This was our first stop on a cross country road trip, and they set the bar HIGH. Don was very friendly and helpful when we checked in, letting us know when we arrived that restaurants around town close up pretty early in the off season. The room itself was clean, cozy, and the water pressure in the shower was WONDERFUL. Coffee is offered in the lobby starting at 7, which was perfect for fueling up for the next leg of our adventure. It's a quaint little spot, and we hope to be back in the future. Thank you, Don and Brenda! read more

Sparkling Clean cool 50's era motor lodge in prefect condition. It was a privilege to stay at the Rocket!

The Rocket Motel nails it 100%! Great vintage sign, great location, friendly owner took great care of us when checking on. Clean rooms, great chairs out front to sit and drink coffee in the morning. Would definitely stay again. Bought the great Rocket Motel mugs! Thanks for hosting us in Custer. read more

Rocket Motel - Great mugs we bought. - Hotels Near Me - Custer, South Dakota

This place is perfect! Great location! Friendly staff, clean!! Can't beat it!! I tried other motels in the area but this one is the best!

Needed a room for the night. This place fit the bill! Check-in was quick. Park in front of your room. Quaint 50's diner feel, black, white and red decor. Wall heater and red push button wall phone. Mini fridge and microwave in room. Vending machine down from office. Extra pillows above where you could hang your clothes (wall mount chrome unit). Super clean room and bathroom, mints on pillow. Property well maintained and I would recommend. Looked like the original tiles were still in use for the shower. Note: (1) $10 fee per key if you don't return them (old fashioned keys, so I can understand). (2) Location makes it super easy to walk through the main drag of town, up one end and down the other. (3) If you're looking for a retro feel -- this is the place for you. (4) Super duper over the top cleaned rooms -- you can have no fears as to the sanitation -- all is ship shape. read more

This motel is awesome! Our room was so comfortable and we just loved the nostalgic touches. The kitchenette was all original and in good working order. The bathroom was big and the shower was perfect with high water pressure. Every part of the King suite was immaculately clean and comfy! Perfect location in Custer with everything being within walking distance. We loved it! read more

Loved our stay at the Rocket Motel. Super friendly owner and staff. Rooms were cute and comfortable and oh-so-clean. The retro stylings were cool, too, plus its location is convenient to Mt Rushmore and Custer State Park. We highly recommend the Rocket Motel and would happily stay here again. read more

Rocket Motel - Retro hotel sign - Hotels Near Me - Custer, South Dakota

Very clean rooms, great place to sleep. Not sure if the hot tub was operational, the coffee was good. Nice retro touches (e.g. key, clock, checkerboard tiles). What got me in a bad mood are the pets and refund policy. The owner is very nice, and we decided before checkin to add another night. We were told we had to be moved to another room. It's a pain to have to repack for one more night, but we agreed. The next day, we wanted to cut the extra night. This was well before 24 hours of the extra night, but the owner pointed to a sign on the wall that said no refunds after check-in. We never received a key for the new room and the motel kept our money. I get the policy, but this doesn't sound right. On our next trip, we may return to the Custer Super 8. They accept pets and have great rooms. read more

Needed a room for the night. This place fit the bill! Check-in was quick. Park in front of your room. Quaint 50's diner feel, black, white and red decor. Wall heater and red push button wall phone. Mini fridge and microwave in room. Vending machine down from office. Extra pillows above where hangered clothes hang. Super clean room and bathroom, mints on pillow. Property well maintained. Would recommend. read more

Rocket Motel - 2 dbl bed room - Hotels Near Me - Custer, South Dakota

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This is the cutest motel ever. Kudos to them for keeping it open during the off season when many local businesses are closed. This motel was built when full sized beds were the norm. So the king sized bed takes up much of the room. That said, the space is extremely well used with built in nightstand shelves and a built in counter with a mirror so I could enjoy my coffee and put my makeup on while Mr. Crankypants faffed around in the bathroom. They even managed to squeeze in a mini fridge and microwave. Towels and linens are nice quality and shower head was good. Free coffee starts at 7 am and can be enjoyed in the adorable space age lobby. It was much better than the coffee we had later at a local bakery. Heater worked well but Crankypants got chilled during the night, got up and put on his thermals! If we stay again, we'll ask for an extra blanket to throw on top. read more

The place is awesome.....I hate to say but I was a little scared when I saw it from the outside....rooms a super cool retro or at least mine was. Looked freshly remodeled....super cheap and on the Main Street...will come again read more

