"Beautiful Landscape" Rapid City by Hopkid

Rapid City Travel Guide: 70 reviews and 92 photos

Beautiful Landscape - Rapid City

I've been to Rapid City three times in my life. First was back in 1991 when we were moving from Iowa to California. The main thing I remember from that trip was that it was boiling hot as it was in July. We only went into Badlands National Park to the first or second overlook before heading back to I-90 and dinner in Wall at the famous drug "store". Then we resumed our trek to Rapid where we had planned to spend the night. We drove all day direct from Iowa City...probably around 12 hours. Man, my car's AC was beat after that day! The next morning we hit Mt. Rushmore and then headed back to town to catch I-90 and resume our trek west. Pretty much a whirlwind of a visit.

The past couple of years I've had to return to Rapid for work, first in 2003 and then again in 2005. In '03 my co-workers and I stayed at a nice B&B on the main road between Rapid and the Mt. Rushmore area. It was the summer season and we saw the lighting ceremony at Mt. Rushmore and I marveled at the major renovations that had been completed since my previous visit. Lots and lots of tourists!

I just returned from my last trip there. My co-worker and I finished our work early one day so we high-tailed it out to Badlands National Park (~ 1.5 hours east of Rapid) where I was able, this time, to take a more leisurely drive through the park. Then we sped to Mt. Rushmore (30 minutes south of Rapid) to get there before the visitor's center closed (got there with 15 minutes to spare). This time I made the little loop trek that takes you to the base of the mountain. There were snow flurries that day but it was mostly devoid of tourists and there were deer and mountain goats freely roaming the grounds. Nice!

Pros and Cons
  • Pros:Beautiful landscapes: Black Hills, Badlands, prairie
  • Cons:A bit touristy on the road to Mt. Rushmore
  • In a nutshell:Ya gotta go to see Mt. Rushmore!
  • Last visit to Rapid City: Apr 2005
  • Intro Updated Jul 21, 2005
  • Add to Trip Planner (?)
  • Report Abuse

Reviews (8)

Get a National Park Service Passport - Rapid City Get a National Park Service Passport Favorites (1)

These are really fun and spark interest in the National Park Service system. The brainchild of a marketing genius, the... more travel advice

Photo by M.P. Smith - Rapid City Badlands National Park Things to Do (2)

Well it's not exactly in Rapid City as the main Visitor's Center is near the east entrance which is about 1.5 hours east... more travel advice

Photo by M.P. Smith - Rapid City Mt. Rushmore National Memorial Things to Do (2)

It's the one thing that everyone HAS to do if you're in Rapid City. You've heard about it since you were a little kid... more travel advice

B&B at the Center of it All - Rapid City B&B at the Center of it All Hotels (2)

The owners were great and very accomodating to our nonconventional schedule. We were on business and had to leave the... more travel advice

Comments (2)

  • Reply
    mtncorg's Profile Photo
    Sep 7, 2006 at 12:48 PM

    There is that damn mountain goat again! ;-]

  • Reply
    Sagespot's Profile Photo
    May 16, 2006 at 11:36 AM

    I just had to stop by and say thanks for the recommendation to take the Badlands Scenic Loop! I just returned from the Black Hills and ended my journey with a trip through the Badlands. It was SO beautiful! Thanks a ton! Cheers - Sage

Hopkid's Related Pages

Rapid City Travel Guide

 
Explore the World
Travel Destinations
Hopkid's Profile Photo

Hopkid

“I may not be able to see it all, but I can die trying!”

Online Now

Male

Top 1,000 Travel Writer
Member Rank:
0 0 2 3 9
Forum Rank:
0 0 4 7 4

Badges & Stats in Rapid City

  • 8 Reviews
  • 6 Photos
  • 1 Forum posts
  • 2 Comments
  • 10,784PageViews
  • See All Stats
  • See All Badges (32)

Have you been to Rapid City?

  Share Your Travels  

Latest Activity in Rapid City

Photos in Rapid City

See All Photos (6)

Top 10 Pages

See All Travel Pages (75)

Friends

See All Friends (33)

Travel Interests

See All Travel Interests (5)

Latest Rapid City hotel reviews

Quality Inn Rapid City
127 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 7, 2013
Radisson Hotel Rapid City Mount Rushmore
306 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 15, 2013
Holiday Inn Rapid City-Rushmore Plaza
155 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 16, 2013
Best Western Town & Country Inn
92 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Apr 10, 2013
Fairfield Inn & Suites - Rapid City
248 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 14, 2013
Town House Motel
38 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Dec 21, 2012
GrandStay Residential Suites - Rapid City
120 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 7, 2013
Alex Johnson
333 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 16, 2013
Microtel Inn Rapid City
60 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 2, 2013
Comfort Inn & Suites
130 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 17, 2013
Super 8 Rapid City/Lacrosse Street
79 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 14, 2013
Foothills Inn
86 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Apr 23, 2013
La Quinta Inn And Suites Rapid City
313 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 10, 2013
Big Sky Lodge
244 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 16, 2013
Rushmore Inn & Suites
7 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jun 28, 2011