33 Best Stops Between Hill City and Wall (2025)

New owners!! They're cleaning up around the edges but keeping the Gulch vibe, oh yeah!! The Sunday music jams are legendary...

This was the coolest place to come across while riding we were glad we found it started raing and was cold we had an appetizer and drinks to warm us up for the rest of the ride back to camp, the staff was so nice. Don't pass it by.

I'm not from around here, but I've come up here on 20+ vacations, and we never will miss moonshine gulch saloon. Beer is cheap, the atmosphere is basically a time warp in the most wonderfully nostalgic way, the gal that runs it (Betsy, I think) is a true gem. Last time I was there, I ran into a group of people from a few miles from where I grew up. It is worth the drive and there's so much to look at. It's a major hole in the wall and I love it.

(Originally published on TripAdvisorYou need to go to know. Food is tasty but greasy. The beer is cold. The staff treats you like kin, and the Sunday music is great. I used to play my flat top box here on many Sundays. I have since moved and miss this place so much. Love this place.(Update - the last time I was here in September 2021 I was told there was no longer a Sunday jam).Date of experience: December 2018

One of my favorite bars in the Black Hills. Great friendly people and a great location. Historic tavern. Enjoy the music on Sunday afternoons when the local musicians come in and play.

A old saloon in the hills? I’m there!Fun place to hang if you are hungry, thirsty, or just need to cool off after a nice days ride. Burgers were delish, beer was cold, staff friendly and the atmosphere unbeatable. PUT THIS PLACE ON YOUR LIST!

Fun Old Western style bar in the center of the Black Hills!! Friendly staff and cold beer. Food smelled amazing but only had the fries.

This place is buried in the heart of history and has its own historical charm. The building being over 100 years old is a character itself. The food is a typical burger joint, but it's pretty good at that. Perfect lunch destination on a slow sight filled drive between Mount Rushmore and Deadwood. Just be prepared to wait if you are on a busy tourist day. This place fills up quick and stays that way.

We had an awesome lunch here. Amazingly friendly staff, great food and a very unique place.

Such a great little place to check out! We stopped in to grab a bite to eat while riding some trails, and I’m glad we did. Great food, and great people who worked there. Bathroom was clean too! Check it out!

Awesome little dive bar off the grid. Standard bar food, neat atmosphere, kind locals!

We go jeeping every year and stop there, fabulous host, good food and place is looking great. Keep up the good work, I will bring in some more wood next year.

Rochford a small town in the black hills with a general store and the Moonshine Gulch saloon In this place has lots of character with country charm. The food has the upmost goodness. I was planning to ask for dessert but the place filled up and more folks waiting outside the Mooshine, thought it be polite to give up my seat for the next person that is hungry also. The Lady's up front where so kind thank you and big thanks to the cook in the back end.

Nice little stop off the beaten path. Had a drink sat on the front porch rocking chair. Nice visit with some of the locals. Friendly service, planning on coming back while we are in the area.

What a fun place! Old fashioned, laid back restaurant and bar. Great bar food. Good place to check out and grab some grub. The small town had craft and a few other places to check out.

What a great spot! Rick's one hell of a dude when you get to know him 🤘 this spots 10 miles off the beaten path but great drive and great people! If you've been there in the past and are used to only beer, it's changed they've got everything now. Thanks Rick!

What an AWESOME place lost in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Owner Betsy and her son Dan are so great to talk to. They make you feel like you've always known them and you belong in this little saloon. Good burgers and hot dogs, and their fries are the best. Hand cut and perfect. Cheap beers and you can buy 6 packs to go as well. I'll definitely be coming back here the next time I'm in SD.

4.7

(303)

4.5

(25)

22635 N Rochford Rd, Hill City, SD 57745, USA

1 list

Amazing location, it’s soothing to drive among the trees & feel the breeze. The Mount Rushmore view is great from the top.when we entered to the forest, we got so much relaxed by the breeze, weather and so much peace.

Extraordinary views with an amazing scenery of the Buffaloes! Black Hills National Forest is located in southwestern South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming, United States. The forest has an area of over 1.25 million acres and is managed by the Forest Service. The forestry personnel are NOT FRIENDLY AT ALL!!! Go figure that one out… almost ruined my vacation considering I drove from Miami Florida!!

beautiful scenery to go see, 10/10 recommend.

We didn't know what to expect visiting here and it was breathtaking. If you have time, explore the needles highway (which goes through the state park nearby too). Check out the hiking throughout the black hills forest. It is gorgeous! I could have spent days just hiking and driving around taking in this beautiful site.

It is one of the most beautiful places. Camped there for a few days. Even got the pleasure of seeing a mountain goat as it was going up the mountain. Didn't realize they could climb so well. Amazing to see. We were there twice last year and would love to go back. There were some beautiful flowers too.

Loved driving through it. Lakes are beautiful and clean. A great spot and there is so much to do. Do carry a map to make sure you are visiting all points of interest and you can choose where to take a stop as well. Pactola lake in Black Hills Forest is one of the most beautiful lake. There are trails, paved driving route as well. Hiking, driving, boating, kayaking, swimming, photography, pickniking and so much fun..

This was absolutely breath taking!!!! Weather was amazing the day I went and getting to see the animals up close and personal was awesome!!! One of the highlights of my time living in South Dakota. Can’t wait to eventually go back! Totally recommend a trip through here.

Great place to drive around so much to see and do. A lot of great hikes for inexperienced people like me😅 very beautiful place. Needless Highway is a must! There is a lot of curves when driving, so if it makes you sick take something before you start driving. The views are so impressive.

Wonderful and incredibly beautiful area to explore. The hills are amazing and the trails are wonderful.

Nice lush green away from hustling city life... it's an escape from all chaos of life. We went to Custer and from there went to visit black hills. Morning sunrise views are mesmerizing. Also we took hot air balloon ride to see black hills forest from top. Would definitely recommend visiting. Very peaceful, quite since not much crowd like California.

Stayed at free campsite on spring Creek road and it was nice scenery and dusty. Beautiful stolen land and rich in native Lakota history.

This is a beautiful forest with healthy, beautiful trees, and some amazing views. Our visit was fabulous.

We went to a few parts of the Black Hills. The most impressive and scenic is more by Mount Rushmore. We did a bit of a trail and we did some birdwatching. The rock formations are really neat.

Absolutely beautiful! Winding roads, and trees with such a dark green hue that they look black. The drive is fantastic!

An area of intense green very beautiful to the eye with a lot of roads crossing it and even multiple roads encircling it allowing to drive around to contemplate the beauty of the nature that grew in that area compared to the surrounding areas. Almost as an oasis in the desert.

Beautiful!! Just WOW!!! If you love wildlife and pretty rocks and a view you won't ever forget, you must see in person! Loved it!! We will definitely be making another trip back there.

This drive is spectacular10/10 recommend

4.7

(209)

5.0

(912)

West Pennington, SD 57745, USA

13 lists

Great memorial to see if you're already in the area to check out Mount Rushmore (if you are in the area for a different reason as well, but I'm going to guess 99.9999% of you are in the area to see Mount Rushmore). It would be cool if this memorial ever gets finished, but based on what they told us it's a long shot where funding is concerned. There's always hope, but, "it's the hope that kills you" (-Ted Lasso). Definitely cool to check out and a nice sculpture to pay homage to South Dakotans.

This place has so much more to offer than Mount Rushmore! I loved coming here and learning about Crazy Horse. This place is a must see. I recommend trying the Indian fry bread taco as well, it was so yummy. There is a ton of information here and I loved seeing all that they had to offer of their lives and how they lived.

This is one of the most incredible stops that you can make. The entire experience is Crazy Horse experience is mesmerizing. You need a minimum of 2 hours, but plan on a half a day of you want to take it all in. There is obviously the monument that they are carving into the mountain, but there are informational documentary movies, and the best Native American museum I've ever seen.They also provide entertainment including native American dancers that share their culture and take questions from the audience. That was one of the most informational sessions on Native American culture I have every had!There is also a nice family style restaurant and cafe on site.There is also commentary over night RV parking in a lot just outside the entrance road.

If you get a chance to visit crazy horse monument I 100% recommend it. Our family thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The museums were interesting and very educational, we really enjoyed the Bearsheart Family show. The gift shop was well stocked with anything you could want to purchase. The area is easily accessible, not very many stairs. The most walking we had to do was from the parking lot to the center. Everyone at the center was very kind and courteous. We definitely want to visit again.

Was a grand monument. Quite the endeavor. Was totally in awe. Would love to come back. But blessed to have had the chance to see it at least once. Definitely take the tour. A plus on the tour guild.

Cool spot to stop while traveling through the black hills. Only about 30min from Mount Rushmore. $10 per person to get in and only $5 to take a shuttle all the way up to the monument. They have a large museum with a theater and souvenir shop. A large white statue on the viewing deck is very cool as well. Worth the stop to check it out.

The rich history in this place is amazing. We went with our two girls and my parents. We enjoyed every minute of learning about Crazy Horse Monument and about the artifacts. It's a must-see. Definitely put this in your travel bucket list.

Worth the $35 dollars to go in and see the history, monument, and gift shop. I am okay with spending the money knowing that this supports the non-profit which helps the continuation of the carving, keeping the museum (History of the North American Native American), tours, cafe, and other things running. As this is not federally or state funded that is huge. The sculpting is unreal and seeing it in the process even this 75 years later is amazing! Appreciate all that they do for our nations heritage and first nations people!

We visited the Crazy Horse memorial for the second time. Our first visit was over 20 years ago, and some progress has been made on the mountain carving since that time.They have added a museum and large visitors center, a school, lots of parking, a large gift shop and a restaurant.The museum has a theater that shows a movie about the history of the memorial and explains their vision for the future.Entrance fee is $15 per person and includes parking.Plan on spending about 2 or 3 hours here.

I enjoyed our visit very much. It was better than I expected. There’s a great educational video at the beginning and many interesting exhibits. We rode the bus up to the base of the monument and it showed the massive scale of the project. We visited Mt. Rushmore afterwards and my kids all said afterwards that they preferred Crazy Horse, which I thought was interesting and unexpected.

This memorial and cultural teaching center will continue to grow. The history of the driving force to build this monumental sculpture AND construct a educational center and cultural assemblage for the native tribes is very well documented and easy to understand. The views are fantastic! The feelings and goals are alive and well. The goal of completion is still far off but the message is very clear. The minimal costs or $30.00 for 2 people and a car worth supporting this effort. You can even receive a reenter pass good for 3 days to return again.

I would recommend someone to visit it more to understand and to get feel of native American culture and how they used to live earlier rather than for monument. Monument is too far from viewing deck and you cannot go near it. However, museum was very beautiful showcasing native American artefacts, culture, etc. Also, local performance and dances were very nice.

We went for the mountain but it was SO much more! Start with the film, don't miss the bus tour (100% worth it!) take in a show and then walk through all the museum exhibits. We spent an incredible morning and probably could have stayed longer. It is a tale of what the love of one's heritage (Chief Standing Bear) and the legacy of one family can do. We were awed by the experience, and we are already planning to return.

It's amazing how much it has grown and what has been accomplished, (not just in the mountain but also with the university, etc.) since I started visiting as a child. This year we did the story tellers tour up to the finished area. It was well worth the donation.

I was very impressed with my experience here. There was a5 dollar bus tour--very short, but worth it. We were able to experience a presentation and dances by a native, who also told us some very good history. The visitors center here is large--plan extra time to see it all or plan to miss some of it. I am in awe of the effort to create this memorial and to keep it in the hands of the local native Americans rather than using the state or federal government. My respect for them is much greater and my compassion for the things they went through at the hands of the white man is much more real.. I would visit here again just to experience the spirit of the monument.

The history of this monument is fascinating. The story of the monument, the people who started and continue to work on it and the philanthropy for native communities today makes this worthwhile for a visit. Bring your kids and maybe one day they'll bring their kids to see more and more of the monument. There's a $12 entrance fee to the compound and also an optional $5 to get closer which I didn't have time for. Check with them before you go so you can time it well.

I have to agree with some of the other people that put reviews up . I really didn’t research this first and thought it would be similar to Mount Rushmore . Once you head in you can’t turn around so it costs $35 for us to get in . You can see the same view from the highway as you do for the $35 to get in . It’s more money once you get in if you want to take a bus closer to it . There is a lot of cultural things inside as well as a large gift shop . I went I saw it , I wouldn’t go back . I know they run on donations and the fees to work on the sculpture but it’s just like making a donation . If you want to spend time and look at all the Native American things it is interesting but I really wanted to see the mountain and I could have done that from the highway .

We recently visited Crazy Horse Memorial, and it’s truly a beautiful and inspiring tribute. Given the current progress, it seems unlikely that it will be complete during my lifetime. The museum and welcome center are impressive, and it’s amazing to think we’re still creating historical monuments today. The shows and performances were fantastic, showcasing the rich Native American culture that I’ve always found fascinating.However, I was a bit disappointed overall. The monument is quite distant, and the cost is higher compared to Mount Rushmore. To get a closer view, you need to take a bus tour, which felt a bit inconvenient. Despite these drawbacks, Crazy Horse remains a significant and worthwhile site, offering a profound connection to Native American history and culture. Vancity Adventure

The scale of the project is enormous! Hope to see it finished in the future. The entire complex offers views of Crazy Horse. Did not take the bus ride to get closer but the museum, gift shop, theatre, and viewing areas were worth the visit. The cost was around $20-$25 for an all day pass.

A must see place if you are in south Dakota, would suggest visiting mt Rushmore first and then crazy horse to be able to imagine and understand the scope of this and the time and effort it would take for theCompletion i think that is what thisPlace signifies .. “time”My Second visit after a decade, bit was still amazed. Its a nice Place to know about a lot of native American culture and has a wonderful collection of artifacts.

It is going to be spectacular when finished. We were able to see his face. His pointing arm is taking shape. You can see the outline of the horse marked on the mountain. The sculptors home, and workshop is part of the entry fee. There is a bus tour priced separately ($4) to get a closer view. *We were told the van tours take you up so you can walk on the arm ($125) A restaurant is on site.

I found this to be much more interesting than Mount Rushmore. They take you on a bus ride up and give you a guided tour along with the story. They also have a theater room where you can watch a movie about the family. Also an excellent Museum to tour. This place was spectacular. Price you pay to get in is more than worth it. It's awesome this place is privately funded and the money goes to help them.

I visited Crazy Horse 20 years ago and saw only the face was carved out.Now fast-forward 20 years and only difference is some of the base, part of the mane and hand has been completed.If only the support, funding, and commitment to completing The Crazy Horse memorial was met with the same enthusiasm as Mount Rushmore was completed back in their timeline...I was assigned to C Troop 1/3 Armored Calvary Regiment (ACR) and our unit was named after Crazy Horse, I was surprised to see nothing in the museum mentioned about our unit honoring Crazy Horse?I was hoping that the Crazy Horse memorial would have been finished in my lifetime, especially now that I am over 50.

$12 for only me. They don’t give receipts at the entry gate. I did expect to be able get close to the mountain. You can’t. You’re going to be at least a mile or so away. I was disappointed . I found out that the sculpture has been in the works for 75 yrs. This may be an over-ambitious task. I don’t think I’d go back cause that sculpture is never going to be done in this lifetime. I did think the museum was really nice. Especially if you’re interested in the Native American culture. They did tell me that the gift shop Indian artifacts are hand made and authentic. I bought some things that they said were from the Navajo Nation. I hope they’re real. Wouldn’t know though.

Crazy Horse Memorial is amazing!There is much to do there; world class artwork, shopping, a huge restaurant, history abounds, videos of carving a mountain, walking paths, shuttles that can take you close to the top of the mountain when safe.

Amazing! This museum will touch your heart a million different ways. The movie is outstanding and people there want to share their knowledge with you. We loved it.

Everyone should visit! It was a bit overwhelming emotionally but so worth it. The history is amazing. It's a bit surprising to think of how many people are there on a daily basis monetarily contributing to the monument's completion with parking, tours, etc. That the monument doesn't seem to be making a lot of progress. Maybe a section on the geology and how that affects the completion of the monument because what we saw made one question whether "administration" was the primary cost of completing the monument. This is too important to let die.

This is so incredible! So many displays, a short historic movie, big gift shop, restaurant, live demonstrations all throughout the day.... They have it all here!I cannot recommend the face to face van to the top enough! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and it is totally worth every single penny! Saw mountain goats on the way up the mountain. Touched Crazy Horse's face, stood next to his ginormous thumb nail, and saw a beautiful view. The driver gives you all kinds of history and information the whole time. This is AMAZING!!!Even if you can't do the van trip, be sure to visit! This is SO much bigger than Mt. Rushmore and you can watch a live carving in process all while learning the history of the sculpture and they "why".Everyone should visit Crazy Horse!

The cost was $12 per person. To take a closer look, $5 per person for a bus ride. Like a school bus, but with only 10-12 rows of seats. (It truly flashed me back to my school days riding a metal bus with bouncy seats). The driver was very informative and interesting. The tour included a brief history (with pictures) of how the Crazy Horse sculpture became fruition.Along with seeing the sculpture, there is a beautiful, fairly large museum filled with artifacts, artwork, and history.An expansive gift shop filled with local artists' sculptures, paintings, etc, along with the usual t shirts_hoodies, magnets, and postcards. All were reasonably priced for a gift shop, IMO.

Crazy Horse is a really special part of this area in the country and is equally as impressive as Mount Rushmore. Granted, it's not finished, but the immense size of the carving and the corresponding educational buildings create a unique experience. The story of Crazy Horse himself and the builder is really interesting. I was here 14 years ago and now the hand is almost complete and they added quite a few new buildings and amenities.

It's a nice place to stop, but not the highlight of a trip.$30 for two to get in, an extra $5 each if you'd like the bus ride up for a better look. But if you really want to see it up close, that's an extra $125 each.Gift shops, book stores. Mildly entertaining Native Indian dance performances, by little girls.

I absolutely love coming to the laughing water diner, food was awesome from the buffet, very much enjoyed our meal. Our waitress was awesome and very attentive to our requests. Took pictures to share with my friends, always a favorite time taking updated pictures of carving to the memorial of Crazy Horse. I highly recommend going, always a lot of things going on to watch and learn!

Beautiful monument and museum. Very handicap accessible for my grandma who came with us, and the staff was so kind and accommodating to her.The staff members were all so kind and knowledgeable.The observation deck was really cool to experience.

Absolutely spectacular memorial. The story and history is like nothing else. The size and scope of the project is quite impressive - to think that all of Mount Rushmore can fit inside just the head of Crazyhorse, is unbelievable. Last I visited, you could pay or bring canned goods for admission. I love this magical place.

Awesome monument showcasing not only the creativity and artistic vision of this country, but the fact it is an independent project is astounding. I would definitely recommend the bus tour to get a closer look at the history and livelihoods of the ones who have worked on this carving.

We hope that we live long enough so we can see this monument finished! Their vision and work they have put into this amazing monument is incredible! They offer an amazing museum, large store and a delicious restaurant! (Order their Navajo Taco, it’s delicious and so are their hamburgers!)The viewing areas off of the museum and store allow you to take in the immense project and beautiful views.

Amazing site... Indescribable.. The scope of it. Must-see in person. It's 15.00 per person to enter. There's a Theatre with a show included that shows and tells the history of the site.. Well produced and very informative. The museum is huge with tons of artifacts. Huge parking lot.. Included in the entry fee. There's a bus tour for extra $ if you want to close to the mountain. Great historical site. Bring the family.

Highly recommend visiting here. We enjoyed learning about the Native American tribes and the incredible story of how this place came to be. We lucked out there was hardly anyone here.

So cool to see the work in progress! The museum is worth stopping for on it's own, but Crazy Horse was GIANT! It was raining/snowing on the day we went (in MAY!) so we did not get to explore outside much.

Beautiful just sad it was $35 for a car of 3 people to see an incomplete Monument when Mount Rushmore was $10 and complete. But I do understand it is a privately funded operation. But they did let us take our dog in most places. So that was a real pleasure so Bonus points for that. Once done it will truly be a work of art. Very authentic with the indigenous people telling stories when we walked up to viewing area. Hoop dances and such. Awesome job folks.

It's a beautiful memorial! I hope it gets somewhat complete during my lifetime. The museum and welcome center are both amazing! It's so cool to think that we are still making historical monuments now. The shows and performances were also really cool. I love the culture of Native Americans and it's always been so interesting to look back on and study.

Native owned and funded. Still in the process of carving this beautiful memorial to honor the tribes of Native America. Get a short history lesson and learn a little about the tribes of the area. Watch as it develops into something amazing by visiting more than once. The bus ride to the site was an extra $5 a person but I enjoyed it. I wish I could have afforded the van tour to the top.

Fun stop on my road trip through the area. It was foggy when I went but the views were still nice. The museum has tons of artifacts and information. There was an older woman in the gift shop who was extremely informative and friendly! I wish I would’ve gotten her name. She gave me a map and suggestions about stops in the area, and she was nice and made sure to take extra care in wrapping the piece of pottery I bought since she knew I was traveling.

Well worth the time and effort to see gives a person. A whole new perspective of the Native Americans. Plan on at least 4 hours if not more. And definitely take the bus tour. The restaurant was fantastic. I had the bison stew. Well worth the price. Overall, as an average white male American, very humbling experience.

We loved participating in the Volksmarch. All in all we hiked about 8 miles. The scenery was magnificent. The history remarkable. It's admirable that this project is privately funded. For years I only drove by this giant sculpture over 60 mph. How great it was to see different views and to be able to go all the way up there.

This place is not to be missed. Mount Rushmore nearby gets most of the hype, and while it's certainly deserving, the Crazy Horse Memorial is equally as deserving. The scale is enormous. This legendary figure is visible for miles as if holding court over his domain, that of the native American who shepherded the Black Hills long before the white men knew of its existence. Carvers and artisans are now in their third generation, thereby guaranteeing its eventual completion. The museum and brief movie give the entire experience so much more meaning, and I for one have been truly touched by getting to know so much more about our country's first Americans.