Booked while I was traveling solo around the area. Cute motel, as you can tell from the website. Friendly enough check in. No frills kind of place but I LOVE that they have a microwave as well as mini fridge. There is a dollar store and a place to do laundry right across the street. Very close to all the restaurants and shopping in Custer's small downtown area. Only problem is that walls are paper thin and I could hear my chatty neighbors all night long. They sounded like a very happy and lovely couple! Price was good for a walk in, but keep in mind that they have a cash price which is cheaper than using the credit card price, cash is a savings of 4% read more

One of the best motels we've stayed in. Clean, the owners are so friendly. We will be back! read more

Rocket Motel - Hotels Near Me - Custer, South Dakota

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This has to be the one our favorite places that we have ever stayed at. Booked for a full week. We stayed in #1 (2 bedroom with a kitchenette). All one level and you park right in front of your door. The owner was very helpful helping us figure out navigating South Dakota, since this is our 1st time here. The rooms were very clean. Retro look and feel. We would absolutely stay here again. Loved it! read more

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This was such a unique little spot to stay! The employees were very friendly and welcoming and provided coffee in the morning. The room was quaint but very clean and comfortable. Check out the Rocket Motel if you're looking for a little retro stay. This was a good find in a small town. If we're ever passing through Custer, SD, we will be staying here again! read more

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Absolutely the COOLEST little motel I've ever stayed in!! Such great customer service from the owners at the front desk!! It's just down the street from lots of places to eat, drink, and shop. We were on the road and struggling to find any where with a vacancy so late at night, and we were so grateful to find this place! it's actually been a few months since we stayed there and I still brag on this little spot to friends that I know who are passing through the area, so I thought I should share the experience with my friends on yelp too :) read more

Rocket Motel - Hotels Near Me - Custer, South Dakota

The Rocket Motel is definitely old-school-cool. It has a retro vibe, while still being clean, comfy and quiet. It's super close to Mt Rushmore and the Crazy Horse monument. What's not to like? Five stars, would definitely recommend. read more

When our reservation at the Spearfish Canyon Lodge was cancelled at the last minute due to a power outage caused by severe storms the night before, we scrambled madly for a backup plan. We'd made a mental note to check out the Rocket Motel someday after reading about it in a guidebook, and while I figured the odds of snagging a room at 4:00 on a busy Saturday in late July - the height of tourist season - were slim, I got lucky and was able to make a reservation. So we high tailed it down to Custer and checked into our room. As far as Plan Bs go, it couldn't have gotten much better than this! The rooms here are a retro lover's dream come true, with decor straight out of the 1950s right down to the black and white tiled kitchenette and red-accented accessories. Our room was one of the cleanest we've ever stayed in, the bed was soft, and even the towels were luxurious. Our back door led to a covered patio area nicely decorated with hanging plants, tables, and chairs; after dinner, we came back here with a bottle of wine and a cribbage board and enjoyed the cool night air. The owner was super friendly and when we asked him for a dining recommendation, after quizzing us about our likes suggested a dive-y bar and grill a few blocks away that was just our speed. The nice thing is, had we been more prepared, we could have cooked dinner ourselves as the kitchen is fully equipped with a two-burner stove and all the essentials including pots and pans, plates, and silverware, in addition to a small refrigerator. With such a comfortable and clean room, outstanding service, and very reasonable pricing, we will definitely be coming back here! read more

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Love this mid century modern roadside motel! A little pricey but well done. Stayed in the two bedroom suite with queen and two doubles, shared bath. Love the original MCM bathroom. Front desk very cordial. A very good experience. read more

Very very clean and perfect for our needs. We needed a place to spend the night. Arrived late afternoon and left early in the morning. I appreciated the two luggage racks...the A/C worked great. Great blackout curtains in the room! And our room was very quiet...didn't hear traffic or other people. We parked right in front of our room. Very affordable. Would stay here again. :-) read more

If you like 1950's throw back flavor, this is the place to stay. Very clean and very well maintained facility. Has all the amenities from the 50's. Clean and comfortable stay. We would come back if ever in the area again. read more

Our room was so clean and quiet and comfortable! We had a nice stay and enjoyed walking around Custer and coming back for a great night's sleep. The shower was wonderful and impeccably clean. I will definitely stay here again the next time we're in town. read more

