Andrew & Heidi's Guidebook
Sightseeing
Mt. Rushmore is a kind of "choose your own adventure"! You can pop in for a little bit, or do a tour and stop by the museum for an extended stay. And save your parking pass - it's good for a year!
288 locals recommend
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
13000 South Dakota 244Mt. Rushmore is a kind of "choose your own adventure"! You can pop in for a little bit, or do a tour and stop by the museum for an extended stay. And save your parking pass - it's good for a year!
Historic gold mine in Lead, SD just a few miles past Deadwood. Cool overlooks and visitor center, and Main Street in Lead is worth a visit too!
24 locals recommend
Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center
160 W Main StHistoric gold mine in Lead, SD just a few miles past Deadwood. Cool overlooks and visitor center, and Main Street in Lead is worth a visit too!
Unique rock layers, steep canyons, and hiking trails with wonderful vistas. Lots of bison and bighorn sheep too! About 1hr. drive from Rapid City.
163 locals recommend
Badlands National Park
Unique rock layers, steep canyons, and hiking trails with wonderful vistas. Lots of bison and bighorn sheep too! About 1hr. drive from Rapid City.
A depression-era project of live size concrete dinosaurs! Fun for kids and also great vistas of Rapid City and the Black Hills. FREE
79 locals recommend
Dinosaur Park
940 Skyline DrA depression-era project of live size concrete dinosaurs! Fun for kids and also great vistas of Rapid City and the Black Hills. FREE
You've seen all the signs! Fun little tourist destination with 5-cent coffee, donuts, free ice water, and a cafe and shops.
28 locals recommend
Wall Drug Store
510 Main StYou've seen all the signs! Fun little tourist destination with 5-cent coffee, donuts, free ice water, and a cafe and shops.
About a 2hr drive from Rapid City, Devils Tower has a loop trail around the entire butte that takes about 90-minutes to complete. You can also climb on the boulders at the base, or apply for a permit and climb to the very top!
61 locals recommend
Devils Tower
About a 2hr drive from Rapid City, Devils Tower has a loop trail around the entire butte that takes about 90-minutes to complete. You can also climb on the boulders at the base, or apply for a permit and climb to the very top!
The geographic center of the USA... sort of! The actual geographic center is 20 miles north on private land. I guess this is the best they could do. :)
Geographic Center of the Nation Monument
415 5th AveThe geographic center of the USA... sort of! The actual geographic center is 20 miles north on private land. I guess this is the best they could do. :)
Chapel in the Hills
3788 Chapel LnThe Minuteman Missile National Historic Site is an American national historic site established in 1999. The site preserves the last intact Minuteman II ICBM system in the United States. Small visitor center and museum. Verify hours!
7 locals recommend
Minuteman Missile Visitors Center
24545 CottonWood RdThe Minuteman Missile National Historic Site is an American national historic site established in 1999. The site preserves the last intact Minuteman II ICBM system in the United States. Small visitor center and museum. Verify hours!
City/town information
Deadwood
Fun if you like casinos and nightlife!
Home of the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Very busy the first two weeks of August, and a sleepy little town the rest of the year. Stop by Main Street and 1st - which is closed off only to bikers - if you visit!
72 locals recommend
Sturgis
Home of the famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Very busy the first two weeks of August, and a sleepy little town the rest of the year. Stop by Main Street and 1st - which is closed off only to bikers - if you visit!
Cute little town about 1hr west of Rapid City. Shops and outdoor activities!
72 locals recommend
Spearfish
Cute little town about 1hr west of Rapid City. Shops and outdoor activities!
Keystone
Small town on the way to Mt. Rushmore... check out some of the shops!
Shops
Main Street Square has splashpads for kids and shops for adults. Regular events and shows during the summer as well.
58 locals recommend
Main Street Square
512 Main StMain Street Square has splashpads for kids and shops for adults. Regular events and shows during the summer as well.
Shops! Sam's Club, Scheels, Big Lots, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, Five Guys, Old Chicago, and much more!
15 locals recommend
Rushmore Crossing
1225 Eglin StShops! Sam's Club, Scheels, Big Lots, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, Five Guys, Old Chicago, and much more!
Renamed "ART HOUSE" in 2023!
Cute little art and framing store on Main Street in downtown Rapid.
Perfect Hanging Gallery
621 Main StRenamed "ART HOUSE" in 2023!
Cute little art and framing store on Main Street in downtown Rapid.
