Best Things to Do in Rapid City, SD, and What to Skip!

We spent a full week in Rapid City, South Dakota, as our base for exploration into the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore, and the city itself.

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The food was diverse enough to meet whatever craving I was dealing with that day, and we had no trouble keeping our days full and busy. 

There were parts of the city that were touristy as heck, but that’s to be expected when you’re this close to Mount Rushmore. Let’s dive into all of the best things to do in Rapid City and what you can skip while you’re here.

Is Rapid City worth visiting?

Rapid City is worth visiting as a good base for exploration in the region. The South Dakota city is known for being the gateway to the Black Hills, the City of Presidents, and its access to outdoor recreation. The city itself also boasts a strong Western vibe.

How to Spend a Day in Rapid City

You can spend a day in Rapid City like this:

• Grab a quick breakfast downtown at Harriet & Oak.
• Walk through downtown Rapid City and find your favorite bronze presidents.
• Make a museum stop at the Dahl Arts Center or The Journey Museum and Learning Center.
• Find lunch near Main Street Square.
• Check out the views at Dinosaur Park.
• Take a drive out to Mount Rushmore or the scenic Black Hills.
• Return to Rapid City for cocktails and a nosh at Bokujo Ramen or Independent Ale House.

I’d suggest at least two days in Rapid City, though. That gives you a full day in the city itself and another day for the best Rapid City day trips.

Many travelers only pass through to see Mount Rushmore, but as you need to drive to Keystone for that, that doesn’t really allow you to experience Rapid City.

Things to Do in Downtown Rapid City

If you have limited time in Rapid City, you’ll want to start downtown. It’s walkable and a fun escape from all of the people at the big tourist stops a short drive out of the city. 

Eat a Rapid City breakfast. 

I’m not even that big on breakfast, but I’ll do it for research purposes. My favorite morning spot in Rapid City was Harriet & Oak, a cute coffee shop with an old VW bus inside and a spin on homemade Pop-Tarts inside my belly. 

Flavors vary by the day, so get one of each with your morning cup of coffee and call it the perfect start to your day.

We got all kinds of recommendations for morning noshes elsewhere. Here are a few more for some variety in and around downtown Rapid City:

• Black Hills Bagels: The fun neon signage beckons visitors inside to experience their famous bagels. There are loads of flavors to choose from like sweet vanilla nut and savory spinach parmesan.
• Colonial House Restaurant & Bar: This long-running establishment was right by our accommodations, so I do feel some regret over missing out. We heard great things about their chicken fried steak if you’re into that.
• Tally’s Silver Spoon: A local told us this one was a little pretentious. While I don’t think I want that out of Rapid City, this one has always gotten a lot of buzz for its breakfast dishes. It does seem a little pricey for the area.

Meet the presidents of downtown Rapid City.

Rapid City is known as the City of Presidents, among other things (probably). Find your favorite among the bronze statues set up all over downtown. 

The statues didn’t appear overnight. The first four were commissioned and privately funded in 2000. The artists vary, and there is quite a bit of research involved in coming up with statues that represent the interests and achievements of each president. 

Fun fact: William Howard Taft is the only one that isn’t true to each president’s height and weight. He went on a diet for the project to save on the cost of bronze. Ouch.

The Abraham Lincoln status is probably the most popular photo, but Martin Van Buren sits on a bench you can share with him. 

Bop around Main Street Square.

Rapid City’s Main Street Square is the city’s gathering space. Expect seasonal decor if you’re here around any holidays, live music and festivals, art installations, and opportunities to chill out after a long day of tourist activities.

In the winter, bring your skates for the ice skating rink they set up when it’s chilly.

Check out the weird stuff at Presidential Pawn.

Hear me out. Yes, it’s definitely a pawn shop. You’re not here to shop or sell, though. Spend a few minutes checking out the display cases of unique historic artifacts. 

You’ll find Michael Jackson’s sequined glove, the original negative of JFK Jr.’s heartbreaking salute to his father’s coffin, and the world’s smallest dog.

It’s all free to see unless you get yourself a new solid gold belt buckle. That’ll cost you. The number of guns and armor was definitely a bummer, but that’s why you’re not giving these folks any money.

Walk through the Art Alley.

There’s no coherent thread here and it’s not pretty by any means, but it’s an example of self-expression in a place where you wouldn’t expect it.