I never write incendiary reviews, but this place invites the occasion. I know the Black Hills pretty well, and I know that most of the hotels are mom and pop shops. About anyplace you go is going to be clean (a 2 star in Hill City is nicer than a 3.5 star in Chicago). These hotels ARE the people who own them. And the people are usually great. But these owners, in my experience, are the exception that proves the rule. It was mid october (the tourism off-season) and I'd pulled into the Rocket around 4:00 as a MASSIVE storm was rolling in. I had to take a conf call and was in the parking lot on the phone with my laptop open, going through spreadsheets with the bosses. I was 1 of 2 cars in the parking lot. About 5 minutes after I pulled in, somebody knocked on the window. It was the owner who had come out to tell me that the internet is for guests only and I needed to move along. Firstly; Okay. Makes sense to me, internet freeloading IS a threat to our well being as a nation, after all. But I wasn't on their connection, and...well...I'm assuming the connection was password protected - if not, they may want to consider it. For America. Secondly, and here's the rub; I had OUT OF STATE PLATES (California) and THERE WAS ONE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY. Might I be a prospective ONLY guest? Were you a hotel owner with only one car at your hotel (probably YOURS), I don't think your first impulse on seeing a car with out-of-state-plates pull in would be "Hope they aren't here to steal INTERNETS! NOT MY GLORIOUS INTERNETS! Tammy, get the gun..." I admit, I'm cheesed not only because of this dude's jerk-y-ness, but because I was embarrassed. I had to hang up with corporate and drive down to a gas station to resume the call. The boss joked about it - we both agree'd it's a good thing I wasn't shot. I stayed at the Alpine in Hill City that night. Super great people. A great, clean, and unique room, and the best steak I've had in years. This is one heck of a long review to say the facility is probably fine, but there are many great hotels in the hills with people who deserve your business. Go about anywhere and you'll find them. But not at the Rocket Motel. read more

Cutest place ever! Everything about this place was a joy from check in to check out!! Immaculately clean everywhere! I've never been in a room that smelled so fresh and clean. Everything was freshly painted and kept up. The whole place is a mid-century modern theme. Well thought out. I mainly dealt with Caris, who was on a summer work program from college. She was so sweet and helpful. If she didn't know the answer to our tourist questions she figured it out quickly. We are already making plans to come back next year. read more

Host was unavailable when we arrived but with a quick phone call we got directions to do a self check in. Parking lot and exterior are spotless and freshly painted. The red and white exterior is snappy and retro. The queen room was comfy and roomy enough for this retired couple who likes creature comforts. Room looks newly refurbished. New carpet, crisp new linens and great black and white tiling in bathroom. Old fashioned red wall phone and red retro clock finished the look. Room was spotless - a nice surprise. Room had a shower only. Tub would have been nice but not a dealbreaker. Quiet location to watch Game 1 of the World Series Nice flat screen mounted on the wall. Good value for our last minute booking. read more

A friend told us about this place and we confirmed the rec through the Yelpiverse. We were on a cross country trip and needed a place to crash for the night on the way to Rushmore and points west. This place looks a bit (too) retro from the outside but the rooms have clearly been renovated recently (other than maybe the showers). The Rocket was a breath of fresh air from the place we had stayed at the night before in the Badlands. Everything was spotless, there was a flatscreen on the wall and even the carpet appeared to have been replaced recently. Even the towels were an upgrade from the typical motel towels we had seen on the trip. Definitely a lot of bang for your buck. The Owner/Manager was very helpful and gave us a discount card for local restaurants, etc. Most of the local eateries are walkable from this location. Would definitely recommend this place to weary travelers looking for a very clean place to rest their heads for a night or two. read more

The new owners have done an excellent job restoring this landmark motel. Their pride in ownership is obvious even upon check-in. Very clean, sweet and friendly service. The Rocket Motel is certainly the place to stay, especially during off season, as the other options are grim. Plus can't beat their prices - they are very honest and accept AAA for an added discount. Thanks for a beautiful last minute stay Don and Brenda! read more

Rocket Motel - Photo taken from inside the U-shaped motel property. - Hotels Near Me - Custer, South Dakota

This is possibly one of the most charming little motels I've ever stayed in. The room was immaculate, towels fluffy, and bed very neatly made. The woman at the front desk was kind and personable. Also, as a single person traveling alone on a tight budget, I appreciated the affordable rates, even at the height of summer ($79). As an additional bonus, you can get 10% at a handful of restaurants in Custer if you present your room key. read more

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What a sweet spot to spend a night (wish it could've been longer)! It was surprisingly spacious, very clean, and really cozy. Highly recommend! read more

The couple who owns this establishment have it figured out 100% Simple motel,good business plan,clean and updated rooms, and a following of clients who return The following.. didn't happen overnight..hard work and a pride of ownership.. You have to stay here...it's the perfect old motel that has been remodeled and is the bomb diggity.. Side note.....Owner of Regency Inn in Marietta GA. Bring your wife out here to see Mt.Rushmore and stay at the Rocket.Then go home and clean up that shit bucket of a motel you have. I think your an American??..so take some pride in America. Out...! read more

