One of the noted scenic drives in Custer State Park but note that this is not actually in the state…read morepark. It is in the northwest side between keystone and the state park entrance. You can drive from the north to south but views are better from south to north! There are plenty of tunnels, bridges and lookout stops to take in the views. There is a lot of history along this road and it os worth using the "guide along" app and the black hills tour to get a deeper insight into that piece of it while you are driving the road. I wouldn't say this is a "must see" but if you are making your way back up to Rushmore or keystone from Custer this is the way to go and worth taking a little extra time to enjoy all of the views.

Iron Mountain Road is one of the best scenic drives in the Black Hills. It is part of the Peter…read moreNorbeck National Scenic Byway and it connects Custer State Park with Mount Rushmore. This road twists and turns through Black Hill. It's a beautiful road to drive but there are two places where you can get a very unique view of Mount Rushmore. On this road are two tunnels, the Scovel Johnson Tunnel and the Doane Robinson Tunnel, where you can see Mount Rushmore through the tunnel. I would suggest, to get this view, it's best to drive Iron Mountain Road from south to north (which is the direction you drive when you are driving to Mount Rushmore!). As you drive through the tunnels, Mount Rushmore will be right in front of you. You will start off by seeing Mount Rushmore off in the wayyy distance, and as you keep driving, Mount Rushmore continues to get closer and closer! Driving through the Iron Mountain Road tunnels also means that you'll be driving through Black Hills National Forest. Note: All Iron Mountain Road Tunnels are a one-lane tunnels. There is no entry fee to drive through Black Hills National Forest.

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.

For decades this was a gravel pull off of Skyline Drive. Now paved it is a great location for…read moreviewing West Rapid and The Blackhills.

A little bit of everything here including a glimpse at an original, untouched general store from…read morethe 1800s. Snacks, drinks, and souvenirs aplenty. A nice stop along our way.

Stopping by here is similar to stopping by Wall Drug, but dustier, older, and with more dead flies…read morelying around. There's a bar attached, so there were several people in the building, but overall, it was pretty empty. We were nervous about buying stuff as some stuff seemed really old. If you're bored, worth stopping by to see what an old store looks like for historic reasons (and the post office next door).

The downtown is filled with Native American craft shops, restaurants, independent book shops & a…read morevisitors center. Walking around here and admiring the statues of every president is the best way to take in this unique western city. The old buildings really lead to the charm here. The main square in the middle is perfect for sitting and people watching.

Drove around downtown. Seems like a pretty active place for a city this size. Lots of urban renewal…read moreunderway or completed. Restaurants, shops, and some civic minded things like statues on most street corners

If you get a chance, drive 30 miles or so south of Hot Springs on your next visit to the Black…read moreHills to see this not quite ghost town. There appears to be one home with 2 or 3 residents and the rest is deserted. A true example of a ghost town without a lot of touristy-ness Picturesque ruined buildings to photograph.

Awesome rooftop bar with amazing views of Rapid City! This was such a lovely place to be every…read morenight while staying in Alex Johnson hotel. The staff was friendly, the drinks were great. I would highly recommend the Blue Hue Spritz cocktail - it was delicious and refreshing. There's seating inside and then an awesome patio with seating along a fire pit, some tables/chairs, and some bar seating along the perimeter with views of the city.

We dined at Juniper nearly two months ago, and everything was *phenomenal.*. Because it was a…read moreMonday evening, staffing was light, so Connor, the bartender, was doing it all: answering the phone, taking orders (no note pad, nailed every course), mixing the drinks, and checking in on us all while taking care of other customers. He and his helper were polished, professional, kind, and so much fun! To enter the restaurant, you have to go through the lobby of the Alex Johnson hotel and take the elevator up to the top floor. You emerge from the elevator in a cozy foyer with enormous windows, and the restaurant is through a heavy wooden door to the right. Inside the restaurant, the decor is Art Deco, light and airy with tin ceilings and tall windows. Everything was immaculately maintained. The menu was limited that evening, but we still found everything we wanted (I am vegan, my companions were not) from starters to dessert. The only bad part was that it was our last night in Rapid City and we couldn't take our leftovers, so we just ate as much as we could. The serving sizes were generous without being over the top. We would 100% return to Vertex if we visit Rapid City again.