Excellent history lesson, education of an entire nationality, and tribute to honor a great warrior. Wonderful display of the culture and way of life of American Indian tribes.I was a first-timer, but my husband visited with his parents when it was just an armpit. Our 3 kids enjoyed the Native American flute soloist and the dance and hoop performers. The snack shop had some good options, but the buffet looked amazing! The gift shop had a beautiful variety of items to chose from. Next time, we will definitely do one of the tours!The binoculars were fun to look through and watch the progress happening right before your eyes. We can't wait to return again and again to see the progression of the beautiful sculpture. I will be excited to see the valiant horse emerge from the rock!The sculptor's family story is a heartwarming tale of perseverance and love. I am just in awe of their dedication to their forefather's life's work. We had a wonderful experience, thank you for continuing to provide this lesson to all!

This was a cool experience. The video was very informative and it was nice to learn about something I never knew existed. I will be following this memorial to see the progress in the coming years. Bus tickets are $5. This is a dog friendly attraction. Dogs are not allowed in the restaurant or on the bus. Dogs can not walk on the wood floors of the visitor center and museum and must be carried. I have a small dog and had no issues carrying her around on the wood floors. It was cool they also have free rocks that are part of the crazy Horse progress. $12 for an adult to get in (off season pricing).

$12 entrance fee supports a good cause. Beautiful museum and gift shop. The film was super interesting. Would do it again.

Amazing place! Much more to see than you think & very impressive! Well worth the visit. Great video in museum on history of memorial. This memorial is still being built. Highly recommend this stop! White statue photo depicts what sculpture will look like when done.

The Native American museum is the attraction here, with the rock carved structure being far away. Also it seems most the work is being done on the away side so you see a little bit of profile and a finger. You can take a van trip to the other side for an expense of $125. You’ll see more of the carving and get to touch the rock. Nice big patio and a restaurant and amazing gift shop.

It’s amazing how after all this years, they still plan on finishing the mountain statue. It was still a great experience, even tough it’s not 100% finished yet. Had some great gifts in the gift shop! A lot of history from the natives which I loved! Great little restaurant where we had brunch! Not bad prices and GREAT service!

4.3

(5817)

4.0

(5554)

Crazy Horse, SD 57730, USA

Really nice area and waterfall! Looks like a great place to swim. The water is clear and beautiful.

Gorgeous trio of waterfalls on the way up to Black Hills! My wife and I love waterfalls so we wanted to stop and check these out. We both were prepared to be underwhelmed but we actually loved the area. It wasn’t warm enough to take a dip but we did enjoy the short walk down to the falls and taking a minute to stretch and take the beauty in.

Small and lots of people in the swimming holes cooling off. The water is super clear and pretty. Nice and cold too. The cascades are pretty. Can't spend a lot of time here unless you're swimming. But it was nice little stop.

This place was really neat to go to on a hot summer day. I gave it four stars only because it needs just a little bit of improvement. If the jumping off spot could be leveled (One guy with a shovel and 10 minutes) it would make it much more convenient and easier to jump in without fear of slipping. The water was,and I’m sure, is always bracing and refreshing! While my brother and I were there several others that came and went. We were surprised, as we just happened upon it.They even have a picnic table and easy access route down to the lake. No one swimming had a real bathing suit. I just stripped down to my skivvies and jumped in, as did others. Seriously, if you’re close to, or see a mention of Cascade Falls, drive to The falls. Pack a lunch if you’ve got the time to eat at their covered area, and take a swim!

nice little hidden gem

The water was cool and refreshing. It is a beautiful area but there isn't a lot of space when it gets busy. The garbage cans were overflowing. I would recommend to visit during the week or during an off time. We also had a couple family members that had stuff stolen so use caution!

Neat little secluded area. The kids enjoyed cooling off. It's not super warm but felt good on a hot day.

Fantastic little swim holes with something for everyone! Lots of different size waterfalls, but the current is not overpowering! Being the kids, they will live it!

What a hidden gem. Well worth the drive. Such divine beauty.

Several beautiful, rare, shallow, fast running falls and their clear pools with a walking path beside them. Easy access from the associated picnic are.

Stumbled on this place looking for somewhere to swim. Amazing piece 0f nature here. Place is busy. Locals are friendly. Would return again. Must see if you are nearby.

4.7

(119)

4.5

(145)

Northeast Fall River, SD 57747, USA

6 lists

So much fun! Especially if you have kids! I would 100% opt for the shootout ride if you can swing it! Really fun (especially for the kids again), just make sure you are on the LEFT side of the train (looking up towards the engine when you depart Hill City) so that you are on the correct side to see the shootout. We switched sides on the way back and that was nice to get to see the scenery on both sides (so again, we sat on the LEFT side if your facing the direction the train is going to go, both ways). Gorgeous views of the black hills. The lady narrating was kind of silly and awkward, but the kids loved it!

I like finding new tourist railroads to visit, and this one was a nice surprise when I traveled to South Dakota. We bought tickets only a day before today, but thankfully nothing went wrong. I’ll definitely buy tickets in advance in future, though.It was wonderful hearing the history and seeing the train in action, and the nearby museum was a great treat to round the trip! Lots of fun trinkets to see, a neat model layout, and great souvenirs to sweeten the deal.Kudos to the team and workers for making it possible!

This is an absolute must-do when up in the area. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our ride from Hilly City to Keystone and back on the train. The views are breath-taking, the ride is full of so much history and information, and more importantly, the time spent together was wonderful. You get to see parts of the Hills you don't otherwise get to see, but to do it in historic train coaches was just perfect. Definitely will come and do again!

An amazing place and cool train to ride. My second time being here. 2015 and this year 2022. Lots of great photo opportunities, history of the train and the area. Highly recommend it to families, couples or even just yourself. Fun for all.

A fun, leisurely time.Bought tickets two days out with a two hour layover in Keystone.A narrated trip.You can just ride between the two towns. Each way is about an hour not including the time to reposition the engine.Very helpful and friendly staff, both, in the stations and on the train.

As a lover of vintage locomotive trains, this was a wonderful experience. We booked the round trip from Keystone to Hill City and back to Keystone, with a 3hr gap between rides so we could explore and eat lunch there. Riding the train was great and had informative historical audio playing describing the history of the towns and railroad. I highly recommend booking in advance, especially during tourist season/summer. Great fun.

Great activity, staff was all very nice. We enjoyed the ride. Family friendly, snacks and drinks offered on the ride. The speakers can be easily heard when talking and learned some history along the ride. The scenery is great!!!

This was a fun adventure - our kids had never been on a train before. This ride takes you through the countryside and has neat historical sites and wildlife along the way! Our children range in age from 12-1 and they all enjoyed the experience!The day was a warm one, and the open air ride was perfect for keeping us comfortable. Strongly recommend this unique experience!

A fun train ride pulled by a steam engine. Very informative guide and friendly staff on board and working the gift shop and museum. A highlight for us was seeing Black Elk Peak. The highest in SD. I would suggest calling ahead to reserve seats if you know you wil be near Hill City or Keystone. The seats fill up fast, especially for larger families or groups.They have the old #7 engine that was used for movies and you'll see that history in the museum. Neat.

This is a steam engine train. The ride takes 2 hours round trip..Bonus ..watch for the dinosaur in the field it may or may not be out there!Saw lots of deer.Lots of historical information while the train is going.Loved this and will be back with family.

We loved our train rode from Hill City to Keystone, the info during the ride was great, we loved learning about the history.The cars were clean and bright, easy to see out the windows, relaxing ride for a cool fall day, the colors this time of year are gorgeous.Highly recommend doing this if you have the time!!

This was a great little train ride that is only about an hour one way. You will see beautiful scenery and get a narrated history of the area as you travel. The staff are bet friendly and willing to answer any questions you have. We rode the 9am train from Hill City and stayed in Keystone for lunch, which was the perfect amount of time to walk around town and then enjoy lunch. Then we got back early enough to still do other things on the afternoon. And the price was very reasonable!

Went from Hill City to keystone it took around an hour. The train had awesome views and was very informative about the train and area. We stayed in keystone for 3 hours way too long for us. The town is the standard tourist trap all the shops had much of the same merchandise. The food was on the expensive side also ok nothing to get excited about.

Such a wonderful day in South Dakota. 84 degrees and a slight breeze. We decided to take the 10 mile round trip from Keystone SD to Hill City SD via 1880 Train, an hour each way. What a nice trip. Wife's first time on a train and she really enjoyed the slow narrated tour of the countryside.The cars were open air and wooden seats. No restrooms on board and they do sell water and some small snacks for cash only.We saw a part of the area that is only accessible from train and crossed over many local streets.. We lost count of how many deer and turkeys we saw. We recommend this trip to all.

Had a fun time riding into Keystone on the 1880 train. Great crew on board. I would only recommend delaying the return trip a half hour or so to give everyone time to look around the little town square. There is only time to get off the train, take a very quick restroom break, and get back on the returning train.

A wonderful train ride like the frontier days! Very informative train ride, giving little bits of history along the way of the train track and area. You get to see beautiful forests and landscapes. Schedule is posted online, I do recommend buying tickets ahead of time and planning a day between the two cities, Hill City and Keystone. It's about an hour train ride one way, with many scheduled stops throughout the day.

In all the times we have visited the Black Hills we have never ridden the 1880 train. It was a little expensive but the ride and expirence were very rewarding. You see a lot of residential homes along the path but there is a significant amount of natural beauty and interesting information. They really push the guide hard on the train too.

We were enjoying the town when we decided to ride without any expectations and had a great time. The ride was narrated throughout and saw some great mountain views and plenty of deer. It was $96 for 2 round trip tickets and they sell popcorn and drinks on the ride to keystone.

1880 train ride was so much fun. Great staff, super friendly and helpful. Nice little piece of Black Hills history

SUPER cool expansive mini train exhibit with life size actual train car indoors. AIR CONDITIONED building with fun historical information about trains. Helpful staff can offer (on request) additional details about equipment and history center. Pair your train museum visit with a TRAIN RIDE!

The 1880 train was fantastic! Riding on an actual train was so much fun! For me and the little! Everything was easy to find, seats were comfortable, and the views and hearing the history of it was so cool overall! I highly recommend checking it out if your evenly in hill city SD!

The museum was amazing. The curator..Rick Mills was friendliest, knew everything about trains, explained the design of the museum and his passion. The 1880 train ride was fun to experience. I can't wait for my next visit.

My dad is an absolute lover of all trains. When we were in Keystone and he suggested a train trip, it was a chance not to pass up. Open air car is the way to go. Don't skimp on just going one way. it's better to get the full experience if you can spare the time.It was like you were stepping back in time to hear the whistle of the steam engine and see all of the steam escaping as we clicked along the old tracks and heard the tales of how everything came to existence and what still remained.The popcorn is crisp and salty to enjoy while taking in all the sights. The Black Hills, the train, all kinds of wildlife like the osprey nest and local visitors along the way.Jim was in town from San Diego and was full of fantastic information. He even included our question on the return trip, which we were just tickled over!We remarked it would be a little cooler to be able to see the actual water going into the containment from the water towers. I'm sure that's a minor change, and there must be a reason that it goes directly into the containment unit so as not to waste water.If you have the opportunity, please book your round trip tickets and take a little peek in their gift shop for ultra cute postcards and little trinkets that you might not realize that you need in your life!At the risk of sounding cliche or cheesy, it was a father daughter trip, and the best part of my journey was getting a chance to talk about trains with my Dad.

We had a couple of hours with no plans so decided to ride the train between Hill City and Keystone. It was a relaxing trip with a nice amount of commentary about the sights along the route.

Very nice ride through the early settlements of the Gold Rush of the Black Hills. Trains were in excellent restored condition. Narration was pertinent and not overwhelming, allowing passengers to enjoy the scenery between two well known western towns. Come see!

Slow paced 1 hour trip in each direction between Hill City and Keystone. Staff was incredibly friendly, helpful and informative. Really cool to get to enjoy a trip on and old steam powered locomotive. Only reason this is getting 4 stars and not 5 is I was disappointed in the lack of overlooking views with the mountains and valleys. In my mind I was expecting a trip through the Black Hills on a train to have glorious overlooking views and it was way more close up rock with all the cut throughs. In many cases you are only 2 feet from the walls of the rock they cut through and don't have a view at all. Outside of that the price ended up being $187 for 4 people after taxes and fees, which was a bit pricey. I will say this about the trip, it's not worth the money charged, but it is worth every minute of your time to make the trip!

We bought a two way train ride into Keystone & back. Both depots were very clean even the bathrooms. Staffs on the train were very friendly, informative, & helpful. Excellent experience. Worth every penny especially spectacular sights along the way.

The train ride was such an amazing experience!! The crew were fantastic, they answered any questions you may have and told us all about the train itself (over 100 yrs old) we saw lots of deer along the way in such beautiful scenery. Highly recommend!!!!! Can’t remember the price of the tickets, I do know it did not cost very much especially for a 2 hour train ride.

About a hour ride on nicely refurbished rail cars from different railroads. Open the windows and enjoy a ride through the black hills forest!

We did this - Keystone depot to Hill City. It’s so soothing despite the bumps and hiccups some of our group fell asleep hahahaha. Hill city offered more variety of food and beverage to have on the train than Keystone. Truly an opportunity to have an outing etc. We rode in the rochford and hilory cars.Overall a great experience to ride in an old train and see some scenery.

4.7

(3625)

4.0

(1666)

222 Railroad Ave, Hill City, SD 57745, USA

2 lists

It takes around 30-60 minutes to walk around the whole lake, depends on how much time you take photos and breaks. Very scenic lake.

Sylvan lake was gorgeous! We enjoyed the hike around it. The parking lot was quite busy, but we managed to find a spot.

A friend and I stopped here on our scenic drive but didn't realize what a gem we had found! The trail back to the dam and beyond was magical, amazing rock formations, including a tunnel along the trail, and sparkling water of the lake.

I love the walking paths and the views! I would highly recommend that you visit this place. It is $20 to get into the park, and the gift shop is overpriced, but otherwise Sylvan was a very pleasant experience. I also recently found out that Sylvan lake was used in movie called National Treasure 2. You can find the rock that they filmed on in one of the pictures I attached.

Hard to beat Sylvan Lakewhen exploringCuster State Parkin theBlack Hills.Sylvan Lakewas created when Theodore Reder built a damacross Sunday Gulch Creek in 1882 andoffers wonderfulpicnic areas, rock climbing, small boat rental, and beautiful rocky vistas.Also a great base camp to exploreBlack Elk PeakandThe Needles. Check it out!

If you are going to Custer State park, go to Sylvan Lake. Parking could be a challenge but it is a beautiful place to visit. There is a loop trail around the lake and other trails nearby.

Beautiful place! The entrance fee is $10 per car that you can use for 7 days. If you have any of the National passes they don’t apply here. The visitor center seems a bit empty and the bathrooms were somewhat dirty when I was there later in the day- in the evening. I think they were having trouble with the bathrooms because there was water by the bathroom door and the smell was unpleasant. The parking was okay as far as cars since it was a bit rainy one day I was there. You can do a hike around the lake which is gorgeous. You can climb the huge rocks on the water too. Went another day with better weather and the parking lot was full. There’s other trials you can do/ including Black Elk Peek.

This is a beautiful lake in the Black Hills of South Dakota. An easy hike will let you experience the entire beauty of the lake.

Really beautiful especially when the water is clear and reflective. There's a lodge with food and amenities here and you can spend some time hiking around the lake. It's along the needles highway so hit up both!

Very quiet relaxing stop. The hike around and behind the lake is more moderate than beginner and definitely not wheelchair accessible. There are several other hikes available, plenty of parking, cabins for rent, as well as a gift store and restrooms.

My favorite lake in America! So pretty and the rocks for climbing are super fun. Rock climbing tours available if that's your thing or doing it alone is very possible. Climbing up and the view of the lake is just as awesome. If I am in Custer this is a must stop for me even if it's just for a look!!!!!

I went with my girlfriend and dog over a long weekend. The lake was frozen over, but it was beautiful. Would highly recommend going during the winter as there were hardly any other hikers out on the trails.

Great spot to swim, fish, walk, boat, picnic. There is a good amount of parking but it’s a popular area. The trail around the lake is enjoyable and there are several other trailheads too. A lovely lodge is there with food beverages, rentals and campground. Dog friendly on a leash.

My favorite thing to do is kayaking and Houston enjoyed the water also. We saw other people kayaking and paddle boarding. Some were jumped off the cliffs into the water. It was beautiful. The Park has other lakes to kayak at so we plan on doing those also.

Amazing and Stunning few words but means a lot to me. Everyone comes and enjoy this incredible Paradise, I was speechless when I saw this landscape.

It's not an easy hike, not a baby stroller walk. Magnificent view. It could have a better sign to guide the direction. We were briefly lost in the wood, thanks for the holiday, there are plenty of tourists around.

What a pretty little lake! Definitely choose to spend some time here if you are visiting Custer State Park. The walk around the lake is not very long and is absolutely beautiful.We are in our 50’s and we were a little nervous about the “moderate” section of the hike. But I don’t feel that it was too bad. It would be a challenge if mobility were an issue. There is a small section with some steepish steps and then a little bit of a footing challenge going down the other side. We didn’t have a problem with the steps and took the down section carefully with issues.There is a store by the lake that sells mostly souvenirs and has a small grill. They sell some toiletries and stuff like that.

One of our favorite stops while exploring Mount Rushmore area, Custer State Park and all. The scenery is spectacular, and there is a handicapped accessible trail around the lake. Nice gift shop with refreshments, and clean restrooms.

Definitely a beautiful place to see. It was off season so I didn't experience what others are saying of too crowded. Clean bathroom to use before heading to Needles Hwy. It was very peaceful and calm.

We only had time to briefly stop here, but I wish we had time to walk the trails. The lake was stunning with such cool rock formations.

We visit this lake during spring, what an amazing experience with the lake half frozen and beautiful reflections of the stone. Must visit if you are around Rapid city.

Pretty lake with hiking trails. The trail around the lake gets confusing when you get to a crossroads with another trail. You have to climb up a lot of rock steps, and once on the top, there's hardly any indication of where to go. I climbed back down and back up, and I finally saw a hint of blue paint on a rock. I followed that and did a little rock climbing and found where the trail continues. Definitely needs a new sign at the top of the rocks. It was frustrating trying to figure out where to go and carrying my dog down and back up the steps. The store was closed for the season.

A very scenic lake in Custer SP. The hike around the lake is scenic and an easy hike for families. The view today in the snow was spectacular.

Worth the short trip for a picnic or walk on this unique lake. Lots of cool formations all around and well maintained grounds.

Wow! I didnt expect to see this gem on top of mountain. Parents with kids, even the 1.1 mile loop around the lake can be dangerous of you are holding a baby.I wish I had hours to just sit and enjoy the views.The road leading up to the lake is narrow, and has curves. I wouldn’t recommend when the roads are slippery.

If I could live on this lake… I would. It was so peaceful and beautiful! I love Custer state park so much and when you pay for a entrance fee it’s good for 7 days and that’s awesome because we did go back again and again!

Located just inside the entrance to Custer State Park, Lake Sylvan is one of the most picturesque and scenic areas I've ever been to! The only downside is that it attracts a lot of people, but we spent the day swimming/paddle boarding/hiking/fishing and just taking in the scenery in this beautiful area.

Beautiful place. In the center of several amazing trails. Bring your kayak or paddle board.

An attractive small lake with captivating rock features and a lodge and general store at the NorthWest end of Needles Scenic Byway. It also marks one of the entrances to Custer State Park. Whether you end up spending just a few minutes or a day (or more), it’s well worth stopping to soak up some of the peace and tranquility offered here before continuing your adventures thru this portion of the Black Hills.

Beautiful place but VERY crowded on hot summer weekends. A local told me it's the most advertised lake in the Black Hills. Being so small, the parking lot and beach get over crowded. No parking spaces by 10:30am. It is such a beautiful spot that I'm glad we went. Will never go on a summer Saturday again though.

4.8

(669)

5.0

(2006)

East Custer, SD 57730, USA

1 list

Words can not describe just how amazing the Needles Highway is. This thrilling road runs through Custer State Park, but the entry fee is worth every penny. I entered the Needles Highway off U. S. Highway 385 just a few miles from the Crazy Horse Memorial. Soon after entering the park the amazing views began. Do not do this drive unless you have plenty of time because you will be constantly stopping for photos and to take in the wonderful views. Sylvan Lake great but just a prelude to what is to come as you wind your way through the rocky landscape toward Cathedral Spires. Along the way you will move slowly through the Needles Eye Tunnel which is simple unbelievable. The road handles traffic in both directions but the tunnel is only one lane, so there may be a considerable wait during peak tourist season. The tunnel is a little over 8-feet wide and about 12-feet tall so it is a tight fit, but I did witness a full size tour bus make it through with inches to spare. I traveled the Needles Highway all the way through from Highway 385 to U. S. Highway 16-A. Even Though it is only distance of about 20 or 25 miles the journey took me a little over two hours as I was treated to spectacular beauty at every turn and kept stopping for pictures. Along the way, I saw a variety of wildlife including deer, a bear and buffalo. This is one of the most amazing drives in the country and should be done when you have plenty of time.

This is an absolute must see and ride experience in the Black Hills, especially if you're on a motorcycle.The road is very narrow and very steep with several switchbacks that are 5 and 10 mph. The tunnels are narrow and not very tall but we saw plenty of large pickup trucks navigating through them.There are several pull outs where you can stop for photos or let traffic pass. If you're on a bike, remember, ride your own ride, don't let traffic dictate your pace as it can be a dangerous and technical route.

Oh my GOSH! This was exciting. We not only saw a huge tour bus get through that tiny tunnel (to applause I might add), when we started to enter there were two mountain goats waiting for their photo opp. Beautiful!

Very cool to drive through and experience. O ly one vehicle at a time and check size, no big RVs or large trucks will fit. Highly recommend and beautiful.

Absolutely beautiful!We drove the loop, we hiked to the Cathedral Spires and it was amazing!! One of the most beautiful places ever!

One of the tightest tunnels on the Needles Scenic highway.Often, traffic is backed up here because everyone wants to stop for photos.On busy days, there might be a wait of 10 or 15 minutes to drive through

Definitely a place to stop and look around. Take your time to get on some of the rocks and take pictures. Read about Needle Eye. Drive through the tunnel. Enjoy the fresh air. A must see place.

The best part of driving along the scenic driveway is going through the needles tunnel, which is truly unique. The tunnel is a one lane section of the road that passes right through granite rock. The tunnel is quite narrow. Make sure that you check out the size restrictions. The tunnel is less than two miles from Sylvan Lake Lodge. It is a great picture spot.

