Rapid City South Dakota
Rugged landscape at Badlands National Park
Crazy Horse Memorial, destined to become the world’s largest sculpture
Custer State Park, where more than 1,300 bison wander freely
Incredible views of the surrounding countryside from Falling Rock in the Black Hills
The Journey Museum & Learning Center, where local history comes alive
The lively Main Street Square at night
Pedaling along the George S. Mickelson Trail
Mount Rushmore, where the faces of four U.S. presidents are carved in granite
Preserving Native American culture and traditions
Picturesque and serene Sylvan Lake in the Black Hills
- Major Airports:
- Rapid City (RAP)
- Denver (DEN)
- Sioux Falls (FSD)
- States:
- South Dakota
Where a rugged landscape surrounds charm and culture
The Famous Faces
Make Rapid City your headquarters for short jaunts to six national parks – Badlands National Park, Devils Tower National Monument, Jewel Cave National Monument, Wind Cave National Park, Minuteman Missile Silo National Park and Mount Rushmore National Memorial – as well as Crazy Horse Memorial.
No trip here would be complete without seeing the heads of four U.S. presidents, each about 18 meters tall, carved into granite on the side of Mount Rushmore. Once there, you’ll see why the sculpture, which took 14 years to complete, attracts nearly 3 million people a year. Nearby, work continues in the Black Hills on another mountain carving, this one of the famous Lakota warrior Crazy Horse astride his horse, that will become the world’s largest sculpture upon completion. The memorial serves to preserve the culture of North American Indians.
Find out more about the area at The Journey Museum & Learning Center, which features exhibits tracing some 2.5 billion years of history, from the earliest rock formations to Native American cultures and Western frontier exploration.
Large-Scale Outdoor Adventures
Options are plentiful for people who enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, biking, fishing, kayaking, rock climbing, wildlife viewing and off-the-beaten-path exploration. Traipse through all of those national parks and see a variety of landscapes, including mountains, hills, canyons, valleys, creeks and lakes.
Take in the nat