Overview
Rapid City is the largest city in the Badlands and Black Hills region of South Dakota. It is a convenient base for travel on to the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the Crazy Horse Memorial, the Badlands, and the Black Hills National Forest.
8 sights · 7 things to do · 9 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 7 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Rapid City
The Journey Museum & Learning Center
Interesting exhibits about Native American History.
Hotel Alex Johnson
An old hotel
Reptile Gardens
This is a serious herpetological park (as well as a "fun" place) with one of the best collections of lizards, gators and snakes in the country-quite possibly the best. "Gus" (short for "humongous"), the resident 14-foot-…
South Dakota Air and Space Museum
Witness the changes through time by experiencing the aircraft and technology that changed the world.
Museum of Geology
A museum operated by the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology that features various fossils and minerals.
Dinosaur Park
Concrete dinosaurs on a hill overlooking the city.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jun–Sep. Summer highs reach about 79°F; winter lows dip to about 18°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: May and Jun. (climate data from nearby Mount Rushmore National Memorial)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- RAP Rapid City Regional Airport, Rapid City — 9 mi away. Directions
- CDR Chadron Municipal Airport, Chadron — 86 mi away. Directions
Non-stop services offered:
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $10 per person at listed restaurants.
Options are grouped as Budget, Mid-range, Splurge in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Dinosaur Park, Flags and Wheels Indoor Racing, Art Alley
- Lunch Enigma Restaurant
- Afternoon Hotel Alex Johnson, Elks Theater
- Dinner Ichiban Sushi Bar & Japanese Cuisine
- Evening Firehouse Brewing Company
Day 2
- Morning The Journey Museum & Learning Center, Museum of Geology
- Lunch Great Wall Chinese Restaurant
- Afternoon Watiki Water Park, Bear Country USA
- Dinner Armadillo's Ice Cream Shoppe
- Evening Wine Cellar Restaurant
Day 3
- Morning South Dakota Air and Space Museum
- Lunch Alternative Fuel
- Dinner Delmonico Grill
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Rapid City is one of South Dakota's culinary centers.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Rapid City is often referred to as just "Rapid" by the locals, and the name Rapid City originated from Rapid Creek. In 2020, it was home to 75,000 people.
Visitor information
Get in
By plane
Non-stop services offered:
- United Airlines (operated by SkyWest) Multiple daily flights from Denver, Colorado, multiple weekly flights from Chicago (O'Hare), Illinois, and seasonal flights from Houston, Texas.
- Delta Air Lines (operated by SkyWest) Multiple daily flights from Salt Lake City, Utah and Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota.
- American Airlines has nonstop flights from Dallas/Fort Worth and seasonal service from Chicago.
- Allegiant Air (Budget airline) has nonstop flights from Las Vegas and Phoenix/Mesa.
Connecting an overseas flight to Rapid City is often relatively cheap. Flights to Amsterdam start at $500.
By car
Interstate 90 is the main highway through Rapid City. The highway is scenic coming from the west.
By bus
Rapid City can be reached from almost anywhere in the US with two or less connections. There are daily services aboard Jefferson Lines from the Twin Cities, Sioux Falls and on to Wyoming. Jefferson lines contracts with Greyhound, while offering a superior service to Greyhound one can book them in connection with Greyhound quite economically. Powder River Lines (Operated by Coach USA) offers service to Wyoming and on to Denver and the West Coast.
Get around
Many people choose to use a personal vehicle, but it is not necessary. All of downtown Rapid City's attractions are walkable.
To reach other places, such as the Rushmore Mall, one can use the Rapid Ride System from the Milo Barber Transit Center. There are four loop routes featuring buses going in both directions about every 70 min around each loop. Fare is $1 and includes a transfer. The buses only run from 6AM to 6PM.
There are plenty of taxis in Rapid City for your needs.
See
Do
- - located in Rapid City
Do Fort Hays Chuckwagon Supper & Show, Dances with Wolves film set
Movie-set buildings from Dances With Wolves are part of the fun of this traditional cowboy supper with music and comedy show. All you can eat 99¢ pancakes 6:30AM-11AM. Supper bell rings at 6:30PM nightly for a hearty meal of BBQ beef, chuckwagon potatoes, spice cake, baked beans, biscuits, applesauce and coffee or lemonade. Then is time for our foot-stomping music/comedy show by the Ft. Hays Wranglers.
Buy
Shop Rushmore Crossing
A strip mall containing major brand stores: Furniture Row, Scheel's, Sam's Club, Target.
Eat
Rapid City is one of South Dakota's culinary centers.
