Do you like mammoth bones and/or paleontology? If so, this is one of the best locations in North…read moreAmerica. A Land developer, who was planning to build new homes, stumbled onto this mammal trap and donated it to the government. So far, they have discovered #67 mammoth bones among other mammals. Be prepared for at least 2 hours of history and excitement (or maybe more) via a scanned qr code audio lecture and 15 mt feature movie. However, you and your traveling companions will enjoy every minute of their experience.

Was visiting from out of town and decided to visit the Mammoth Site. Not sure what to expect, we…read morewent in with an open mind. It starts off with a movie explaining how the area was created and how the mammoths ended up in the sink hole and ultimately meeting their demise. After the movie you head into another room which exposes the mammoths bones in the sink hole. As you walk around the path they have QR codes for you to listen to recordings explaining what you are viewing. It is set up perfectly! You then enter another room showing items from another site. Very educational for both adults and children. A must see for sure!!

I definitely recommend putting this on something you go and visit in your lifetime. It is a very…read moreamazing monument from the time you walk up through the main gate you can start to see the monument and it's just amazing at the work that was put into it they have lined the pathway with the flags from all 50 states and it just kinda gives you this amazing walk up experience and that if you haven't seen you early enjoy. My family and I spent about an hour and a half there which is a great amount of time you can walk up get some great photos plenty of park Rangers around to talk to get directions and tell you a little bit more about the park They do offer videos certain times of the day that are very informative. They have a full-blown theater at the foot of the mountain, which is really amazing when people can perform and things like that which I had no idea that was there until later. And then they have this amazing easy to travel trail. You can do about 50% of it with the stroller and get close up to the monument and take a great photo but then there comes an area where it says I have almost 450 steps so we stopped right there and turned back, but it does do a loop around the whole area with spectacular views. I definitely think that this is a great place to go and visit really peaceful place well-maintained. They do have restaurants and gift shops there so if you're ever in South Dakota, go and give this place a visit

Last summer, June 2025 - completed my quest to visit all 50 states. ND and SD were my last two -…read moreand no visit to SD would be complete if you didn't stop off to see Mount Rushmore. I don't remember how much parking was. There are signs there. Or check the site. Just follow the signs, grab a ticket and pay for it at one of the kiosks. It's not rocket science. You'll figure it out. Usual shops for gifts and things but know it's tourists' prices. Multiple exhibits where you can learn about how the memorial came to be before taking a walk on the trail that gives you a closer look. Don't forget to grab some shots of the way leading up to the memorial of all 50 states' flags and plaques. Admission is free - and check the site for different events like lighting ceremonies. Didn't catch that but maybe next time. I say that because I can see myself visiting the area again. Lots to see and do out there.

Crazy Horse Memorial was honestly one of the most impressive stops of our entire South Dakota road…read moretrip. Pictures really do not prepare you for how massive this mountain carving actually is in person. The scale is unbelievable, and learning that it has been actively worked on since 1948 makes it even more fascinating. What surprised me most was how much there is to do besides just looking at the mountain. The museums, cultural exhibits, artwork, and history throughout the memorial made the experience feel much deeper and more meaningful. You can tell there is a huge focus on honoring Native American culture and preserving history, which made the visit feel educational as well as visually incredible. We also highly recommend doing the bus tour to get closer to the carving because it really helps you understand the size and detail of the project. The views from the property are beautiful, and there are so many great photo opportunities everywhere you look. If you are visiting the Black Hills or heading to Mount Rushmore, this is absolutely worth adding to your itinerary. It ended up being one of the most memorable places we visited in South Dakota, and I would definitely go back again. Check out our videos on our socials @reessroots

Rip Off! $12 a person and you can't even get to the sight unless you pay another $5 a person…read more You can see what you want to see from the road - stop and take a picture and save your time and money. In addition, it's a scam, because the carving has barely changed in 40 years. This will never be a finished product. Don't waste your money at this private site.

What a precious pit stop to travel back in time. There are three full floors to explore and the…read morebest part is that you are encouraged to touch almost everything - which was perfect for our rambunctious kiddos. The rooms are so well thought out and it was a lovely adventure for our family. We spent 1 1/2 hours here and enjoyed the visit very much.

It's been 4 years since we visited to this museum. We live in Los Angeles and I still often think…read moreabout this place! It was probably one of the coolest museums I've been to. I've seen some pretty cool ones, but this place was something special. My son and I spent a couple hours exploring the old school house and there are so many artifacts of times gone by. My son at the time was 6 so his attention span at that age was minimal...yet he had a wonderful time at this place and was fully engaged and asking questions. I am now writing this review because I was just talking about it this morning after 4 years! A must go to if you're in the area visiting. The staff were lovely people.

This is a beautiful drive and cool tunnel. We really enjoyed soaking in all of the views! The rock…read moreformations along this drive are so beautiful! The tunnel is narrow so fold your mirrors in if you have a larger vehicle! Only one car can fit at once so take your turn. This whole area is so beautiful so make sure to stop to take in the views! It can get more crowded as the day goes on, so I would recommend going early if possible. Highly recommend checking this place out!

