4.5Mount Rushmore National Memorial(11.8k reviews) - Amazing evening show and monument in person is very memorable Saturday: 5:00 AM - 11:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours National Parks • Monuments & Statues
Sculptor Gutzon Borglum created this famous mountainside carving of the visages of four great American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.See more..
5.0Custer State Park(6.139 reviews) - Beautiful state park with lots of wildlife Spent < 1 hour State Parks
One of South Dakota’s most iconic landmarks, this park stands out for its granite peaks, rolling grasslands, and clear mountain waters. Stretching over 71,000 acres, Custer is home to abundant wildlife like bison, prairie dogs, bighorn sheep, and more. Drive down Wildlife Loop Road to spot the begging burros (they approach vehicles for food), hike the Little Devils Tower Trail for a bird’s eye view of the area, and go swimming or boating in one of its five lakes. With warm days and cool nights, summer is an ideal time to visit Custer. Don't miss out on exploring the rest of the Black Hills, including Mount Rushmore. – TripadvisorSee more..
4.5Falls Park(3.379 reviews) - Gem of the City Saturday: 5:00 AM - 12:00 AM Parks
Park with waterfalls where the river flows over many tiers of Sioux quartzite.See more..
4.5Rushmore Tramway Adventures(1.577 reviews) - Amazing zip line adventure Saturday: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Amusement & Theme Parks
Rushmore Tramway Adventures offers a little bit of something for everyone. From action-packed adventurers to enjoying the beautiful Black Hills with breath-taking views of Mount Rushmore National Memorial, people of all ages and abilities can find their inspiration. You just can't seem to go wrong with this family getaway during your summer vacation!See more..
4.5Jewel Cave National Monument(1.415 reviews) - A Must for Cave Lovers! Saturday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Spent More than 3 hours National Parks • Caverns & Caves
Jewel Cave National Monument is home to one of the longest caves in the world. Offering an assortment of cave formations and recreational opportunities, many visitors are truly amazed by this underground wilderness. Most impressive is the fact that exploration and discovery continue to take place at this significant natural resource. Please be advised that during the off-season (2020-2021), the visitor center, Park Store, surface trails, and picnic areas are open Thursdays through Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MDT. However, cave tours are suspended, due to an elevator construction project. For those visiting the monument, a one-way flow path is set up inside the visitor center, with directional signage for visitor awareness. Park rangers are on-site to answer questions and to assist with the ever-popular Junior Ranger and Pee Wee Ranger Programs. For specific questions and/or assistance, do not hesitate to contact the monument by phone or email in advance.See more..
5.0Badlands National Park(1.045 reviews) - Incredible views! Spent More than 3 hours National Parks
I was a little surprised to find that it was $25 to drive a motorcycle through the loop road, but it was worth every dollar. The views are incredible. The Badlands is such a unique place and worth the time. If driving I-90 take the extra time to go through.See more..
5.0Black Hills National Forest(909 reviews) - Black Elk Peak National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Forests
This empty expanse where Native Americans once roamed is now a national forest.See more..
We drove from Rapid City on hwy 90 and started from the west from a town named Wall. We stopped at the Ranger entrance and the cost was $30 or you can buy a one year pass for senior citizens for all parks for $20. The loop 240 road trip was wonderful. We stopped on all view sites. We enjoyed going there.See more..
4.5Minuteman Missile National Historic Site(850 reviews) - Very Interesting Saturday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Historic Sites • National Parks • History Museums
The Cold War was the defining historical event of the last half of the 20th century. It led to fear, panic, and distrust symbolized by a nuclear arms race between the United States and Soviet Union. The Minuteman Missile is an iconic weapon in the American nuclear arsenal. Minuteman Missile National Historic site consists of three sites along a fifteen mile stretch of Interstate 90 in Western South Dakota. The Visitor Center is located immediately north of I-90, exit 131. The Launch Control Facility Delta-01 is located four miles west (tickets required for entry) and the Delta-09 missile silo is fifteen miles west of the visitor center.See more..
