National sites top the list of things to do in Rapid City, SD

A trip to Rapid City, SD wouldn’t be complete without visits to nearby iconic attractions, such as Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Black Hills National Forest, and Badlands National Park. When you book a hotel room at the Country Inn & Suites, you are within driving distance of many things to do, such as a visit to historic Deadwood. Look for wildlife on a drive-through tour of Bear Country USA, less than 13 miles away. The Journey Museum & Learning Center is a fascinating and family-friendly stop for exhibits on dinosaurs, and the City View Trolley provides a narrated tour through Rapid City, both just a couple of miles away.

Select what to see in a map

  • Culture
  • Family
  • Landmark

Jewel Cave National Monument

40.6 mi / 65.34 km from the hotel
With more than 181 miles of mapped passageways, this cave is the world's third longest. Visit to see the beautiful calcite crystals and gypsum deposits that give the cave its name.

Bear Country USA

10.3 mi / 16.58 km from the hotel
For a fun-filled day with your children, visit this 250-acre, drive-through wildlife park. Over the course of three miles, you can see black and grizzly bears, wolves, and river otters from your car.

City View Trolley

2.13 mi / 3.43 km from the hotel
Take a carefree, narrated tour through Rapid City aboard this trolley. Tickets are good for a full day and offer stops at 17 locations throughout the city, including The Journey Museum & Learning Center.

Deadwood

32 mi / 51.49 km from the hotel
Reenactments, 19th-century architecture, shopping, dining, and a casino make this historical Old West-style town worth the 45-minute drive.

Storybook Island

3.78 mi / 6.09 km from the hotel
Admission is free at this children's park, which features character playsets and playground equipment. For a small fee, kids can ride a vintage carousel or the Storybook Island Train.

The Journey Museum & Learning Center

1.68 mi / 2.7 km from the hotel
Learn more about Native Americans, homesteaders, and space exploration at this museum. Don't miss the dinosaur exhibit!

Mt. Rushmore National Memorial

20.39 mi / 32.81 km from the hotel
No trip to South Dakota is complete without a trip to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. See the faces of American presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln carved into the side of a spectacular rock face.