Rapid City Your Way: Mix-and-Match Itinerary Ideas
Short on time or planning a longer stay in Rapid City? We’ve got you covered. This flexible mix-and-match itinerary lets you explore the best of the area at your own pace. Whether you're strolling downtown, driving scenic byways or chasing adventure, you can create a custom experience. With a variety of attractions grouped by interest, you can mix-and-match stops for a quick day trip or spread them out over multiple days to soak it all in. If you're an art lover, history buff, wildlife watcher or outdoor enthusiast, Rapid City has something for you!
Mix-and-Match Tips:
For a full day packed with adventure, select around four or five attractions. We recommend pulling something from each category featured to maximize your experience! Be sure to also reference the approximate time we recommend spending at each attraction. More time can be spent at each depending on shows, events and other special offerings you wish to participate in.
Want to build your perfect itinerary on the go? Download the Rapid City app to easily explore, map and organize your must-see stops all in one place.
Arts and Culture
Arts and culture can be found throughout Rapid City in various forms. Enjoy a day discovering galleries filled with local artwork all the way to admiring the architecture of a wooden chapel! This category is mostly on foot, perfect for walking downtown.
The Journey Museum
Recommended Time: 2 hours
The Journey Museum will take you on an incredible trek through time, from the formation of the Black Hills over 2.5 million years ago to today’s continued story of the Western Frontier. Native American culture has a strong presence at this museum, as well as historical events in and around Rapid City.
Prairie Edge Trading Co. & Galleries
Recommended Time: 1 Hour
Explore local shops like Prairie Edge Trading Co. & Galleries, which spans half a block and stands two stories tall. Inside, you’ll browse a collection of unique locally made items along with captivating Native American artwork.
Main Street Square
Recommended Time: 1 Hour
Rapid City’s beloved public space comes to life with music, interactive fountains or skating and a variety of events throughout the year. Relax outside, and depending on the time of year, enjoy an ice cream or hot cocoa from the nearby Main Street Square Shops. Be sure to walk around and take in the 21-piece sculpture known as Passage of Wind and Water which reflects on the region's natural and cultural past, present, and future.
Art Alley
Recommended Time: 30 Minutes
Located in the alley between 6th and 7th Streets, Rapid City’s artists have left their mark. Known as Art Alley, these walls blend murals, street art and graffiti into a magical display of creative expression.
Dahl Arts Center
Recommended Time: 2 Hours
The Dahl Arts Center holds five visual art galleries that house rotating exhibits for local and regional artists, an interactive children’s gallery and a flexible event center. Visitors can also view the Cyclorama Mural of American History which showcases over 200 years of U.S. economic history, shop in their gift shop for unique finds or participate in an art class to get hands-on.
Suzie Cappa Art Center
Recommended Time: 1 Hour
Suzie Cappa Art Center supports and displays inspirational artwork from artists of all abilities. Enjoy a self-guided walk-through of the gallery and discover a place that believes having a disability is not a boundary and that all people can be creative in a supportive environment.
Dakota Drum Company
Recommended Time: 30 Minutes
Dakota Drum Company specializes in hand-painted traditional buffalo hides and drums by local Lakota artist Sonja Holy Eagle. Sonja is in the store for almost every painting so visitors can meet the artist behind these beautiful creations.
Chapel in the Hills
Recommended Time: 2 Hours | Transportation Required
Explore outside of downtown with a visit to the Chapel in the Hills, located on the west side of Rapid City near Canyon Lake Park. This stavkirke is an exact replica of the Borgund Stavkirke in Laerdal, Norway. You can admire the Norwegian architecture and explore the beautiful grounds for free.
Mt. Rushmore Black Hills Gold
Recommended Time: 1 Hour | Transportation Required
Tour the inner workings of the Mt. Rushmore Black Hills Gold Factory! This free one-hour tour showcases the unique craftsmanship that takes place to bring each piece of hand-crafted Black Hills Gold to life. Witness the steps of the creation process then browse the gift shop for jewelry of your own. Reservations are required.
History
From fascinating museums to unique landmarks, these historical stops offer something new to discover around every corner. Whether you're exploring on foot or driving, you'll find a mix of accessible sites that bring the past to life in memorable ways.