Fun little hobby shop on Main Street... they have a sister-shop Toy Store in Main Street Square. Be careful taking your kids in here!
Who's Hobby House
715 Main StFun little hobby shop on Main Street... they have a sister-shop Toy Store in Main Street Square. Be careful taking your kids in here!
Presidential Pawn
629 Saint Joseph StreetGreat pawn shop with gold, silver, guns, and other goods. Right downtown!
Antique mall with separate booths by private sellers. Fun to walk around and browse.
6 locals recommend
St. Joe Antiques Mall
615 St Joseph StAntique mall with separate booths by private sellers. Fun to walk around and browse.
Black Hills Vinyl
Check out our downtown record shop!
Hiking
Stop by the big M in the mountainside (for South Dakota School of Mines). A relatively easy hike, but be on the lookout for rattlesnakes.
12 locals recommend
M Hill
Stop by the big M in the mountainside (for South Dakota School of Mines). A relatively easy hike, but be on the lookout for rattlesnakes.
Osprey Hiking Trail
Relatively easy hiking trail at Pactola Lake. Some hills.
Great hiking trail to the top with amazing views. Hiking the butte is steep and rocky in parts with absolutely no shade. Make sure you have proper footwear, water, and sunscreen! Beware of rattlesnakes.
40 locals recommend
Bear Butte State Park
20250 SD-79Great hiking trail to the top with amazing views. Hiking the butte is steep and rocky in parts with absolutely no shade. Make sure you have proper footwear, water, and sunscreen! Beware of rattlesnakes.
Relatively easy hiking path near Deadwood with a sight-seeing tower at the half-way point.
13 locals recommend
Mount Roosevelt Friendship Tower
Relatively easy hiking path near Deadwood with a sight-seeing tower at the half-way point.
Hiking trail with vistas at the very end (in the woods for most of the hike).
20 locals recommend
Buzzard's Roost
South Dakota 44Hiking trail with vistas at the very end (in the woods for most of the hike).
One of our favorite hikes... the Cathedral Spires are a unique rock formation and a site to see! Moderate trail - mostly dirt, but some steep and rocky sections. Be prepared. Pack water, and have proper footwear.
16 locals recommend
Cathedral Spires Trailhead
One of our favorite hikes... the Cathedral Spires are a unique rock formation and a site to see! Moderate trail - mostly dirt, but some steep and rocky sections. Be prepared. Pack water, and have proper footwear.
One of the most popular trails in the Black Hills... checkout Rough Lock Falls in Spearfish Canyon! 2-miles round trip.
34 locals recommend
Roughlock Falls Trail
One of the most popular trails in the Black Hills... checkout Rough Lock Falls in Spearfish Canyon! 2-miles round trip.
Another popular hike in Custer State Park... formerly called Harney Peak. The trailhead is right by beautiful Sylvan Lake!
26 locals recommend
Black Elk Peak Hiking Trail
Sylvan Lake - HarneyAnother popular hike in Custer State Park... formerly called Harney Peak. The trailhead is right by beautiful Sylvan Lake!
Stratobowl Rim Trailhead
13600 S Highway 16Food and Drink
Popular bar/grill in downtown Rapid City with their own brewery.
78 locals recommend
Firehouse Brewing Company
610 Main StPopular bar/grill in downtown Rapid City with their own brewery.
Famous spot in Hill City for only serving one item... bacon wrapped filet mignon. Fair prices too!
135 locals recommend
Alpine Inn
133 Main StreetFamous spot in Hill City for only serving one item... bacon wrapped filet mignon. Fair prices too!
We'll be honest... Mexican food in Rapid City is a bit of crapshoot. Tipico is one of the better places in town... nestled in the Black Hills about 20 minutes west of downtown Rapid.
8 locals recommend
Mexico Tipico
23021 Hisega RoadWe'll be honest... Mexican food in Rapid City is a bit of crapshoot. Tipico is one of the better places in town... nestled in the Black Hills about 20 minutes west of downtown Rapid.
Himalayan Kitchen
1720 Mt Rushmore RdPretty good Indian food right nearby!
Thai Thai Restaurant
221 East North StreetLike Thai food? Give Thai Thai a try!
Morningside Café
710 North Lacrosse StreetGood little breakfast joint about a 5-minute drive from downtown.
Elks Theatre
512 6th StThey sell buttered popcorn TO GO... what else do you need to know?!
