South Dakota

See Mount Rushmore, watch buffalo grazing in the Black Hills, and explore the unique landscape of the Badlands. Southwest South Dakota has a lot to offer and makes a great family road trip!

Itinerary coming soon!

Things to Do

Mount Rushmore
Badlands National Park
Custer State Park
Wall Drug – a classic western US tourist trap
Crazy Horse
Hiking in the Black Hills
Watching wild bison
Bear Country USA
Reptile Gardens

Places to Stay

Renting a house around Rapid City/Custer State Park as your home base and taking day trips from there is usually the most convenient and cost-effective.

Black Hills Resort – 1 and 2 bedroom cabins, near Bear Country USA
Thunderhead Falls Lodge – 3 bedroom luxury cabin in the Black Hills
Pine Cabin – 2 bedroom cabin in Custer
Comfort Inn & Suites on Mount Rushmore Rd – for when you prefer a classic hotel
Custer State Park Resort – for when you prefer a resort! They have multiple lodges and cabins, dining options, and you’re right in the State Park.
There are many other name brand hotels if you want to stay in Rapid City proper.

Budget Considerations

Flying: Rapid City Regional Airport will get you closest to where you need to be. The flights from this regional airport are more limited and can be more expensive depending on where you’re flying from. You can also consider flying into a large airport like Denver and taking a beautiful drive through Montana to get to South Dakota, but keep time and gas costs in mind. Driving: The cheapest way to do this trip is to drive yourself. If that’s too far of a drive from where you live and you need to fly, you’ll also need to rent a car to get around. Compare prices at different rental companies, and from different airports before making your final decision on what airport to fly into and what car company to rent from. Activities: Once in the area, almost all of the activities you’ll want to enjoy are free or cheap and involve enjoying the natural beauty around you.

Kid-Friendly Places to Eat

Dine at Custer State Park Resort – there are several good restaurants in lovely rustic settings at the resort.
Tally’s Silver Spoon – serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with lots of delicious options in Rapid City.
Baker’s Bakery and Cafe in Custer – brunch foods, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and a kids menu.
Salty Steer – burgers, steaks, local craft beer – near Badlands National Park

Tips from Parents

Age Recommendation:

While there are some more intense hiking trails and adventures you could do with older kids, you can also have a great time with littles. I did this trip once with a baby and two 4-year-olds and they did great! The baby had to be worn a lot because not everything is stroller-friendly.

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