Rapid City Travel & Tourism Attractions

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Rapid City Activities

A large and vibrant gateway city to the Black Hills, Rapid City travelers can experience a mix of historic and modern attractions, and abundant year-round indoor and outdoor recreational activities.

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Storybook Island

A free theme park for children and their parents. Explore many park attractions that feature story book characters.

Fort Hays Chuckwagon

The most popular dinner entertainment in the Black Hills, enjoy a chuckwagon supper followed by a Cowboy Music Variety Show.

  • Rapid City, South Dakota, is a traveling hotspot, with centrally located museums, parks, shops and accommodation establishments.
  • Hike or bike the 13.5 mile trail following Rapid Creek.
  • Visit the Journey Museum and the South Dakota Air and Space Museum.
  • Fish, camp, horseback ride, rock climb and more in Black Hills National Forest.

Rapid City, South Dakota, tourism is a roaring trade, offering a mix of modern entertainment venues as well as historic districts, buildings, and museums highlighting the area's culture.

Bountiful year-round recreational activities cater to all ages, and outdoor Rapid City attractions include hiking and mountain biking trails, rivers and reservoirs, and climbable rock canyons.

Summer

  • Rock-Climbing
    Nearby Needles-Sylvan Lake district, in the Harney Range, is a rock-climbing paradise, with guides and outfitters ready to help you find the perfect wall or rock face.
  • Hiking/Cycling
    Tour Rapid City on the 13.5 mile trail following Rapid Creek then continue west out of town and explore the multi-use Mickelson Trail.
  • Mountain Biking
    Attend the Black Hills Fat Tire Festival or explore the 240 acres surrounding Cowboy Hill.
  • Fishing
    Tie on a dry fly and search for trout in Rapid Creek or head to a nearby reservoir and enjoy a day of lake fishing.
  • Horseback Riding
    Satisfy your inner cowboy and take a guided horseback trail ride for a few hours of fun in the saddle.
  • Museums/Arts
    With most museums open year-round, anytime is a good time to visit the Journey Museum, Dahl Arts Center, The Museum of Geology and more.
  • Shopping
    Another year-round activity, search for the perfect gift in Rapid City’s historic downtown, Rushmore Mall, Rushmore Crossing Shopping Center, or Black Hills Gold jewelry outlets.

Winter

  • Snowmobiling
    Snowmobiling is a primary Rapid City tourism activity in wintertime, with thousands of miles of accessible trails and roads located in Black Hills National Forest.
  • Snowshoeing/Cross-country Skiing
    Snowshoe or cross-country ski in one of several designated areas or take the adventurous approach and break new trail.
  • Ice Fishing
    Spud a hole and enjoy an afternoon on ice as you wet a line on a nearby reservoir.

Other Rapid City Activities Resources

The Dahl

The Dahl is Rapid City's community arts center.