This entire area is stunningly beautiful. The tunnels on this road are crazy... they're one lane, and the drivers can make some interesting decisions, so use caution. It's a great trip.

The drive was very long. But once you got to it, it was so beautiful. If you go park and walk around it nice

This was fun to go through! Driver's need to take turns from each direction. Please be patient and courteous. There is a small lot at the top to pull into and park. It is narrow, which should go without saying, but we did see people try to squeeze by others who were waiting.

One of the coolest places - so many photo ops right there. More to explore than just the tunnel - which is awesome. My kids loved going through it multiple times in our suv. Pretty sweet place.

This was so cool. When we started the drive I had no idea we would see this kinda stuff.

Thunderstorms and a deluge of biblical proportions met us at the Wyoming/South Dakota border, and didn’t ease up until the following morning. Regardless, the scenery is astounding! Straight outta vintage black&white cowboys and Indians films (or Jarmuschs’ Dead Man). Hordes of tourists and vehicles is the only downside.

Fascinating stop along the needles highway. We enjoyed checking it out and going through the tunnel, but would highly recommend staying away from here during the motorcycle weekends!

The Black Hills is a very special place. With each turn it seems to get better. The Needles Eye is a place where you can grab a chair and just gaze at the surroundings for hours and enjoy it's spectacular views.

Beautiful area in the Black Hills of South Dakota. This is a must-see if you are in this part of the country. Expect slow-moving traffic and do not attempt this road if you have a larger than normal vehicle without checking clearance first.

Unique spot to drive through. Must be careful of people walking around taking picture.Parking spots are good for about 12-15 cars, but many people are stopping by, so it can be a bit messy and hassle to deal with foot traffic.

This was a very fun ride for our family to ride down this road after we left Mt Rushmore. Be sure you stop at the pull offs and check out the tunnels on the Needles Highway

Needles Hwy was, by far, my fave part of SD. The ride is incredible! Amazing rock formations and very narrow, one lane tunnels. For whatever reason our GPS kept trying to send us west from Keystone, to do the drive west to east. I highly recommend taking Playhouse Rd towards Black Hills Playhouse, then taking Needles Hwy east to west. Lots of scenic turnoffs too.

Worth the drive! Exceptional vistas and amazing rock formations . Take your time and enjoy yourself.

If you haven’t heard of Needles Hi - way Here in SD. Well …. It is truly a Must see ! Natures Miracle !! The Tunnels are an awesome Wonder . The spiked Rocks are an Amazing Sight ! A spectacular scene while driving Through the Fantastic Rock escarpments and the Most Glorious Pine 🌲 Forest sprinkled with White Ash Trees A Visual Masterpiece ! A MUST-SEE !

Beautiful and scenic! The scenery is just breathtaking. Loved our time exploring this national park! Definitely be sure to give yourself bample time for exploring, we only drove through and stopped at several of the overlooks.

Take the time to drive this amazing stretch of road. Stop and take in the geological wonder.

Beautiful drive! Expect delayed when you approach shared, one-way tunnels.

Awesome spot with some great views and climbing areas.

Of course it didn't match Instagram hype 😂 but we pretty much had the needles highway to ourselves so the tunnels and views were awesome. We loved the whole trip and Custer SP exceeded our expectations.

If you're looking for an amazing scenic drive in South Dakota, Needles Highway in Custer State Park is a must-do. And if you're lucky enough to visit during the fall, the Needle Tunnel is a truly special sight.As you approach the tunnel, you'll be greeted by towering rock formations that resemble giant needles. The tunnel itself is narrow and winding, with walls that are just inches away from your car on either side. But it's the views from inside the tunnel that are truly breathtaking.As you drive through, you'll feel like you're on another planet. The rock formations are so otherworldly, and the fall colors are simply stunning. The tunnel is also a great place to see wildlife, such as mountain goats and deer.If you're looking for a truly unique and memorable experience, I highly recommend visiting Needle Tunnel in Custer State Park during the fall. It's an experience you'll never forget.Here are some specific things I loved about Needle Tunnel:* **The amazing views:** The views from inside the tunnel are simply incredible. You can see towering rock formations, lush forests, and meadows filled with wildflowers.* **The feeling of being on another planet:** The rock formations in Needles Highway are so unique and otherworldly. It really feels like you're driving through another planet.* **The beautiful fall colors:** The fall colors in Needles Highway are absolutely stunning. The leaves on the trees turn a brilliant red, orange, and yellow, creating a truly breathtaking sight.* **The massive rocky boulders:** The boulders in Needles Highway are simply massive. They're some of the largest boulders I've ever seen.If you're planning a trip to Custer State Park, be sure to add Needle Tunnel to your itinerary. It's an experience you won't soon forget.

Tunnel is just along the needles highway! The worse you are as a driver, the more exciting it is. If you're a good driver it's just ok. For me it was exciting.

Beautiful scenery! Very narrow road with 2-way traffic. The 2 tunnels are single lane only however, we found people to be very patient & willing to take turns. We saw numerous deer & a mountain goat (next to the road on top of a rock pinnacle). Take time to stop at the different pullouts - the views are stunning! We went thru the tunnels with our Winnebago Travato without any difficulties.

Some of the most beautiful rock formations I have ever seen. Everywhere you look, you have to stop and take pictures.

Cool place must see parking was limited… bike rally didn’t help

4.9

(1225)

5.0

(1739)

MP 31, SD-87, Custer, SD 57730, USA

A worthwhile stop. The cave may not be the most gorgeous one, but there are some neat formations to see and the tour guide was great. I've never been on a tour of a "live" cavern before, complete with dripping ceiling, etc. That's not a negative comment... other caves I've visited look more like abandoned mines, whereas this one is more active.

Great little cave to go and visit. Staff was very friendly. Sean, our tour guide, was very knowledgeable and funny!

This was actually pretty neat, I just expected it to be a lot longer than it was. Our guide was great, with lots of history and information on the cave, how it came about, and the current formations inside it. If you are a person who can not handle tight spaces and lowered ceilings, I would not suggest it. The flights of stairs down into the cave are pretty easy going down. Coming up was not too bad for those accustomed to being more active. Overall, it was a decent experience for a few hours of your time.

Really glad we went! It wasn’t part of our original plan, but my wife and I both enjoy caves. Alex, the tour guide, was very entertaining and educational. Don’t lose hope, it seems very far away if you are following the signs, but it is only 5 miles from the main road. The climb out of the cave is 127 steps. Take it slowly!

5 stars for a few reasons:1) is cool, I recommend.2) Warning: DO NOT TAKE BETHLEHEM ROAD TO GET HERE. The road is blocked off and you will have to turn around. If you are coming from Sturgis, you do not have to get on the interstate for this attraction. If you are coming from the south, take the intestate to exit 32 and go south from there. Google will reroute you correctly after that.

What a great cave experience. Wonderland Cave is an absolute gem. My mom was visiting town and always wanted to see a cave, Wonderland was fortunately still open for the season so we chose them; it did not disappoint.We had a very short wait and then joined just a small group of people with a phenomenal tour guide, Sean.The cave was very impressive with lots of amazing formations to look at. You do have to descend close to 130 steps, so wear good shoes.The best part was our tour guide, Sean. He was extremely informative and hilarious, a true professional at his job.I would recommend Wonderland to anyone looking for a great cave experience and as a bonus it is an incredibly beautiful Black Hills drive to get there.

We are on vacation and seen several advertisements for this place on the way in. On a whim, we just decided to go. We were not disappointed. You first arrive at the shop, pay the fee for the guided tour which was more than fair, walk down the pathway to the cave entrance. The pathway gives you some incredible views of the outlying forest areas. You get to the cave entrance, meet your group and proceed with the tour. Our guide, Gavin, did a tremendous job, he was very knowledgeable and funny to boot. The cave its self was awesome, and was worth the adventure out. We came on a weekday and there was a good size crowd with us (25 or so people). The stairs going down were a little steep, but not too bad. If you get really uncomfortable with confined spaces, you might want to try a different adventure, it wasnt too bad, just something to think about. The gift shop is nice and the staff there were great. Worth a trip if no plans and want something to do with the kids.

Once you get through the winding roads you take a dirt road into the site... Which may seem like forever but it's not I promise. It's a beautiful drive. Inside the cave was great experience of some beautiful sites good for all ages. There is a slightly narrow and steep staircase down which for some might be difficult though. Our guide was informative and so much fun. The staff inside the store was so wonderful as well! Next time we're out that way we will definitely go back!

The cave was a fun place to visit. There is a lot of period artifacts as well as many geological formations. There is a lot of stairs going down into the cave that you must traverse and the same amount of stairs obviously coming back out. People with difficulty walking I would not recommend it others however it was really fun. Great family place to visit

Very cool ( literally..haha ) place to visit! Our tour guide Shawn was great! Shawn was very informative and funny. We would definitely recommend!

This was my first time in a cave and it was very cool. Tour guides were knowledgeable and it was interesting to learn how it was discovered. There was a decent wait time as they only let a certain number of people in at a time, but you can shop at the gift store or spend time outside while you wait!

These caves are awe inspiring. This is a living cave. There a quite a few stairs on the decent down into the cave, but worth each one to behold this caves beauty. The guided tour is amazing thanks to our wonderful guide Shawn. He made the tour so much fun! Thank you Shawn! The gift shop has plenty of great merchandise to choose from to remember your experience. Loved it!

We had a wonderful time touring this cave with our guide Lila! She knows a ton of info about the cave as well as the areas surrounding it. She also had a very good sense of humor and that makes for the most entertaining kind of tour! I enjoyed the amount of steps, up and down. Gives different viewpoints and truly shows how vast this cave is! Would absolutely recommend to anyone kn the area!

Gaven was our tour guide. Had lots of knowledge and knows about the cave. I just can't descibe how great this spot is. Definitely worth checking out.. There is so much to look at.. Gift shop is reasonable. Got many of gifts. My favorite gift is for my husband. A grenade hot sauce.. Just FYI if you tour cave. Bring a jacket. It's cold once you get down 127 stairs. loved it tho. I think you will thumbs up.. Have fun and safe travels.

Amazing experience! We had Sean as a guide who was just hilarious! We were rolling the entire time!!! This was our 3 youngest kids first time in a cave, and it was the perfect length of time for them. Took about 45 minutes. The only downfall for us adults is that it was not long enough. Expected a little more but still had a great time! There are quite a few stairs, I think they said around 245 which no one mentioned prior to purchasing tickets. So if you can’t move well I would think twice about this. The stairs are the only difficult part of the short hike itself was very easy.

Wir haben uns heute die Wonderland Cave angeschaut. Es ist eine ziemlich große Höhle, die nur mit Führung betreten werden darf. Sammy war ein guter Guide.Zwei Mankos hatte das ganze...Google führt einen falschen Weg zur Höhle wo gar kein Weg ist. Bitte über die IS90 fahren und bei Sturgis abfahren, von dort ist es gut beschildert. Ich fand 19$ pro Person etwas viel.(Translated by Google)Today we looked at the Wonderland Cave. It is a fairly large cave that can only be entered with a guided tour. Sammy was a good guide.The whole thing had two shortcomings...Google leads a wrong path to the cave where there is no path at all. Please take IS90 and exit at Sturgis, from there it is well signposted. I thought $19 per person was a bit much.

Loved it! We decided to go here as part of our ladies solstice trip and had the best time with Sean on the last tour of the day. He was super punny, which totally fit our style! Also going at the end there were only 10 of us total and we got to take our sweet time touching all the spots (that they'd let us) we left without any felonies! Thanks again Sean, would highly recommend it to anyone not afraid of tight spaces 😁Highlights- cave bacon, Vern the fern, cave rave

We've been in a cavern cave tour before, which was cool but nothing like this. I would suggest making reservations a day or too early to avoid a potential long wait. Our tour guide was a very nice young lady with tons of knowledge of the cave. This tour is really a Cave Tour! If you get claustrophobic, this might not be for you as there are parts with low roofs & narrow passage. It was in the upper 90s the day we were there, so the cave being cool was very pleasant.

The cave was nice. The tour was absolute trash. No information provided by the tour guide - group members asked questions to get witty remarks from the guide. It seemed like the other tour group had gotten an actual tour - ours was nothing more than a teenage kid walking us through a cave saying this is where he wants to come and party at. Beautiful cave but for an actual good tour with information, go elsewhere.

Wonderland Cave deserves a 5 star rating without a doubt! This place is simply magical, with amazing natural formations that will take your breath away. Our tour guide was a friendly and very knowledgeable girl, which made the experience even more enriching.The cavern itself is a treasure, with really beautiful rocks and tunnels that transport you to another world. Although there is a short unpaved stretch on the road to get to the site, I assure you it is worth every step. The beauty you will find inside is simply unmatched.In addition, the gift store at Wonderland Cave offers a unique variety of rocks and details. It's the perfect place to find special souvenirs or for those geology enthusiasts who want to expand their mineral collection. You will be impressed by the diversity and quality of the products available.In short, visiting Wonderland Cave is an unforgettable experience. From the magic of the place and the amazing natural formations, to the friendliness and knowledge of the tour guide, the beautiful rocks and fascinating tunnels, and the opportunity to take home unique treasures from the gift store, this destination is simply exceptional. Don't hesitate to visit and immerse yourself in the wonder it has to offer.

Amazing time. The tour guide was nice, sweet, and funny. The caves were incredible. Many amazing facts were given. I would go again if I didn't live so far away. Got many incredible souvenirs from the shop. Everyone was kind. I went with a large group and still, everything was amazing.

This is an amazing cave! The formations are very cool. Our tour guide was a very funny and informative young lady. She was very fun. Side note....there are 127 steps down to the cave, which you have to walk back up to exit.

Our tour guide Cadence was really awesome! She was sweet and kind and her jokes really just added to the whole experience. We came at a non-busy time so we got a more private experience which was so nice! Cave had very impressive formations and the guide was very knowledgeable on the history of the cave. Would recommend, however there are 140+ stairs you have to walk up and down so be aware of that if you have physical limitations. 10/10 would go again!

Fair price for the 45 minute tour (ours was around an hour) of natural wonders. Great information from our tour guide and interesting. It's around 130 stairs to get in and out of the cave; most of the areas are large and well lit, only a couple narrow and short ceiling areas.DO NOT TRUST GOOGLE MAPS to get you there! Be sure you end up using Vanocker Canyon road... DO NOT USE BETHLEHEM ROAD.Gift shop has interesting items at reasonable prices, folks working there were very friendly.

Kia did a great job. She was funny, friendly and knowledgeable. She really does care about her customers and her presentation. I enjoyed the tour.

This privately own cave tour was really cool and totally worth the drive. We were in SD for 4 days and attempted to check out the jewel cave but you need to book in advance like 2 weeks. We took a chance and drove out to the Wonderland cave. They are first come first serve every hour on the hour get there about 20-30 minutes prior to the hour. It’s a 45/50 minute tour for a great price. The tour guide Layla was funny and had tons of interesting information. 10/10 recommend !! There are steps but you can take your time and there are railings. Great for families too we had little kids mesmerized too.

The tour guide Lila was great, very informative and knowledgeable! If it was a review on solely the staff it would be 5 stars, but the cost for the somewhat quick tour is a bit steep. The cave is very interesting and fun to go through but for $18 per person I would have hoped for a little longer tour, it is only about 40 minutes. There is a large amount of stairs, I believe 128, that can be difficult if you have health conditions like asthma or knee related injury.

My tour guide was named cadence she had an amazing attitude and made the tour fun. It was fun would recommend amazing things to see

Finally gone to wonderland cave. Such a beautiful experience. We had gone this past saturday. Had a blast with my family. My mother inlaw had treated us with a wonderful experience. Our tour guide Glenn was amazing. He gone above an beyond to make sure our whole group was having fun an that we where being safe an he joked with the group. We really enjoyed our visit. Thanks

4.4

(858)

4.0

(114)

12634 Alpine Rd, Nemo, SD 57759, USA

8 lists

This was awesome. A live dig site, indoors, with AC. The staff were actually working on the fossils while we were there. Scraping with a dental pick. You can watch them work, talk to them, learn about their job and the site. There is a self-guided tour with QR codes you scan at each stop. The tour guides you through the site explaining the numbers, the fossils, the history…amazing. Plus, it is affordable. Pretty neat time, glad we made the drive here!

Great spot, especially on a rainy day! Love the history of how this came to be. Pros: informative, interesting, interactive. Cons: Not many hands-on elements for the basic tour for young kids other than a small room at the end. Please note - there is a basic entry fee for the self-guided tour and then several different add-on packages. We thought that there was a “dig” interactive component included, however, it’s additional price and you have to arrive before a certain time and register (we didn’t see this information anywhere on the website or advertising. We would have gladly upgraded to do the family dig, but we arrived after they were done for the day which initially bummed us out). Also do note - this is an active dig site and there were people there working on the dig. They pretty much ignore the visitors so there isn’t much interaction, but they’re focused and working so we understood. It’s a self-guided tour, and the tour is informative and matches up well to the signage and flags they have marking the different stops in the dig. I found those really helpful, especially when discussing what was happening with my young son. There are additional exhibits dedicated to other fossils besides the mammoth, which was great to keep it interesting for kids. A staff member we did talk with towards the end was very helpful in recommending similar activities around the area that our family may find interesting, and she spent time chatting with us and telling us even more about animals and dig sites.

Worth a stop if you get to Hot Springs, SD! I didn't know this place was here until we were looking for our hotel and it popped up on Google maps. I'm glad we walked through it. Great displays & information!

I'm so glad we stopped here! This was such an interesting place. There's so much information packed in about the fossils and the history of the site. The volunteers and workers are very friendly and informative. We had conversations with several about the fossil they were working on, what finds they had discovered that day, or how they worked with the various tools. Definitely scan the QR codes located on the walkway railing around the site. They explain the different areas you can see from each stop. I put it on speaker so the kids could listen with me. There's 4-5 codes to scan, so make sure you get them all. We spent a good hour and a half here. There's another portion in the museum at the back of the gift shop that we almost missed. The gift shop has a nice selection. You can also buy a bag of soil to sift using the sluice out front to discover stones and fossils. We did a medium sized fossil find and it had quite a bit of stones and shark teeth in it. The kids loved it. There's also a small snack shack out front with pizza, hotdogs, chips and drinks.

A great experience set within an active dig site. Activities for kids, clean bathrooms with water fountain, and a nice introduction video on a loop. Highly recommended and informative!

When someone suggested this place it sounded like a tourist trap waiting to sick dollars from our wallets. Instead, we found a very interesting and engaging site with stories and artifacts that piqued our curiosity. What animals lived in North America before humans? … before Europeans arrived? How did they disappear? How do present-day scientists and researchers gather evidence? The Mammoth Site gives ideas on how to answer those questions and more.This site should be interesting for people of all ages. The displays are large and medium-sized. The displays show actual work (present time) and past discoveries.Plan to spend about 90 minutes inside. There are places outdoors to spend time afterwards.

Was in the Black Hills for a couple days and I finally got to go to the Mammoth site. This is definitely worth the price of admission. If you are a student of paleontology or geology you'll be glad you came for a visit. The bones are incredible and watching people actively digging and cleaning the bones was definitely a plus. Highly recommend coming to this museum any chance you get.They have seniors and military discounts as well.

We went to the site for the first time just before closing. Ollie tried to stay overnight but staff nade him leave with us. Do this site with enough time dedicated. I would recommend over an hour. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Thanks to Katy and her helper.

This was such a nice stop on our way through SD. Very interesting and informative. We had a nice time walking through the museum and taking our time to listening to a self guided tour using QR codes. Highly recommend making this a stop on your next trip through this area.

Very informative and well done preservation area. Features remains of variety of animals from per-historic era most notably mammoths. It is an active dig site so there are tools and scientists on site doing research. There is a very informative video explaining how the site came to be (from a sink hole that animals got stuck in) and how it was found in the 1970s. The tour is self-guided with information on plaques and through an audio guide (obtained via a smart phone app). Overall very good experience and would recommend to anyone visiting the black hills area.Just an FYI, it is approximately 15 mins from the Wind Cave National Park visitors center (where you begin your cave tours). If you are buying tickets and have a long wait you can buy them further out and plan on visiting this area in the meantime. We purchased our cave tour tickets around 10am and had a tour time of 1:30. We were able to visit the Mammoth site in between and arrived back with plenty of time before our cave tour.

Easy to get to and with lots of parking. No RV specific parking. The primary tour is self directed. This is an active dig site. Please note that the web page has audio files that you can play while you look. Please note that you can stop the staff working on the floor and ask questions. They will answer you and go back to working. Be sure to go into the second section. It has more artifacts about the region rather than just the dig site. There is also a fun room for the kids with a couple cool activities.

We enjoyed our visit. Didn’t take long to explore the museum and dig site although you could spend as much time as you like. Not overly crowded. Not much activity in the pit but from what I read it sounds like the bones almost need to stay in place because they are fragile. Not true fossils. Also if they were digging and pulling bones out daily this wouldn’t be much of an attraction once it was all cleared out and just an open dirt pit. Actually very well done the way you can see the bones in different stages of cleaning and the positions they settled in. My kids enjoyed their visit but felt it was a little sad that so many animals got stuck in the water and died. Similar to La Brea tar pit in that regard.

Very interesting! Educational. Love the self guided tour with my phone and the QR codes at each station. This allowed plenty of time for pictures and the ability to repeat the presentation when I wanted to hear something again or read it again. The accompanying pictures in the presentation were helpful in finding and identifying what I was looking at.The staff were knowledgeable and answered all my questions that were not answered on the self guided tour.The entry price is quite reasonable.The gift shop was, for the most part, reasonably priced.I will return in the future to see the progress; as this is an active archeological site, and what you see changes year to year.There are also some interactive exhibits suitable for children.

Very interesting and educational. Not an exciting experience for the younger child but appreciated by the older child. Lots of very cool fossils in an active site and cool history of the location. About 1.5 hrs spent but we visited off season and at the end of the day (3:30) so only 2 other families were there. Very interesting stop

We stopped here on our way to South Dekota. Very fascinating to learn about the sink hole and all the bones they have found in it. Whole family loved it. The kids loved the water table and digging for fossils. A great place to stop and stretch your legs.

