So my husband and son stayed here at Big Sky Lodge two years ago on their guys' trip out West and were pleased enough with the accommodations to book it for our current week long stay in Rapid City. Now, I'm a bit of an admitted hotel snob, but my husband & I have been married over 25 years and he knows my limits and flexibility. He assured me the place was clean enough for my standards. We are Disney timeshare holders (DVC) and also patronize Airbnbs where we can. Otherwise I generally prefer at least a 3 star, Hampton Inn/Hilton Garden experience at a bare minimum. Sorry not sorry. This place is NOT that. It seems that since my husband's stay in 2018, and even since he booked our reservation earlier this year, ownership of the lodge has changed hands. While I'm appreciative that new ownership and the changes it brings, especially in this new normal of COVID, the service we have received this week has been dismal. I wasn't exactly impressed with the exterior when we arrived - the place is pretty 'vintage'. We were informed that there would be no routine room services performed due to COVID, and we found that we had had to repeatedly ask for things like towels, toilet paper and trash bags. This morning we specifically asked to have the room serviced since we've been here 4 nights now, yet we just returned from being out all day to freshly made beds, and nothing else. No towel restocking, no trash was emptied, no other cleaning, no supplies (hand soaps, in-room coffee supplies, etc) nothing. In my opinion this is pretty abysmal and completely out of the norm for a service industry. If a guest requests a room to be serviced, the staff should, at a minimum, prepare that room to a new guest-ready/turnover level. I was willing to overlook all the other stuff but today's experience was just a nudge too far. Who in the service industry goes into a room and ignores 3 trash cans that need to be emptied? Dead bug in the sink? We have 1 washcloth for 3 people. Nothing was vacuumed or wiped down and nothing restocked. We got a decent rate on this stay, but not good enough that I'm porting my own trash out on the regular and going to Walmart to buy toilet paper. This isn't a timeshare or Airbnb stay where more autonomy is expected on the guests' part. The hot tub is closed, which again, in the age of COVID is a no-brainer, but the area looks janky with a bunch of large rocks on the spa's lid. The front office hours are hit or miss and the 'breakfast offerings' are meager as well, with a few danishes and what looks like whatever yogurt cups were purchased the night before. No rhyme, reason, or standards. Interactions with staff have not been especially friendly or outgoing, odd behavior for a family-owned and run service-industry business. We have 3 more nights here and future return trips to Rapid City will be booked elsewhere. 2 stars because the view of Rapid City from up here is nice. Otherwise 1. read more

See all

What a fantastic find! Gorgeous view over the Rapid City Valley and hospitality was top notch. Connie, at check-in, was so nice. Even offering a tour to show off the property (which included a hot tub overlooking said fantastic view) and additional amenities (laundry, ice machine, breakfast nook etc). The room is a little small, but I cant imagine anyone spending a ton of time here (not sleeping) with so many things to do. We found it the perfect size for the two of us and our dog. Speaking of, this place is dog friendly, with an additional fee. Great grassy area (please be respectful owners, so this place continues to allow dogs) to play in. Not a lot of sidewalks on this part of town, so the grassy space was much appreciated. Not sure if I would get thr chance to stay here again, but I would book again for sure. read more

This place is super dated. The bed itself was clean but everything is very unimpressive and dated. The carpets are very stained and the light shade was disgusting. But again the bed was clean. For the price it was adequate. But I would be sure if I stayed there that I requested a room on the side that faces the city. You will probably see a wonderful sunrise. read more

See all

It's a very basic hotel. No hair dryers in the room. If you ask the front desk they seem to have some. No ironing board, though you can get an iron from the front desk. No hooks in the bathroom or anywhere else for that matter, to hang up towels. Not sure how you are supposed to get ice since there is no place to fill an ice bucket, but there is an ice freezer with bags of ice. No process for getting smaller amounts of ice. One of our rooms the door was really hard to get open, had to twist and then twist further though it seemed as if you might break the handle. The second room we had, the sink handle felt like you might break when turning on or off, it was almost like a work out. Also, this was just odd, one of the pictures in the room was still wrapped in plastic. Over all it is clean enough and there are mini fridges, microwave, and small coffee pots in the rooms. Cost is not as low as you might think for the bare bones, but it could be worse. Staff is really nice and friendly. I am sure I'll stay here again since the location is great for my travel needs, but will keep in mind a few extra items to bring myself. read more

I like that it was off the beaten path but yet close to town. The rooms were very clean. The air condition kept our room very chill. Staff was accommodating and the house keeping kept right on top of all of trash and towel needs. For its price point it's a good find and right on your way to Mt. Rushmore. Wouldn't hesitate to book again. read more

Not great WiFi but nice place, quiet and accessible close to rapid city and the badlands.

