HappeningDays cool and the crowds thin. In late September Custer State Park gathers its bison herd in an annual roundup (dates vary). Check ahead on closures and book early.
From average weather, 2021 to 2025: days that are warm but not hot, with few rainy days, score highest. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
Arrival day
Before Day 1. The Black Hills are car country, so plan the drive and the first evening easy.Details
Flying in
Rapid City Regional Airport is the nearest large airport, a short drive from the city. Most visitors pick up a car there, since the parks and viewpoints are spread over mountain and prairie roads with no easy transit.
Roads and weather
Some mountain roads are narrow and winding, with tight tunnels, so check ahead before you take a large vehicle. Storms can build fast in the hills, and snow can close roads in the cold months. Check the road before each day.
Wildlife and heat
Bison, bighorn sheep and rattlesnakes are all wild animals. Keep well back from bison and sheep, stay on paths, and watch where you put your hands and feet. Carry water, sun cover and a warm layer.
Day 1 starts nearby
Day 1 begins with a short drive south of Rapid City. Settle in, fill the tank and stretch your legs downtown with a walk before dinner.
How much walking? Most of the way is by car: 256.9 miles in all across 6 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
Day 1. Mount Rushmore and Iron Mountain Road and Wind Cave, Jewel Cave and the south
3 stops · 40.8 mi by car
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
Morning
Iron Mountain Road
A scenic road over Iron Mountain, part of US 16A, with tight bends and tunnels on the way up to Mount Rushmore. Drive it slowly, pull off where there is room, and check ahead on the road and on tunnels before you take a large vehicle.
Go whenMorning, before the road fills, on the way up to Mount Rushmore.
Local tip Take the bends slowly and use the pull-offs to look. The tunnels are narrow, so check ahead before you take a large vehicle, and check the road after snow.
The forest that covers most of the Black Hills, mainly ponderosa pine, with aspen, bur oak and birch, and meadows at lower levels. Take a slow drive north through the pines, stop at a viewpoint, and stay on marked paths. Check ahead on road conditions.
Go whenLate afternoon (about 7:03 PM), on the road home through the pines.
Local tip Take a slow drive and stop at a viewpoint. Stay on marked paths, carry water, and check ahead on fire warnings, road conditions and storms before you set off.
Sandwiches, fruit and a thermos on a picnic table among the pines, packed the day before since the caves are far from towns.
Local tip Take it all out with you, and keep food away from animals.
About 50 min by car25.9 mi
3
Evening
Dinosaur Park
A city park on a hill above Rapid City with seven dinosaur sculptures, built in 1936 to draw visitors on their way to Mount Rushmore, with a view over the city. Check ahead on access.
Go whenLate afternoon (about 7:03 PM), for the view over the city.
Local tip Seven dinosaur sculptures from the 1930s on a hill above Rapid City, with a view. Mind the steps and the heat, and check ahead on access.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Day 2. Custer State Park and the Needles and Mount Rushmore and Iron Mountain Road
3 stops · 23.2 mi by car
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Drive from Dinosaur ParkAbout 40 min by car17.4 mi
Where Day 1 ended.
1
Morning
Mount Rushmore
The national memorial carved into the granite of Mount Rushmore, with the heads of four presidents sculpted by Gutzon Borglum from 1927 to 1941. The Lakota call the Black Hills Pahá Sápa and hold the whole region sacred, and the mountain is Tȟuŋkášila Šákpe Pahá, Six Grandfathers. The sculpture was built on land taken from the Sioux Nation in the 1870s, and the Sioux continue to demand its return. Check ahead on parking and access.
Go whenMorning, when the sun is on the faces.
Local tip Walk the path below the carving, and read about the Lakota name for the mountain and the land. It is a place of mixed feelings, so give it a little quiet. Check ahead on parking and access.
The highest natural point in the Black Hills and in South Dakota, called Hiŋháŋ Káǧa and Heȟáka Sápa in Lakota, reached by a long trail from Sylvan Lake. Check ahead on the trail, carry water and turn back in a storm.
Go whenMorning, early, to be down before storms.
Local tip The highest natural point in the Black Hills, reached by a long trail from Sylvan Lake. Check ahead on conditions, carry water and a layer, and turn back if thunderstorms build.
Cubes of red meat, often mutton or lamb, skewered or fried and eaten with a toothpick, the official state nosh of South Dakota, found at roadside places.
Local tip Share a plate, and add a little salt or hot sauce to taste.
About 11 min by car or transit2.1 mi
3
Afternoon
Sylvan Lake
A lake among granite boulders in Custer State Park, made in 1891 by a dam across Sunday Gulch Creek. Walk the shore, look at the rocks, and start a hike toward Black Elk Peak or the Needles if you have energy. Check ahead on swimming, boats and trail conditions.
Go whenAfternoon, as the light softens on the rocks (about 7:03 PM).