Museum of Geology
Recommended Time: 2 Hours
Located on the campus of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, the Museum of Geology offers a fascinating display of skeletons from dinosaurs, marine reptiles and fish that once roamed South Dakota. You'll also find rare fossils and an impressive variety of minerals.
South Dakota Air & Space Museum
Recommended Time: 3 Hours | Transportation Required
At the South Dakota Air & Space Museum, visitors can walk through the history of aviation. They have over 30 vintage military aircrafts on display that range from World War II bombers up to the B-1 that is used today. Marvel at the size and innovation that have taken place over the years as you tour the indoor and outdoor exhibits of this educational and captivating museum.
Berlin Wall Exhibit | Memorial Park
Recommended Time: 30 Minutes
A unique and unexpected exhibit in Rapid City stands in Memorial Park near The Monument event center – a piece of the Berlin Wall. Spectators will find two tank traps and a few informational plaques.
City of Presidents
Recommended Time: 2 Hours
Take a self-guided walking tour through downtown Rapid City and meet life-sized bronze statues of every past U.S. president. As you stroll the streets, use the free City of Presidents Audio Tour to hear engaging audio stories about each president's legacy. It's the perfect way to experience history at your own pace.
Don't forget to pick up your City of Presidents map to take part in the scavenger hunt! Maps are available at the Rapid City Visitor Center from May through November, and at the Visit Rapid City office from December through April.
Fort Hays
Recommended Time: 2 Hours | Transportation Required
Discover the historically accurate shops of Fort Hays. A visit to this Old West town, which is home to the Dances with Wolves film set, is like stepping back in time. Learn about a variety of historical processes like spinning a tin plate, making a rope and forging hot iron. For a fun twist, hop on the Buffalo Hunt Coaster, a western-themed roller coaster with an interactive hunting game!
Wildlife
Mountain lions, bison and bears, oh my! Spend some time on the wild side with these attractions.
These attractions are best accessed by vehicle.
Bear Country USA
Recommended Time: 3 Hours
It’s not every day that you experience Black Bears surrounding your vehicle. Unless you’re enjoying Bear Country USA! Visitors to this drive-through wildlife park get a front-row view of over 20 species of North American wildlife.
Reptile Gardens
Recommended Time: 3 Hours
Tour the largest reptile zoo in the world – Reptile Gardens. Home to crocodiles, alligators, lizards, snakes, giant tortoises and a stunning botanical garden, a visit to Reptile Gardens is not only thrilling but educational for all!
Outdoor Campus – West
Recommended Time: 1 Hour
Learn more about the wildlife that call our area home with a visit to the Outdoor Campus – West. Here, you can get hands-on experience in hunting, fishing and other outdoor skills along with free educational classes. Inside the facility, they showcase exhibits of a variety of western South Dakota habitats and wildlife, including a 4,600-gallon freshwater aquarium!
Outdoor
Rapid City thrives on outdoor activities and so do many of its visitors. Great nature escapes can be found right in town for a variety of outdoor fun. Walkable or drivable, depending on how much time and energy you have!
Rapid Creek
Rapid Creek flows right through the middle of town, offering close, convenient and top-notch fly-fishing opportunities to everyone with a license. Known for its healthy population of Brown Trout, this urban stream is a favorite among anglers of all experience levels.
Skyline Wilderness Area
Take in the views and the fresh air hiking or biking right within city limits. You can find a great trail network at Skyline Wilderness Area, located right next to our favorite green friends at Dinosaur Park.
Hanson-Larsen Memorial Park
Across the divide from Skyline Drive stands Hanson-Larsen Memorial Park, home to the largest collection of trail networks in the city. Here you can bike, hike or boulder climb the day away, just five minutes from Downtown Rapid City.
Take a Narrated Tour
If you only have one day to explore the beauty of Rapid City, our trolley is the perfect solution. Grab your tickets and jump aboard our trolleys affectionately named Polly and Ollie. This City View tour is 2 hours long, narrated and highlights the best of Rapid.
Tickets are available for purchase at the Rapid City Visitor Center or online here.
*Trolley tours are seasonal, running from May to October.