TONS OF REAL MAMMOTH BONES! This is so cool! Your kids (and you!) WILL LOVE IT! The people actively doing the digging will stop and talk to you, answer any questions. Nice gift shop. Lots of interactive opportunities for the family. You can even bring your dog as long as they are leashed AND carried or contained.This is the undiscovered hit in this area! It's not crowded, not expensive, BUT IT IS INCREDIBLE!! It is totally worth the trip to Hot Springs from Custer - or even from Florida!! Just go!!

This is a very interesting and cool place. If you're into that kind of stuff... which I am😜 I would love to spend a day digging in the dirt here. We are old and we're worn out from a long drive though. The little video you watch is informative!I hope I have a chance to come back so I can stay longer.

This is still a live excavation site. It's the coolest thing ever. They teach kids what it's like to excavate bones by getting them to do it. Very interactive. Amazing history!!The staff are incredibly patient and do such a great job explaining things!

Not only is this museum absolutely amazing; we had so much fun doing the Family Dig! 100% worth every penny; the guides were helpful, patient, smart and fun to work with! You can tell the passion behind everyone who works there. Excellent gift shop too, less cheesy than others we'd been to.

Very fascinating and impressive. It’s an actual live excavation site. A must see if you are in the area!

The staff are very friendly and very knowledgeable and willing to answer any questions you may have. Only reason for 4 stars is because it is only a self guided tour and would be cool if it had more interactive activities. Nonetheless, this is a place to visit for sure to see an active dig and see the bones of animals that's lived thousands of years ago. Make sure to bring your electronic devices that can scan QR codes as this is how you get the information needed about certain areas of the dig.

I did the self guided tour and it was good - shorter than I expected as I finished this entire activity in about 45 minutes. There were many fossils - remains of about ~61 mammoths and it is an actively studied site which is so cool cos there could be so much more that is yet to be discovered at this site.

This is a very well done exhibit. We enjoyed it more than we thought we would. I appreciate the self guided tour QR codes and free WiFi. You can read or listen, so it may be nice to bring headphones.There were several areas where kids were enjoying themselves, including a water and sand table and an area for younger kids too.

Like everyone who grew up with Jurassic Park, I have always wanted to visit an actual archeological dig, and now I have! This site has been active since the 1970s, and they built a gorgeous museum around it. Great information on my self-guided tour to help understand what I was looking at. You can head downstairs to see the lab where they work, visit the museum area with more photos and historical context, and hit the gift shop on your way out. Great way to spend a couple of hours in Hot Springs, SD!! Bring the kids, if you can :)

Awesome place! Definitely worth the trip from the black hills to go visit. Tons of fossils on display just at they were found. Also includes a great video on how the sink hole turned into a hill and was chock full-o-fossils.

The Mammoth Site is phenomenal to see. Our family thoroughly enjoyed an "active" site where bones of animals continue to be unearthed. This site is well displayed & walking through the various areas was remarkable. I highly recommend a visit.

What an amazing place! An actual working dig. This was such a fascinating treat. $14 per person regular ticket. They let you watch a 10 minute movie explaining how this sinkhole was formed, became a death trap for young male mammoths, and eventually rose up to form a hill in present day, until a bulldozer tried to level it in 1974, and found bones...mammoth bones. About 60 mammoths in here! What an amazing piece of history to be part of!

Glad we stopped in. Very cool to see all those bones as they found them. Quick and easy, but very cool.

The sheer amount of fossils are just amazing. The plaques and explanations may be a little old schooled, but they are clear and interesting.Just a chance to be so close to so many well preserved fossils is just priceless.

Very organized way to present the site. We started out with a short video on why the site happened the way it did, so that background helped as we explored the site. It wrapped up with a displayed exhibit and fun activities for kids. Friendly staff in the gift shop. Overall, we enjoyed our visit.

What a surprise gem! My family was visiting Mount Rushmore and looking for other fun stops on our road-trip in the region. The Mammoth Site came up as an option and it did not disappoint. As an active and ongoing scientific discovery site that is also very welcoming and accessible to the public, it is a unique attraction. The story of how this historic site came to be and how it was discovered is quite special (no spoilers here!) and being so close to so many fossils in their discovered location (as opposed to a museum) is quite magical. A must visit!

Every time I've been here, they have updated and expanded. The dig site is incredible. They have added QR codes, which describe what you're seeing. My granddaughters loved the site, and staff were excited to engage them and answer questions. My sons were excited by all of the updates. It's just a great place to visit.

Had a great visit. It was nearly 100 degrees so we were looking for something we could do inside. Amazing display and the q-codes at the different spots along the wall were very interesting. Staff was friendly and suggested we go the the worlds best swimming hole and Cascade falls which was amazing.

Well, this isn’t a large place, and upon first pulling in and parking, it might seem that you shouldn’t have bothered. However, once inside, though, not large, it is very impressive.! we are happy we went and we’re amazed at the things we saw. Staff was very friendly and helpful.I don’t know that I would drive too far out of my way, but if you’re in the area or close by, it is certainly worth stopping in. It truly is pretty amazing for adults and children.

I went in early January and was the only person there so I can't say how it would be if it was crowded.I would plan to spend a little over an hour to see everything in winter and plan on adding another 30-40 minutes for summer as the outside grounds are spacious and offer a decent view.The staff was extremely informative and friendly, more than happy to answer questions.The facility was well kept and organized. I had good internet service there and the self guided tour worked well.The cost was only $11 (military discount) but I felt it was worth it for what there was.The entrance is a longer than average walk from the parking lot with an explanation of the geology of the area as you go. I saw that they do offer a golf cart ride if you need one and can call the number posted on that sign.

We visited the museum and exhibition site on a snowy morning. This museum is built around the excavation sote. We started with a video telling the story behind this find and we were mesmerized to see the exhibits. I would definitely recommend visiting this place if you are visiting rapid city

This place is just amazing, you can easily spend a few hours here.There’s a walkthrough with audio description (through your phone) that you can do and learn about the importance of each area, or you can roam around on your own. It’s a working site, so sometime you will see paleontologists working at the site.Gift shop is also packed with nice souvenirs!

Really neat museum!! My whole family enjoyed it and QR codes helped describe what we are looking at! My kids had fun trying to find all the QR mammoths. The ice age portion of the museum was my personal favorite as it showcased the ground sloth! Bathrooms are clean. Kid play area in each room! Prices are fair!

4.8

(4511)

4.5

(1810)

1800 US-18 BYP, Hot Springs, SD 57747, USA

8 lists

Went here for our wedding! Absolutely fabulous reception! Cindy and the other staff worked wonders for our guests as we danced the night away! ThxSoMuch for all the calamari and olives infinitely provided! Reminds me just of $t Louis! One day I hope to be rich...!

So awesome! Fun place to take the family the water felt amazing. There is so much to do, water slides, basketball, volleyball, rings to hang from, hottub, and sauna. The rock bottom of the pool was very neat. Bonus was the history of the place.

This was such a fun experience for my two friends and I! We also felt the cost of 14 dollars for a full day pass was very reasonably priced! The water and facilities were SO clean. The only thing we noticed, as three currently certified lifeguards, is that the two guards stood talking with each other a majority of the time instead of activity scanning the pool…so as parents make sure to actively watch your kids and those around you.

My family goes camping in the Hot Springs area every year. We always make sure to stop in at Evans Plunge because it's so much fun! The water is amazing, my kids enjoy the slides (both indoor and outdoor). My husband and I enjoy the steam room and sauna. Very well priced and overall a great stop for fun!

This place we was great! A must go for anyone. The water is so clean and fresh. Indoor pool, no chlorine, warm all year. Win, win win!My favorite parts:*Separated Kids areas, real shallow and mid shallow.*water slides with pads. Big enough to be fun. The speed slide was great to see how far you could skip across the surface, my best about 30ft.*the loose gravel pool bottom. Stones from 1/2" to 2" lining parts of the pool floor was quite therapeutic to walk on especially after all the traveling.*hot tubs and saunas in case the 87° spring water wasn't warm enough. The hot tubs of course have some chlorine since it has to be heated, but still nice.The rings were fun as well. Sufficiently difficult to feel accomplished when I made it across third try.*not busy at all. Early April almost nobody there, we lapped the slides and never had to wait once.Obviously this isn't the biggest water park in the world, but so so worth going. If I'm ever within 200 miles from here again, I'll be stopping in for another swim. The town is pretty cool also, under a disruptive road construction at the moment. But should be done soon.

It's cool and affordable. If I lived here I would have a season pass. They have an enormous indoor pool fed by a hot spring. Two hot tubs, steam sauna dry heat sauna and a weight room. It's worth the stop.

Great place for the kids. They offer life jackets, pool noodles, balls, and mats. There is a kiddie pool in one part indoors, two indoor slides, swing rings and a lap pool. Not only this but a steam room, hot tub and sauna. When we went to outdoors pool area was closed.

We hadn't been here in 4 years and so glad we made the stop! Refreshing, rejuvenating and the water was warm. It was the perfect relaxing and fun afternoon and I highly recommend it! Staff was nice and helpful...even recommended a cool place for lunch that was delicious (the bowling alley...I know, crazy. Lol).

Lots of fun swimming in the spring. The lack of chlorine was wonderful. Changing locker rooms were fine, provided what you needed and the lockers are cheap, 50 cents for a small or 75 cents for a large. Know that they don't have an ATM onsite so you'll need to have cash before you show or quarters if you wish to use one of the coin-operated lockers.The pool was nice, it wasn't "warm" by any means, but it was great to swim in. It was a bit jarring the first time getting in where the base of the pool is all stones but it worked. Slides were fun and the outdoor pool was also nice.

I have not spent any time here at Evans Plunge yet but I stopped by 6 days ago to check it out and get a tour because I'd never even been to the center for any fun yet and I'm seriously looking forward to going back and both enjoying myself at the facility playing in the water and just casually lounging in the Natural Healing Waters.I'm from Minnesota and I've been in the process of moving to the Hot Springs area for a while now but so many other things have kept me traveling the country for my sales job and business so I haven't been able to slow down enough to enjoy the ranch land to its fullest or make it to Evans Plunge which is sad because I've been by the place 100+ times in almost 9 years now as I've spent lots of time in Hot Springs.Evans Plunge looks totally awesome, and it has its weight room for training, hot tub, sauna, steam room and other fun stuff to.

This place was not what I expected. The waters were a bit colder than I thought. The pictures Don't do justice of how bad this place was. People were nice, it's the way it looks. The outside looked dirty and felt dirty.

Great indoor pool to visit for kids and adults! Water slides, rings, basketball and plain ole swimming in naturally warm mineral springs. Also have hot tub and sauna we enjoyed. Good food for lunch or a snack... Very well priced too! There are other offerings that we didn't partake in. Friendly and welcoming staff! Admission price reasonable as well.

Super fun experience kids loved it!! However, front desk lady was super rude and crabby when asking a question. Lifeguards didn’t seem to care about the safety of the guest and cared more about taking to each other. One lifeguard would walk around every once in a while. Definitely not worth the price but definitely had a fun time.

First timers. Kids had a blast. The water was crystal clear and warm. The slides are fun and the staff is good. We enjoyed our visit.

Swim at your own risk. The four lifeguards on duty stood together talking and using their cell phones almost the entire time we were swimming. Towards the end of our visit, one of the lifeguards would walk a circle around the pool occasionally.I slipped and hit my head while getting on the mats to go down the slide. The movement of the mat should have been something that the attendant anticipated and assisted with. It was not.The facility is pretty clean and is affordable for families, but it’s not a safe environment.We will likely not return.

Kids had so much fun. Water was not bath water warm, but I was able to get in for an hour, and I'm a wimp about temperature. A little frayed around the edges, but priced appropriately; we felt we got good value for our money.

It definitely feels dated when you first walk in, but the experience is well worth it! The rock bottom of the pool was unexpected, but a nice surprise. The bathrooms were clean, and it wasn't too crowded. The water outside is warm enough to swim in 65° temps!

Love the year round 87 degree water temp. The facilities include a gym, hot springs pool (still only 87 degrees)with 2 slides, jacuzzi & sauna.

One of the perks of homeschooling our five children is being able to travel to normally busy destinations during the offseason, which is what we did for our 2021 South Dakota trip. As such, we only had to share the entire facility with maybe ten or twelve other people.Hot spring is maybe a little generous; the water is not hot but is pleasantly warm. It's refreshing and great fun to visit.The bottom of the pool is river rock because the facility is built directly over the spring so the water flows up through the rocks, over to the far end and out a drain into a local river. This means no nasty chlorine, no irritated eyes and none of that awful dry skin and hair. We were told the water completely cycles about every ninety minutes; if you just float in the water you'll slowly be carried toward where it drains out. Don't worry, there isn't a noticeable current.The facility is nice and clean and appears well-maintained and there was ample space in the locker room to change with lockers to store your street clothes.

This essentially is a lukewarm - cool city pool full of lots of loud children. Perfect for families with children but not for adults who are looking to soak. We got in and out within minutes but their policy did not allow for refunds. Boo.

The water felt smooth and comforting, and the massive pool can hold a lot of people with room to spare. The appearance of the great pool chamber seems dated, but maybe that is by design. I got the feeling I was swimming in and seeing the same thing others might have seen and felt 100 years ago. In any case, it works. Parking is tight, especially for large vehicles and the adjacent streets have construction work going on. Overall, definitely a fun experience that I would do again.

Very organized and felt like a community center. The restroom/locker room was big with multiple showers. You can rent a towel for $2.00. The pool was easy to get into with several areas with stairs. The base of the pool was river rock. There is 2 big slides. Volleyball area in the pool and basketball. There's also hanging rings for kids to swing over pool. A room with 2 jacuzzi a steam room and a dry sauna. That room was busy at times. The outdoor pool closed at 4pm and was busy. Very clean and family oriented.

What a splash!! Made a special stop just come to Evans Plunge and it it totally worth it. People and kids of all ages can enjoy and have a blast. Also, they have been open for over a 100 years so you know it's fun.

Ok, my wife found this place and wanted to come here not me. She somehow had the idea in her head that it was a natural “hot” spring even though the website just says Natural Spring-Fed with a 87 degree water temperature.Those who are thinking the water is hot, it is not, it’s somewhat warm-ish. Bring water shoes as the bottom of the pool is rocksThe facility is very dated but serves its purpose. Has a decent size room in the bathroom for changing with showers. Different size lockers which takes quarters for your personal belongings.The pool was a decent size but at the time we went it was a lot of people so it was a little crowded. They have 2 hot tubs which was crowded, one sauna which was also crowded and one steam room which was crowded again. We came back off and on the see if sauna or steam room was empty enough to get it. We did not go upstairs or buy food so can’t comment on that.The price for 6 of us to swim the few hours we were their was almost $100

This place is great. I think what makes it special is the historical aspect of how long this establishment has been there. Adds some charm. The water slides were a blast. The volleyball court and water rings were cool too. Great place for kids of all ages. We brought our 9 month old. They have life jackets to borrow as well as other pool toys.

We went at 6pm for half the price and were there until it closed at 8pm. It was a perfect amount of time and there were only about 20 people there. During the summer they can get to about 300! It was very relaxing and there were great areas for little kids and big kids. My daughters enjoyed going down the slides and they had a blast! The staff was friendly and great and my skin felt nice and soft afterwards. My daughters can't wait to go back!

We were there less time than it took to change into swimsuits. We overestimated the meaning of "warm springs". The water felt cool. We all had goosebumps and were incredibly uncomfortable. Needless to say, we spent $50 for about 10 minutes of pool time. Not only that, it was very crowded.I think there is a sauna and hot tub(s)? But I didn't see any signs indicating where they were, so I'm not positive on that. I can't say any of us would recommend it.

Decent place to stop, but don’t expect actual hot water or an updated, clean feeling place. The hot tubs were super worn, as was pretty much everything here. It was fun for the kids, but not much for the adults—especially if you get cold easily!

4.4

(1422)

4.0

(460)

1145 N River St, Hot Springs, SD 57747, USA

+1 other list

Even with rain, this NP and the Visitor Center were gorgeous. The NP ranger took a lot of time to explain the park and wildlife to my child, showing him all sorts of things. The tour to the natural cave entrance was phenomenal and informative. We loved this park more than we expected to.

Very, very beautiful and cool cave and park. Very worth the time and distance to get there.We saw a few bison and even saw a coyote wandering among the thousands of Prarie Dog mounds.Visitor center was great, had lots of really interesting information about the cave history and animals and environment in the park.Staff was friendly and helpful just like all National Park Staff are.Cave tour was great and worth the money. Beautiful and unique features.We took the natural entrance tour.There are quite a few stairs but almost all are going down with an elevator at the end. Moderately strainuous.Don't be late for cave tours purchased online, no refunds. Arrive at least 15-20 minutes early.

The 1-hour Natural Entrance cave tour was fantastic. I've done other cave tours in the past and this one was actually better, because the route follows a tighter, more cavey passage instead of just running us through all the biggest rooms. You really feel like you're on a cave adventure, but not in a claustrophobic or creepy way. It was so much fun.

The park rangers were very knowledgeable about the cave and were very pleasant when they had to inform guests that the elevators weren't working and no cave tours could be had. Plenty of information around the facility and the trail around the grounds is perfect to release some energy from the drive over. FYI, it's also a pet friendly trail!

Although the cave is closed for the summer/fall season due to elevator update, there is still plenty to see and do above ground! Take your time at the exhibits inside the visitor center to learn all about the park, explore the trails and drive through the park. Keep your eyes peeled for Bison! There are so many!

We went on two tours, both with the same guide, but on different levels of the cave. Wind cave has unique features that made both tours well with the trip. The hike to the fire tower in the park was also quite enjoyable. Plenty of buffalo grazing near the park roads for great photo opportunities

This is a spectacular cave system. So far they have explored over 162 miles all within a square mile on the surface. They don't expect to find the end of the system any time soon. There are several tours you can take depending on your ability. Plenty of parking and hiking area around the cave system. Make sure you bring a jacket and good shoes. There are some steep steps but it is worth the price.

Very helpful desk clerks! The tour was amazing and highly recommend reserving tickets in advance. We skipped in because someone else dropped off, insanely lucky, I really recommend reserving in advance to hold a slot. It's worth it, just to go down and learn so much about all of the geological features and history.

We did the loop and centennial hike, and it was brutal in the prairie sun. Make sure to bring lots of water. The elevator broke so we were unable to do the cave tour. However, the grounds of the park itself are filled with tons of trails and wildlife. Make sure to be mindful of the bison as they will follow your trail and block your path. Despite how frightening they can be, they are a sight to behold. The visitor center has a ton of exhibits and great staff to answer your questions.

The visitors center had magnets to purchase to add to my ever-growing magnet collection. The natural entrance to the cave is just out the downstairs door, but it's simply a hole about as big a round as a basketball. Not many people here since the cave in closed until Fall 2024. I visited July 1, 2024.

Our family had a nice time here. So much to do besides the cave. Our favorite was the Rankin Ridge Trail. Such a nice view and the wind in the pines was so nice! We did the Fairgrounds Tour. Nice length tour & the guide was very knowledgeable. The Box work formations are beautiful. Easy to spend a half to a full day depending on what u do there.

This park has all the feels. The wide prairies are stunning. The cave is closed until fall, but we went to hike and LOVED the Buffalo flats hike. It had EVERYTHING. Cold Canyon Creek was also nice.

We came up for the national park and the elevator is closed currently for the cave. So we looked up things to do on their Facebook page and came over for an evening ranger program on elk!There is a nice path around the visitor center with picnic tables. We saw mule deer and bison. If this review helps you, give us a thumbs up! #crazykleinadventure

Ranger at the visitor center was informative and knowledgeable. He gave us ideas of activities that lasted the whole day and we had an enjoyable day!

The park rangers are helpful and informative. If you are trying to buy tickets the day of for a cave tour, you need to get here early. The rangers stated tours usually sell out by noon or early afternoon. If you know what type of tour you want, it is recommended to purchase tickets ahead of time. They have the junior ranger program here. It was busy when we came here on a Sunday. The parking lot had most of the spaces taken.The cave tours are decent, but don’t expect to be wowed if you have been on other cave tours. While there are unique features of this cave, there isn’t a main feature like a waterfall, lake, etc. Just FYI, you do not actually walk into a natural entrance on the Natural Entrance tour.

We broke down outside the Visitor center. The Rangers and LE Ranger went above and beyond to accommodate and help us. The park was beautiful, the programs educational. Our Grandson was able to earn his Junior Ranger, Cave Scientist and Paleontologist Badges with the help of many Rangers there to keep him busy and encourage his progress as we waited for repairs. Fantastic staff! I can't say enough about the kindness that was given us

A must see and experience this wonderful place! Bring your camera and lots of batteries! The vistas are breathtaking and the wild life is too. But please remember this is NOT a petting zoo. It’s a park with real WILD life- they are not in cages or behind fences. It’s their space.

We went on the cave tour- it was amazing and the guide was both knowledgeable and funny. We really enjoyed the tour. After the tour we hiked look out point trail to centennial loop trail. Half the trail is in the woods and half in the prairie. We picked a cool day so temperatures were perfect for this hike. We saw one Buffalo in the distance, but there was fresh poop everywhere on the trail so be aware of Buffalo! We used the All-Trails app for this hike. There were prairie dogs everywhere when we got to the prairie! Adorable.

We did the Garden of Eden tour and it was great! It was about the perfect length, the kids were just starting to get restless toward the end. Beautiful cave features! The park ranger who led the tour was very knowledgeable and shared lots of interesting facts. The museum was also interesting and worth a walk around.

Not the nation’s best national park, but still beautiful. Lots of bison. Even though the cave was closed, we had a great time visiting!

The Visitor Center and ranger guided talk was great. The scenic drive through the park was nice. Unfortunately elevators were being refurbished when we visited so no opportunity to visit the cave

This was a really cool cave tour. The Ranger was extremely knowledgeable and made the experience enjoyable. I liked the Natural walking tour, but there are so many different types of cave tours. You can literally get a different experience each time.Wear comfortable shoes, ones with decent traction. Take a jacket with you. It is cold in the cave, even during the hottest summer days. You can not take any bags or purses in the cave.

We had an amazing time here. We spent two days exploring the park and caves. Excellent rangers. They were incredibly helpful and kind. Can’t wait to come back. My daughter really enjoyed the Jr Ranger program.