Let me first make it clear that I am currently on a kick with roadside motels- the kind that pull off cleanliness, friendliness, complimentary breakfast and super cheap rates all rolled into one. The kind that use quilts on the bed or have adorable murals over the bed. In the case of Big Sky Lodge, it was the Yelp reviews reporting of Rapid City skyline views, complimentary breakfast and a jacuzzi overlooking the city that originally attracted me to this business. Unfortunately, we did not have time to try out the jacuzzi but I can report that the rooms were very clean, breakfast made my morning via Fruity Pebbles and hard boiled eggs and that the price was pretty in line with the product/service received. Overall, I would recommend this spot for Mount Rushmore and Badlands visitors passing through. $92 including tax on a holiday weekend read more

Wonderful "mom and pop" appeal! The owners of this place will go out of their way to make you feel welcome and comfortable. Rooms are clean and tidy with a western homey decor. I loved it! Rooms came with frig, microwave, TV, and free wi-fi. The morning continental breakfast was excellent. You can expect top notch quality food: special teas, good coffee (not watered down), hard boiled eggs, fresh fruit,and assortment of cereals and pastries, and a wide selection of condiments including cream cheese. Picnic tables, BBQ and an outdoor hot tub overlooking the plains are also a feature. I highly recommend this place! Who needs those hoity-toity chains when you can have the real thing. :-) read more

Big Sky Lodge - The breakfast area - Hotels Near Me - Rapid City, South Dakota

See all

Rooms better kept than many large chain hotels. Breakfast casseroles were excellent. Great value for the stay.

Made reservations several days in advance. Received an email stating that we requested a cancellation. We did no such thing. Called the desk, no help was received. So, they will cancel your reservation at their leisure and then not help you. We are now 16 hours from home with no hotel. AVOID THIS PLACE. read more