Local tip Walk the shore path among the boulders. Mind the rocks when wet, and check ahead on swimming, boats and trail conditions. Thunderstorms build fast in the hills, so head to the car if the sky darkens.
A freshwater fish of the northern lakes, pan fried or baked, mild and flaky, with potatoes and a vegetable, a plain supper after a day outdoors.
Local tip Ask whether it is fried or baked, and squeeze a little lemon over it.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Day 3. Crazy Horse and the central hills and Custer State Park and the Needles
3 stops · 28.9 mi by car
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
Midday
Needles Highway
The northern part of South Dakota Highway 87, a scenic mountain road named for the granite needles it threads through, with the narrow Needles Eye Tunnel. It is slow and winding, so take your time and check ahead on closures, since it can shut in the cold months.
Go whenMidday, with clear skies and dry roads.
Local tip The road is narrow, with tight tunnels. Take it slowly, check ahead before you take a large vehicle, and turn back if snow or ice are about, since the road can close in the cold months.
A national monument for Jewel Cave, the fifth longest cave in the world, another cave that breathes, named for the calcite crystals on its walls. It was the first national monument set aside to protect a cave. Tours are timed, so check ahead, and wear a warm layer and sturdy shoes.
Go whenMidday, as an indoor stop with a timed tour.
Local tip Tours are timed and can be tiring, with stairs and cool air, so check ahead on the options. Wear a warm layer and sturdy shoes, and take it easy if you are not used to stairs.
About 35 min by car or transit12.7 mi
3
Afternoon
Crazy Horse Memorial
A mountain monument under construction on privately held land, commissioned by the Lakota elder Henry Standing Bear to honor the Oglala Lakota warrior Crazy Horse, and sculpted by Korczak Ziolkowski. Work began in 1948 and is far from complete. The mountain is sacred to some Oglala Lakota, and the Black Hills were promised to the Lakota in the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, which the United States broke in 1877. Check ahead on the visit.
Go whenAfternoon, as an indoor and outdoor stop.
Local tip It is a monument to a Lakota leader on land sacred to some Oglala Lakota. Read about Crazy Horse and the Lakota where the exhibits allow, and check ahead on what is open.
A bowl of chili made with bison, beans and tomatoes, hot with a spoon of cheese or sour cream on top, a filling dinner after a day in the hills.
Local tip Ask what the heat is before you order, and take bread.
If it rains. Jewel Cave National Monument is covered, so keep it. Move Needles Highway and Crazy Horse Memorial to a dry day if you can.
Day 4. Wind Cave, Jewel Cave and the south and Custer State Park and the Needles
3 stops · 36.0 mi by car
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Drive from Crazy Horse MemorialAbout 38 min by car15.6 mi
Where Day 3 ended.
1
MorningBest early
Custer State Park
South Dakota's first and largest state park, a wildlife reserve of prairie and mountains in the Black Hills, with a herd of bison. Drive the wildlife loop slowly with the windows up near the animals. Bison, bighorn sheep and burros are wild, so stay in the car and give them room. Check ahead on the loop and on the rules.
Go whenEarly morning, when animals are out, or late afternoon (about 7:03 PM).
Local tip Stay in the car near bison, burros and bighorn sheep, and never walk up to an animal. Give them room on the road, and check ahead on the wildlife loop and the weather.
A national park of the first cave in the world named a national park, with boxwork formations found almost nowhere else, and a mixed grass prairie above it. The cave is said to breathe, as air moves in and out with the pressure. The Lakota hold it sacred as the place where they emerged from the underworld. Tours are timed, so check ahead.
Go whenMorning, as an indoor stop with a timed tour.
Local tip Cave tours are timed, so check ahead and book if you can. The cave is cool and has stairs, so bring a warm layer and sturdy shoes. Above ground, bison graze the prairie, so keep your distance.
A museum and working paleontological site near Hot Springs, built over a sinkhole that trapped mammoths during the Ice Age. The remains of dozens of mammoths have been found. Check ahead on the visit.
Go whenAfternoon, as an indoor stop.
Local tip A museum built over a sinkhole where the remains of mammoths were found, near Hot Springs. A good fit after Wind Cave, and check ahead on the visit.
A simple ranch supper of steak and a baked potato with butter and sour cream, a plain South Dakota dinner after the forest road home.
Local tip Ask how the steak is cut and cooked, and take your time.
If it rains. Wind Cave National Park and The Mammoth Site are covered, so keep them. Move Custer State Park to a dry day if you can.
Day 5. Wall and the Badlands
3 stops · 91.1 mi by car
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Drive from The Mammoth SiteAbout 2 h 1 min by car84.3 mi
Where Day 4 ended.