4.5Storybook Island(818 reviews) - A fun little park that will bring you back! Saturday: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Amusement & Theme Parks
We are a non profit childrens park. 8 1/2 acres of outdoor fun! We have a train, carousel and Bippity Boppity Bounce, the cost is $2 per person for each of these. We have concessions on site as well as a gift shop. We are free admission in the summer, a $1 per person donation is recommended. We DO NOT allow outside food, drink or pets. We open for the summer season on Memorial Weekend and Close on Labor Day.See more..
4.5Wind Cave National Park(713 reviews) - Intricate Formations Spent 1-2 hours National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Caverns & Caves
We took the Natural Entrance tour. Our tour guide Abby was excellent! This tour takes you down through the caves to view the various formations including the popcorn, frost and box cut which was very intricate and different from anything else I have seen in other caves. The gallery is interesting and worth the walk through before the tour. I would recommend buying your tickets on line ahead of time if you don’t want to spend a lot of time waiting around. We arrived at 9:20 (on a Weekday) and the first available of any tour was 11:30. After purchasing our tour tickets, we were able to drive around the rest of the park and enjoy the views-including several bison! Enjoyable and worth the ride.See more..
4.5Rush Mountain Adventure Park(707 reviews) - Sawyer and Keilana Rock! Spent More than 3 hours Amusement & Theme Parks
At Rush Mountain Adventure Park, you will find fun on all levels! Rush Mountain is the home of famous Rushmore Cave. Come and explore the stalactite-filled caverns of this amazing natural wonder on a fun and educational cave tour. Spend the day enjoying great amusement rides. You can soar through the sky on the Soaring Eagle Zipline Ride or try your skill at the Gunslinger 7-D Interactive Ride. Feel the rush as speed down the hill on the area's only coaster, the Rushmore Mountain Coaster. Climb on the Wingwalker Challenge Course, or the Sky Tykes Challenge Course is perfect for the younger adventurer. You are sure to have a great time, full of affordable family fun. It's a total must-do attraction for anyone coming to the Black Hills. Cave and attractions are open daily May-October and weekends in March and April. Check website for hours and admission prices.See more..
3.5WaTiki Indoor Waterpark Resort(545 reviews) - Good Clean Fun! Saturday: 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Water Parks
Newly renovated as of May 2022, WaTiki Indoor Waterpark is a totally tubular place for birthday parties, family reunions, or a splashin' good time. Grab your friends and family and come "slide in" to WaTiki Indoor Waterpark Resort! Guests and visitors are invited to enjoy over 30,000 square feet of pools and water-slides. The waterpark is open year-round and is conveniently located right off I-90 on Elk Vale Road at Exit 61. WaTiki is connected to Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, La Quinta Inn & Suites, Residence Inn by Marriott, and Home 2 Suites by Hilton which means we can accommodate every one in your pool party! We have an arcade, Starbucks, Sliders Bar and Grill, and Perkin's Restaurant all connected indoors to our waterpark! See you guys soon!See more..
5.0Yellow Mounds Overlook(208 reviews) - Highlight of the Park Spent < 1 hour National Parks • Lookouts • Geologic Formations
The Yellow Mounds are stunning. This area of the park is the most beautiful and the place to be as the landscape begins to change and wildlife begins to want to hang out more. Be sure to make a special trip to be around the Mounds in the evening to get some fantastic sunset pics and see the wildlife coming out and about. Great area!See more..
4.0Wild Water West(135 reviews) - Fun water park Saturday: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM Water Parks
The areas only inclusive Slides and Rides destination! With a 500,000 gallon wave pool, slide tower, Go-Karts, Mini Golf, Splash park, Bumper Boats, Swim-Up Bar and so much more!!See more..
5.0Roughlock Falls State Nature Area(126 reviews) - Beautiful area Spent 2-3 hours State Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Forests • Valleys
Hiked along the path of the beautiful falls. Met lots of locals. Always friendly, saying welcome to the Black Hills! (Loves that!). Nice place to spend a little, or a lot of time!See more..
Wylie Park is where you will find Aberdeen's magical theme park, Storybook Land. Follow the Yellow Brick Road to a land of enchantment inspired by familiar nursery rhymes. Visit the medieval castle or take a ride on the Storybook Land Express miniature train, carousel or balloon ride. The 210 acre park offers recreational opportunities including camping, picnicking, playground areas, swimming beach, miniature golf, softball, volleyball and miles of rambling recreational trails. For more information call 605-626-7015.See more..