Just because things aren't perfect by traditional societal standards doesn't mean that they aren't gosh darned close. Onwards! Location: 4 out of 5 Not in downtown Rapid City, but still closer to RC than Keystone. Once you pass the main strip, you drive till you see the water tower. If you are driving from Rapid City, the water tower will be on your left. Turn right when you see Calvary Baptist Church. It's a little service road, and turn right again after you get on the road (two quick turns). Backtrack just a little bit on the service road, and you'll find the lodge. Customer Service: 5 out of 5 They absolutely shine. The 'new' proprietors are absolutely excellent, and the people they have chosen to help them run this local gem are equally as competent, friendly, and professional. The reservations process was seamless, and although you can't make a reservation online, there's something to be said about a local business owner who takes your calls and speaks to you in a mild-manner, casual, and completely calming manner. I arrived and my hand-written reservation slip was ready to go. I was able to check in a bit early as my room was ready. Alicia was there to give me a map right away, and highlight some of the sights. Interestingly, she outlined the Central Hills Loop motorcycle road (which I was going to do anyway). She literally dropped whatever she was doing and talked to me for about 5 - 10 minutes about my travels. Meanwhile, I didn't realize it - but I had seen Jay already coming towards the lodge. I thought he was just a local walking his two dogs, but when I saw him later in the picnic area of the lodge, I realized that was the man I had spoken to about the reservations. They have two dogs: an older retriever named Scooter and a smaller dog named Gracie. Gracie is nuts, you should see her "puppy" sprints. Jay also spent many minutes speaking with me about my travels, and about where I was from, where I was going, if I enjoyed my time here, etc. Truly - Jay and Alicia are two of the warmest-hearted people I've met. Amenities of room: 3.75 out of 5 I was Room #107, a one bed room. Everything was quite satisfactory. The towels weren't of the finest Egyptian cotton, but they were comfortable and adequately sized. They even provided a separate dyed towel to wipe off things that may stain. The room was small(ish), yes - but it was perfectly adequate and it had a little mini fridge and microwave in it. Contrary to what others have said, I found the beds to be quite comfortable. The bathroom, although older was very well maintained, and the room was very pleasant. The TV doesn't have many channels, but that's ok - you're there to take in the sights of the area, not watch TV. There is no telephone (who are you going to call locally when you have a cell?), and the toiletries are non-boutique but more than adequate. The only "complaint" I would have is that if you have a room that gets afternoon soon (overlooks the picnic area), the air conditioning unit may not be able to keep up with the heat that gathers in the room. Even set at the coolest setting, the AC still stopped intermittently. I mean - it wasn't terrible, but just something to think about if you really can't stand the heat. Cleanliness of Public areas and Room: 5 out of 5 Absolutely gorgeous grounds. The picnic area was nicely maintained, my room was very well-kept, and the office area was clean as well. I took a peak at the breakfast area, and although small by traditional standards, it looked to serve its purpose just fine. I don't eat breakfast, so I can't speak to the quality of the food. Price: 3 out of 5 D'oh...perhaps the low point of my trip, but given the fact that I stayed on two consecutive evenings on June 17 and 18 of 2011, I can't really complain. The discounted rate for my type of room (one bed) was 69$, and with tax, it came out to be right around 150 for both evenings. I think this is commensurate with other inns and motels in the area, and probably a bit cheaper too than some of the chains. Considering that K Bar S Lodge was 143 per evening, I think I got a pretty good deal. And yes - of course K Bar S would be a different experience altogether, but given then limited amount of time I spent in the room, I think I fared well. I mean - 69$ isn't exorbitant by any means, but it may be a little higher than what I would have paid if I had to guess at how much a room would cost (53.99). But again, when you think about what you get in terms of customer service, it's not that bad. Scenery and Ambiance: 4 out of 5 I had one of the rooms that gathered heat in the afternoons. It overlooked the picnic area. I did not mind, as I got to see Gracie and Scooter run around and play sometimes. I did not walk around the building to the hot tub to check out the Rapid City view - once you see the Badlands, a cityscape isn't that intriguing. Overall: 4 out of 5. Highly Recommended! read more

See all

Looks like my brother (David G.) beat me to the punch on reviewing this one. Let's see... Feb. 2011... I guess it was over a year ago now that we stayed here, but what can I say, I'm a little slow on the draw. So, yeah, ditto everything my brother said. I'm glad he was on top of this, because it has been weighing on my conscience! As we were leaving (after a very, very late check out waiting for the truck to be fixed and lots of help from the kind owner) I tried to give the owner money to compensate. He wouldn't hear of it. I really would have paid him, but it was so nice to not have the extra expense, especially after paying for car repairs. It was also nice to not be made to feel bad for staying long and being all-around high maintenance (me... although the truck, too). He was nothing but gracious the entire time. I can't imagine that happening at a Best Western or wherever. He's the boss! He doesn't have to get permission from the manager to be a nice person! Anyway, I vowed to myself to join Yelp (which I am always taking from, and never giving back to) and give him a good review, because, gosh darn it, he and his motel deserve it. Like my brother said, yes, it's a motel, but it was hands down the nicest motel I have ever stayed at - in terms of cleanliness, organization, price and, of course, service. If you're passing through or headed to Mt. Rushmore, stay here. It's clean, tranquil (no loud traffic all night) and nice, just like you'd expect a North Dakotan establishment to be. read more

Excellent and clean lodging. Very impressed especially with the cheap price. I would stay there every single time that I am in Rapid City. Breakfast was good, solid continental with wide selection of bagels, donuts, bananas, etc. I stayed in the mobil home and was not able to get the wifi, but it was worth it for the additional privacy. I paid $99 for the nite and they good easily charge more. I typically stay at Best Westerns and found it significantly better than them. I have been able to explore other motels/hotels since I just started using Yelp regularily. Anyway, it was like a Hampton's Inn without the amenities. read more