A decent national park but not as special as the nearby Badlands, in my opinion. Prairie dogs, prairie dogs, prairie dogs - there's so many of them here! You'll definitely catch a few bison 🦬 too. Worth a visit if you have the time, but if not, it's not the end of the world 🌎 Try driving thru some of the back roads if you're able to make it.

The visitor center is nice. Caves are closed for this year. Many prairie dogs nearby.

Located just south of Custer State Park, Wind Cave is a beautiful, if sometimes overlooked area of the Badlands. I saw abundant wildlife and beautiful scenery everywhere. At the northern most part of the park I also hiked up to a fire watch tower. One note: as of later Sept 2023, they were not offering cave tours due to elevator repair. I was told it would be back up by mid/late Oct 2023.

6th longest cave in the world, and 2nd longest in the US. Personally I enjoyed the tour because our tour guide was so helpful and knew her stories pretty well. If you plan on visiting, I would recommend going on a weekday because it’s less busy and you have a better chance of getting tickets for tours you want. Enjoy:)

4.5

(2366)

4.5

(748)

26611 US-385, Hot Springs, SD 57747, USA

9 lists

Great reuse of a historic bank. Price was $14 a piece, but I did find a Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupon in a Visitor's Guide. There are additional taxes, so you do pay more. They do ask if you would like to Round Up to support the museum. I had a Buy 1 Get 1 Half Off that I gave to a fellow camper that rode his motorcycle with us to Sturgis during Bike Week. He found another single customer so he could use the coupon. It didn't take long.There are 2 levels with stairs going down, but I did see a wood encased elevator in the middle of the display area that looked operational, if needed.The gift shop does have a souvenir penny press machine. There are name bricks out in front of the museum that I am sure were used as a fundraiser.

Lots of bikes to see with lots of artifacts. Nice video down stairs. Oh, there is a lower level where the really old bikes are kept. Look for the full size wood carvings.

Definitely a variety of different bikes! The cardboard bike was kool. Never knew about Motor Maids! Thank you for having such an interesting museum!

Such a great way to spend the afternoon. A lit if history and gorgeous bikes. Highly recommended.

All I can say is wow! This museum has so many different bikes to view. And it is an amazing historical look at motorcycles in the United States!

Really a great museum with many types of motorcycles old and newer. 2 floors to the museum. Small charge to get in but worth it. Staff very nice.

Finally went through this place this year. We wanted to go last year but didn't make it.Over 80 unique bikes on display with lots of history and descriptions!We really enjoyed this attraction!

Neato Bandito, we stopped in for a quick visit while we were near this place. It was definitely cool and informative! There certainly is a lot of history in this place, from the very early years of motorcycles to the most recent. The South Dakota Navy motorcycle was a special piece in the collection.

I'm not a motorcycle guy and wasn't there for the rally but stopped to check out the museum and glad I did! 2 levels with plenty of motorcycles and history. Cool place and lots of stuff in the gift shop.

The History here is unmatchable. The staff is eager to answer questions, and to help identify the major attractions at the given moment in time. They don't hide associations, and in fact try to help educate the clueless.

A really great little museum. the price is right and they have some great looking bike, paintings and history. They have a section dedicated to the lady rider which is very cool. The town of Sturgis is such a really cool place. Very small town with some down home charm.

The museum was great. I dropped off my dad who is disabled and he liked it a lot. However, a lady approached me on the parking lot aggressively and threatened me to get towed. The museum directory stated that we are on the museum parking lot and that the museum has disability parking next to their building.Be aware that disabled people get towed and threatened. Below is a picture of the person who threatened us and called a tow truck.We had medical problems in the aftermath due to the heat because we could not find our people in time.As I stated, no waiting for disabled people.The car was 100% occupied during the wait. The engine was never turned off.

By far the best motorcycle museum that I have ever been to. I highly recommend a visit to this awesome place.

This museum is amazing! It provided so much history about motorcycles and people. It's a must-see when you're in Sturgis. I don't suggest skipping it!!

Very interesting if you are into motorcycles & their history.

Neat to look at the old motorcycles of history. We also were surprised at some bikes having over 100k miles! There was a lot of neat history in this place. Didn’t know you could order a bike from the Sears catalog! A lot of displays were on loan, so I imagine the displays change a lot.

Very cool place to view some of the history of motorcycles.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum is a must see when you are in town. The admission fee is reasonable. The Museum is well maintained. The staff is friendly and very helpful. Check out the attached photos. Gypsy and I spent about 2 hours viewing at least 100 Motorcycles. The Indian motorcycle exhibit was incredible. The Honda exhibit reminded me of my first motorcycle. When you are in the area stop by and take a trip to the history of the motorcycle.

A Mighty small museum, loved it! What a wonderful collection.

Such an awesome visit! The building is small but it is packed with so much and even the kids enjoyed going through! Definitely worth seeing if you are near by! We stopped on a weekday and it was easy to get through and the staff was so kind and helpful!

4.7

(1606)

4.5

(276)

999 Main St, Sturgis, SD 57785, USA

9 lists

Great reuse of a historic bank. Price was $14 a piece, but I did find a Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupon in a Visitor's Guide. There are additional taxes, so you do pay more. They do ask if you would like to Round Up to support the museum. I had a Buy 1 Get 1 Half Off that I gave to a fellow camper that rode his motorcycle with us to Sturgis during Bike Week. He found another single customer so he could use the coupon. It didn't take long.There are 2 levels with stairs going down, but I did see a wood encased elevator in the middle of the display area that looked operational, if needed.The gift shop does have a souvenir penny press machine. There are name bricks out in front of the museum that I am sure were used as a fundraiser.

Lots of bikes to see with lots of artifacts. Nice video down stairs. Oh, there is a lower level where the really old bikes are kept. Look for the full size wood carvings.

Definitely a variety of different bikes! The cardboard bike was kool. Never knew about Motor Maids! Thank you for having such an interesting museum!

Such a great way to spend the afternoon. A lit if history and gorgeous bikes. Highly recommended.

All I can say is wow! This museum has so many different bikes to view. And it is an amazing historical look at motorcycles in the United States!

Really a great museum with many types of motorcycles old and newer. 2 floors to the museum. Small charge to get in but worth it. Staff very nice.

Finally went through this place this year. We wanted to go last year but didn't make it.Over 80 unique bikes on display with lots of history and descriptions!We really enjoyed this attraction!

Neato Bandito, we stopped in for a quick visit while we were near this place. It was definitely cool and informative! There certainly is a lot of history in this place, from the very early years of motorcycles to the most recent. The South Dakota Navy motorcycle was a special piece in the collection.

I'm not a motorcycle guy and wasn't there for the rally but stopped to check out the museum and glad I did! 2 levels with plenty of motorcycles and history. Cool place and lots of stuff in the gift shop.

The History here is unmatchable. The staff is eager to answer questions, and to help identify the major attractions at the given moment in time. They don't hide associations, and in fact try to help educate the clueless.

A really great little museum. the price is right and they have some great looking bike, paintings and history. They have a section dedicated to the lady rider which is very cool. The town of Sturgis is such a really cool place. Very small town with some down home charm.

The museum was great. I dropped off my dad who is disabled and he liked it a lot. However, a lady approached me on the parking lot aggressively and threatened me to get towed. The museum directory stated that we are on the museum parking lot and that the museum has disability parking next to their building.Be aware that disabled people get towed and threatened. Below is a picture of the person who threatened us and called a tow truck.We had medical problems in the aftermath due to the heat because we could not find our people in time.As I stated, no waiting for disabled people.The car was 100% occupied during the wait. The engine was never turned off.

By far the best motorcycle museum that I have ever been to. I highly recommend a visit to this awesome place.

This museum is amazing! It provided so much history about motorcycles and people. It's a must-see when you're in Sturgis. I don't suggest skipping it!!

Very interesting if you are into motorcycles & their history.

Neat to look at the old motorcycles of history. We also were surprised at some bikes having over 100k miles! There was a lot of neat history in this place. Didn’t know you could order a bike from the Sears catalog! A lot of displays were on loan, so I imagine the displays change a lot.

Very cool place to view some of the history of motorcycles.

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum is a must see when you are in town. The admission fee is reasonable. The Museum is well maintained. The staff is friendly and very helpful. Check out the attached photos. Gypsy and I spent about 2 hours viewing at least 100 Motorcycles. The Indian motorcycle exhibit was incredible. The Honda exhibit reminded me of my first motorcycle. When you are in the area stop by and take a trip to the history of the motorcycle.

A Mighty small museum, loved it! What a wonderful collection.

Such an awesome visit! The building is small but it is packed with so much and even the kids enjoyed going through! Definitely worth seeing if you are near by! We stopped on a weekday and it was easy to get through and the staff was so kind and helpful!

4.7

(1606)

4.5

(276)

999 Main St, Sturgis, SD 57785, USA

18 lists

We planned our visit to be there just before dark to see the memorial and then stay for the lighting ceremony. It was an amazing experience. The ceremony does a nice job outlining the men memorialized on the mountain as well as gives nice detail and background to the undertaking of creating it. I would not change a thing about our visit, the weather was perfect, crowd size was great (busy but not packed) the drive up and down as well as parking was simple. Walking through the flags of all the states on the way to the amphitheater…just an amazing and moving experience. I recommend a visit to all.

I first visited here in 1992 and could just drive right up close without having to pay to get a view. $10 parking, $5 senior citizens discount price. I enjoyed the hiking trails and stayed past dark for the lightning ceremony that lasts about an hour. Arrive about an hour before dark for a good seat. I didn't mind standing at the back because I was 1st to exit ahead of hundreds of people.

An absolutely must see for any American! I would even say if you're a foreigner touring the U.S., you need to stop by and see Mount Rushmore. It's not too far of a drive if you're coming from Rapid City. I suggest bringing some snacks for the trip but there is a little town before you get into the main Mt. Rushmore area. It's an incredible monument and is definitely worth seeing.

My wife and I had visited in August of last year. It was crowded and hot and we had our pet with us. It was a nicel experience. This time we came with no pet and was able to take t he short .6 of a mile presidential trail. Believe the signs. It's definitely a workout but well worth it. You get a new perspective. It was a very enjoyable hike. Photos are all from the trail except one or two.

A true national treasure. The whole experience from driving up the parking area to walking around the park everyone should experience. Walking into the rotunda to view the monument was outstanding. The trail around the monument was very cool giving different angles of viewing the sculptures. There's alot of history to take in with opportunities to learn the history of the monument and the 4 very significant president's. This was a very cool place to visit.

Loved loved it! You gotta visit this monument at least once in your life. Parking is good for 1 year as well which is great. My little family and I took a trip to see this beauty during spring break. The weather was wonderful even in March. It was not crazy busy like it's prime season so I recommend it even though most things are not open until April and May. I still loved the fact that it was not overly crowded. We all loved the trail hike and seeing it up closer. A great nature trail walk. We also loved seeing all the flags of each state which was really cool.

This was one of our stops along the way on our cross-country road trip, and it did not disappoint. To be able to check this off my bucket list was great. Pictures do not do this justice. If you are road tripping and plan on visiting more than a couple national monuments or parks, I highly suggest getting yourself the America the beautiful park pass. It's good for a year, and well worth it. There's a bit of a walk up to it from the parking, and you have to pay for parking. There's a small cafe/restaurant that you can eat at while there, as well as the obligatory gift shop. Extremely glad we got to see this in person.

This is a memorial to American icons. Plain and simple. It is big and impressive and patriotic and all the things we are good at here in America. Seeing it in person is a moving experience, but it is crowded and hot in the summer. It is a must-see for anyone traveling through the Black Hills.

From the time i was very young, this place has been on my bucket list to visit. I finally made it to this national treasure/ wonders of the world.I came during the off-season and the evening time. No one was there but two people from Tennessee were two hours away from my house.I so enjoyed this moment and well cherish it for ever.I highly recommend coming November time less busy.

This is a MUST visit, and I'm not even American. After the disappointment at Crazy horse we visited this National memorial and it was awesome. We had the place for ourselves, it was freezing cold tho but a great experience. This is something you have to add to your bucket list. Don't forget if you are in the area to visit Badlands and Wind cave national park.

We visited the park as part of a group one year in October. It was windy and cold. But the park was easy to navigate and we had a lot of fun.It's amazing how close you can get. There's a lot of history, and you can even see right up their noses!

Great experience! Smaller park than we thought. Walking in, through the avenue of flags, and seeing Mt Rushmore in the distances was amazing! There was a small exhibit room, some gift shops and a couple of trails to walk. We spent about an hour there. There is no charge to get in, but it was $10 to park.

First-time visitors and a bucket list item checked off! We were just driving through and took the small detour to get there. It was really neat seeing Mount Rushmore. And being able to take our kids too. We had ice cream and fresh squeezed lemonade and visited the awesome store that had all the memorabilia you could think of and want. We've named that area and all the stuff below the mountain, "Future vacation spot!" And I can't wait to go back someday. Such historical feelings. I loved it.We pulled our travel trailer through and the parking was great! Easy to get to, easy to pull aside and get out. And it was very organized with parking attendants.

What can I say about this historic monument that hasn't already been said yet? Mount Rushmore is a fantastic place to visit. The place is beautiful, clean, full of interesting information and family friendly for all ages.You only pay for parking, which is 10 dollars. The place built around it is very well done. It has a restaurant with several food options, restrooms scattered around the place, trails to see the monument up close, theaters showing a short but informative film about the place, etc. There is a huge gift shop with many interesting items too.Masks were not mandatory when I went (March 2022).

Always a great time visiting one of our countries monuments. We brought our Dog and Mount Rushmore is not so much Dog friendly. That being said it was still worth the stop. Me and my wife took turns in the gift shop and viewing area. Dog is only allowed right before the gates . There is a spot you can take your dog to the right of the park and you are able to view from there. Parking is only five bucks if you are senior, ten for everyone else. First picture is from pet viewing area.

We had a wonderful time, seeing the monument and learning about all the history together as a family. The parking was insanely affordable and also extremely accessible. It was an easy walk, and the crowds were minimal, allowing us to take a lot of cool pictures together. The staff were all very knowledgeable and extremely friendly.

It’s worth the trip, but it can’t be your only reason for going to South Dakota. I’d strongly recommend adding some other places to your trip, since really the most time I think you can really enjoy yourself here is like 6 hours max. And that includes the hikes and the tours. See some of the nearby caves or go a little further out of the way for some local foods. The whole area is gorgeous.

Mount Rushmore, a symbol of American history and ingenuity, evokes a mix of emotions for visitors, from awe at its grandeur to discomfort over its controversial past.Set amidst the rugged beauty of the Black Hills of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore stands as a monumental tribute to some of America's most influential presidents. Carved into the granite face of the mountain, the larger-than-life sculptures of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln are a testament to the ideals and aspirations of the nation.For many, the historical significance of Mount Rushmore is reason enough to visit. Walking the Presidential Trail and gazing up at these iconic figures, one can't help but feel a sense of reverence for the leaders who shaped the course of American history. The accompanying exhibits and visitor center offer valuable insights into the creation of the monument and its place in the national consciousness.However, it's impossible to ignore the darker side of Mount Rushmore's history. The monument sits on land that is sacred to Native American tribes, and its creation involved the desecration of a site held sacred by the Lakota Sioux. For some visitors, this knowledge casts a shadow over the experience, prompting reflection on the complex and often painful relationship between indigenous peoples and the United States government.Practical considerations, such as parking, also merit mention. While the parking facilities at Mount Rushmore are adequate, the cost of parking can be a disappointment for budget-conscious travelers, adding an unexpected expense to the visit.Mount Rushmore is a site of undeniable historical significance, offering visitors a glimpse into America's past and the ideals it holds dear. However, its troubled origins and practical drawbacks may give pause to some, reminding us that even the most iconic landmarks are not without their complexities and controversies.

Super cool piece of history!! The museum down the elevators is really informational! I love the detailed history that was provided of Mt. Rushmore. Definitely worth a stop for tourism and for education with the family.The restaurant/coffee bar offers gluten free and adult beverages. The gift shop is really neat as well and worth a stop. There is something for everyone!Once parked (which can take a minute) there are stairs and ADA accessible ramps to get into the walk way leading to Mt. Rushmore. Lots of space to walk and lots of elevators. Parking is relatively cheap as well. There are well marked stations to pay for parking in the garage as well as outside walking up to the monument.Really cool experience!

Although I have visited the Monument at least a half dozen times in my life, I continue to enjoy each visit. This time, we decided to go for the evening lighting and it was amazing. It was early in the season so hardly anyone was on the grounds. The parking is unlike any other National Park I know—very convenient. The admission is by the car and very reasonable.There are several other things to do and see during the daytime hours, but this was perfect for our group. We arrived just before 9 pm and were able to get ice cream from the shop, including Jefferson’s unique recipe vanilla. The gift shop was still open as well.Do check the website for hours and openings as they change seasonally.

Mount Rushmore is truly a national treasure. Words can hardly do it justice. I spent a mesmerized three hours simply taking in the sheer magnitude of this iconic sculpture. The gift shop offered surprisingly affordable items, and I loved getting my Mount Rushmore smashed penny.The National Park had several complementary tours led by park rangers. They were very informative and really added to my experience.Arriving early morning is definitely the way to go. By noon, the crowds were noticeably larger. I appreciated the park's commitment to employing people with disabilities. Enjoying a snack while gazing at the presidential faces was an unforgettable experience. I can't wait to return.

Even though weather didn't allow us to see the monument, we still had a great time. The trails were closed and too much fog, we couldn't see much. Walking through the indoor museum and shopping at their gift shop was fun! Will have to return another time to see the monument.

This is definitely a must see. I was in awe at the whole experience from driving up the hill and seeing it from the street to walking the loop and walking up close to it. The history and the story is amazing. The art is amazing as well. I’m amazed. The parking and the facilities are all awesome as well. I highly recommend.

Great experience! Excited to see this artful and impactful work.Movie in the theater three times and hour.Only 10$ Parking per vehicle. If there is senior in your car, parking only 5$Weather changes quickly. After seeing a movie, We can not see anything due to heavy fog

Checked another in my bucket list. Came here during memorial weekend and it was busy. Parking was overwhelming and you pay 10 bucks(which is not bad coming from the Chicago). It amazing what man can do. It was unreal to see this craved in stone. I highly recommend checking this out! You can definitely see this on the road. We loved South Dakota!

Beautiful place with full of history. Trail is fun to walk.Just be ready to go up and down over 400 stairs 😂.Ice cream shop and dining area are awesome. Very clean and you can still enjoy the artwork on the stone through the large window. Food was hot and delicious with reasonable price. I ordered grilled chicken plate and it was a great food to share with my baby. And their mint chocolate ice cream was so delicious 👌🏼. They also have local beers and wines.I think Dog was allowed to the open area, but not in the dining area or gift shop.

Wasn’t sure about the weather and how good we would be able to see the faces; beautiful, albeit cold, experience. Theater show and educational center were fantastic! Google says people spend an average of 30 minutes here…… plan 6x that!! Just breath taking and affordable for all to access ($10 per car).

Loved visiting this memorial on May 16, 2024. Around 6pm - 8:30pm. No crowds!!!! No park entrance fees, just parking at $10. Very organized parking. Everything was clean and immaculate. The lighting is gradual which is a treat as you watch the golden hues change and light up the memorial. There are trails for those who want to walk around. Gift shop, cafe, and ice cream were open. Unfortunately, the visitor center was closed and we assumed the museum, too, so didn’t even walk that way.

I would definitely recommend going to see this beautiful monument once. It is very well maintained, is easily accessible, and parking is reasonably priced.The only part that I did not like was the gift shop area. It felt touristy and the day we went it was cash only.

I love this place!Absolutely fascinating. Lots of stuff to see inside and tons of souvenirs. Amazing story and easy to park.The only trouble you might have is finding a hotel in Rapid City, everything was sold out but I finally found a room. So book ahead!A really beautiful monument, I definitely recommend it!

I didn’t venture here for years because I thought the display was much smaller. Some reviews complained about the presidents being too small, but that is definitely NOT the case. They’re massive, and much larger than anticipated. The views, and trails, are excellent. The gift shop is nice, and the cafe food seemed real, not processed and fake. Overall, I’m happy to have finally visited this area with my wife.

The video was very informative. I was there Sunday, Feb 25, 2024, and there were very few people there. It cost $10 to park, and admission was free since it's a national monument. As you can see from one of my pictures I was literally the only person on the entire observation deck.

My second time visiting. I'm equally as impressed as the first visit. I love visiting here! This entire area is beautiful!From the parking area to the monument, there are smooth, nice ramps, but it is all uphill until you get to the site. Make sure to plan for that if anyone in your group has mobility issues. There are plenty of benches to sit for breaks if needed.

A must-see in the U.S.! I had no idea what to expect, but I was completely blown away. I loved, loved, loved the atmosphere and how clean and beautifully everything was arranged. The place had a peaceful vibe, and the views were awesome. We spent about 2.5 hours here, resting, watching the monument, and enjoying the fresh air of the Black Hills and the sunny weather, with vanilla ice cream made from the original recipe of Thomas Jefferson. Awesome! I loved the flags and the details of all the state info along the long promenade. Lovely! Only $10 for a year pass and car.

What an amazing sculpture to commemorate a nations leaders. Reading about the work that went into carving the rock and seeing the apparatus that was used to power the equipment is awesome. The views are all epic, although I will say it looks smaller in person than it does in the movies, similar effect to the Hollywood sign. A must stop if you are driving near by. The town of Keystone is quaint and fun to overnight.

Really important views.Real art carved in rock.Everything was amazing. The trails were really enjoyable.A lot of information.Staff is really friendly and helpful.The gift shop is really complete and big and has a lot of variety.The restaurant area and the ice cream were really great.The bathroom is really clean.

Finally dream from childhood achieved. When I was young, and watched TV, most of that time was Cartoon Network, and few time I saw that sculpture in few cartoons. Finally I can see them in my own eyes. I’m polish so most of American things is nice for me. Anyway, that possible to see 4 presidents of USA on a big mountain, something big. Catch some pics from that trip ✌️P.S. was cold 🥶

Incredible experience! We visited around 4:30pm on Monday mid-May. Not many people around. Lighting was great for photos. Gift shop is open til 10pm, but the studio was not yet open 🫤 We also did the Presidential Trail which is only 0.6 miles and puts you up closer to the monument with some placards to read about the different presidents. Was an amazing experience for kids ages 5-14.

