Rapid City South Dakota, SD

Black Hills South Dakota
> Rapid City South Dakota

One of the largest cities in the Black Hills, Rapid City, South Dakota features historic and modern attractions, numerous activities and amenities, and close access to several National Parks and Monuments.

Overview

Rapid City acts as a gateway to the Black Hills, offering visitors a taste of all there is on offer. Museums, monuments, and guided tours portray a picture of days gone by, while amusements parks, National and State Parks, golf courses, rivers, hills and trails cater to outdoor enthusiasts. After a hard day’s recreating, you’ll find hundreds of places to dine and relax in this exciting city.

Location

Rapid City, South Dakota is located in the eastern foothills of the Black Hills, off US Interstate 90.

Services/Amenities

Hundreds of accommodation establishments offer a range of hotels, motels, inns, resorts, campgrounds and RV parks.

Shoppers will find boutiques, art galleries, cafes and more in the historic downtown while Rushmore Mall and Rushmore Crossing shopping center feature nationally known shopping venues as well as local shops.

The Black Hills Gold Factory is a must-stop for jewelry lovers, with outlets in several locations.

Activities

Bikers and hikers have their choice of trails, including a 13.5 mile trail following Rapid Creek that winds its way through the city. Mountain bikers can enjoy endless hours within the 240-acres of Cowboy Hill, or the nearby Mickelson Trail

Black Hills National Forest provides fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, camping, and ATV opportunity during summer, and rock climbers will find no end of canyon walls in the Harney Range. Eight area golf courses provide ample greens for golfers and several scenic roads bisect dramatic landscapes. 

In winter, indulge in cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snow-shoeing and ice fishing, or visit one of several museums open year-round.

Attractions

Travel backwards in time when you visit the Journey Museum, featuring exhibits and artifacts as old as 2.5 billion years. The Dahl Arts Center contains three formal galleries, a children’s interactive gallery, and more.

Reptile Gardens allows nature lovers to view exotic birds, reptiles, and fossils, Bear Country USA is home to bear, elk, wolves and other species, and Watiki Indoor Water Park offers relaxing spa soaks while your kids enjoy the waterslides.

Getting Here

  • From Mount Rushmore: Rapid City, SD is located 30 minutes (23 miles) from Mt. Rushmore. Travel northeast on SD-244 for 1.3 miles before turning left on US-16A; continue for 3.4 miles. Merge onto US-16 E toward Rapid City, SD and travel 18.2 miles.
  • From Sturgis, SD: Rapid City, SD is located 35 minutes (29 miles) from Sturgis. Take I-90 E/US-14 E/SD-79 S for 25.2 miles before merging onto I-190 S/US-16 W via exit 57 toward Mt. Rushmore and continue 1.6 miles. Turn onto I-90 BL E and follow for less than 1 mile.

Questions & Answers

Other Rapid City South Dakota Resources

Rapid City Government

Official site for the Rapid City government.