Things to Do in Rapid City

This thriving region, which is located on the eastern slopes of the scenic Black Hills, provides you with numerous opportunities to roam the great outdoors with the people you love; yet as a modern city it also features wonderful shopping, exciting nightlife and dining. It’s time to get away from it all and head straight to Rapid City, South Dakota.

1. The Festive Heart of Downtown

Start with a visit to Main Street Square, Rapid City's vibrant community gathering place. On a nice sunny day, it's the perfect area to relax by the fountains where water streams dance to catchy music during occasional show times. In the winter, rent skates and join the locals gliding across the surface of the huge outdoor skating rink. Throughout the year, this is where you'll find the city's many fairs, festivals and special events, including Thursday night concerts from May through September.

2. Art in the Alley

Located down an alley in the heart of Rapid City’s buzzing downtown is Art Alley, a couple of graffiti-filled blocks also decorated with wheatpaste posters and smaller paintings tackling a wide variety of themes. This installation, if you can even call it that, is worth exploring. Don't be surprised if you see folks with cans of spray paint adding to the walls, since this alley is treated as a public arts project for the community to dabble on.

3. A Parade of Presidents

While the iconic faces of four presidents on Mount Rushmore is less than an hour away, you can see all the U.S. presidents standing tall on Rapid City's downtown street corners. Pick up a guidebook at the Presidents Info Center—open from June through September—on the corner of 7th and Main Street. A casual stroll around six city blocks will take you by all the bronze statues depicting those who've held the highest office in the land. It doesn't matter if you start your walk heading east or west. The presidents aren’t lined up in chronological order.

4. Scenic Spearfish Canyon

An explosion of bright red, gold, orange and yellow leaves makes Spearfish Canyon a premium destination for photographers and nature lovers in the fall. But any time of year is picturesque along the 22-mile scenic drive that takes you by plunging waterfalls, tree-covered hills and a creek that roars through the gorge, depending on the time of year. The drive is only 90 minutes, but you’ll want to make plenty of stops to take in the views, enjoy lunch at a local eatery, and—yes—take lots of pictures!

5. The Wild West of Deadwood

Take a day trip to the Wild West boom town of Deadwood to check out the shootout reenactment on Main Street, which happens Monday through Saturday during the summer months. For more western fun, take a walking tour of the historic downtown area where the ghosts of Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok may still roam. Although the days of the Gold Rush might be long gone, there are still plenty of casinos in Deadwood to strike it rich that are worth checking out.

6. Up Close with Wildlife

Take the 3-mile drive through Bear Country USA Park to get nearly face-to-face with black bears, buffalo, bobcats and other native species—all from the safety of your own car. Check the schedule before you go; the park's hours vary depending on the season and weather. Bear Country is just eight miles south of Rapid City, and the entrance fee is based on age and the number of people in your vehicle.

7. Playtime for the Little Ones

Let your kids revel in the magic of fairy tales and bedtime stories at Storybook Island. Admission is free for the whole family, although there are nominal charges for some special shows, and the theme park is open every day from Memorial Day to Labor Day. You'll find depictions of nursery book characters in the park, interactive playgrounds, magic shows, a carousel and a miniature train ride. Buy snacks and ice cream inside the park, or bring your own sandwiches and drinks to enjoy at the picnic tables outside the gates.

8. Finding Black Hills Gold

Tour underground gold mine caverns at Big Thunder Gold Mine. Located a half-hour south of Rapid City, this historic mine facility offers tours daily through the summer season and by appointment from November through April. You can also try your hand at gold panning, see the cool collection of old-fashioned mining equipment in the museum and snack on South Dakota specialties at the Big Thunder Company Store. Back in town, take the free tour of Riddle's Jewelry factory to see Black Hills gold being transformed into wearable pieces.

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