Rapid City South DakotaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Rapid City, South Dakota.
1. Bear Country USA
WILDLIFE IN NATURAL SETTING
Bear Country USA is a popular wildlife park where visitors can drive through and observe North American wildlife in their natural habitat. The park is particularly known for its black bears and cubs, with visitors able to observe these magnificent creatures up close from the safety of their vehicles. After the drive-through portion, guests can explore the Wildlife Walk area on foot to view smaller animals and bear cubs.
2. Reptile Gardens
EXOTIC REPTILE SHOWCASE
Reptile Gardens is home to the world's largest reptile collection, featuring a diverse array of snakes, lizards, turtles, and crocodilians. Visitors can enjoy daily live shows including the Gator Show and Bird Show that showcase these fascinating creatures. The sprawling complex also features beautiful botanical gardens with thousands of flowers and plants to explore.
3. Downtown Rapid City
ART AND ENTERTAINMENT HUB
Downtown Rapid City features the City of Presidents, a collection of life-sized bronze sculptures of U.S. Presidents scattered throughout the area. Visitors can explore Art Alley, featuring ever-changing murals created by local artists that showcase the creative spirit of the city. The downtown area is also home to numerous boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops, and breweries that offer a taste of local culture.
4. Dinosaur Park
PREHISTORIC HILLTOP ATTRACTION
Dinosaur Park sits atop a hill overlooking Rapid City and features large concrete dinosaur sculptures that have been a classic road-trip photo opportunity since 1936. Visitors can climb stairs to see seven different dinosaur statues and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding Black Hills. This free attraction is particularly popular with families and those interested in paleontology.
5. Storybook Island
ENCHANTING CHILDREN'S PARK
Storybook Island is a free children's theme park that brings beloved fairy tales and nursery rhymes to life through colorful displays and interactive exhibits. Children can climb aboard Captain Hook's pirate ship, slide down Jack and Jill's hill, or explore the Three Bears' house among many other storybook scenes. The park operates seasonally and hosts special events like the Christmas Night of Lights during the holiday season.
6. Museum of Geology
ANCIENT EARTH DISCOVERIES
The Museum of Geology houses an impressive collection of fossils, minerals, and rocks that tell the story of the region's rich geological history. Visitors can view complete skeletons of dinosaurs, marine reptiles, and prehistoric mammals that once roamed the area millions of years ago. The museum is located on the campus of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and offers free admission to all visitors.
7. Chapel in the Hills
NORWEGIAN ARCHITECTURAL GEM
Chapel in the Hills is an exact replica of the Borgund Stavkirke, a famous wooden stave church built in Norway in 1150 AD. The intricately carved wooden structure stands in a peaceful wooded setting that invites contemplation and appreciation of Scandinavian architecture. Visitors can explore the chapel, a museum housed in an authentic grass-roofed stabbur (storehouse), and a meditation trail through the surrounding grounds.
8. Main Street Square
DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY HUB
Main Street Square serves as the heart of downtown Rapid City, hosting numerous community events, concerts, and seasonal activities throughout the year. In summer, the square transforms into an interactive water fountain where children can play, while winter brings an ice skating rink for all to enjoy. Surrounded by shops, restaurants, and galleries, the square is a gathering place for both locals and tourists.
9. Badlands National Park
DRAMATIC ERODED LANDSCAPES
Badlands National Park showcases a surreal landscape of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires set against the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the United States. The park preserves 244,000 acres where visitors can observe abundant wildlife including bison, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets. Hiking trails ranging from easy boardwalks to challenging backcountry routes allow exploration of this otherworldly terrain just an hour's drive from Rapid City.
10. Mount Rushmore National Memorial
ICONIC PRESIDENTIAL MONUMENT
Mount Rushmore National Memorial features the 60-foot faces of four American presidents—Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln—carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore. Visitors can walk the Presidential Trail for up-close views of the sculpture and learn about its creation at the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center. The evening lighting ceremony during summer months offers a particularly moving experience as the monument is illuminated against the night sky.
11. Silver Lining Creamery
HANDCRAFTED FROZEN TREATS
Silver Lining Creamery offers handcrafted ice cream in creative flavors made fresh in small batches daily. Located in Main Street Square, this beloved ice cream shop provides a sweet respite for visitors exploring downtown Rapid City. Their signature waffle cones and unique seasonal offerings make it a must-visit destination for dessert lovers of all ages.
12. Mitzi's Books
WHIMSICAL INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE
Mitzi's Books is a charming independent bookstore in downtown Rapid City known for its whimsical atmosphere and carefully curated selection. The store offers a magical book-browsing experience with its inviting interior design and friendly, knowledgeable staff. Visitors can discover local authors, regional history books, and popular fiction while enjoying the cozy ambiance that celebrates the joy of reading.
13. South Dakota Air and Space Museum
AVIATION HISTORY SHOWCASE
The South Dakota Air and Space Museum displays more than 30 historic aircraft ranging from World War II bombers to modern military jets. Visitors can explore both indoor and outdoor exhibits that tell the story of aviation history and the region's connection to aerospace development. The museum offers free admission and is located just outside Ellsworth Air Force Base, providing additional context to the military aviation displays.
14. Wall Drug
ICONIC WESTERN ATTRACTION
Wall Drug began as a small pharmacy in 1931 and grew into a 76,000-square-foot shopping mall and tourist attraction known worldwide for its free ice water and 5-cent coffee. Visitors can explore numerous specialty shops, western art galleries, and themed dining areas all under one roof while enjoying quirky photo opportunities with giant jackalopes and dinosaurs. This roadside attraction draws approximately two million visitors annually with its unique blend of shopping, dining, and entertainment just 50 miles east of Rapid City.
15. Wind Cave National Park
UNDERGROUND WONDER WORLD
Wind Cave National Park protects one of the world's longest and most complex cave systems, featuring rare boxwork formations that can be explored through guided tours. Above ground, the park preserves one of the few remaining mixed-grass prairies in the United States where bison, elk, and prairie dogs roam freely. Located just an hour from Rapid City, the park offers a unique combination of subterranean wonders and surface ecosystem exploration.