If you’re downtown anyway, it’s worth a quick walkthrough to admire a space that’s certainly different every time you’re here.

See more art at the Dahl Arts Center.

The Dahl Arts Center is Rapid City’s cultural hub. Visit for rotating exhibits that show off contemporary, traditional, and local art or engage with local artists at one of their regular events.

This place has a vibrant program of interactive activities for art lovers out there. Visits here are always free. If you visit on Friday nights, you’ll be treated to some free live music, too.

Meet a Food Network celebrity.

Bokujo Ramen is Justin Warner’s eatery in downtown Rapid City. If you follow celebrity chefs, you may recognize that name from the Food Network Star. The accolades are deserved.

This place offers western takes on ramen. I didn’t think I’d love that, but I did. Brian picked the one with bison brisket and it was pretty dang delicious. The staff, including the chef, is all super friendly, too.

If you love what they’re doing here, pop by Warner’s wine bar, BB’s Natural. It specializes in natural wines, naturally.

Sip on Rapid City wine.

No, I’m not having a stroke. There’s another wine bar in downtown Rapid City. 

Our pick for some wine at the end of a day of Rapid City attractions was Firehouse Wine Cellars. The service was great and the wines were decent. They also have wine slushies in the summer that we were given samples of, and there were no regrets about that.

They’re the wine side of Firehouse Brewing Company, the very first brewery in Rapid City. As the winery has much better reviews than the beer side, that’s where we focused our energies.

Drink the best Rapid City beer.

We didn’t visit the Firehouse Brewing Company, but that doesn’t mean we skipped out on beer in Rapid City.

We started at Hay Camp Brewing Company. They had a wide variety of tasters available with sours that were big on the funk. If you know anything about my beer tastes, you’ll know that’s just how I like it. I loved the large tasting room with its cow-print chairs.

Here are a few more for you outside of downtown if you’re interested in a Rapid City beer crawl:

• Dakota Point Brewing: This one is just west of downtown Rapid City. Enjoy lagers and ales at this casual dog-friendly space. We didn’t partake in the food, but they typically have a great food truck program going.
• Lost Cabin Beer Co.: This one is very close to Dakota Point. We really liked the space here. The patio is nice and dog-friendly. We enjoyed a yummy gose, amber, and a few barrel-aged beers during our visit.
• Zymurcracy Brewing Company: We missed out on this veteran-owned option south of the city because it just wasn’t near anything else we wanted to do. It looks like they have a great variety of both classic and inventive styles.

READ MORE: Love a good beer city? San Diego should be at the top of your list.

Eat Rapid City’s best pizza.

The Independent Ale House was our favorite casual eatery in Rapid City. They have 50 beers on tap and a variety of pizzas, including a mashed potato pizza that got me in the door.

They were also selling a rainbow dessert in honor of Pride Month during our visit, so we obviously had to order one. Our waiter actually made a batch that morning which was very cute. It was also very delicious.

Experience Rapid City nightlife.

Rapid City doesn’t have the most vibrant scene when it comes to nightlife, but if you’re not ready to head back to your accommodations after dinner, you have some options.

Press Start is an arcade bar with two levels of games open late on the weekends. Aby’s Rapid City is just around the corner from the Independent Ale House and hosts fun events like drag shows and live music.

For the classiest time in town, head to the Vertex Sky Bar for rooftop cocktails. That one is open late nightly.

Outside of Downtown Rapid City

You’ll need to drive to most of these, although if you believe in yourself and love steps, some of these sights are just north of downtown and Omaha Street. These are still all stops we made during our time in Rapid City.

Visit The Journey Museum and Learning Center.

See art from native artists and an honest portrayal of Native American history in the region at this museum. 

You’ll learn about the theft of native lands and the city’s attempts at forcing native people to assimilate.

One exhibit included a letter from a woman pleading with local officials to allow her son to keep his hair long before starting school. The request was denied.

There’s a decent dinosaur exhibit, too, but the history exhibits are most impressive.

Check out a chunk of the Berlin Wall.

Visit Memorial Park for one of the city’s best green spaces along Rapid Creek and an exhibit dedicated to a piece of the real Berlin Wall. There’s some informational signage all around that tells the story of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Indulge your sweet tooth at Rushmore Candy Company.

I dropped $24 on truffles, taffy, gummies, and nonpareils for Brian because for whatever reason that’s what gets him going. There is a lot at the Rushmore Candy Company that may feel like a trap, like the chocolate-covered pickles and whatever Sex Olives are.

