Entry will the state park cost $25 per vehicle and lasts a week. I wanted to go another time again…read moreto hike, but unfortunately we were not able to, especially with the rain. Just driving through the State Park is so beautiful, though. We were lucky enough to see a couple of bison, even if we were not able to see herds of them. I was so excited that we were even able to see a couple walking around. I was a little disappointed that we were not able to see any mountain goats or anything else, but I can understand that we just can't see them from everywhere. Going to the visitor center was also a plus. They have a great movie that you can watch, that shows history and they had lots of people that were asking questions to the rangers. This state park feels as though it's more like a national park, and it's definitely worth visiting.

Our visit to South Dakota was an unforgettable experience from beginning to end. Custer park was…read moreone of our top priorities to visit. Man was it worth it! Every turn along the scenic drives revealed something new and breathtaking--towering mountains, rolling hills, endless grassy plains, crystal-clear lakes and streams, beautiful log cabins, and wildlife roaming freely in their natural habitat. We drove arms reach from bison, and deer. We got out of our car to pet and feed burros, and marveled over other animals right alongside the roadway. The prairie dogs were adorable and funny too. It was an incredible reminder of how special this park truly is. Especially considering I love animals, history, and the artistry of nature. One of the highlights was driving through the famous narrow rock tunnels. The engineering is amazing, and the views framed through the tunnels are simply unforgettable. We also stopped at several cliffside overlooks where the panoramic views stretched as far as the eye could see. Standing there, looking out over the landscape, gave us a true appreciation for the beauty and scale of the Black Hills. Whether you're looking for incredible photography, scenic drives, wildlife viewing, or simply a peaceful escape into nature, Custer State Park delivers on every level. It's one of those places that makes you slow down, take a deep breath, and appreciate God's incredible creation. If you're visiting South Dakota, Custer State Park isn't just worth seeing--it's an experience you'll remember for a lifetime. We can't wait to return.

As long as I can remember, I have been wanting to go see Mount Rushmore since I was a teenager…read more Never had the opportunity, or time or the money to do so. I'm happy to check this off my travel bucket list! It is exactly what I imagined and more. We arrived at around 6 pm towards the end of the day on Thursday, September 17, 2026. It's off peak season and it wasn't busy. I was disappointed that they ran out of the Thomas Jefferson vanilla ice-cream that is supposed to be amazing and popular. Hence, they were out! We did the Presidential Trail which is a scenic walking loop that brings visitors directly beneath the carved granite faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. It's about 0.90 miles. It's not a long or difficult walk but there are steps going down and eventually steps going up. I wouldn't recommended for anyone with a heart condition or elderly folks. It is a nice and paved trail. I wish I knew ahead of time that they have a light show at 9:00 pm each evening. I would have timed that better. Go get dinner and come visit the monument. The gift shop is nice with a lot of cool souvenirs. There is an ice-cream shop and a cafe.

It was a beautiful experience. Highly recommend. Explore the…read morehistory and development. Take the time to do the scenic walk!

OK we have a new Mayor in town. He is Jason Salamun. He won the elections this past June 6th, 2023…read moreand I'm already seeing changes in the city!! Wooohooo YES!!! We definitely need what he is bringing to the table!!! One amazing thing I saw today when I was walking through Downtown Rapid City, it's a new campaign that the city has started to end panhandling and encourage people to donate to Real Causes. So besides some signs, I also saw a Donations or Giving Meter on some corners of the Downtown!! The Donations made in the Meter will go to Local Charities!! I find that to be a genius idea!! It couldn't be more straight forward, and it's a way to keep crime down!! GO MR SALAMUN!! I can already tell that you are in office!!! :)

Rapid City is the 2nd largest city in South Dakota. We were here 18 years ago & it's now a…read morecosmopolitan city. There is a mall, hospital, university & all of the usual chain stores & restaurants. There are a few Starbucks, Target, Bass Pro Shop, Culver's, Spencer's, Panera, ... Many ethnic restaurants are here now Indian, Italian, Mexican, Thai, Chinese ... The major hotel chains, car dealerships, gas stations, fast food restaurants....The city is very excited as they are getting their first Barnes & Noble's, although I find the independent book store is much more interesting.

Love the night I stayed over, got too see downtown, art alley, a couple of the brewery's, Mount…read moreRushmore and some black hills gold . Nice place to visit!

Fun park. Repeat customers. Concessions limited and won't do that part again. Fair priced gift shop!read more

We stopped at Dinosaur Park while visiting Rapid City, and overall it was an enjoyable stop with…read moresome impressive features. The walking paths are well maintained, the signage is informative, and the views overlooking the city are absolutely beautiful. The dinosaur statues themselves, however, were a bit of a surprise. They have a very vintage roadside attraction feel--more like classic 1950s dinosaur sculptures than modern museum-quality exhibits. While that nostalgic charm may appeal to some visitors, they felt noticeably dated compared to the rest of the park. It almost seemed as though most of the investment went into the trails, landscaping, and visitor experience, while the dinosaur statues have remained largely unchanged over the years. Despite that, it's still a worthwhile stop for the scenic overlook and a bit of local history, especially if you're already in the Rapid City area.

In the Black Hills a western city that isn't commercial. Drove 3 miles, 8 minutes out of Deadwood…read moreto check it out. It's a small mining town of 3,000 with a historic downtown . A bar, library, Opera House, bridal shop, antiques, small library, and a restaurant all near the town hall and mining museum. Most of the buildings are over 100 years old. Drove past an old shuttered mine, I've never seen that before.

Beautiful area with breathtaking views. We drove to the…read morelookout area and then to the beach. The beach was gorgeous. We saw people setting up for a wedding. We will definitely be returning here to camp.

Absolutely gorgeous state recreation area! This state recreation area is located around 1 hour…read moresouth of Rapid City. It has multiple campgrounds and beach access along the shorelines. We spent the majority of our day biking along the 3.5 mile paved bike trail that follows on the outside of the lake. It was a moderately difficult trail that had it's many ups and downs, however, not too bad considering I was carrying 2 kiddos in a bike trailer that made it heavier and harder to do. Most of the facilities were closed due to Covid but the area as a whole is beautiful, and we cannot wait to go back. If you have a boat, you've got to check this place out. There is another state recreation area on the west side that we didn't get to go to unfortunately but our trip was totally worth it. Another quick note, please ensure that when booking a campsite, you know what you are getting. Many of the sites only haveelectric but some had noth electric and water. Finally, if you live in SD state parks, just go ahead and get the annual membership. By the time you go to Custer once and another time here or another park, it practically pays for itself.

Quaint little library in Deadwood conveniently located near Main Street. A few free parking spots…read moreright in front of the library. Library is small, has some spots to sit although the room I was sitting in didn't have any outlets, Wifi was fast. Good vibes!

It is an original Carnegie Library still in use with wi fi and computers, great building & staffing…read morebut limited hours..

Stopped to stretch our legs & explore downtown Sturgis. It definitely is a different slice of…read moreAmerica. We surely don't look like we belong here, but everyone was friendly. There is a strong motorcycle culture, with a variety of saloons, a motorcycle museum, biker shops & more biker shops. Even the ladies room followed the motorcycle theme here.

For 51weeks of the year Sturgis is just a dying wind blown South Dakota town by past by the super…read moreslab. For one week the town comes alive with bars, vendors, food joints, hundreds of hired out of town cops for the annual motorcycle rally. They've got to make 51 weeks expenses in that one week. Figure it out, the visitors pay dearly for the privilege of visiting their town .