4.5Main Street Square(98 reviews) - TOWN SQUARE SURROUNDED BY SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS Parks
Located in the heart of Downtown Rapid City, Main Street Square is a fun-filled public space that features special events, arts and culture, live concerts, seasonal ice skating and interactive fountains. Surrounded by the City of Presidents, boutiques, eateries and galleries, Main Street Square is a destination the whole family can enjoy.See more..
You can either drive on a dirt road or park on a paved road and hike a mile to the falls. Hubby and I hiked it. Easy hike and falls were amazing. Path was a bit muddy due to melting snow. There was a lot of damaged trees in this area from a tornado a while back. Also, you can either hike from here to Spearfish Falls 1.5 miles, or just drive back down the road a bit and park.See more..
4.5Canyon Lake Park(76 reviews) - Absolutely Gorgeous Park! Canyons • Parks
If you have not been to Canyon Lake Park - go! Now. Don't wait. Its just beautiful! Lakes, ducks, geese, beautiful big, old amazing trees and on a cold day or a hot one, its the place to be. If you like photography, its a great place for that. Nice walking trails and plenty of space to roam and pet friendly because I've seen many pet owners with their dogs there. Go see for yourself.See more..
5.0Panorama Point Overlook(60 reviews) - The WOW factor comes to life here. Spent < 1 hour National Parks • Geologic Formations
Breathtakingly beautiful landscapes, beyond our wildest imagination! We arrived after a raging thunderstorm that turned the sky purple with huge thunder clouds.The short burst of torrential rain washed the spires and formations to reveal their rich colors in the late afternoon sunshine that followed. The kids (and adults) loved climbing and adventuring in the moonscape-like terrains. What nature and God conspired to create is truly a marvel worth experiencing at least once in your lifetime.See more..
4.5Petrified Wood Park(52 reviews) - Must stop if you’re remotely close Historic Sites • Parks
One of many stops in the area. Great small SD community. The real North West. Park is a sight to see. Museum is a great step back in time. Absolutely fantastic See more..
We just happened to see the Veterans Park as we pulled into the parking lot for the Mexican restaurant we were having dinner at. We drove over after dinner. It was a lovely Friday night, looking at all the monuments, signs, and just remembering the sacrifices that are made for all of us!! Beautiful trees, plants, paths, and it was much larger than what I thought it would be!!See more..
4.0Thunder Road(48 reviews) - Fun racing go carts Saturday: 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Amusement & Theme Parks
Thunder Road Fun Park is an indoor and outdoor entertainment center with for all ages. The outdoor entertainment center includes two Go-kart tracks, Adventure Mini-Golf, Tilt-A-Whirl, Adventure, Laser Maze, Euro-Bungy Trampoline, Water Wars, and Batting Cages. The indoor entertainment center has 8 Lanes of traditional bowling and next generation HyperBowling, an arcade, two story laser tag, 7D Theatre, mini-bowling, Spin Zone bumper cars, ax throwing lanes, birthday party rooms, corporate event rooms, a snack bar, and a full service restaurant and bar. The Free Parking, No Admission, and Free picnic areas. Remember the Fun!See more..
4.5Terrace Park(44 reviews) - A very nice public park Parks
This park is a little tricky to find but well worth it. It houses the Japanese Garden of Sioux Falls and this is enough for a visit itself. The Garden snakes along a winding path and is filled with well maintained trees, shrubs and perennial plants. When we were there, there was a wonderful concert with a very talented singer and the orchestra of Sioux Falls. That made for a very pleasant evening. Parking is free. We parked outside of the park in a bordering neighborhood.See more..
The Spearfish Rec & Aquatics Center is good for the whole family! Rec Center, Fitness Center, Group Fitness Classes, Cardio Room, Weight Room, Gymnasium, Outdoor Seasonal Water Park, Water Slides, Concessions, After School Activities, and much more. We are open year round as the perfect place to get in shape, stay in shape, play, and soak up the sun.See more..