We stayed here on our way to Yellowstone based on the glowing reviews, and everything people have said is the truth. This place is an unbelievable value, and a fantastic place to stay. The rooms were clean and cozy, and better than you would expect for the prices The owner is friendly and helpful, and they have a great breakfast laid out every morning. I would recommend it to anyone passing through. read more

Relax place to lay your head for the money. I would stay here again. My daughter and I stayed here on a road trip we took to Mount Rushmoore. Pros: Fridge, Microwave, coffee maker, breakfast in the morning till 9, Jacuzzi with no time restrictions over looking a bitching view, a bitching view if you get on the back side of the hotel, independent owner, on the out skirts of rapidcity and close to mount rushmoore and keystone, so you don't have to drive threw the city for everything. Cons: Bed wasn't comfortable, no swimming pool, older TV's read more

This motel is a bit on the vintage side, with very friendly, homey & accommodating service. Jay the owner, & Bobette (I think that's her name) who works there, were fantastic! Their service totally rocked! This motel is up on the hill with a nice view overlooking Rapid City, but only 5-8 minutes away to most of the town. Nice & quiet, and the outside spa (although older) was situated so you could enjoy the view. Rooms are small with older furnishings, but clean & sufficient. Breakfast offered assorted bagels, muffins, pastries, hard boiled eggs, instant oatmeal, various cold cereals, juices, coffee, tea, various spreads for the bakery items, & fresh fruit. Breakfast attendant was also very friendly. My only issue is the bed could have been more supportive. Hubby thinks some investment in freshening up the place would be good. Overall, I recommend this place! read more

A Motel not run like your typical motel! Super Clean - Super Friendly. We stopped here in February, as one of many parts of a cross-country trip to move my sister from one coast to the other. We came in at about 8 or 9pm and were met by the owner. He showed us into the office, checked us in, all the while asking how our trip was, telling us good places to eat, great deals for seeing the sites; really making us feel welcome. The room was way beyond expectations. It is a motel room, but it feels clean and almost like a guest bedroom in someone's house. This is in part due to the owner's sincere hospitality. When our truck failed to start in the morning, again the owner was there. He helped push, he gave us fuel even a new fuel cap! When the truck was eventually towed and check-out time came and went, the owner brought us more coffee and tea and told us to stay as long as needed. You will not find a better place to stay. read more

We stayed here while vacationing in Rapid City. It's a fantastic location. 30 minutes from Mt. Rushmore, 10 minutes from Bear City, USA, 45 minutes from the Crazy Horse Memorial, an hour from the Badlands and Wall Drug, and two hours to Devil's Tower in Wyoming. It's the perfect location for all of the site seeing in Western South Dakota. The room is your basic small motel room. It's got a fridge, TV, large bed, and desk. It's perfect if you're spending your day running around town site seeing. It's great to come back at the end of the day to a place that's clean. And the people who own it are thoughtful and kind. I would definitely recommend it. read more

I stayed at Big Sky Lodge motel for a night, and I had an amazing experience. The place is somewhat outdated, but extremely clean. The owners are fantastic. I felt that I new the owners for a lifetime. I loved sitting outside of my room, looking at the view and enjoying the time there. The hot tub is not the best in the world, but worked out really well. If I ever return to Rapid City area, I wouldn't think twice about this place. read more

The people at Big Sky Lodge went out of their way to provide my girlfriend and me with the room we wanted, coming back in after midnight to get us a different room after a miscommunication, when we'd been willing to just accept a room with two full beds, instead of one with a queen, as we'd requested. They also turned up the heat on the hot tub at our request. Great view overlooking the city from the outdoor hot tub! Rooms were spotless. Friendly staff. Better continental breakfast than most places. We stayed a second night on our way back to Minnesota after camping in the Black Hills. read more

This review is from my grandpa. In late August I made an emergency trip to rapid city SD. My son was critically I'll and in ICU at regional health hospital. Being a stranger to Rapid City I was unfamiliar to the city. In search of accommodations I was fortunate to make arrangements at the big sky lodge. I spent 15 days at the lodge. During my stay I was very pleased with the home atmosphere while there. The owners and staff were very accommodating and although I was a stranger the services and caring they showed was far above any services I had received anywhere. They provided transportation to the hospital each day to ensure my time in rapid city was as stress free as possible. I would recommend this facility to any travel while spending time in Rapid City. read more