Had spent the morning in the southern area of Custer State Park, and the afternoon was going to be…read morethe Needles Highway, followed by Mount Rushmore. It was a little bit drizzly, but the sites were still amazing as we drove the ever winding path. The tunnels were pretty crazy, one in particular being extra narrow! We were in a big SUV, but we were following a big SUV, so I figured if the car in front of us made it, we would! This is a great drive to make if you're in the Rapid City area.

Flood control, irrigation, and recreation. For us, this was just a beautiful and restful stop on a…read morelong driving day from Wyoming to South Dakota. Photographs don't fully capture the beauty of the area. Sept, 2024.

Such a beautiful lake. Reminds me of Emerald lake in Lake Tahoe. The first day we did the reservoir…read morewhich is an overlook with a large parking lot to take photos. The next day we went to the actual lake to swim and kayak. It's $7 to enter the parking lot for day use and free if you have the State pass. There are two boat launching area but only one swimming area. Plenty of picnic tables. If you want to rent equipment, you'll need to drive further up. Saw people fishing in this area. If you bring your own food, make sure to pack a trash bag because we did see any trash cans near us. Also wear water shoes, it's really rocky in the water. Bring floaties and everything that will make your day complete.

Seeing the faces of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln up close is already wild, but…read morewalking the Presidential Trail takes it to another level. It's a short loop (0.6 miles) with stairs and boardwalks that bring you closer to the sculpture, with different angles you don't get from the main overlook. There are a good amount of stairs, but it's broken up with scenic spots and benches along the way. Honestly, it made the whole visit feel more immersive instead of just a viewpoint stop.

Mount Rushmore genuinely surprised me -- and I don't say that easily. Growing up, I watched Richie…read moreRich (1994) and saw Mount Rushmore on screen for the first time as a kid. From that moment, I told myself I had to visit it someday. Fast forward to 2026 -- I finally made it happen, standing right there with my own kid. That full-circle moment alone made the trip unforgettable. The Presidential Trail loop is 0.6 miles but don't underestimate it -- 425 stairs and a strenuous path that takes you right up close under the monument. It's a real hike, but every step is worth it. The Sculptor's Studio is just 0.2 miles in if you need a shorter option. Entry to the monument itself is free -- just $10 for parking, valid for a full year. If you're passing through South Dakota, this is non-negotiable. Stop. Walk the trail. Read the history. Take the photos. You won't regret it.

A temporarily placed statue of Pres. Lincoln outside the Hotel Alex Johnson, Don Perdue came up…read morewith the idea to put a life-sized statue of every U.S. President on the sidewalks of Downtown Rapid City. Each statue is privately funded, then a local artists is selected . They research the president ; learning their passions, hobbies & achievements during their presidency. Well known mannerisms or characteristics are incorporated. This information helps to decide on the pose, facial expression, clothing, and all the amazingly tiny details found on each statue. After they have their concept the sculpting work can begin. It can take up to 9 months for each statue to be created. All the statues match the height & weight of the president except one. Pres. Taft's statue was trimmed down from his actual weight to make the monument affordable. A new audio tour allows us to get to know each as people, not just presidents. We can now dial in or scan the QR code found in the brochure to read along. The audio will even point out those tiny details the artist added info we might overlook.

We were in the area for Mount Rushmore, and were looking for other historic things to do/see. The…read moreFounding Fathers exhibit is really a unique experience. Being able to walk around a display with that kind of detail is impressive. I just wish that there was a bit more included in the price. It is $12 per person (discounts for large families/groups). This price includes a light and audio show (about 20 min) of a life size replica of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. For $30 per person, you get to see the show and shoot 3 shots from a musket at the range out back. The light and audio show was a pretty standard museum type explanation of the events surrounding the Declaration of Independence and the people involved. It's well done and fun to look at. They have information around the room to look at afterwards that gives you a background of all the people mentioned. The stories on them are worth taking a few minutes to read and was probably my favorite part. We really just didnt get enough out of it to make it worth the stop, especially for the price. We were in and out of there in less than an hour. We loved the idea of being able to shoot the replica guns out back and it would have been a fun way to complete the experience, but for $30 each it just didn't make sense. I'm glad we checked it out, but its needs a bit more included to make the detour worth it.

At this overlook we had a view above the Badlands. It was a very smelly tree here and garbage…read morereceptacles. We followed the boardwalk for a view over the Badlands. that's priceless.

As I came down HWY 240 and made my way through the entrance gate to Badlands NP, I knew I was in…read morefor something amazing. Pinnacles Overlook is the first pullover spot from after the entrance station in the Northwest part of the park and is a tremendous way to start your loop. (Don't worry, if you start at the Northeast, Big Badlands Overlook is just as spectacular). I recommend taking a few extra minutes to walk down from the parking area to the viewing area if you're able to.