Like many Americans, I always wanted to go see Mt. Rushmore, but never had the chance. We finally made the choice to go, and it was an American dream come true! Honestly, I cried a little as we approached the monument and again as we sat to admire the grand sculpture.It was super easy to find as we approached from Deadwood, South Dakota. I recommend doing your research in advance and getting lodging nearby so you can stay longer and enjoy it more. There is an evening event that I would have liked to see but that will just have to be the next time we go.The visitor center is amazing. You need to spend time there as it tells you the history of Mt. Rushmore and the experiences of the people who made it, especially the sculptor Gutzon Borglum. Imagine, the project began in 1927, and think how hard it would have been to get qualified workers and materials to that part of the country. Then, fix in your mind that the Great Depression hit our Nation just two years later, yet they persevered! Through all the trials and difficulties of that era, Borglum and his team never wavered in their commitment. It should be ranked in the top 10 man-made creations of all time!

Very nice national monument. Historical show was interesting and had info I would not have known. I’d list Mount Rushmore as a must see. The maps are not actually helpful for traveling the park but just the roads. At the monument area you have to find the trailhead and the walkway. I took a photo of the trail map.The park has good historical moments you can take home. There are lots of stairs to get the closest view of the monument. Well kept memorial and restrooms.Pay 10$ to park.

Give yourself a minimum of two hours here. The indoor exhibit is nice. They had a Lakota woman speaking and her daughter demonstrated some dances. There’s a nice trail that gives you closer and unique views of the faces with information about each person. There are a few different gift shops throughout the grounds with different things at each.

Beautifull. We parked the car there for 10 usd (ticket valid for 1 year after purchase) and then we walk for 3 - 4 minutes to the scenic area. The view is amazing. There is a museum downstairs and gift shops. In April was not busy at all and most shops in town were closed.

Sculptor Gutzon Borglum created this famous mountainside carving of the visages of four great American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.The carving is awesome and it looks more beautiful in person. The memorial is well maintained. There is paid parking service,they are charging for National park pass holders as well, which we didn’t liked.The gift shop is nice. The staff and park service officials are well knowledgeable and always help others and answers their queries nicely.

Stopped on the way to the airport. We were here almost 50 years ago! It was raining but still a great visit. No mention at the memorial about how the native Americans felt about their sacred hills being carved. The story presented here is the story they want you to know, but most definitely incomplete.

If given the chance you have to see Mount Rushmore it was an awesome place. We stayed until the sun went down and then the lights came on and there was a wonderful show. They had flags from every state reunion and it was beautiful. It was magnificent.

Unbelievable! The most awe inspiring monument I have ever seen. Made me so proud to be an American! Driving across country with my 82 year old Vietnam veteran air force navigator father. Was so awesome! The only thing is if you go I would recommend going when it is much cooler like the off months in the spring or fall

It was on our bucket list for years and finally did it. Our visit didn’t disappoint. Just a great site to see and emotional to see up close. We arrived in the morning and easily found paid parking in the garage.The facilities are nice and very well maintained. Must do in your lifetime.

4.7

(50721)

4.5

(11951)

Keystone, SD 57751, USA

2 lists

4.5

(2772)

East Custer, SD, USA

3 lists

$20 is fair admission for how much there is to see here, and is good for a whole week. I took the wildlife loop twice so the number of cars and people dwindled down. There were more bison in one place than I've ever seen (remember to not get out of your vehicle - they are dangerous, even when just grazing). A lot of people brought carrots and fruits to feed the burros. There are a bunch of pull-outs so you can stop for photos. The lakes are breathtaking but lots of people. If you like the water, consider staying at the lodges. The overlooks are beautiful. There's a good amount of signage. Park rangers do patrol in case you need help. Needles Highway requires patience. Read your maps so you know if your vehicle can make it through. I've visited Sylvan Lake before so I skipped it this time and went to Legion Lake instead. The Bison Center is finally open and, though small, packed with information and people willing and able to answer your questions. Please come and learn why conservation for the wildlife here is so important.

We loved this Park! Hadn't heard much about it but thoroughly enjoyed all the wildlife, breath taking views of the landscape and the pigtail, scenic drives. We saw herds of Buffalo, wild burros, pronghorn, deer, turkeys, rabbits, and prairie dogs all in the span of a few hours.

We drove through the wildlife loop in April. It was cold out, but the animals were not affected at all! We saw many bison, antelope, and even some deer! It's a beautiful place! Highly recommend!

You are going to enjoy the beautiful view, take a couple of days here for there is a lot to see. My favorite was kayaking. I could stay there for hours. Get there early to get a stop or go later in the day. The park is open 24/7. You have to pay to get in but the pad is $20 for 7 days. There is wildlife in the area so don’t go near or feed the buffaloes. Don’t forget to go downtown and take with the painted buffaloes. Super cool.

$20 per vehicle for a 7 day pass.See buffalo, prairie dogs, pronghorn sheep, and donkeys.All free roaming animals, so be mindful. There were 2 cowboys on horseback nearby just in case there were issues. Motorcycles did not seem to bother the animals.People should not food the donkeys, but they were. Dangerous!There is a newer, bigger Visitor's Center and a smaller Interpretive Center. Visitor's Center has a gift shop, interpretative center, and modern restrooms. Need to drive down a side road a little ways to access.Bring plenty of water for the hot days because you are driving in open country without amenities. Need to stay hydrated.

This place is breathtaking. You're going to need plenty of space in your device for pictures. You're also going to need plenty of time to drive. There are several places along the highways to pull off safely for pictures. Go South for the Wildlife Loop, or go North for the Eye of the Needle. Personally, the Needle was my favorite. There are also plenty of lodges with dining available. However, they were all closed for the winter season during our trip.

Custer State Park is hands down the greatest state park in the United States. For my money, it has more attractions than some of the national parks. In the south, do not miss the Wildlife Scenic Road to view the largest bison herd outside of Yellowstone. Along the road you may spot wild turkeys, pronghorn and elk. In the fall, try to visit during the bison roundup, that is quite a site to see. In the northern part of the park be sure to drive the spectacular Needles Highway. From Sylvan Lake you can hike one the incredible trails to the best area in the Black Hills and South Dakota. Cathedral Spires, Sylvan Lake Trail, Sunday Gulch and Little Devil's Tower are incredible hikes to see. This park is worth 2-3 days for a more extensive visit. The campgrounds in the park are also very nice for being close to the sites of the park. The Needles Highway is closed during the winter so check conditions.

We stayed at the Blue Bell camping cabins the last week in June 2023. These cabins are AMAZING! We normally tent camp, but for an extra $10 a night, this was money well spent! Our week was wonderful! Weather could have been a little more cooperative, but hey can’t predict that! Extra shoutout to our camping hosts Mark & Kathy!! They were so awesome & patient with us on our last day!! These cabins would easily sleep a family of 4! I would highly recommend Custer State Park! The beauty & the wildlife, can’t be put into words!! I have NEVER stayed at a park that was kept this clean! Even the pit toilets were very clean! South Dakota, Mt Rushmore, Crazy House & the Badlands are must sees!! Every employee that we came in contact with were friendly, helpful & just a joy! Again highly recommended!!! 10 Stars!!

20$ entry for some excellent wildlife viewing. You can also go up to sylvan lake and the needles parkway. The wildlife loop was great. We saw deer, Prarie dogs, bison, a badger, and much more.

What a fantastic state park! The scenery is absolutely gorgeous! There are do many things to see and do in this park. We saw bison, deer, prairie dogs and so many birds. This is someplace you could really spend an entire week exploring and enjoying the beauty of the area.

Loved it! Great park. So well taken care of. We rented a ATV and drove through the park. Worth every second. So much to see! Ponds, rock formations, scenic views, trails, animals, ect. If you have the time go through the park.

Great park. Feels like a mini Yellowstone. $20 fee for 7 Days of entry. Many trails and variety of things to see. Highlight was the wildlife loop and Sylvan Lake. Needles Hwy is a great drive. Cathedral Spires Hike was the best one we did. They have several lodge options with a great mix of hotel rooms, camping and cabins. Also a few sit down restaurants inside the park. You could easily spend 4-5 days exploring this park and nearby sites.

You can never go wrong w Custer State Park. The wildlife loop, scenic drives, picturesque lakes, rock formations...so much to see and experience! We loved the easy walk around Legion Lake. Watch the Buffalo from your camp site at the Game Lodge. Quintessential Black Hills fun.

Loved visiting this park!!! Although not a national park, it could easily be one given the scenic beauty and wildlife!! I highly recommend hiking the Sylvan Lake and Cathedral Spires trails. The wildlife loop offers great opportunities to view Bison, Prairie Dogs, and even some begging burros. One should definitely visit this park if visiting the Black Hills!

Beautiful park with breathtaking rock formations.Things to know :$20 temporary parking fee good for 1-7 days or you can purchase an annual pass.America the beautiful national parks pass does not cover parking fee.

Beautiful park. Many trails to hike and gorgeous views to see. Highly recommend looking into the different difficulties of hikes before going so you’re not caught unawares. Also, the Buffalo Safari Ride was worth it for the informational part about the park and animals.

I love Custer State Park. The campgrounds are beautiful and spacious. The lodges and cabins are rustic and welcoming. By far one of our favorite places to stay in the Black Hills. If you love the outdoors and viewing wildlife this is the place to come.

Had a great time a Custer! The wildlife loop didn’t disappoint; and the northern end of needles hwy was a sight to behold. Great views and cool tunnels. Lots of wildlife around: we saw bighorn, bison, and deer. Great time .

Custer State park is a park that is worthy of being a national park. Good on South Dakota for keeping it local. This place is nothing short of Amazing. The views the Bison and the scale. This place is huge. This is a must visit spot if you're in the area or even close by. This will be a family favorite for years to come.

We went in May and had a great turnout for our first road trip and camping with our dog. The views were beyond amazing. Campsite staff were great and bathroom were always clean. Stores had nice merch and necessity selection. We hiked trail 9 up to Black Elk Peak and down. We did Lover’s Leap. We took trail 9 up to Black Elk Peak, but took trail 4 down the second time. Needles Highway, Iron Mt Road, and the Wildlife Loop Road are all worth the time. If no animals, at least a mostly peaceful drive, if not too busy. We had 3 full days, but I recommend more!

We spent the week in Custer State Park at the Blue Bell Campground which is beautiful. We went through the wildlife Loop several times that week seen lots of animals would definitely recommend it was The Right Time of the Season. No crowds.

We went around the wildlife loop. Although there was not a lot of other wildlife, we did see lots of bison. We also saw prairie dogs and pronghorn. But we did go in the middle of the day. So it might be better early morning or late afternoon.

I can not say enough good things about this park!! We loved the wildlife loop, the beautiful scenery, the BISON, the prong horns, the burrows and all the babies!!! Our Safari Jeep tour was absolutely amazing and worth every cent. Casper was the best guide, so knowledgeable!! If you're doing the Needles highway, go early, like 5am early!! Too many people for me!! Beautiful drive if you aren't driving. The driver has to really pay attention to the narrow, curvy roads! We will be back!!

Fantastic food in the restaurants. Excellent bison burgers, salads and onion rings.So many lodging options and well maintained roads. The main gift shop had a wonderful variety of items and so many cute tees and sweatshirts. Something for everyone. The buyer for the stores is doing an amazing job.Kayaks and paddles were in good shape and the life vests didn’t smell- much appreciated!I noticed the sand beach for lake swimmers is combed out each morning. Looked beautiful at the start of each morning.Loved seeing the bison, especially the babies!Donkeys were very cute too but I was surprised to see people feeding them.

Went here with my brother and mom and it did not disappoint! It took us a bit of searching to get there, but once we did it was well worth it. We saw plenty of animals after going on the animal loop road. If you want to see some cool animals with your family close up this is the place to go!

This park is amazing. The landscapes are so eclectic and the educational information in the various visitor centers is top notch. We loved this park. Definitely visit the Bison Center.

I’ve read many reviews about Custer State Park. A terrible thunder and hailstorm in Keystone led us to drive out of the rain toward Custer, and we are glad for the impromptu change in plans. We arrived at the park shortly after it closed, though it was a free admission day anyway. We meandered through the Wildlife Loop, and after about 7 or 8 miles of gorgeous vistas lacking in wildlife, we began to encounter more and more animals. The last half had the same gorgeous scenery with some interesting wildlife encounters. The burros were cute, though they kept their distance. Where our trip got really interesting was when we rounded a corner just past the buffalo roundup area. The bison did not disappoint. They caused a traffic jam with some babies nursing in the middle of the road and some bison deciding to cross in front of traffic. We even had a bison sniff the bumper of our Jeep! When they finally cleared enough to safely drive again, we came upon the prairie dog town. The prairie dogs are such funny creatures to watch!In all, this was a lovely impromptu drive through a lovely park with plenty of opportunities to watch wildlife that we don’t generally get to see that close

This is a must-see park!!! It is a National Park Level attraction. Spending any less than few days here is a crime. This Park is now in our top 5 in scenic drives. When a heard of Bison walks past your vehicle, it will leave you humble. We drove the wildlife trail 3 times over 10 days each time seeing no less than 1000 Bison! The 3rd time we were stopped for 20+ minutes as the whole heard came walking past us. There are also hiking, fishing, horses, and swimming. Don't forget camping kayaks, and picnics. So much for the whole family!

Pulling into the park, you are met with the most beautiful views. The scenic drives were breathtaking, and once again, the VIEWS were amazing. The wildlife loop at dusk allowed the opportunity to experience a bison traffic jam. More importantly, the memories made with our children will not be forgotten.

We stayed in the Tatanka cabin at Custer State park. The cabin was absolutely beautiful and perfect for our huge family. Custer Park was very beautiful especially with the light snow that we had. The wildlife on the wildlife loop was especially cool to drive through!

Custer State Park is National Park worthy! Do yourself a favor and see this park. Be sure and take the jeep tour to see many scenic views and did I say buffalo! Wow! We ended up in the middle of a herd of about 200! It was amazing! Just go!

Take the wildlife loop and the needles highway/Sylvan lake route! If you take the loop, there are tons of bison on the east side of the halfway point. Then the needles highway loop is beautiful with some challenging hikes. The cathedral spires trail looks simple but is no joke. Bring water and be prepared to climb. You're on the honor system to purchase a week or annual pass at one of the automated kiosks.

What a beautiful place. I have traveled across the country several times and thus is a must see for beauty and unique land features. There are several campgrounds to stay in, things to do, and wildlife to see. Traveling the needles highway is a great way to see many beautiful parts of the park.

Best state park I've ever been too. I can't believe this doesn't have 5 stars. The hikes are phenomenal and the terrain is so diverse. Even if you aren't into hiking there's a lake, scenic drives, plenty of visitor centers, easy walks, and a huge nature loop where you can see hundreds of bison. We also had some fantastic barbecue food at Sylvan lake. If you're in South Dakota, you have to visit this park.

This area was so fabulous! We went here yesterday (In February). It was a gorgeous day with multiple herds of buffalo around and some bighorn sheep. We also saw burros, antelope, and deer. The scenery was breathtaking with the rolling hills and forests. If you like to take a nice drive, I would absolutely recommend it.

A must see! The wildlife alone makes it worth the drive and minimal cost, but the views are just chefs kiss! We saw over 100 bison and babies, dozens of pronghorn, elk, prairie dogs, donkeys and big horn sheep. Simply amazing!

Staff was extremely friendly at all the places we visited and very helpful. Wildlife loop was awesome. We ending up spending way more time than expected here and missed going to other stops because of it and we do not regret it at all!!

Absolutely lovely! Beautiful area, not too far away from small towns with plenty to do, also pretty close to Mount Rushmore! Plenty of lodging options for those who aren’t so outdoorsy. Gorgeous views, more animals than we expected! Very clean restrooms, too. Overall, extremely well taken care of park! Even though the drive up was long, I’d love to come again!

Truly a beautiful park and worth the drive through the Wildlife Loop. If the buffalo are on the road, expect delays! Remember, don't pet the fluffy cows...but it IS amazing to see them roam with the herd. There's a great educational center to stop at that was very interactive, showed you on a map where the buffalos are currently at, and had nice, clean restrooms.

If you want to see some cool bison up close, this is the place to go. They are impressive. Depending on what direction you take into the park, the road can be very windy. There is a fee, so be prepared to pay. The visitor center is sort of helpful although the park ranger gave us wronng directions to the bison and set us back about a half hour.

We did two different loops at Custer State Park. Wildlife and iron mountain loop saw at least three different lakes. Lakota has faces in the rocks. There are lots of areas to pull over to take in the views. Go slow! It's worth taking it all in. We stayed at Morning Star Lodge just outside of Deadwood SD

Highly recommend visiting the iconic Sylvan Lake. There is a fun one mile loop around the lake with a waterfall and a couple areas of steeper grades- my 6 year old enjoyed it and did not find it too difficult.The Wildlife Loop is a must too. Great for kids. We saw lots of prairie dogs, pronghorn antelope, donkey, and bison during our drive.

During our road trip through South Dakota and Wyoming, we visited several national parks and monuments. Of course, the scenery and wildlife were extraordinary. What we didn’t expect was to find the same beauty and excitement at a state park in South Dakota, without the large crowds. We saw far more buffalo at Custer State Park than in Yellowstone National Park—without the traffic jams of cars inching along with passengers hoping for a glimpse of buffalo. I read that the park’s buffalo herd of over 1400 is the second largest free-roaming herd in the US. We saw several prairie dog villages during our drive on Wildlife Loop Road.Needles Highway with its unique rock formations was breathtaking and impressive. Don’t consider it if you’re driving large RVs, because you probably can’t drive through narrow tunnels, like Needle Eye Tunnel. What fun! Sylvan Lake is serene and beautiful.

Stunningly beautiful in its own quiet way. Certainly not the Rockies, but these old mountains hold their own. The Black Hills are my favorite place to host yoga retreats, and sneak away for both personal time or to romp around with my kids. The lakes are gorgeous to swim in and hiking trails abound.

We loved Iron mountain road into Custer, Needles highway was also great. We saw lots of wildlife; bison, big horn, mountain goats and wild turkeys. Sylvan Lake was awesome, we're headed back tomorrow, pictures don't do it justice.

Breathtaking! I recommend stopping at the visitor center first to watch the short video and talk to the staff. It was snowing when I visited so the gentleman was helpful in knowing what roads were closed due to weather and where the best place to see the wildlife were. I drove the wildlife loop road in the morning and ended up coming back in the evening to do it again. I can’t wait to visit again during the season to take advantage of what I missed!

Highly recommend covering Wildlife loop and needles highway. Views on needles highway, Needles tunnel and Iron creek tunnel are so good.We did little devils peak hike this time as we covered Black Elk Peak on our previous visit. Little devils peak hike is strenuous and the view from top is breathtaking.We stayed for 2 nights at cabin in Game lodge campground as all the tent sites are occupied which saved us from the hail and thunderstorm during our visit 😂.

I love nature! Landscapes, prairies , mountains I just love mother Earth!. This place is serene, tranquil and the views are very nice. There are a few hiking trails, a small store for drinks and snacks and I believe they rent out paddle boats.

I absolutely LOVE this park!!! I could come here every day & not get bored!!! There is so much to do & see here!! The bison traffic jams are just incredible!! Do not be in a hurry when you see these magnificent animals!!! The donkeys are so sweet & funny! My husband and I always bring carrots for them. Feeding them is always the highlight of our day! DO NOT miss the chance to drive the Needles Highway, but please don't let your newly licensed teens drive this road!!! So much to see & experience here!!!

4.8

(9797)

5.0

(6235)

South Dakota, USA

This used to be an awesome place really went down hill. Still a fun place to people watch if I was staying downtown not quite sure I would make the ride.Michael Ballard awesome guy always says hello super friendly a legend among legends Once you've met him you'll feel like you're part of the family. Perhaps I'm just partial to their old location 😔I

Absolutely incredible. The story of the wall dedicated to the first location that burned down was wild. The cage with the rider was one of the coolest things I've seen. Lots of beautiful art to look at, and fast / friendly service. Pool is incredible and so needed on a hot day. Did not get to explore here as much as I wanted and will be back next year.

We LOVE the FTS & cannot wait to return this year & the next & the next for the Sturgis Rally! The place is huge, well-organized, wonderfully outfitted, fun & friendly with tons of food options & entertainment! Can't wait to possibly try out the new Premium Cabins this time around! Regardless, we'll be there to stay!

Such an amazing place! Always growing each time we stop! Everything is planned out in great detail. A MUST to stop and visit. To see all the machines and the way you brought it all to life is outstanding. Such a fun atmosphere! This time we brought a friend who hasn’t been here before which was so fun to see him light up when he walked in!

We didn’t stay at FT but we did stop in here for a day. The we tried to find a shirt to bring home for our daughter and we finally did but there weren’t many options. Finding a spot to sit and rest is nearly impossible no chance getting more than one spot at the bar. We loved the art they had everywhere. Cool place overall I recommend everyone go see this slice of history.

Epic and unforgettable!!! I recommend adding this spot to your list if your heading to Stugis. This is an experience, not just a bar! You walk inside and it's so much more than you can imagine. You'll find multiple bars, a distillery, food, shopping, music, and ambience. Rescued bikes from the original location will tug on your heart a little♥️. I can't wait to visit again next year!!!

My father is a real fan of this place and he was not disappointed. The place is HUGE and has industrial, blue collar equipment everywhere. It's impressive, from the trucks hanging on the wall to all the bikes elevated on pedestals. Beer was fine too and savanna was very sweet.

We didn't eat there. However it was a must do for us. We arrived about two weeks before Sturgis was scheduled to start and the grounds team was getting prepared for the upcoming events. It was a great time to visit as there was no crowds.

100% a blast!! Awesome atmosphere (if you're into concerts and adult events). Everything in that bar is worth going to experience. Best staff, good entertainment, great distillery, good food, awesome bike show, great clothing store, awesome vendors, etc. A must if you go to Sturgis for the ralley!

This is a must see when you are at the Sturgis MC Rally. There are many choices for food. We had the steak tips and they were good. The beer was cold and you had a very large selection. I had a Sierra Nevada Brewing Company Pale Ale which was excellent. Full Throttle Saloon offers a 24 oz heavy glass beer mug at a great price and you keep the mug. There are several bar's outside. They have live music, check out the website for a schedule. The gift shop offers many great items.