4.5Bigfoot Pass Overlook(35 reviews) - read the history Spent < 1 hour National Parks • Geologic Formations
Bigfoot Pass was a route used by Lakota leader Spotted Elk to evade the US Army. there is a history associated with this pass. approximately 200 Hunkpapa Lakota fled to join Chief Spotted Elk, also known as Big Foot, and his band of Miniconjou Lakota at the Cheyenne Reservation. This group departed for the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation on December 23, seeking refuge with Chief Red Cloud. Five days later, a detachment of the 7th Calvary met the traveling group and escorted them to Wounded Knee Creek. The next day (December 29, 1890), tensions rose and the 7th Calvary massacred an estimated 150-300 men, women, and children at Wounded Knee. another great stop during the Badlands scenic drive. It is perfect for photos and it shows a different type of vegetation than the rest of the park.See more..
4.5White River Valley Overlook(34 reviews) - Spectacular Overlook in the Badlands Spent < 1 hour National Parks • Geologic Formations
Spectacular views. This was one of my favorites stops of the many overlooks along the Badlands Loop Road. Make sure to walk out onto the rocks for an even better experience.See more..
4.5Homestead Overlook(32 reviews) - Where the Prairie Meets the Badlands Spent < 1 hour National Parks • Geologic Formations
From Homestead Overlook, one can look down at the last few jagged, colorful ridges of the Badlands and then the vast expanse of the prairie beyond; as one peers out over the prairie one can imagine the trials of pioneers as they homesteaded this unforgiving land. Visiting in mid-June, this turned out to be one of our favorite Badlands overlooks as the fresh, bright-green grass of the prairie contrasted beautifully with the reds and buffs of the layered rocky ridges. The scene was made even more beautiful by the scattered storms in the area making for dramatic skies and lighting.See more..
4.5Burns Basin Overlook(28 reviews) - Ravines, ravines, ravines Spent < 1 hour National Parks • Geologic Formations
Rocky barren hillsides veer off into steep ravines. So many ravines, in fact, you could easily get lost in them.See more..
4.5Conata Basin Overlook(27 reviews) - Short boardwalk to see view Spent < 1 hour National Parks • Geologic Formations
The Conata Basin Overlook can be viewed by walking to the end of a straight boardwalk. The boardwalk is about 500 feet long. It is was worth a 10 minute stop.See more..
4.0Memorial Park(25 reviews) - A wonderful evening for our family! Spent 1-2 hours Parks
We had dinner at Rapid City downtown and after dinner we walked over to check it out. Didn’t expect much but it turned out to be one of the most relaxing evening for our family. We ran on the path together, played in the super nice and fun playgrounds, watched River and ducks on the water. The weather can’t be more perfect❤️ if you have a couple of hours to spare, walk over here to check it out. So relaxing See more..
We stayed 3 nights at the Lake Vermillion Campground and loved it. What a pretty area and beautiful lake. There are campsites lakeside and also a loop. The sites are large and roomy. We loved all the "Christmas" tree type pines throughout the park. Very peaceful and quiet. You will find a few boats on the lake on weekends but no one infringes on your site. The campground had lots of rabbits so keep your dogs on a leash. We also encountered finding some ticks on our dog but we kept an eye out for them so wasn't a problem. We did some hiking trails within the park and saw the dam there also. Great place for fishing. We thoroughly enjoyed our lakefront real estate for our 3 days in the park.See more..
5.0Tuthill Park(19 reviews) - Beautiful park with a great sledding hill. Parks
Tuthill park is a beautiful, big park with lots of trees, a playground, frisbee golf, and an amazing sledding hill.See more..
Many shady camping spots. Several nice overlooks. Some of the best and cleanest restrooms I have seen at a campground. See more..
4.5Founders Park(17 reviews) - Park and see Saturday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Parks
This is a very good park near Rapid Creek. There is hiking and biking riding. But I liked the history information. It was near here that Rapid City got its start in 1876. About 12 men laid out the mile square city street grid. I found out the streets are based on magnetic north , not true north because they just used their magnetic compasses.See more..