This place was great, we stayed here 2 nights on July 3 to July 5. We were on a road trip and wanted to see Mount Rushmore, so we chose to stay here. It was cozy and was so cool to see the fireworks so far away. The view from this place is amazing, if we're ever in the area again we will definitely stay here. Its also nice and clean. read more

Up on the ridge, with two lovely views ( one of trees and one overlooking the city), this was a treasure! Thanks to the Moon Guide to Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills by Laural Bidwell, we stayed a week in this cozy setting. Clearly there for tourists, owner Jay was friendly and informative. Rooms are small, but with all there is to do, who sits in their rooms? We appreciated the small table and chairs in the room and one outside the room. The room was neat and spotless! I enjoyed having the sink separate from the shower/ toilet. One suggestion would be to add a small nightstand on the other side if the bed. The quilts add a cozy touch and are not the same in each room. The window was large and let in lots of light, yet the curtains did a great job keeping the room dark at night. Breakfast was simple, but good. Hard boiled eggs, cereals and oatmeal, pastries, Great Coffee!, fresh apples and bananas, juices, and a variety of breads for toasting. The breakfast room was comfortable and well serviced. Right through the breakfast room is a washer and dryer, with soap included in the price of a wash. Since we were on the road for over two weeks, such convenient laundry facilities were so appreciated. We didn't meet Alicia, but enjoyed our conversations with Jay very much. When we return to the area, we know we'll stay here again! read more

Loved this place....perfect view of the city....great price.... light breakfast... friendly staff....we actually had our own place not part of the motel part #133 it was home away from home & very clean and well maintained.They take pride in their appearance read more

Big Sky Lodge - City view - Hotels Near Me - Rapid City, South Dakota

See all

I loved this place. I felt right at home. Everyone was very kind and helpful. The view from the hot tub/viewing area is breathtaking and peaceful. We stayed 4 nights...didn't want to leave cause it felt like family. Breakfast was a gathering time with many of the hotel guests. We laughed allot! Would recommend this to anyone if you want that "feel at home" experience. read more

We had a week long reservation. My husband, my 11 yo daughter and myself. After a 14 hour ride to get there, we are informed at the desk that as a matter of policy, they would not rent a room for a week to more than two individuals. We had made the reservations through AirBnB and had had actual conversations with the host about the local sights and the fact that the three of us were very excited to be there. We ended up having to book at another hotel immediately. Fortunately we were able to do so. Worst experience I have ever had with a hotel. read more

This place is very clean, the bed is comfortable and the hot tub is warm. The room we got had 3 beds, and that was exactly how much was needed. Some hotels would only give us 2 beds and I was happy to find 3. This place has a nice view from the hot tub. This place is a little out dated, but definitely worth it! I recommend coming here! read more

Big Sky Lodge - The front of the motel - Hotels Near Me - Rapid City, South Dakota

This is another charming family owned and operated motel that we stayed at during our 6400 mile drive across country. We loved it! The owner(s) are so gracious, the room was basic but lovely nonetheless, and the view of Rapid City was incredible. This motel and Big Bear Motel in Cody, WY were our favorites of all the places we stayed during our trip. The lodge is dog friendly too, which is a huge plus! 4 legged friends are family too! read more

This is where I fell in love with my boyfriend. Such a cute little romantic place, way up in the hills with a spectacular, dreamy view at night. It's in a good location too. You feel secluded but aren't far from the little town shops and the touristy places. It's very well priced, accommodating, and the people who run it are very friendly. What a wonderful place! I couldn't have asked for a better place to stay for my first time in South Dakota. read more

Good clean room. Realy nice and hospitable people running the place. Great view of the city and a nice breakfast selection to go along with the afordable rate. No cool cable tv selections but there was free wifi and that was good enough for me. read more