Love all the metal and machinery repurposing, the atmosphere is cool. Most of the staff is fast and friendly and definitely cute to look at. Great layout and a fun time. And because we stayed at the pappy Joel campground, you can’t beat how close it is to camp. A Sturgis must. See you in 2022.

Worlds largest biker bar! Must see if you are in the area. They add new stuff every year. Lots of old machines and history spread all around the venue.Every flavor of moonshine you can imagine. Great bands, lots of beers on tap. The Full Throttle Saloon is one of my favorite places near Sturgis.

My first time there.... Went to see my friends in Queensryche play a show..... I had seen it on the TV show, but was floored by what it is now..... It is beyond enormous..... Which is cool, and not cool at the same time...... It's SO BIG that it is too spread out, for me, I guess...... You'd probably need 15-20K people in the concert area to "feel" full....... Service was pretty lackluster from what we experienced.... I could tell it was a slow night, and a bit chilly, so that may have been a contributing factor to the service part..... The atmosphere was NOTHING like what I was expecting from the old TV show..... Bottom line, I'll give it a 3/5 for now, and hope to return on a busier night/day to reevaluate..... Will definitely give it another go 👍🏿One thing to add, we were not in bikes, and the parking situation was not at all good for us in our gear van ..... Very confusing getting in, not marked well, with no one available directing..... Probably another "slow night" issue, I guess.

The staff was amazing. Showed me around and I even got to try some samples. I highly recommend coming here, but book early before it get crazy busy!

Loved my stay here for the rally. It's not fair I have to rate the food when I didn't try anything, Only reason it's not a perfect score. My only downside was being hassled by the sheriff's when our riding.

What Michael Ballard has created on the rolling plains outside of Sturgis is his vision of a steampunk circus. There are so many things to see, to drink, and to listen. One thing that was interesting is what seems to be flexible pricing. One group paid $22 for the exact same drinks we only paid $14 for. 🤔 Very, very interesting, no?FYI had some slices of pizza out by the main stage that were outstanding. 🤘

Awesome place! We visited during the day when it was quiet, but this place is mega huge, and I bet it's jumpin' at night. You should really check it out if you can. 🌹🤠

On a lark, took a drive and needed a munch. I thought they had food inside! Nope - food TRUCK, but it was tasty. The grounds are full of super-sized industrial stuff and many welded artisan expressions. The band was cool and the bartenders were very helpful.

Amazing layout, awesome house bands, great drinks, great vendors, lots to enjoy and check out. One of the best locations to visit during the rally. Sincerely appreciate the enormous sculptures and cool designs.

Based on my experience here, this place is large, unique, and cool. Worth a stop if you are driving through. Would recommend.

Fun place to party during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Two stages, one inside and the main stage outside. With all the statues it's a welder's dream. You have to check it up.

Great bikers bar just outside Sturgis. This isn't your normal bar, a must see when down in Sturgis. Drinks only no food, there is a food truck on the outside but wasn't open when I attended.

We were there when it wasn't busy. This bar is so much more than what the outside shows. I love how they decorated. It's a must-see!!!! I'm sad that I won't be here for the rally.

I can't say enough about the customer service! Kimm was amazing today, helping me over the phone, find a shirt that my husband lost, and was rather attached to.I appreciate the time you spent making sure we found the correct one.

We went to see Jackyl at Full Throttle Thursday night during the 2023 rally and all I can say is wow! This place is HUGE and has so much to look at. We spent quite a bit of time exploring before enjoying the concert!In addition to the main stage, they have several other sections with bars and live music too! Also, motorcycle stunts like the wheel of death happen throughout the day! It's definitely a must stop!

Just a Wonder! It's a modern every thing machine, motorcycle,heavy equipmentMuseum with adult entertainment! Impressed, it'd be impossible to see everything in one visit

A must visit outside of Sturges. The bar is interesting with all of its machines from the mines and old trucks and such. Great gift shop and the Distillery tasting area was fun.

Always Heard of this incredible place,. through the lore of Bikers, travellers and I guess now....Even reality TV...But to experience this place, and it's awesomeness, words can hardly describe it...I wasn't sure if I was walking through a "Beyond ThunderDome" movie set, or a museum of industrial art Throughout the last half century....It's a cathedral of metal and hard work...I can only imagine this place during Biker Week in Sturgis... Truly impressive, and the draft beers!!!...Enjoyed a fast beer buzz,.with a great Boulevard brewery wheat beer, and a Raspberry something or other...Nice bartender and a very nice woman in the gift store.... Good place to watch it rain the other day...I hope I can come back here one day.

Great place to stop if you're passing through. Large and easy to access bathrooms, wide beer selection, and interesting historical machinery and vehicles.

Great experience!! Brisket was engaging, informative, and a lot of fun! We would recommend this as a “must visit” when you are in the area!

I only grabbed a drink and ordered a bottle to take home while I was here. This place was amazing though. I would love to see live music there. Even if you’re just stopping through, you should walk around.

4.6

(2638)

4.0

(223)

19950 SD-79, Vale, SD 57788, USA

1 list

We vacation in the black hills frequently and this has always been a must stop on my kids list. This is actually the #1 request for them. This year was amazing we went early in the morning right after opening time and we saw everything active. Another benefit of heading in early we had the park to ourselves essentially. One nice thing we encountered this year...we took my 93 year old grandpa. He was greeted by a golf cart in the parking lot that drove him through the park and told him about everything. Such and unexpected blessing, he was going to wait for us after walking to the gift shop and sitting on a bench. (Bear Country staff....you guys really hit the mark here. THANK YOU!!!). Not sure if it was the cooler weather or the feeding schedule. It looked like the bears had and were still eating. Keep the windows up and enjoy this ride I can't recommend it enough!!!! At 19 my oldest still makes a very vocal pitch to make time for a Bear Country stop!

Oh my this tops the list of cool animal places I've been! Had so many different animals that could walk right up to your car, the bears were the best though! Then when your done with being in your car go take a walk to the little zoo. Go to the end and see the black bear cubs playing.. They'll steal your heart! Nice gift shop too!

The initial drive through was pretty cool. There were many different types of animals you could see. At the end of the drive is where the bears are located which is definitely the best part. Many times they would walk around your car so you can see them up close. After the drive is an area where you can see baby bears and other smaller animals which was neat.

When we heard there was a whole hour wait for Cosmos, we decided to change our plans and ended up here instead. It turned out to be an absolute blessing in disguise! Despite the decent-sized queue, the wait was totally worth it. We had the incredible fortune of having various animals stroll right in front of us and even next to us. Every penny spent was a fantastic investment, and I can guarantee you won't leave here disappointed!

This is a pretty neat place to stop, because it varies so much. The drive around the grounds itself is fun, and I wish it could be much larger, just because this sort of thing is so interesting. Seeing so many bears, that close, is surreal. There is also a nice zoo area to walk around, once the tour is finished. This was a nice touch and adds value to the park. Lastly, the gift shop is extensive. I found there to be a ton of variety, so it’s worth looking around.

I have to admit, I thought this place would be the typical tourist trap. I was so wrong.This place was amazing and worth every penny. It’s awesome for kids and adults. We saw at least 20 different bears. They were just walking around. We saw 3 types of wolves, various elk/reindeer, coyotes, foxes, horned sheep, and so much more. You drive through and it takes about 45 minutes depending on how slow or fast you drive.There is a separate part you get out and walk around to see the animals such as bear cubs. I wasn’t expecting to see many animals or animals this close! It was a great experience for all ages.

We really enjoyed this place! $20 per adult. The loop is only a couple miles, so take your time! Then after the safari part, you park and walk around to see the animals in enclosures (bear cubs, skunks, porcupines, otters, and more). That part is about a quarter mile loop. So we were only there for probably less than a couple hours, but it was really worth it... Seeing bears and wolves up close was so cool!!!Highly suggest getting there around opening time on a weekday to see the most activity from the animals, no waiting in line at the entrance, and it's less crowded.And yes, the gift shop is huge and has a lot of fun stuff!

We had a car load of 6 that visited on 7-1-23. Not a bad place to check out if you have little kids and want to see wildlife up close in a car instead of walking a zoo. They charge by the car load, up to $75 I believe. Before you enter the park, you can pull off to the side and clean your windows as you're supposed to keep your windows up during the tour. This isn't fast moving by any means as cars a head of you may stop to take pictures or have to stop because of animals blocking the road. Some animals are are to see but most we could easily see or were in the road (the day we went). The bear exibit was by far the largest and was plenty of them. Some were fighting and some were just relaxing in the water or what not. Worth checking out if you have time. Go on a good clear day for the best views. At the end, you can get out of car and walk the little zoo that have with baby animals.

You can either choose from paying per person or per vehicle. We went around 12:30 on Tuesday August 15, 2023. A lot of the animals were under their shelter trying to avoid the hot sun. They have elk, bison, wolves, bears, goats, and mountain lions in the area where you drive through. Seeing the bears was the best part because they were chasing a truck dumping food off for them. It looked like a zombie apocalypse, all the bears were chasing the truck. There were over 30 adult bears and we got to see them eat lunch.Walking around the exhibits was sort of boring. There were a lot of vacant homes. The only things there were a porcupine, skunk, some foxes, and bear cubs. There cubs were very cute. It was nice of them to install mist sprayers to cool people off.The whole experience was about 2 hours and we paid $75 for the vehicle. I will say that this was a great experience for adults and kids at a fair price.

I went at 830am. There was no wait. Saw lots of wildlife. Not a lot of traffic. Cooler days are best as the animals aren't hiding in the shade. Walk through was fun as they were feeding them breakfast.

This place exceeded my expectations. I initially thought we might catch a glimpse of a bear or two from afar. However, I was completely amazed. The animals were up close and easily visible, and there were so many bears! The drive-through exhibit was well worth the money. They also have a parking lot leading to walking exhibits, including adorable baby animals. The gift shop offered beautiful items, and the restrooms were clean and equipped with changing tables for little ones. If you're in the area, I highly recommend taking the time to visit.

I was pleasantly surprised by the tour. This is a sealf guided driving tour. We saw a lot of animals Dear, Bears both brown and black bears, Elk, Rain dear, artic wolf's. All the animals we visable and easy to see. At the end of the driving tour there is a very nice visitor center and gift shop and a small zoo type exhibits. Really enjoyed the visit.

Took the kids here for something fun to do before continuing our road trip. They said this was "the best ever!" We enjoyed driving through and seeing the animals wandering around - much better than other zoos where they are in a cage. There is a short walking part for smaller animals. They have a great gift shop too - lots of neat gifts.

It was about 5pm when we came through, so the animals were super hot, but they had the sprinkler on for the reindeer and the other animals could all be seen for the most part. The kids really enjoyed looking out.i was a bit nervous being so close to a MASSIVE bison with our rental van, but all was fine. The baby bears were entertaining and the small mountain lion in the walking part of the facility was vocal (barked/meowed to us). Again - all the animals were really hot, but seemed well cared for and had plenty of shade and resources to stay cool. I'm glad we stopped in.

We had such a great time as a family. $75 for our whole family of five to enjoy. A large gift shop at the end. Very clean and upkept park. Restrooms and window washing station after you pay and before you enter the park. Restrooms also in gift shop and at the wildlife walkway. Concessions were closed 9.3.2023, but drinks and ice cream treats were available in the gift shop. 100% recommend.

Many animals in a natural environment. They have elk, wolves, reindeer, bears, bighorn sheep, and many others! You stay in your car and drive through a safe roadway. Then there is a really nice separate section of smaller animals like fox, baby bears and porcupine. They have a beautiful gift shop with a lot of clothes and especially children's pajamas. It turned out to be a worthwhile stop. I highly recommend the approximately 2 hour visit.

A definite must stop if you have kids. It is easily accessible along Hwy 16. A lot of animals to see and reasonable entry fee. When you finish the route, the little zoo at the end also has a lot of smaller animals.

A *must* visit if you’re in the area. You will never be this close to a bear again in your life. They have lots of other animals local to the area to see as well. There is a ‘walk in’ part to the tour as well where you can view smaller wildlife. The main attraction are definitely the baby cubs though. They are so fun to watch!They offer military and veteran discounts.HUGE gift shop with lots of fun stuff.

Had a great tour guide that drove us around as it was a slow day with foggy weather. Honestly though, it was perfect seeing all the bear cubs and other non-bear animals as they were so active in this weather. Hotter days they’re less active. Most people were walking, but we happened to get lucky getting a ride. The other section with adult bears you drive through yourself and is also nice. Best gift shop ever! Friendly staff, clean bathrooms and good parking. Love the passion and care for the animals. Highly recommend for adults and children.

We had a great visit, there was no wait with the line, do you keep in mind that we arrived very close to the park opening.I will always back up rules that are in place at location where you’re visiting that has wild animals.The Rules are in place for a reason, your safety! Please take note of the them.You’ll find that when you’re at the drive-through Bear Country Park, you may not see all of the animals, but chances are, you’ll get to see them at the end, at the through portion of the park.As to the main feature, The Bears, upon first spotting them, we noticed that were sleeping or they were just coming around. It was incredibly amazing to see them in such a resting to awakening mode. I really can’t say which exhibit was my favorite, however, the Bears are amazing!Also, I highly recommend that you remember to visit the gift shop. I am not out here to encourage you spend more money, however, it was very comfortable warm and aesthetically, it was incredibly beautiful!I hope that y’all enjoy your visit as much as we did, and we can’t wait to visit again.

This was actually fun. You may get stuck at the entrance, but sit tight and relax.There are more than bears. There are all kinds of animals here, and the bears are just hilarious.Once you reach the end of the driving lane, get out and stretch and walk around the walking exhibits. There is an otter there that will brighten your day.The gift shop is huuuuge. There is something for everyone there.Overall, if I find myself back in that part of the country, I will definitely swing through again. Kids will love it.

I personally felt little expensive $20 per person we are 4, paid $80. There are very less of other species but watching beats very closely is a great experience, if you are looking to see the bears closely definitely worth going to this place. I have not seen bears this close to car they are all over at some point, but yeh drive is very short can be done hardly in an hour or so.

We had a few free hours one afternoon while vacationing near Custer so decided to visit this place. While it is a bit expensive, seeing all the animals was quite interesting, and the children really enjoyed it. We thought watching the bear cubs play was the best part of all

We visited Bear Country on a Friday with a group of 8 adults. Each one of us genuinely enjoyed our experience. We spent about 1.5 hours here. About 30 minutes driving through the park and about an hour walking through the zoo area and gift shop. The park wasn't crowded at all and was so clean. There were plenty of animals to look at and all looked happy and taken care of. None of us were disappointed and we were all glad we went!

Ok, no veteran discount unless you are in uniform. That's STUPID. WAY overpriced, and l mean WAY OVERPRICED. I was hoping for a bigger environment. The bears, because of the amount of space they have, have WAY TOO MANY bears. You can tell they are fed drugs for sedation. The only other option is all females, because 60 plus bears on an acre of land would kill each other. Their eyes were droopy, they were all lethargic, and they could care less to barely even walk. You felt sorry for them being in captivity.

Bear Country was an incredible experience and by far surpassed my expectations! My 9-year-old son and I were in awe of all the bears roaming freely, several right by the car. We also watched the bear cubs playing in the walk through park. Absolutely precious! We can’t wait to come back next summer for a visit!

I really didn’t know what to expect when we came here. Sometimes these places can be so depressing. The first thing I noticed were the wise instructions about not opening any windows. Secondly, there were car window washing stations before entering the compound. We saw animals almost immediately - sheep. At first I thought maybe some were diseased because their hair was very uneven and scraggly, until i realized that they were growing their winter coats. All animals we saw were separated from each other for safety. They were calm and it was easy to see that they were accustomed to being left alone. Often they would either walk in the road or even lay down in it. None were aggressive. We saw some bears eating carrots as if they were candy. They were all well cared for. From what we could see in memorials, the people who work there care deeply for the animals and try to do the very best they could for them. In the gift shop there are beautiful artifacts such as an original old Ford “woody” pickup truck - at first it looked like a Model T. There were other antiques and also a stuffed grizzly bear that used to be at Bear Country but died of natural causes. The people who worked there were friendly and helpful.

My wife and went to Bear Country USA on a whim this past Sunday and boy I'm glad we did. I've seen places like this on TV and people don't see most of the animals as they drive through.Bear Country USA is completely as advertised. We saw every animal on the map they gave us. The road you take has plenty of room for someone to pass so you can take your time and enjoy yourself.I could go on all day about the main attraction but there's more. At the end of the tour there's a gift shop and a small zoo that you can walk around. They have wolves, foxes, badgers, bobcats and more but the bear cubs were our absolute favorite. Watching them play together was awesome. One cub came right up to the wall as we stood and started watching us. He sniffed the air as he approached and sat under where my wife was standing. He could smell her perfume and we think he really liked it because he kept looking at her and giving her a grin.We highly recommend Bear Country USA.

Bear Country is an attraction I would recommend to anyone who comes to visit. This drivable trail had tons of wildlife and is the best experience for all ages! After you drive through, there is another area with more wildlife animals along with a gift shop! The workers were so nice as well, would 100% come back again!

Such a cool, immersive and unique experience! Seeing the animals roam around like this was so cool and not something you get to see very often! We stayed in SD a week and stopped here right before we left, it was really awesome for both me and the little to see first hand. Prices were super affordable also!

Excellent drive through animal viewing. Our whole family loved the entire experience including the walking viewing area.We read that mornings are better for animal viewing, but we went in the afternoon on one of the hottest days and got to see all the animals; most were up and moving.I definitely recommend visiting!

The men working at the gate were very nice. We used the station to wash our windows, and the restrooms were nice and clean. It was a chilly morning and the animals were inactive for the most part. Some of the animals were moving around, though. The bear area makes the entire experience. The walk through area to view animals was also well kept and nice. Had a picnic with the family outside the visitor center.

The wildlife is very active. We were able to see all of the animals they have in the park. Definitely recommend.

Throughly enjoyed our drive through Bear Country USA. We weren’t sure if this was a “kid” activity or if adults would enjoy it but seeing these beautiful creatures up close was well worth it. One black bear was essentially guarding the exit pacing back and forth so the car in front of us couldn’t leave. We felt entirely safe the whole time and enjoyed that entertaining bear.

Our visit to Bear Country USA was amazing. I think everyone should go there if you are wanting to see animals in the wild. The baby bears were absolutely adorable! If you are not able to do a lot of walking to see the other exhibits that are available out of your car, they have golf carts available, with a driver, that will take you around to see the animals. And don’t forget to hit up the gift shop because it was fantastic.

Great family friendly vacation activity! We went with our two toddlers and our friends' 3 older kids and everyone, including the adults, had a wonderful time! It's amazing how many bears you get to see. We went early June and also saw a bunch of the most adorable baby bears in the walking section at the end. Highly recommend!

The cutest Place! They have the drive thru and then you can Park and do the walking Zoo part, Car ticket price is included for both making it worth the price. The bears Keep to their own, they are so cute. The cubs are separated in the walking part of the zoo.

This was an awesome stop on our cross country road trip! We loved driving through the animal sanctuary & watching the bears try to understand how the cars were able to pass through the cattle gates but they weren’t, was hilarious. Equally entertaining was watching them stand up and scratch their backs on log posts, roll around and play with each other & splash in the water. The walking mini zoo was nice also, the only thing we were bummed about was that we couldn’t figure out where to go to play with the baby bears. So, I guess we’ll have to try again next time. The gift shop had tons of cute souvenirs too.

My husband and I really enjoyed our time here! We've been to Bearizona, which is basically like this, but with differences (it's bigger and has more animals). However, Bear Country has a man made creek for their bears to swim in and we got to watch some splash around and do just that! We also saw bears use the signs as back scratchers, which was really cute! The bear cubs were wrestling with each other (the bears and cubs were our favorite part if you can't tell 😉). They have military discount for admission and at the gift shop

The exhibit and the bears were great. It was an all around enjoyable experience. EXCEPT, we drove through in our work truck. The $400 work cooler shackled in the bed with only water. We were told, and also understood that the bears were going to think there was food in it, and they would take it out and play with it. And we completely understand. We were then told we could leave the cooler there at the ticket booth and it would 100% be there when we got back. We double checked and asked it would be safe and no one would take it. She assured us it would 100% be safe there. We took it out and left it, the drive through was great, we enjoyed our time. When going to pick up our cooler, there was not a single employee at the ticket booth. Everything was locked up, and our $400 cooler was left unattended, with everyone else's things outside. So I'm not really sure why they were so adamant that it would be ok, when it was left for anyone leaving the park to take with them. If y'all are going to guarantee people's possessions not be stolen, there needs to be a better system.

We have visited other places that advertised bears but this one truly delivered.You won't be disappointed, the only problem was that we picked one of the hottest days to visit so we couldn't enjoy the cubs for too long, it was really hot outside.Visit Bear Country USA, you will enjoy it.

4.7

(9174)

4.5

(4282)

13820 US-16, Rapid City, SD 57702, USA

6 lists

Stopped here on a whim because I wanted to see it and my daughter didn't think the kids would enjoy it. We were all very impressed with the history. Even the prayer path was nice to wonder up...make sure to use bug spray first.This chapel is an exact reproduction of the original in Norway, built back in 1150.This one was finished in 1969.

A beautiful hidden gem! Off the beaten path but so worth it. They have a small scavenger hunt for the kids to keep them engaged. There's an audio narration you can listen to in the chapel itself and the prayer walk is so peaceful! The gift shop is full of Norwegian treasures. Highly recommended!

This is the perfect spot to meditate and feel joy in your heart. The chapel looks very unique, the land is beautiful and peaceful, and the giftshop are kind ladies that make everyone feel welcomed. Some couples use the chapel to get married. Which I think is a perfect place to do so. There is an easy hike called the prayer walk, where you can recharge your spirit while enjoying the trees, flowers, birds singing, and maybe other small animals (I found a bunny). They also have a small museum. The gift shop has very affordable prices. They use materials like bark and wood from that same place to carve some figures.

I'm Christian but not to involved in my religion, but this place took my breath away and for the first time I teared up while looking at something so beautiful and meaningful, this place is astounding. Even if your not religious I highly recommend coming to see this beautiful wooden architecture.