Eat Hana Korean Grill and Sushi Bar
Sushi and a wide variety of beverages, as well as Korean favorites such as Bulgogi (Barbecue) and Gal Bee (Barbecue Short Ribs).
Eat Alternative Fuel
Wonderful staff, environment, and coffee. They also serve breakfast items, sandwiches, soups, and desserts.
Eat Delmonico Grill
Delmonico Grill is one of several great choices for dining in Downtown Rapid City.
Eat Enigma Restaurant
An upscale restaurant where you will experience a unique fashion of service with delicious foods that are the passion of fusion cuisine.
Eat Armadillo's Ice Cream Shoppe
Many different flavors of delicious ice cream. Great place to eat and relax don't be surprised if there is a huge line. Totally worth the wait.
Eat Great Wall Chinese Restaurant
It is one of the premiere oriental restaurants with authentic food that will tantalize taste-buds.
Eat Ichiban Sushi Bar & Japanese Cuisine
The only restaurant serving Japanese food in Rapid City. Watch the chef use the most freshest ingredients while they create your perfect dish.
Eat Colonial House
Good down home cooking. The C house serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. when you go for breakfast make sure to get the caramel rolls, they are homemade and to die for. All desserts are made in house by Master pastry chef Jeff Slather. Voted number 3 in all of Rapid City by trip adviser. This restaurant is a must stop while enjoying your stay in Rapid City.
Eat Sear Black Hills Steakhouse (formerly Shooters Steakhouse & Sports Grill)
Steakhouse offering steak, lamb, chicken, and seafood entrees.
- North Rapid, the area around Rushmore Mall, offers several sit-down chain restaurants.
Drink
Drink Firehouse Brewing Company
The Firehouse is a restaurant and brewery built in the old downtown firestation. There is a great variety of food offered from Mexican, to German, to traditional hotdogs and hamburgers. In the summer, the outdoor patio features a full menu and bar in addition to live music and plays. They have large windows where you can view the brewing process. The beer menu changes seasonally to offer a variety of brews throughout the year. The options range from very light IPA's and ales to dark rich beers and even a house favorite red brew. You will not be disappointed with the menu, although the service can be hit or miss. Plan on going early in the summer to get a spot outside for the entertainment. In the winter, you can enjoy dinner theatre with new performances monthly.
Drink Wine Cellar Restaurant
Casual fine dining, extensive wine list & beer menu, late night menu weekends. Located in one of downtown's historic buildings in the newly renovated 6th Street District. European and Californian cuisine made to order with the freshest ingredients. Enjoy casual fine dining amongst candles and fresh flowers in the main dining room, enclosed back alley or the seasonal outdoor sidewalk patio. Extensive wine list & imported & domestic beer menu. Food styles: American (New), burgers, French, Greek and Mediterranean, Italian, Mexican, pizza, seafood, Spanish/Basque, tapas bars, vegetarian. Takes reservations, walk-ins welcome, take out, waiter service, outdoor seating.
Sleep
Hotels and motels in Rapid City tend to have substantial seasonal variations in room rates, as Rapid City is a busy jumping-off point for the Black Hills in summer but frozen into torpor in the winter.
For easy access to I-90, look up the many hotels off LaCrosse St in North Rapid.
Campgrounds are strewn all along Mount Rushmore Highway.
Budget
Stay The Price Motel
An older motel that supplies you with the basic necessities. It holds a simple relaxed atmosphere. It also has a great location close to restaurants, shopping, gas stations, as well as the interstate.
Mid-range
Splurge
Go next
Rapid City is the gateway to all the attractions and beauty of the Badlands and Black Hills. Simply start driving south.
- Black Hills National Forest
- Deadwood is possibly America's most storied small town from the wild frontier days.
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a short drive away, as is the larger (though incomplete) Crazy Horse Memorial.
- Sturgis, roughly 12 miles to the East of Deadwood, is the home of the famed Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August.
- Wall has Wall Drug, whose ubiquitous signs will be more than familiar to any visitor driving on Interstate 90.
- Keystone if you love trinket shopping, or looking that perfect piece of jewelry, visit Keystone, SD. Close to all the Black Hills attractions, a town that you cannot pass by without wanting to stop.
Nearby
Keystone
City / town · 6 listings · 16 mi away
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Park · 6 listings · 18 mi away
Hill City
City / town · 7 listings · 20 mi away
Custer State Park
Park · 6 listings · 25 mi away
Black Hills National Forest
Park · 9 listings · 27 mi away
Sturgis
City / town · 23 listings · 27 mi away
Custer
City / town · 9 listings · 28 mi away
Bear Butte State Park
Park · 1 listings · 29 mi away
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