror the broader collapse of rural plains communities, making it historically significant beyond just its eerie silence.
Here’s why Marietta deserves your attention:
- Railroad Roots – The CB&Q tracks once gave Marietta purpose, connecting it to regional commerce and movement.
- Cheyenne River Proximity – Nature reclaims what people left behind, creating a strikingly atmospheric landscape.
- Tubbs Gravel Pit Legacy – This landmark anchors Marietta’s industrial past, offering you tangible evidence of forgotten labor.
You won’t just visit a ghost town. You’ll read the bones of a vanished way of life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Any Guided Ghost Town Tours Available in Fall River County?
Fall River County has 5+ ghost towns worth exploring! You won’t find many official guided exploration tours, but you can explore ghost town history independently, following gravel roads and local maps to uncover Marietta’s haunting, desolate charm freely.
Can You Camp Overnight Near Marietta or Along the Cheyenne River?
You can camp near Marietta and along the Cheyenne River, but you’ll want to check camping regulations beforehand. River access offers stunning, open landscapes where you’re free to embrace the wild, untamed spirit of South Dakota’s plains.
Is a Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicle Necessary for Reaching Marietta’s Gravel Roads?
You don’t need to bite the bullet with a four-wheel-drive, but gravel road conditions near Marietta can be rough. Vehicle recommendations lean toward high-clearance options, so you’ll navigate unpredictable terrain confidently and freely.
Are There Any Local Historians or Museums Documenting Marietta’s Railroad History?
You won’t find dedicated local historians or railroad museums specific to Marietta, but you can explore Edgemont’s regional resources and Fall River County archives, where you’ll uncover fascinating CB&Q railroad history connecting this forgotten ghost town’s past.
Does Tubbs Gravel Pit Remain an Active Operation or Fully Abandoned Today?
Can you imagine the silence there? Tubbs Gravel’s operational status remains unclear today, but it’s largely considered abandoned alongside Marietta’s ghost town landscape. You’ll likely find only desolate remnants waiting to be explored.
References
- https://takemytrip.com/2016/08/ardmore-south-dakota-ghost-town-and-route-71/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ghost_towns_in_South_Dakota
- https://usghostadventures.com/americas-most-haunted-trending/ghost-towns-to-visit-on-your-summer-road-trip-along-route-66/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0WNYsFLSLA
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQH5mp2emBw
- https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g54799-d22999414-Reviews-Scenic_Ghost_Town-Scenic_South_Dakota.html
- https://www.powderhouselodge.com/black-hills-attractions/fun-attractions/ghost-towns-of-western-south-dakota/
- https://myxoadventures.com/the-ghost-town-of-spokane-south-dakota/
- https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/trip-ideas/abandoned-beauty-ghost-towns-structures-south-dakota