There’s also a lot here that looks and is very delicious. Come with the kids if you dare.

Visit the Museum of Geology.

The campus of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is home to this free museum. It’s worth a stop if you’re looking for things to do in Rapid City on a rainy day.

Honestly, if you love dinos and paleontology you’ll want to visit whether you get caught in the rain or not.

Get goofy at Dinosaur Park.

The Dinosaur Park is one of the best outdoor attractions in Rapid City. On top of the opportunities for goofy photos with the resident dinosaurs, you can enjoy some of the best views of the city while you’re here. 

Wear sneakers to take the path up as the park continues work on the nice set of stairs that will get you there in a less dusty way. The drive up to the park is fantastic, too. Enjoy views of Rapid City’s fanciest homes along the way.

Hike the Petrified Forest Trailhead.

You’ll see this on the drive up to the Dinosaur Park. Choose from a variety of interconnected trails that give you both city views and an introduction to the prehistoric intrigue of the region.

There aren’t as many petrified trees here as the big fossil sites around the country, but you’ll get a taste of ancient forest on the main trail off Skyline Drive.

READ MORE: Love all things petrified? Check out my guide to Petrified Forest National Park.

Find your favorite green space.

I already mentioned Memorial Park, but Rapid City has quite a few areas for you to relax. Wilson Park was a daily favorite for us as it was so close to our accommodations. It had regular pickleball players, too, so there’s decent people-watching potential here.

Sioux Park and Founders Park are two more charming options if you love a good picnic space.

Take your pup to the Robbinsdale Park Dog Off-Leash Area.

This large outdoor space is a great place for pups to frolic, but you’ll want to keep them close to avoid the tall grasses. There are ticks in these parts, and our dog has definitely brought them home in similar scenarios.

Walk the long loop around the park, a stroll good boys and girls that stick close will enjoy.

Parking for the dog section is beyond the BMX park. We saw some little kids practicing baby BMX while we were there. It was as cute as it sounds.

Explore the rest of Rapid City’s dining scene.

Rapid City has a diverse dining scene that I very much appreciate. A local recommended a stop at Himayalan Kitchen, and as we are unable to deny ourselves delicious Indian and Nepalese cuisine, we made it happen. 

We went rogue and ordered cheese-stuffed naan, fish masala, and chicken saag during dinner here, all items we’d never ordered before. I’m a paneer girl all the way, by the way. Everything was great. Kick things off with their in-house herbal iced tea.

Here are a few more options if you’re looking for a nosh:

• Pour 54 Taphouse: This one came highly recommended to us by our sommelier at Firehouse Wine Cellars, but we ran out of time.
• Kathmandu Bistro: No, you cannot have enough Indian food. If you’re in downtown Rapid City, this is the second-best option after Himalayan Kitchen.

See a Wild West show. 

The Fort Hays Chuckwagon Supper & Show includes dinner and a music variety show. You can also just come by for a free visit to a piece of the Dances With Wolves set. 

That’s all we did because the show itself sounded a little cheesy and expensive, and would have eaten into a full evening. If you’re traveling with the family, it could be fun I suppose.

There is a ride here called Buffalo Hunt that looked like a good time, too. If we had more time I could have been persuaded to get some tickets for that. 

Visit the Chapel in the Hills.

This beautiful little church run by friendly volunteers is modeled after a similar one in Norway. There’s a tiny museum and informational signage on site to tell you how the chapel came to be, or you can just chat up one of the helpful docents.

If you visit on a nice day, there’s a meditative prayer walk behind the chapel. We skipped it because the bugs were killers at that point in the day.

See the pride of Rapid City.

I don’t usually suggest McDonald’s on my city itineraries, but one location east of downtown Rapid City boasts a giant Quarter Pounder Statue that I can’t ignore. No, we still didn’t eat at McDonald’s. We had better things to do.

More Things to Do in Rapid City

We spent quite a bit of time on day trips outside of Rapid City during our week there, as there really is so much to do just outside of the city limits. (I’ll get into that in a second!)

If you’re here for a bit longer, I have a few more options for you, especially if you’re traveling with kids:

• Visit the largest reptile zoo in the United States at Reptile Gardens.
• Take the kids to Storybook Island.
• Solve the mystery at the Cosmos Mystery Area.
• Walk the passageways of the Black Hills Caverns.
• Find your favorite hike in the Black Hills National Forest.

