We are in Rapid City, SD for the first time and are staying at Happy Holiday RV Park off of 16. There are so many attractions to see here. Besides the obvious, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Deadwood and numerous caves, what else would anyone suggest we see and do in this area? We would appreciate your insight and opinions on things that are great and worth paying to see. Thank you in advance for your replies.

I've been there many times, and the things that I enjoyed the best were:Custer State park, wildlife loopNeedles highwayWind CaveJewel CaveSpearfish canyonIron Mountain roadBadlands (day trip)

I believe it is called Bear Country. It is a drive through animal park. The kids loved the bear cubs!!!

If you are into old bones, check out the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs. Also, keep in mind that parking for Mt Rushmore is good for a year, so go once during the day, again at night for the lighting ceremony.Custer State Park is a nice drive, and make sure to drive up Needles Highway. There are also several picturesque lakes, Sylvan Lake and smaller ones. Great for a picnic or just sitting and reading a good book.Reviews I read of Crazy Horse said the tour is really not worth it unless you are really into native American culture. You can get a good view of the sculpture from the road, and that was enough for me. Others' mileage may vary.

go check out the Museum of Geology 501 E Saint Joseph St Rapid City, SD 57701(605) 394-2467in Rapid City at the School of Mines. And take a walking tour to see the Presidents bronzes in town. The presidents are life-size, standing as pedestrians on the street corners of downtown Rapid City.

X2 - I first went to the museum nearly 60 years ago, it's really great and new stuff is being added all the time. As I remember there was a minimum entrance fee if anything, maybe just a donation. tkcas01 has the right perspective on Crazy Horse.

What's really worth paying to see in Rapid City, SD?

bobsallyh
Explorer II
Jul 11, 2013
The airplane museum at Ellsworth AFB just next door to Rapid in Box Elder. If you are going to be around at Sturgis time, just day trip to Sturgis, check out the sites, be sure to look in the front windows of the "ink artists" (tat parlors)as some do the artistry directly in the window. Play golf at the Elks Lodge course and visit all the pre-mentioned sites.
LindaAnn
Explorer
Jul 11, 2013
Definitely Deadwood...take a walk downtown and visit some neat shops and the bar where Wild Bill Hickok was shot...and the cemetery where he and Annie Oakley are buried. Also Kevin Costner owns a bar/casino downtown.

And as another poster suggested--definitely Bear Country--my husband and I loved it (as did our little dog--she got a doggie treat at the entry gate and loved looking out the truck window at the bears and wolves, etc) After the drive-thru, you can visit a small zoo with just baby animals.
tatest
Explorer II
Jul 11, 2013
Depends on your preferences. What's worth seeing for me is the Badlands landscape, prairie wildlife, and geology. Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse monuments to me are graffiti, but those are what my children want to take their children to see.

Historical reconstructions and living history museums, I can go either way. Some appeal to the anthropologist and historian in me, others go to far with the Hollywood-style reenactment of things that didn't actually happen outside the movies, but that appeals to other people, else they wouldn't be making money doing the show.

Sturgis is about an annual event, rather than the place itself. If you are into biker gatherings, it might be worth going at that time, but I wouldn't be taking children. As a biker gathering, I think Sturgis is better than Myrtle Beach, but doesn't come close to Daytona. There are many other gatherings, different times and different places, certainly haven't been to them all.
rr2254545
Explorer
Jul 11, 2013
LindaAnn wrote:
Definitely Deadwood...take a walk downtown and visit some neat shops and the bar where Wild Bill Hickok was shot...and the cemetery where he and Annie Oakley are buried. Also Kevin Costner owns a bar/casino downtown.

And as another poster suggested--definitely Bear Country--my husband and I loved it (as did our little dog--she got a doggie treat at the entry gate and loved looking out the truck window at the bears and wolves, etc) After the drive-thru, you can visit a small zoo with just baby animals.

We took a tour of deadwood in an old school bus it was great
beckid
Explorer
Jul 11, 2013
dennisgt60 wrote:
We enjoyed the 1880 train ride between Hill City and Keystone and lunch in Keystone. As others recommended, the Needles Highway drive is quite scenic. Have a great time!

We also loved the train ride and the little ones had a ball. Did it last summer and they still talk about it!
Modracer
Explorer
Jul 11, 2013
All of the above, plus we made a daytrip to Devils Tower.
cman60
Explorer
Jul 11, 2013
All the above plus the museum in Hill City.
BobR
Explorer
Jul 11, 2013
Storybook Island is a nice stop for young children.
luvstorv
Explorer
Jul 12, 2013
Thanks to all of you who replied. We took the Grayline bus tour of Mt. Rushmore, rode an 1880's steam engine train from Keystone to Hill City, Crazy Horse Monument, Custer State Park and the pigtail bridges. It was awesome!! It's unbelievable to see the amazing sculpture! We had a great bus driver who was very informative about everything.

We are definitely going to see Deadwood and we want to go back to Hill City to spend some time. We also want to go see Bear Country, Reptile Gardens and downtown Rapid City.

We are having a wonderful time! Thanks again to all of you. :)
Sgeorge
Explorer
Jul 12, 2013
X2 on Reptile Gardens and Bear Country. Its been 7yrs since we took our two kids there. One is married and the other off to college and they still bring up those two areas as favorites. Another two great memories of vacationing with our kids. I sure miss them being out of the house.