4.5Fort Sisseton State Park(16 reviews) - Very nice park, nice tours, good stop for history buffs State Parks • Parks
Stopped here to eat lunch, nice park and campground, you can tour the fort which has a ton of history and is mostly outdoors. They have reenactments during certain hours, and you can walk into most of the buildings or parts of them. We only stopped for an hour but could have spent more time here. It is NOT by any services though, so if you need gas or food, get it before.See more..
4.0Fort Pierre National Grassland(16 reviews) - Spring Prairie Chickens drumming and puffing - Great Observation National Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas
Just a few miles outside of Pierre is a 116,000-acre block of public land made up of rolling hills and prairie and serving as home to antelope, mule deer, prairie dogs, prairie chickens and myriad waterfowl. Many small, scattered dams offer great fishing.See more..
This area provides a great variety of hiking terrain. There are open prairie, light forest, hilly inclines, and gradual slopes. The scenic overlooks with informational signage are great and there's always a map posted along the way to help you get around. Great place to spend a few hours. The visitor center hasn't been open due to the pandemic but the restrooms are open.See more..
4.5Arrowhead Park(15 reviews) - Nice paved path Spent 1-2 hours Bodies of Water • Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks
Nice paved path with some unpaved hiking also the area has a couple lil quarry rock ponds. Sometimes there are a lot of geese on the path tho.See more..
4.0Split Rock Park(14 reviews) - Located on SplitRock Creek, Shady, smaller camp sites. Spent 1-2 hours Parks
Enjoy quartzite rock formations along Split Rock River and interesting architecture of the WPA featuring a dam with waterfall, bathhouse, bridges and rock wall with flower garden. The quartzite used in the structures was hand quarried locally. Primitive camping, canoeing, fishing, hiking, picnicking are just some of the activities to enjoy with your familySee more..
This is a set of springs in a very dry area south of town. Place to picnic and soak your feet. A mile further south is Cascade park which is a swimming hole with very clean water since it originates in the springs.See more..
5.0Sertoma Park(13 reviews) - Beautiful Park and Walking Trails Spent 2-3 hours Parks
This is a wonderful place to go for a walk! In the fall the colors are awesome. Great place for family or engagement photos!See more..
4.5Watertown Family Aquatic Center(11 reviews) - Great place Water Parks The life guards are very attentive, place is usually pretty clean and has a lot of options. Nice option for a town this size. See more..
4.0Spearfish City Park(11 reviews) - Wonderful Park!!!! Spent < 1 hour Bodies of Water • Parks • Playgrounds
What an awesome park! You can tell history, education and family are important to the people of Spearfish. It was a super clean, graffiti-gree park with the beautiful spearfish creek swiftly flowing through it. A man was fly fishing, kids were tubing down the creek, families were picnicking, bird chirping... like a Norman Rockwell painting for sure! Lots of historical signage explaining the fish hatchery and other historic buildings on site. The hatchery was very neat - with some of the biggest trout I've ever seen. Very well kept with walking paths. There was also a veteran's memorial area adjacent to the park. What a really cool town! Makes me want to move here (except for the hellish winters :)See more..
My child and I go to Splash Zone a lot as it provides my child alot of inside exercise and fun in what is typically a very snowy town to live in the winter months. Splash zone has a large pool with 2 slides, a large rectangle hot tub that could fit about 20 people in, a flat fountain area for the small toddlers that has numerous fountains, small slides, and sprayers etc. and finally it has the lazy river that has tubes and water buckets placed all around you waiting to dump on you. You can order food from the restaurant across the hall or get quick pool snacks from their own concession area. They will let you order outside pizza but frown on bringing your other snacks in. It costs $6 for non-hotel residents to swim and there is no time-limit, you can stay all day if you want. This is a great option to get good recreational fun in while the cold and snow is outside.See more..
4.0Sica Hollow State Park(9 reviews) - Beautiful State Park, especially lovely with autumn leaves. Spent More than 3 hours State Parks
Sica Hollow is a popular place to enjoy creation, especially in the fall when the leaves are particularly beautiful. There are beautiful trails for hiking, mountain biking and horse riding.See more..
We only stayed at campground one night but the lake was large and the sunset was lovely. There is a nice boat ramp and the rv sites are huge!See more..
