Rapid City Attractions
Rapid City, the chief town of a wide surrounding area, lies on the eastern edge of the Black Hills, near Mount Rushmore. It is a good center from which to explore the Badlands National Park. The Museum of Geology, in the grounds of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, has large geological and mineralogical collections. The Sioux Indian Museum illustrates the history and everyday life of the Sioux Indians. Other popular attractions are the Dinosaur Park (with reproductions of prehistoric animals which once lived in this part of the world) and the Reptile Gardens (giant turtle). To the east of the town is the Air and Space Museum. The road to Mount Rushmore runs past Bear Country (a park through which visitors can drive in their own cars to see the bears).
Rapid City (pop. 62,000) is located in Pennington County.
Rapid City (pop. 62,000) is located in Pennington County.
Black Hills Caverns
Gold seekers discovered the Black Hills Caverns in 1882 but the Lakota Indians found strength in the calcite crystals centuries before. The cave has a variety of formations including logomites, stalagmites, helictites, purple amethyst, boxwork and popcorn crystal.
Hours
May 1 to June 14
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 |
| Close | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 |
June 15 to August 15
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 |
| Close | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 |
August 16 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 |
| Close | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 | 17:30 |
Guides
Guided tour included with admission.
Read More
Journey Museum
The Journey Museum focuses on the natural and cultural history of the area, including the formation of the Black Hills, the presence of the dinosaurs, the Native peoples, and the pioneer days.
Bear Country USA
Bear Country USA is located south of Rapid City. It is a drive-through wildlife park. Visitors will see North American Black Bear, wolves, mountain lions, elk, buffalo, deer, bighorn and dall sheep, and Rocky Mountain goats.
Hours
May 1 to May 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
June 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
September 1 to November 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Black Hills Maze
Black Hills Maze in Rapid City features a labyrinth of walkways, bridges and towers. Other family activities include miniature golf, batting cages, a climbing wall, and a water-balloon launch game.
Hours
May 1 to May 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | 8:30 | 10:00 |
| Close | 21:00 | 21:00 |
June 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 8:30 | 10:00 |
| Close | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 | 22:00 | 21:00 | 21:00 |
September 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | 8:30 | 10:00 |
| Close | 21:00 | 21:00 |
Circle B Ranch Chuckwagon Suppers & Western Music Show
Activities at Circle B Ranch Chuckwagon Suppers and Western Music Show west of Rapid City include miniature golf, gold panning, rubber band shooting gallery, horseshoes, children's playground, and pioneer wagon rides.
Hours
May 15 to September 15
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | ||||||
| Close |
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Restaurant or food service
Dahl Fine Arts Center
The Dahl Center in Rapid City houses the 180ft/55m oil-on-canvas panorama spanning 200 years of US history in the Cyclorama Gallery. The work was designed and painted by acclaimed muralist Bernard P Thomas. The center has a theater and two galleries that feature crafts, paintings, sculpture and original prints.
Dahl Fine Arts Center
713 Seventh Street
Rapid City, SD 57701-3613
United States
713 Seventh Street
Rapid City, SD 57701-3613
United States
Phone 1 (605) 394-4101
Fax 1 (605) 394-6121
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | Closed |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 19:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Discounts on
Friday
Ellsworth Air Force Base
Ellsworth Air Force Base features guided bus tours of the Air Combat Command base and Minuteman missile silo. The base was established in 1942 as a training location for B-17 Flying Fortress crews.
Flying T Chuckwagon Supper and Show
The Flying T Chuckwagon in Rapid City provides the authentic chuckwagon experience. Dinner is served on tin plates and offers a variety of dishes. After dinner the Flying T Wranglers entertain with Cowboy, Country and Blue Grass music with Family Comedy. Folks are welcome to take pictures with the band.
All values are in United States Dollars
Flying T Chuckwagon Supper and Show
8971 S Hwy 16
Rapid City, SD 57702
United States
8971 S Hwy 16
Rapid City, SD 57702
United States
Phone 1 (605) 342-1905
Fax 1 (605) 342-8471
Hours
May 15 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
| Close | 20:15 | 20:15 | 20:15 | 20:15 | 20:15 | 20:15 | 20:15 |
| Adult | $ 20.00 |
| Child 12 & under | $ 10.00 |
| Child 6 & under | $ 6.00 |
| Child 2 & under | FREE |
Leghorn Springs State Fish Hatchery
The hatchery raises more than 500,000 rainbow and brown trout. The interpretive center features video presentations and exhibits that present the effects on humans on the environment.
Museum of Geology
The Museum of Geology in Rapid City is a teaching and research facility with collections of more than 250,000 vertebrate fossils and 6,000 minerals. The collections feature mammalian fossils, marine and non-marine Jurassic and Cretaceous reptiles and mammals, and Black Hills pegmatite minerals.
Museum of Geology
501 East Saint Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701-3901
United States
501 East Saint Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701-3901
United States
Phone 1 (605) 394-2467
Fax 1 (605) 394-6131
Hours
May 25 to September 3
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 12:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 18:00 | 17:00 |
September 4 to May 24
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 10:00 | Closed |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Reptile Gardens
The Reptile Gardens in Rapid City is home to lizards, snakes, crocodiles, snakes, parrots, Komodo dragons, insects and amphibians. Many of the animals are featured in entertainment such as the Parrot Show, Alligator Show, Snake Show, and Birds of Prey Show. The floral gardens have more than 50,000 flowering plants.
All values are in United States Dollars
Hours
April 1 to May 27
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
May 28 to September 5
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
September 6 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
| Adult | $ 11.00 |
| Senior | $ 10.00 |
| Child 12 & under | $ 7.00 |
| Child 4 & under | FREE |
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Restaurant or food service
Rotary Storybook Island
Storybook Island in Rapid City is accessed by way of "London Bridge," a native stone bridge complete with castle turrets. The enchanted land depicts themes and characters from Fairyland, Mother Goose and other children's nursery rhymes and stories.
Storybook Island
1301 Sheridan Lake Road, Box 9196
Rapid City, SD 57709-9196
United States
1301 Sheridan Lake Road, Box 9196
Rapid City, SD 57709-9196
United States
Phone 1 (605) 342-6357
Fax 1 (605) 342-6377
Hours
May 28 to September 5
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
Sioux Pottery and Crafts
Sioux Pottery in Rapid City sells pottery that is designed and hand-crafted by Sioux Indian Artists. The pottery is made from the red clay of the Black Hills -- sacred to the Lakota People, and fine imported white clay from Kentucky.
Sioux Pottery and Crafts
1441 East Saint Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701-3993
United States
1441 East Saint Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701-3993
United States
Phone 1 (605) 341-3657
Fax 1 (605) 341-0534
Sitting Bull Crystal Caverns
The Sitting Bull Crystal Caverns has hexagonal calcite crystals called dogtooth spar. The water of Diamond Lake reflects the massive crystal ceiling like a giant mirror. Another natural formation includes the Petrified Fish Crevasse, a 110-foot long natural rock wall with fossilized prehistoric marine life.
Hours
May 1 to May 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
June 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 |
| Close | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 | 20:00 |
September 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Facilities
Gift shop