Very clean and friendly motel. Just a mile or two from Rapid City restaurants and much cheaper than staying in Rapid city. We paid $85 for a queen room and downtown Adobo Eco hotel wanted $169. Did not wake up in time for the free breakfast...darn. Had a fridge microwave and tv. read more

Friendly service, great price! Stayed a night while we were just passing through on a long trip. The room was very clean and the bed was more comfortable than expected. Fridge, microwave, and coffee maker in room. We didn't take advantage of the free Jacuzzi tub overlooking a fabulous view of the city, but it looked great. Continental breakfast was also included, which was a pleasant surprise! read more

This is by far the best kept secret of what Rapid City has to offer for lodging. Not only is it pet friendly and smoke free, it has the most spectacular view offered of the city and surroundings. The great part about it, is that you get to take all the breathtaking views while relaxing in a jacuzzi. Who doesn't need a warm soak to relax after long miles on the road? If your looking for a small and quaint place to lay your weary head and ma' and pops feel; this is the place for you. The price reasonable considering the location and area. The bonus was the great spread of breakfast delights in the morning. The rooms included fresh clean linens, microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker and a tv. Not to mention free wi-fi with multiple networks. I would recommend this to anyone traveling through or staying multiple days. Thank you Big Sky Lodge for the great experience and star gazing jacuzzi style. read more

See all

5 of us, 2 adults and 3 kids, stayed in a 2 bed room. Jay was cool and didn't make a fuss about us needing to have 2 rooms. My 11 year old slept on a cot we brought in. Super cool people, down to earth, room is basic and does the job, nothing fancy but the price was very reasonable. We were on the Rapid City side and the hot tub had a bunch of middle aged folks drinking wine and hanging out. I would have too, but I was too tired. We're definitely staying here next time we're in the area and would recommend it to everyone. Helper there, I forgot her name, (Elaine?), was totally cool and friendly. Places like this deserve to be patronized. read more

Not good. We made our reservation through a 3rd party and on the reservation I clearly stated that we were traveling with a dog. I have traveled enough with my dog to know that you ALWAYS say this up front. The confirmation email I got said the pet deposit was $15. When we arrived, I was asked if I was traveling with a pet. Surprised, I said yes, that I had put that on the reservation notes. The woman checking me in said I should have let them know. I said I had and that I wasn't sure what else I was supposed to do when I booked it. She also said the pet fee was "20-30". I showed her the confirmation email I had gotten saying the fee was $15. Too bad, she said, our fee isn't $15. I was extremely frustrated because she literally blamed me for something I didn't do. (Not declaring a pet). Bottom line, she refused to give me a room because they didn't have any more pet rooms available. We had to find another place to stay. I had stayed here one other time (with our dog) several years ago and loved it. I'm sorry but with the new owners, I will never go back. read more

We loved this place! The room was very spacious and had really nice upgrades. Bed was comfy, shower was really nice. The view overlooking the City was grand. The breakfast was great, too! Very friendly people. Jay, the owner lives right next to the lodge, and it seems as though they keep up the entire place as their own home. Very well-kept and maintained. Definitely coming again! read more

One of the best, inexpensive places I have ever stayed. Everyone that worked there was super friendly and helpful, very clean rooms, loved the hot run and grills overlooking the city. Great continental breakfast. Would love to stay there again read more

Very friendly place with very clean rooms and wifi that worked seamlessly. This was a nice change from chain motels, with a good enough breakfast and a super view overlooking Rapid City (the view is on the backside of the building, we had a room on the front, but it was easy enough to walk around to admire it). Oh, it was cheaper than the Super 8, too! We will definitely go back when we come this way again. Beware of the directions to the place via yelp, as they won't get you there. Take Cathedral off Mt. Rushmore Rd., then turn onto Tower Rd. and go up the hill. read more

We really enjoyed Big Sky Lodge. The accommodations were very nice. The view of the city was breathtaking. The owners were very nice, helpful and friendly. We look forward to returning. Donna and Larry read more

Friendly, great view, great price. It's also probably the cleanest place we have stopped. We called about an hour before arriving at night and they where happy to accommodate us and our 15 month old. Breakfast was decent and the coffee was good. All in all a great stop on our way cross country! read more