Things to Do Near Rapid City

Rapid City is a great base for day trips out of the city itself. Much of what you’re in South Dakota for is likely within an hour or so outside of Rapid City.

If you don’t feel like driving, there are options for guided experiences to some of these that start in Rapid City. Check these out for starters:

Let’s get into a few attractions near Rapid City that are likely one of the main reasons you’re here.

Wall Drug

You certainly won’t miss the signage for this place. There are billboards all over the highway no matter what direction you’re coming from in your South Dakota travels.

As such, Wall Drug is worth a visit just to see this legendary roadside attraction for yourself. 

I’m not even sure how I’d describe it other than sprawling. There’s a pharmacy that suits the name, but also an ice cream shop, a boots store, and a miniature Mount Rushmore. It’s about an hour’s drive from Rapid City if you don’t catch it on the way in or out. 

Badlands National Park

You can basically arrive at what resembles another planet in under an hour from Rapid City if you visit the Badlands. These are some of the most otherworldly landscapes in the United States. 

I put together a detailed guide on spending a day in the Badlands, one of my favorite national parks.

If you’re comfy on this post, the quintessential experience in the park is the Notch Trail. It involves a ladder up and back down to reach the end, so it’s not for the faint of heart.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

This national park site about a half hour from Rapid City isn’t without its controversies. I’d still say it’s worth a visit if you understand that context as one of the most popular things to do in Keystone and the surrounding area. 

I go into the history and info about visiting Mount Rushmore in my guide to the presidential site, so I urge you to read more there.

The Crazy Horse Memorial is a popular add-on to Rapid City itineraries that include Mount Rushmore, but I’m not as enthusiastic about that one.

The more I read about it from a Native American perspective, the more it feels like a grift. Don’t feel bad about skipping that one.

Custer State Park

This picturesque gem about an hour from Rapid City is the ideal day trip for wildlife spotting and communing with nature. The park spans over 71,000 acres but is still manageable as an easy trip out of town. 

With limited time, drive the Wildlife Loop Road for a chance to see bison, pronghorns, and bighorn sheep.

If you want to hike, start easy with a loop around lovely Sylvan Lake. Aggressive hikers may be into climbing South Dakota’s highest peak on the Black Elk Peak Loop.

Deadwood

I didn’t love Deadwood. The Old West town defines the idea of a tourist trap, complete with overpriced gift shops, mediocre food, and a lack of authenticity.

If you want to visit anyway and looking for things to do in Deadwood, I have an honest guide to the touristy town. You do you.

Note: Many travelers combine Deadwood with a trip to nearby Spearfish. We didn’t visit, but a popular highlight of things to do in Spearfish is the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway.

The Mammoth Site

This paleontological site in Hot Springs was such a pleasant surprise. You only need about an hour here, but you’ll be able to tour a dig site in situ. That means it’s in progress. (I had to look it up.) 

There are additional exhibits on short-faced bears and other creatures found in sinkholes around South Dakota, but the real goods are in the dig site. You’ll see Beauty and The Beast, two mammoth skulls that definitely fit that description.

Wind Cave National Park

Wind Cave National Park is about an hour south of Rapid City. It’s known for its complex passageways and the distinctive boxwork on its ceilings. 

Fun fact: About 95% of the world’s box work is found here. It’s important enough that NASA has studied it on research expeditions to the cave.

We’ve seen quite a few caves at this point and this one was neat to see, but unless you’re at the very front of your tour it’s more of a walk in a cave with a few interpretive stops. How much fun you’ll have on your tour can also depend on who else is on your tour.

We had some very young kids on our tour. One had a loud fit, a sound that seemed to carry the length of the cave, and then passed out. We learned later that he missed his nap that day, something I’m told is a sure predictor for meltdowns.

Another surly dad on our tour day was wearing a shirt advertising Deadwood that read, “I’m not a dick. Just kidding. Go fuck yourself.” He had his small kids with him.

In any case, the clientele on our visit wasn’t the best of the best, but the cave itself was neat. The drive to the cave is scenic, too. Watch for bison and all of the prairie dogs along the way in prairie dog towns that are getting hard to manage across the state. 

Note: If you love a good cave, Jewel Cave National Monument is another option. The two caves are just a half hour apart, so you could even see them on the same day if you’re some cave fanatic. 