Typically when you think back to a vacation, the last thing you remember is where you stayed. This place can't seem to be forgotten. The rooms are cozy, and very retro-and also amazingly well kept. We decided to stay here mostly because it looked cute from the road and they had a room available. We had made no previous plans. The woman in the office was very friendly and the prices were reasonable. I would highly recommend the Rocket Motel to anyone driving through South Dakota. read more

Stay here!! Not only are the owners super nice, the room was so clean and comfortable. They had an area for our large moving truck to park. The town is really neat and super safe. Close to the highway. The office, rooms, and property all had great style and it was more affordable than the big chains close by. The dog loved it too! read more

Rocket Motel - Classic neon motel sign - Hotels Near Me - Custer, South Dakota

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Clean and reasonably priced. It was more nicely decorated than your average motel. It has a laundry facility right across the street which is great for those on a road trip and is located in the heart of Custer, so eating options are everywhere. One complaint: All rooms are non-smoking (Yah!), but they have ashtrays outside, so at almost any time, people were sitting outside smoking, making us non-smokers with kids unwilling to go outside or open windows. They may be better off with a few smoking rooms tucked away in a corner. read more

Super nice motor lodge! Very retro motor lodge but modernized in that style. Great location for exploring the area. Highly recommend! read more

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This place looks outdated a bit on the outside, but it's great! The rooms were spotless, and the customer service was excellent. We would stay here again without a doubt. read more

I don't think I can say anything negative about this motel without being incredibly picky. The staff was very helpful and genuinely interested in things we had to say. They gave us a brief rundown of the food in town, pointing out several places where we could get discounts because we stayed at the Rocket Motel. The first thing I noticed when I came into my room was that it smelled great! None of that gross cleaner smell, it just had a hint of a pleasingly fresh aroma. Everything was spotless and the linens smelled fresh. Our room had a mini fridge, microwave, cable and wifi. The water pressure was good and hot. I've noticed that many motel rooms are insufficiently lit; we found no such problems here. We could adjust the room light from next to nil up to good and bright in five increments. All in all, if I come back through Custer I will definitely stay here. If not for my own comfort, than for the extremely nice people who run it. read more

Stayed here 1 night in a king-size room, #22. It was overall a very pleasant experience. Upon arrival, the motel looks very well taken care of and maintained. We expected that the age of the motel might be an issue in some respects, but found the motel and room to be in very good condition. The room smelt fresh and clean, carpets and linens were newer, and although many of the original features have been kept in the room, everything seemed updated and in good working order. The wifi connection was good, the cable TV was a plus, the air conditioning worked great, and the staff was very friendly. The only one drawback that I will mention, is that the complimentary items are minimal. At a typical hotel, you may expect to find shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc. At The Rocket Motel, we were furnished only with 2 packets of a shampoo/conditioner combo and a bar of soap. Based on the cost of the motel, I was expecting a little more. And unfortunately, this was the day that I ran out of conditioner, and was basically up a creek because not only is shampoo/conditioner not conditioner, it was in a little plastic packet, rendering it impossible to open while in the shower (wet fingers). This aside is probably irrelevant to most, but it's my only criticism. In conclusion, we would stay again if in the area, and would certainly recommend to others visiting the area. read more

Thank you rocket motel for the great hospitality and the clean rooms. This hotel is easily a five star motel. Very clean rooms with comfortable beds. the staff was friendly and very quick to help with anything. The out door patio with the gas grill and hot tub was the perfect place to relax after a hard day of riding. You should give this place a try you"ll be back. read more

Cute clean retro motel with good prices. Liked it enough we stayed there twice during our road trip. Middle school daughter especially loved the decor so bought her a rocket coffee mug! read more

Nice clean motel. I am sure the units were built some years ago but they have been nicely maintained. We had room 3 that had one bedroom with a queen bed and one bedroom with a single and a full bed. Both rooms had smallish TVs. The free Wi-Fi was very slow, good for reading your mail but not much else. They have a very nice roofed outside seating area. There were about 4 tables with chairs, a lp grill, a fire pit and a hot tub. We did not ask about the usage a the grill, fire pit or hot tub. We had a very enjoyable evening with a take out pizza and a bottle of wine watching the day end. The owners are very nice. If I am in Custer again, I would stay here again. read more

Rocket Motel - Outside patio - Hotels Near Me - Custer, South Dakota