Golden Phoenix
2421 West Main StreetBest Chinese in town! Dining room might still be closed.
Delmonico Grill
609 Main StLooking for some fine dining? Check out Delmonico Grill!
Dakotah Steakhouse
1325 N Elk Vale RdRecently ranked one of the best steakhouses in the country!
Local hole-in-the-wall home-cookin’ breakfast joint with kitschy stuff for sale. Some folks say it's the best breakfast in town.
The Mud Hole of the Black Hills
7 Main StreetLocal hole-in-the-wall home-cookin’ breakfast joint with kitschy stuff for sale. Some folks say it's the best breakfast in town.
Fuji
1731 Eglin StHibachi style quisine... we really like this place!
Cool bar atop the Alex Johnson in downtown Rapid City. Has an entry fee.
26 locals recommend
Vertex Sky Bar
523 6th StCool bar atop the Alex Johnson in downtown Rapid City. Has an entry fee.
Jerry's Cakes & Donuts
109 E Omaha StWe. Love. Jerry’s. Donuts!!!
Brass Rail Lounge
624 St Joseph StOne of the oldest bars in Rapid City dating back to prohibition!
Popular soft-serve joint known for sundaes and shakes. Only open in summer.
32 locals recommend
Armadillo's Ice Cream Shoppe
130 Main StPopular soft-serve joint known for sundaes and shakes. Only open in summer.
Mary's Mountain Cookies Rapid City
526 6th StreetGreat little cookie shop!
Tinder Box Rapid City
518 7th StCigars and adult beverages. Must be 21 to enter.
Black Hills Bagels
913 Mt Rushmore RdBagels and coffee!
Lost Cabin Beer Co.
1401 W Omaha StPopular local Rapid City brewery.
Outdoors
Pactola is a great location to get outside with options for boating, hiking, and swimming! Verify current access/cammping fees.
42 locals recommend
Pactola Lake
Pactola is a great location to get outside with options for boating, hiking, and swimming! Verify current access/cammping fees.
Great local park with paved trails that can accomodate strollers, and plenty of playground areas for kids. Has grills and shaded cooked areas as well. FREE
23 locals recommend
Canyon Lake Park
4181 Jackson BlvdGreat local park with paved trails that can accomodate strollers, and plenty of playground areas for kids. Has grills and shaded cooked areas as well. FREE
Amazing overlook accessible by car, and some easy hiking trails very close to downtown Rapid City. FREE
15 locals recommend
Skyline Wilderness Area Park
515 West BlvdAmazing overlook accessible by car, and some easy hiking trails very close to downtown Rapid City. FREE
Amazing state park that is home to Sylvan Lake. Plenty of camping and hiking options throughout! Verify current access/vehicle fees.
184 locals recommend
Custer State Park
13438 US Highway 16AAmazing state park that is home to Sylvan Lake. Plenty of camping and hiking options throughout! Verify current access/vehicle fees.
Another great lake for hiking, boating, fishing, and camping... not far from downtown Rapid! Verify current access/cammping fees.
24 locals recommend
Sheridan Lake
Another great lake for hiking, boating, fishing, and camping... not far from downtown Rapid! Verify current access/cammping fees.
Sioux Park
733 Canyon Lake DrMunicipal park with paved paths and playground along Rapid Creek.
Entertainment
Black Hills Escape Rooms
705 Main StWe did this, and had a blast!
Indoor swimming with slides, children's area, and a lazy river.
22 locals recommend
WaTiki Indoor Waterpark Resort
1314 N Elk Vale RdIndoor swimming with slides, children's area, and a lazy river.
See the re-enactment of the Trial of Jack McCall in downtown Deadwood (summer only - verify times).
Trial of Jack McCall/Deadwood Alive
715 Main StSee the re-enactment of the Trial of Jack McCall in downtown Deadwood (summer only - verify times).
Free events, live music, summer movie nights... check the calendar to see what's happening!
9 locals recommend
Deadwood's Outlaw Square
703 Main StFree events, live music, summer movie nights... check the calendar to see what's happening!
Go see the Rapid City Rush hockey team, or check the schedule for concerts and events!
9 locals recommend
Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
444 N Mt Rushmore RdGo see the Rapid City Rush hockey team, or check the schedule for concerts and events!