Hermosa

The town of Hermosa was on our list for one reason only: Lintz Brothers Pizza. No, we don’t usually make it a point to day trip out of destinations for pizza…unless we’re talking Pequod’s. 

You can stop by this place after visiting the Mammoth Site or Wind Cave National Park, as it’s south of Rapid City.

We were here for the Pie-Mac, a pie inspired by that one sandwich at McDonald’s. The story checks out. It tasted just like a Big Mac in pizza form. The Bird Dog, a riff on hot dog pizza, was almost even better.

We found this place to be pricey for the size of the pizzas we got, but I’m not going to pretend like they weren’t delicious.

Hill City

This is the only one on the list that we didn’t get to, but I do wish we made it happen over Deadwood. This town in the Black Hills looks pretty charming. 

As far as things to do in Hill City, visit the South Dakota State Railroad Museum, take a ride on the Black Hills Central Railroad, or stroll Main Street.

If you’re here to hike, Hill City is a great base for adventurers interested in the Mickelson Trail. The George S. Mickelson Trail is a rail trail that runs nearly 109 miles through the state.

Things You Can Skip in Rapid City

There are things I’d do in Rapid City on a return trip and there are things I’d skip no matter how many times I found myself here. Bear Country USA is one of the things I’d skip.

The controversy with Bear Country USA relates to a court case where the former owners were accused of breeding bears for the purpose of selling their gallbladders. 

The men responsible for the scandal are no longer there — one died in a car wreck — but it’s still run by the same family. It’s just different offspring.

Now, I’m not against zoos if they’re well-run and contribute to worldwide conservation efforts. I’m more cautious about privately owned animal attractions, especially when there’s a history of potential animal abuse. 

I paid $1 for access to the news articles on the scandal as covered by the Rapid City Journal so that I wasn’t making any snap judgments. Here’s what I learned.

The criminal charges date back to 2006. Two members of the Casey family, which owns and operates Bear Country USA, pleaded guilty to selling bear gallbladders to buyers in Spearfish and Alaska. This was all uncovered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

The corporation also pleaded guilty to buying and transporting grizzly bears from Minnesota. 

Was it a long time ago? Yes. Should you be visiting a place that still breeds bears for the public’s enjoyment? Probably not. It’s a no for me on this one.

When to Visit Rapid City

The best time of year to visit Rapid City is right before the start of the summer season. You’ll have pleasant temperatures and all of the outdoor activities that make this such a fun place to visit.

We visited the first week of June and it was pretty ideal. We did get some early summer thunderstorms by late afternoon, but we were getting early starts to our days there. I’d recommend the same.

Rapid City is more expensive if you visit during the summer. That’s when the city gets most of its tourists, so hotels, flights, and even entertainment will cost you extra. Less competition means higher prices.

Early fall is another great time to visit for fall colors in the Black Hills, nice weather, and fewer tourists. Spring can be hit or miss when it comes to rain.

I wouldn’t recommend winter travel unless you’re here for winter sports activities.

Where to Stay in Rapid City

You have quite a few options for accommodations in Rapid City. We stayed at the Baymont by Wyndham on our first trip to Rapid City. The staff was awesome and worked with us on refunds when we had to cut our trip short due to a family emergency.

I also have to give the La Quinta by Wyndham a shoutout as they were a reliable stay for us when we’re traveling with our dog.

Want more options? Check out the map below:

Rapid City is a decent city but an excellent base.

You should visit Rapid City for the attractions it offers within the city limits and as a base for exploration elsewhere. We had a full week in Rapid City and it felt very busy.

Rapid City offers easy access to the Black Hills, the Badlands, and some impressive outdoor adventuring. While attractions near Rapid City were more impressive for us, we still enjoyed our time spent in Rapid City proper.

On a longer road trip out this way? Check out these posts:

• Make the Effort to See Devils Tower
• Hike Your Way Through North Dakota’s Best Park
• Top Things to Do on a Visit to Fort Collins
• Plan a Trip from Jackson to Yellowstone National Park
• Where to Stay on a Trip to Magical Yellowstone

More Midwest guides if you’re headed that way:

• Why Door County Is a Fun Stop on Wisconsin Trips
• Winter Activities for Wintry Trips to Chicago
• Love Paleontology? Plan a Trip to the Devonian Fossil Gorge
• Top Things to Do When You Visit Iowa City
• A Guide to the Best of Milwaukee’s Attractions

Want to see more?