1
Midday
Badlands Loop Road
The Badlands Loop, South Dakota Highway 240, a scenic road through the eastern part of Badlands National Park with pull-offs over the buttes and prairie. Take it slowly, and check ahead on the road and the weather.
Go whenMorning or late afternoon (about 7:03 PM), in softer light.
Local tip The Badlands Loop runs through the eastern part of the park with many pull-offs. Take your time, stay clear of the soft edges, and carry water. Check ahead on the road and the weather.
A sod house built in 1909 by a homesteading couple, with a grass roof, one of the few sod homes left in the state, north of Interior. It also keeps farm animals and prairie dogs. Check ahead on the visit.
Go whenMidday, as a stop on the Badlands day.
Local tip A sod house of 1909 built by a homesteading couple, one of the few left in the state, with animals and prairie dogs on the grounds. Check ahead on the visit.
A flat dough bread, fried in oil, a food of many Native American nations, the Lakota among them. It may be eaten alone or with honey, or topped with meat and beans as an Indian taco. Its story is tied to hard times and forced removal.
Local tip It is a dish with a heavy history, so eat it with respect and ask where it comes from.
About 17 min by car or transit4.0 mi
3
Afternoon
Badlands National Park
A national park of sharply eroded buttes and pinnacles with the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the United States. The Lakota name is Makȟóšiča, bad lands. In the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie the United States assured the Sioux the Badlands were theirs, and in 1889 they were taken. The Ben Reifel Visitor Center is the place to start. Watch for rattlesnakes and stay on paths.
Go whenAfternoon into evening (about 7:03 PM), when the colours deepen.
Local tip Start at the visitor center, then pick a short trail. The ground is crumbly and slick when wet, so keep to paths, watch for rattlesnakes, and check ahead on storms. This land is sacred to the Lakota and its stories are theirs to tell.
Sweet corn on the cob with butter and salt, beside a plate of grilled chicken, a simple prairie supper after the long drive back.
Local tip Corn ripens in late summer, so ask what is in season.
If it rains. Prairie Homestead is covered, so keep it. Move Badlands Loop Road and Badlands National Park to a dry day if you can.
Day 6. Wall and the Badlands, part 2
3 stops · 37.0 mi by car
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Drive from Badlands National ParkAbout 47 min by car22.7 mi
Where Day 5 ended.
1
Morning
Wall
A small town on the prairie, close to the northern edge of the Badlands. Its Lakota name means town alongside the Badlands. A good place to fill the tank and a water bottle before the park. Check ahead on the road.
Go whenMorning, on the way into the Badlands.
Local tip A small prairie town on the highway. Fill the tank and a water bottle here, since there is little between the town and the park. Check ahead on the road and the weather before you set off.
A viewpoint on the Badlands Loop Road over sharply eroded buttes, spires and mixed grass prairie. Stay behind the railings, since the edges are soft and steep. Heat and wind can be strong, so carry water and sun cover.
Go whenMidday or later, when the light slants across the buttes (about 7:03 PM).
Local tip Stay behind the rails, since the edges are soft and steep. The heat and the wind can be strong, so carry water and sun cover, and watch for rattlesnakes on any path.
About 22 min by car or transit5.6 mi
3
MiddayIndoor
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
A national historic site near Wall that tells the story of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race. It keeps the last intact Minuteman II missile system in the country, disarmed, with a silo seen from above. Tours are limited, so check ahead.
Go whenMidday, as an indoor stop near Wall.
Local tip It preserves a disarmed Cold War missile site, with a silo seen from above and tours of the control center. Tours are limited, so check ahead.
If it rains. Minuteman Missile National Historic Site is covered, so keep it. Move Wall and Pinnacles Overlook to a dry day if you can.
Departure day
After the last day. Leave time for the drive to the airport and for the weather.Details
Leaving town
Rapid City Regional Airport is a short drive from the city. Return the car with a full tank, keep your ID in an easy pocket, and check ahead on the weather, since storms and snow can slow the roads.
Small things to carry
A jar of chokecherry jelly or a book on the Lakota and the Black Hills travels well. Check the airline rules for liquids and jars before you pack them in a carry-on.
If you have a few hours
Walk up to Dinosaur Park on its hill above the city for a view, or stroll downtown past the bronze statues of presidents on its street corners. Check ahead on what is open.
Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Rapid City?
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, May to June and September to October are the most comfortable months for walking around Rapid City. This plan is built for september to October, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
How many days does this plan cover?
It covers 6 days in Rapid City, planned for september to October. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
Who is this plan for?
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
Is anything on this plan booked?
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Can I plan my own days like this?
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Can I change this plan?
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
How much walking is there?
Most of the way is by car: 256.9 miles in all across 6 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
3 days in the North Dakota badlands around MedoraAbout 220 miles away
6 days in Denver and Rocky Mountain National ParkAbout 290 miles away
5 days in Yellowstone and Grand TetonAbout 370 miles away
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