A quick 1.5-hour direct flight from Denver to Rapid City, South Dakota’s second-largest city, shows visitors there’s much more to the state than Mount Rushmore.
Planning a vacation to South Dakota might seem trivial as most people think the only thing to do is visit Mount Rushmore. But a quick 1.5-hour direct flight to South Dakota’s second-largest city shows visitors there’s much more to see than just the chiseled heads of dead presidents. This President’s Day, we travel direct from Denver to Rapid City, where we explore the beauty of the Black Hills, roaming bison and a friendly city that will quickly become your next favorite destination.
Things to do in Rapid City
Rapid City, or “Rapid,” as locals call it, is anything but fast-paced. In fact, it’s the perfect spot to slow down, enjoy the scenery and take in the faces and places of South Dakota. Characterized as the city of hospitality, Rapid City lives true to its welcoming nature with a “howdy” and “hey there” from locals and past presidents at every street corner. Within its city limits, Rapid City’s downtown is filled with art galleries, unique architecture, history and a burgeoning culinary scene that adds flavor to the Midwest.
While Mount Rushmore reigns supreme, downtown Rapid City also pays homage to America’s presidents with a unique art installment named City of Presidents. At each street corner, you’ll find life-size bronze statues of past American presidents. Take a walk down memory lane and shake hands with Calvin Coolidge or sit and chat with Abraham Lincoln on a self-guided walking tour.
Beyond the bronze statues, you’ll also find creative murals along Art Alley—a vibrant collection of murals, street art and graffiti. Or stop inside one of the many art galleries and creative centers to see local artists and different mediums inspired by local landscapes.
In other artistic forms, it might also surprise you to know that Rapid City is considered one of the country’s rising talents in the culinary world, where you’ll find much more than just steaks and burgers on the grill.
Try Tally’s Silver Spoon for a gourmet breakfast. A community favorite, the classic American diner has been around since the 1930s with a few modern updates, including its chef who trained at a Michelin-star restaurant in France. And if breakfast here wasn’t enough, swing by The Sour for their one-of-a-kind sourdough creations. Named one of the best bakeries in the country, they make their bread and pastries fresh daily using sourdough starters and the freshest ingredients.
For dinner, try Delmonico Grill for a classic steakhouse option or venture into the wonderfully weird world of Bokujo Ramen; a homegrown ramen restaurant that serves up the classic Japanese dish with a twist using locally sourced meats like bison and chislic in the most unexpected and delicious way. If you’re thirsty, stop at one of the many local breweries or cap off your evening with a well-crafted cocktail or in-house barrel-aged Old Fashioned at the Windsor Block Bar.
It’s also easy to get your outdoor fix in the middle of the city with its in-town bike path, fishing for brown trout along Rapic Creek, or taking a trolley tour (Memorial Day through September) with City View Trolley to explore the Skyline Wilderness Area, where you can take in the city views and, on a clear day, see Black Elk Peak, the tallest peak east of the Mississippi. Keep your eye out as you climb to the top of Skyline Park for the larger-than-life dinosaurs of Dinosaur Park—formed as a citywide effort to capture the visitors heading to Mount Rushmore. Or take a day to explore the wilderness area on your own with its many trails and scenic viewpoints.
Plus, the trolley tours make a 30-minute stop at one of Rapid City’s most unique attractions—Chapel in the Hills; a replica of a Stave church found in Norway built to honor the area’s Scandinavian heritage.
Where to stay in Rapid City
While you’ll find your fair share of chain hotels in Rapid City, a better way to enjoy your trip from Denver to Rapid City is with a stay at a local hotel. Check in to The Rushmore Hotel if you’re looking for modern accommodations and even more of Mount Rushmore with the intricate marble floor of the famous monument. Or step back in time and stay at the Alex Johnson Hotel—a historic landmark in town that defines the Rapid City skyline. A premier hotel of its time, the property now boasts a fine dining experience at Juniper at Vertex Sky Bar and rooftop views of downtown and the Black Hills in the distance.
Exploring South Dakota’s Black Hills
Rapid City finds itself perfectly placed between some of the country’s most unique landscapes with the South Dakota Badlands to the east and the Black Hills to the west. But to truly appreciate the beauty of the Black Hills, you’ll need to explore beyond the city limits with Rapid City as your jumping-off point. Spanning more than one million acres, the Black Hills fill in the landscape to the west of Rapid City with tall Ponderosa Pines, large granite outcroppings and rolling mountains reaching the tallest point east of the Rockies. It’s where you’ll find much of the area’s outdoor adventures, iconic wildlife and historic monuments.
See bison at Custer State Park
A state park that feels like a national park, Custer State Park spans 71,000 acres and is home to one of the biggest bison herds in the country, the tallest point in South Dakota, scenic drives, luxury lodging and so much more.
By far, the park’s main attraction is its bison. There are roughly 1,500 bison in the park, some with a lineage that can be traced as far back as the 1880s. With over 30,000 acres of vast prairie with no trees, the bison are fairly easy to spot as they leisurely roam the open pastures.
One of the park’s biggest events is the annual Buffalo Round-up at the end of September. It’s a tradition that dates back to 1965, still serving as an important event for the park and an unforgettable show for spectators as they watch hundreds of thundering bison being herded by cowboys and cowgirls.
Custer State Park also lures in hikers looking to summit the highest point east of the Rockies. At 7,242 feet, Black Elk Peak is the highest elevation point between the Rocky Mountains in the western U.S. and the Pyrenees Mountains in France. Surrounded by the beautiful Black Elk Wilderness in Custer State Park, Black Elk Peak is one of the most popular outdoor sites in the state.
And off-trail, scenic drives, like the Needles Highway, reveal a world of towering granite outcroppings, South Dakota’s picture-perfect Sylvan Lake and the iconic Needles Eye.
Soar above the hills with a hot air balloon ride
One of the best ways to see the Black Hills during your trip from Denver to Rapid City is with a hot air balloon ride with Black Hills Balloons. Celebrating over 40 years of soaring to the highest of heights, you’re in good hands as you soar above the thick forest of Ponderosa Pines, and follow the curves of the Black Hills on an unforgettable balloon ride through the Black Hills.
Kayaking at Sheridan Lake
If you prefer to stay grounded on land, spend some time at Sheridan Lake. Located roughly 30 minutes outside of Rapid City, the popular lake is a playground for an array of water sports activities like boating and kayaking, while designated trails on dry land allow for even more exploration into the Black Hills. The full-service, seasonal marina offers boat rentals, as well as kayaks and paddleboards.
Celebrate 100 years at Mount Rushmore
This year is the year to plan your trip from Denver to Rapid City as 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Famous for its 60-foot faces of four great American presidents — George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, respectively, the iconic monument is a must during your trip from Denver to Rapid City. And don’t forget to try Thomas Jefferson’s ice cream, the first ice cream recipe in America, for a true taste of history.
See the world’s largest mountain carving in progress
Roughly 15 minutes from Mount Rushmore you’ll find an even larger and more prominent chiseled mountain monument; the Crazy Horse Memorial. A dedicated memorial to the Oglala Lakota warrior, Crazy Horse, the hand-carved monument was a commissioned piece that sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski began over 75 years ago and continues today with no federal funding, and no future plans to accept any.
A full-time staff, some of which are descendants of Ziolkowski himself, work around the clock, except on weekends, which frees up time for visitors to take a one-hour bus ride to the top to see the work up close. Once complete, Crazy Horse will be a three-sided monument and the largest carved monument in the world. All entrance fees, bus rides and any purchases made go toward its progress and eventual completion.
*all images taken by Jessica Hughes, unless otherwise specified.