Absolutely stunning! If you love Nordic Viking architecture and history then you gotta check this place out. Very informative staff and friendly. Beautiful views with a peaceful prayer trail that goes up into the hills behind the Chapel. The Chapel itself is absolutely awesome. There is a small little museum and gift shop on site as well. Defintley make time to visit the Chapel in the Hills.

Really enjoyed this peaceful place. The setting is very serene and away from Rapid City’s hustle and bustle. We enjoyed the prayer walk behind the chapel and found the narration (press button at back of chapel to start) to be interesting and educational.

Beautiful place. Walk the prayer trail and snap a photo on the way back of the statues with the church in the background. Listen to the narration in the church, interesting.

Wow! A hidden gem in the hills. Religious or not, this place is beautiful! Nice craftsmanship. Worth the stop! Nice little museum as well. I did not take the meditation trail out back as it was a hot day. No dogs allowed sign. On a cool day you could probably leave them in the car. I believe they just mean not in buildings or out of the car. Plenty of room to park a camper or trailer on a weekday and not during a church service. There is button in chapel for a narrative about chapel.

Good place to spend time. It's not crowded, so if you love non crowded place to spend time, this is good place.It also has very very short pathway into the forrest. And of course very close from Canyon Lake.

Such a beautiful chapel! We thoroughly enjoyed our visit! What a talented amazing man to take on such a project to share with ALL of us!!! #blessed

Absolutely beautiful! It's easy to find, parking is a breeze and it is free to get in, but they do accept donations. Everyone there was very friendly and informative. It was a very hot day today so we didn't stay long but we'll definitely be back.

Visiting the Chapel in the Hills was an afterthought in my plans, but it turned out to be one of the highlights. Just an amazing little hidden gem. Beautiful building, craftsmanship and ambieance. It far exceeded my expectations.The two ladies at the visitor center were super friendly and engaging. Lots of laughs and stories.If I am in the area I will definitely visit again.

Incredible history! This is a great walk through for anyone, but extra special for those of Norwegian heritage. Intricate carving and impressive timberwork. They provided a scavenger hunt at the gift shop for the kids, which greatly increased their interest in the details! Small gift shop with some interesting things, including Norwegian candy.

It is hard to believe that the 12th century church is still standing strong and beautiful on the hills. This is a wonderful architectural marvel in Rapid City. The entire edifice is made of wooden blocks and columns. Definitely recommend this church to everyone visiting Rapid city

Very interesting. The carpentry of the people (this is a replica) in the 1100 was amazing. It was super cute too.

A nice place to relax. The place is so serene. But it’s closed to the public at this time . They will resume on May .

Great place to visit! The design and architecture of the church is amazing! There are 2 small trails with words of advice and encouragement from the Bible!

Very unique place to visit. The grounds were beautiful and fun to explore. The chapel is well worth the visit, as well as the museum and gift shop. The volunteers were very friendly and knowledgeable. Enjoyed our time there.

I loved this so much it was a sense of peace. Im not really all that religious but it peaceful and beautiful. The whole site is a nice visit we spent an hour but that was plenty of time to get feel for the place and all that was on it. The history of the place is interesting too. Plus as we were leaving a wedding was coming in for wedding pictures. Its a drive from rapid city but not so much that you shouldn't go. Go have fun and see its so interesting. They have some parking and bathrooms.

Gorgeous Norwegian chapel with an audio tour at the chapel itself about its architecture and the history of the original. Friendly volunteers, small gift shop with fair prices, and a one-room museum. We enjoyed the prayer walk and its sculptures.Note: The trail might not be stroller friendly or wheelchair accessible. We carried our baby and so we didn’t have to think about wheels.

Quiet area. Beautiful church with a nice little prayer walk

Most peaceful place I know in Rapid City. If it is your first time there, make sure you listen to the story of the chapel and visit the gift shop. If you are up to it, take the prayer walk that is located behind the chapel or just sit and listen to all the birds that call the grounds home.

Unique church on top of the hill. Full of history and unique architecture. Don't forget to walk the Prayer Trail if you have time, I found 2 fawns hiding in the bushes behind the church. The only complain is there's a swimming pool in the house division next to the Church. We can hear the children screaming, crying and hollaring while playing in the pool. It's a bit annoying especially when we try to absorb the tranquility and peaceful vibe.

In a word, stunning. The grounds on which the church sits are beautifully maintained. The gentleman who met us at the entrance offered a very interesting history lesson on the origins and construction of the church. The wood carvings in and on the building are a marvel. This is well worth a visit.

Beautiful place, very peaceful. No ticket required

As close as you'll get to Norway without hopping on a plane. Beautiful woodworking and craftsmanship.

4.8

(1079)

4.5

(685)

3788 Chapel Ln, Rapid City, SD 57702, USA

35 lists

Been many years since I last was inside the door's of Reptile Garden. You need to plan a lot of open time to see it all, like the snake show to the alligators show. Lots of flowers and rocks in between the buildings and walk ways. If you like spiders or snakes and many more fun and interesting exhibits to take in all the beauty of nature. The gift shop is not a disappointment its full of everything you need for your self or many friends. Check this great place out if you have plenty of time, this is a good family outing and also a place you can bring your service dog.

It is a great place to spend an afternoon checking out different reptiles. They have a snake and alligator show. The landscaping there is amazing with lots of beautiful flowers. Admission can get you a season pass if you take a picture with one of there signs.

Love it! Great mix of reptiles, amphibians, birds, and plants. Even rocks/minerals. The snake show was very interesting.Honestly, I'm a grown adult and I loved it. Kids not required, though they seemed pretty stoked too.

Amazing experience, worth the price. Kids want to live there, I want to be reincarnated as a creature there living in luxury in semi precious raw gemstones. Gift shop left me wishing I had brought extra funds.

This is a pretty fun place with a massive gift shop. The gift shop ranges from small trinkets to massive gems and hand-crafted masks from Papua New Guinea. Overall, there is something for everyone there. Overall, the grounds are meticulously maintained, and the flowers are gorgeous. The animals and exhibits themselves vary quite a bit, making for an interesting afternoon if you’re in the area.

The family had a good time here for what we could see. We came during the off season so we didn't get to see everything. The grounds were well kept and the staff was nice. We're going to try to make it back during the regular season and enjoy everything.

This is a really fun place! There is no shortage of reptiles here! Admission is reasonable, and they're season passes, so revisits are free in a certain time period. The shows are well done. This is a great place to take kids; I have a pretty big family so I would know! Highly recommend! 👍

What a nice family trip! Went on a Sunday, and it wasn't too crowded. There was time and space to see the reptiles. The folks in each area are so knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely want to share their knowledge. Gardens are beautiful!

Really enjoyed the experience. The snake show was fun and funny (thanks for the laughs Connor!). We really liked seeing all the different crocodilians and especially Maniac. Also the giant tortoises were fun to watch and even pet! Every staff member seemed like they enjoyed their jobs and the facilities are kept very clean.

Loved it. Snakes were awesome. Largest alligator I've ever seen. I really enjoyed it. Big time cool experience. Snake wrangler was brave. Educational.

For years we have debated going here when we come on vacation to the Hills. We have heard some people say it's not worth the money. But now, having gone there, I have no idea why they said that! It was totally worth the money and a highlight of our trip! We loved it!First of all, the plant life through the park is immaculate and beautiful! The place was clean and easy to walk around in too.The exhibits were so neat! Tortuga Falls was gorgeous!!! We all loved the prairie dog town! The tortoises were such a unique experience! The gators and crocs were amazing! I could go on...But the highlight of the visit were the shows! SO COOL! The man who did the shows the day we were there was humorous, full of knowledge, and entertaining. After each show (snake show and gator show), he brought an animal out to pet and answered any questions people had.My kids loved it! What's neat too is that your ticket is good for the whole season, so if you want to come back, you can without paying! We got some neat things at the gift shop too.We have five kids (from baby to 14) and they all seemed to love it, even the child that doesn't like snakes and was scared to go! I think that's saying something!

Was amazing! Lots to see even off season. In the summer there will be a lot more open and a lot more to do but we went on Easter when we were visiting the area for a family memorial. Posting a lot of photos for you to see!😉

Such a great little reptile zoo, with some extra animals as well. My boys, ages 6 and 8, really enjoyed the prairie dogs, large tortoises, and in their words “walking through the indoor jungle”. I really appreciated the gardens around the park and how beautiful the landscaping was kept. We went early so it wasn’t too hot or busy. The snake collection is out of this world! Very cool place!

It was a cool place even though I’m not a fan of lots a loud children! The terrarium was great. Beautiful flora and so many lizards to look for and see. Taking pictures of the snakes in the glass cages sucked. I wish the glass was cleaner. Of course there was a gift shop and food service . They also had scheduled shows that I didn’t see.

Wasn't sure what to expect of the reptile gardens. It exceeded my expectations. The shows were great! Every exhibit they had Was Nice to see. The dome they have So many other animals, make sure you don't miss that. The gift shop has so much variety of different cool, fun things.

Love this place. Tons of snakes, spiders, bird and reptiles. The kids love looking at it all and watching the shows.

This is a place that you definitely have to check out. So many species of animals in this place. It is well taken care of and maintained. Walking around you get to learn quite a bit through the information that's posted. The kids really enjoyed themselves coming here. And if you take a selfie with a particular character then you get free admission for the rest of the season.

Reptile gardens is a great place. We went mid day, there was a little wait for tickets but the line moved quickly. The alligator/crocodile show and snake show is always entertaining bit make sure you get there early to get seats it fills up quickly. Staff was friendly and knowledgeableWe loved walking around with the big tortoises.

Es un lugar increíble. Unos verdaderos jardines hermosos y muy bien cuidados. Toda una gama de reptiles y anfibios se pueden observar en sus espacios e incluso interactuar con algunos como las tortugas gigantes. Los shows de serpientes y cocodrilos valen muy bien la pena y en general todo el lugar es un gran espacio bien organizado para los visitantes. El personal es muy amable y atento. Niños y adultos la pasan genial por igual y se aprende muchísimo sobre este grupo de animales. Totalmente recomendado.(Translated by Google)It's an incredible place. Really beautiful and very well maintained gardens. A whole range of reptiles and amphibians can be observed in its spaces and even interact with some such as giant tortoises. The snake and crocodile shows are well worth it and in general the whole place is a large, well-organized space for visitors. The staff is very friendly and attentive. Children and adults alike have a great time and you learn a lot about this group of animals. Totally recommended.

This was a really cool place to go! And the passes are seasonal, so I am very happy with the price for something like that. Wonderful staff and amazing snake and bird shows!

Amazing staff, friendly and inviting, huge amount of reptiles to look at, the snake show was great, it was very Informational while keeping it fun for all ages. Arrive early!! Opening is best as it does get crowded in some areas and many parents allow their children to camp out at different displays and can get a bit difficult to see or take good pictures. Unfortunately I wasn't able to enjoy the gator show as I had a child that continued to hit my back playing behind me so I just decided to leave. It was a bit over crowded anyway and I still had three waterfalls to go take a look at. I really recommend this place they're awesome! OHH AND OMG TRY THE PRETZEL 🥨!!!!!

Beautiful botanical gardens and tons of neat exhibits! All the employees were incredibly friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Park was easy to navigate and the gift shops were huge with a lot of unique items I hadn't seen other places! (Don't forget to look UP in the garden dome!)

This place is fun and beautiful! It's on the smaller side, but you can easily spend at least 2 hours here. We did with our 5 and 2 year olds. They loved the alligator and snake shows, getting to touch a baby alligator, touching turtles, and panning for crystals. There was even a small play area outside with a sandbox and various things to climb. Well done!

A must see place in Rapid City, SD. The is everything from history, plants, a large collect of reptiles, parrots and a few shows.The goft shop has a lot to offer, not just catchy tourist stuff.They have food, snacks and a very highly curated grounds that is very relaxing and inviting to guests.The staff is helpful and courteous as well.Must see here is the giant turtles 🐢. The variety and size of them is not something many will see anywhere else in a lifetime... you can even pet them...Super friendly for kids as well.

It was a fun way to spend an afternoon. We got to see tortoises, snakes, birds and flowers. There are many venomous snakes to see, too. I would definitely go again.

This is definitely a must stop if you are in the area! There are tons of reptiles, insects and other animals to check out, and an adorable prairie dog town. There are quite a few species on display that I have never seen, and the interactive tortoise area was a first for me as well. The place is very clean, and all the animals appear healthy.Highly recommended!!!

I’m not kidding you, this place is absolutely amazing and well worth a visit! The collection of snakes is incredible. Connor lead the snake and alligator shows which were fun, informative, and very entertaining. All the employees we interacted with were lovely. The gift shop is great as was the food we ate for lunch. Reptile Gardens gets my highest recommendation!

We loved our time at Reptile Gardens! The gator show gave me anxiety because I was sure Conner was going to be eaten (ha) but was very informative. The dome was really neat and full of snakes and other animals. The staff members were friendly and the food was decently priced. The landscaping was immaculate.

Loved all the exhibits. The animal shows were such a blast! All the staff are so friendly and entertaining. This place has to have one of the most extensive reptile collections I have ever seen! Beatiful gardens and you can even pet the giant tortoises! If you travel to Rapid City I can't recommend the Reptile Gardens enough❤️🏆

Great place to visit! A must stop in the area! Free year pass with a single admission! There is so much to see here plan on spending about 2-3 hours to see everything.

Absolutely amazing experience for the whole family. The shows were entertaining and informative. The grounds were clean and easy to navigate. The staff was friendly. Food, well it's what you would expect.The walk through areas were a lot of fun and the crowds seemed well managed. Looking forward to going back.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect here and didn’t have the highest hopes and boy was I wrong. We ended up spending the majority of the day here. The snake selection was great. So was the lizards and crocs. And don’t miss the shows. The staff was top notch especially the guy that did the shows I think his name was Connor. I will visit again for sure maybe even this trip. 10 out of 10 would recommend

Had a great time!! It's not a huge place but just enough to enjoy and see everything. The gift shop was very nice. There are so many bugs and reptiles to see and learn about. The birds were beautiful, and Maniac the Crocodile was awesome!! If you have kids, they'd definitely enjoy this. Also if you take a picture with the wooden Turtle "I posted it" you get back in for free on another day.

There are so many snakes under one roof... oouff! What a fabulous display! (If you like snakes that is, as for me, I sure am glad they were all behind glass!) And the crocodiles are VERY cool. We went on a cooler day, so we weren't able to do the tortoise experience, but we still got to see them. I just wish we could have touched them and recorded a video of our children's excitement doing so. We had a great time, regardless of that. The gift shop has really neat stuff also. Cool place to stop at.

My son had a great time. He loved all the exhibits and the reptile show. Definitely worth going for the price and we will return often

Wonderful morning adventure with family. The shows were informative but entertaining. I recommend allowing plenty of time to see the shows as they are better than many I've seen. Plan to bring sunblock because lots of open pathways.

Cool stop! Dane did an AMAZING job with the snake show and gator show. We almost saw him get bit a few times 🫣😅 he definitely deserves a raise, it was extremely educational as well! Fun for all ages! They also have an area where you can walk with the tortoises and pet them at no additional cost!

Excellent display of everything reptilian! Wonderful variety of plants, lizards, birds, turtles and more in the Safari room. Incredible snake and spider collections. Maniac, the salt water crocodile, happened to be outside the day we visited, which is rare! The kids were amazed by the tortoise enclosure! It was fun to walk among and pet the tortoises. When we needed to cool off, the snack stand had some delicious frozen lemonade to save the day. We caught the last gator show of the day, with Carl, and the kids enjoyed petting fluffy at the end. It was a very entertaining performance. Next time, we must catch the snake show! My husband saw it as a kid, and still remembers how awesome it was!

This place has changed since I have been there as a kid! It’s so much more bright and well cared for!! Ventilation system is excellent and it was great on such a hot day. The animal keepers were so nice and knowledgeable about their animals. You can tell they really care for their animal friends! I absolutely loved this trip with the kids. Excellent place to stop in the Black Hills for sure!

Absolutely a dream come true. I have never experienced anything like this. I would go atleast once a month if I lived in S. Dakota.

The reptile center was a lot of fun, even for 4 adults. The giant tortoise area is really interactive, and the snake and alligator shows were informative and funny.The prairie dog town has an underground bubble that allows you to join the family.There is a ton of parking, and the gardens are easy to find on your way to Mt Rushmore.

The Reptile Gardens, in Rapid City, was a fun place to stop in South Dakota! They had so much to see with amazing animals and beautiful gardens!We enjoyed seeing almost every type of reptile imaginable from little lizards to the large tortoises! BTW…the tortoise loved his head patted and scratched!There is also a Prairie Dog Town that was fun to watch them play and scamper around! They even have a ground level dome that allows you to be up close to these furry little guys!The Sky Dome was very impressive! The plants, trees and birds were absolutely stunning. The park also offers beautiful pathways winding through amazing gardens with water features.The staff was very friendly and the park was well maintained and clean! They have a nice store and cafe. We highly recommend this place.

4.7

(6366)

4.5

(2343)

8955 US-16, Rapid City, SD 57702, USA

38 lists

Storybook Island is a gem in Rapid City! What an amazing place for kids. There are so many fun things to see and do ranging from treehouses, slides, little fun story houses, playgrounds, musical areas, toddler area, merry-go-round, train, water features, pirate ship, and much more. They have a concession area as well as a gift shop. They have an amazing Christmas light display during the winter with reindeer and so many fun activities!

I can't believe admission to this place was free. This is a large park with so many interesting things to look out for the kids both big and small. My kids are two and five years old and really enjoyed this place. It had both interactive attractions such as the sand diggers, the ride-on horses, Pooh's climbing house, the swings and carousel as well as attractions just for looking at. This is definitely a great place to come and get kids energy out while having a lot of fun! The park is really well maintained, beautiful, plays Disney music and has access to bathrooms. Well done!

So, so much to see and do. My kids loved running from place to place. Several fun play areas with scenes from fairytale, Disney stories, nursery rhymes, etc. Wish we had more time here.

Great fun for kids and adults. Totally free. I nice place to get away from the crowds and give your kids a chance to get their energy out. Great place to rest and picnic if you're traveling.

If you have kids who love fairy tale characters and playgrounds, you have to go here! It's free and such a cute place. The carousel and train are $1 to ride. My 7 and 4 year old didn't want to leave! Very fun and lots of photo opportunities.

Several things were blocked off for maintenance, including the carousel, but we still had a lot of fun exploring and it was very clean with easy walking trails! There's an accessibility playground which is great!Skip the restrooms at the beginning- they're not very clean and don't have soap or way to dry hands. The ones by the gift shop are much better.

This place is amazing. So wonderful. We went on a super hot day, so we only stayed about an hour. But a family could spend the entire day there if you wanted. Such a wonderful place.

If you're visiting the Rapid City area and have little ones definitely bring them here! Admission is free but they do charge $3 per person per ride for the carousel and train rides. Which compared to other prices in the area is great! We ate lunch before so I don't know about the food served there. I did see a sign with no outside food or drink. There is so much for little kids to do it was so worth it. Mine didn't want to leave. They have a donation box to keep it running so consider throwing a couple bucks in there.

We’ve waited for 9 years to take our grandkids there. It was worth the wait. They were as excited as we had hoped they would be. They played all day. The carousel was super fast and lasted for a long time. There are so many things to see and do. It’s the highlight of our vacation

We absolutely loved this place! If you are in Rapid City and have children it is so fun! So many little playgrounds, slides, characters! You can pay 4/ person for the train and 3/ person for the carousel!

The free admission park that is well built and well maintained. It’s good place to bring kids by and spend an hour. Lots of parking up front and on the side. Staff were friendly. Lots of characters from the folk tales and some Disney.

This place is great! We came before Christmas and the kids had so much fun identifying the fairy tales. It was extremely cold while we were there (-5) but they all stuck it out to walk the entire thing! They especially loved the Carousel!

Love that it is free !!! The kids loved to run around and take pics with all the different characters. Had to explain some of the olders ones but that was fun. The train and carousel are new since my last visit and the kids and adults had a good time riding both. I think that's probably the fastest carousel I have ever ridden and they give you a good long time on it.

Absolutely free!!! YES FREE!! Highly recommend a picture from Alyssa, she's extremely good with kids and very attractive. 😅 Amazing place for the whole family.

Fun little park to take the little ones too. I love the storybook land in Aberdeen, South Dakota so I am a bit biased. This one isn’t as great as that one but there is still plenty to do and see.

Our family had an incredible experience here at Storybook. We loved the eclectic collections of children's stories from across the decades and the simple but entertaining modules of playgrounds scattered through a deceivingly large area of land. Where else in the world will you find the characters of the nursery rhyme Rub a dub dub, next to Curious George, across from Disney classics while listening to the Frozen soundtracks and observing a train stroll by on the sidewalk. We will comeback and will continue to support such a community driven park such as this!

Storybook Island is a free kids park filled with jungle gyms, slides (a few are closed) and swings. There are many different themes (Jack and the Bean Stalk, Wizard of Oz, Winnie the Poo) and kids music. The location is safe and clean, located conveniently by Rapid Creek and the connecting parks and trails. The train costs money to ride and accommodates kids and adults. There is ice cream, local artists (or some combination of local services), and special events for Christmas. Restrooms and a well stocked gift shop are located at the entrance and exit.

A must see for anyone who visits Rapid City with kids! A place where imaginations can run wild and there's plenty of room to roam for little ones with lots of energy. My kids aged between 3-9 years old all LOVED it.

Loved this park! Tons of different play areas and stories! Very clean, friendly staff and plenty of bathrooms. It's incredible to me that it's all free and that the train and carrousel are only 3$. My only complaint is that the gift shop have a few more things for parents/travelers such as post cards, pins or sticker. Excellent experience and I would definitely go back!

This place has been here forever, and is fantastic here on the west side. It's not some intense theme park, but it's a place you can walk with your kids and celebrate the real moments you get with them.Trust me, you'll miss those moments when they're gone.

This is such a lovely place! Our toddler son had a blast here! The entrance is free and the two rides that they have are reasonably priced. Ride operators couldn't be nicer! Our family really enjoyed our time together. It has such a sweet atmosphere with fun music playing throughout the park. It is geared toward toddlers through young elementary but our 15 year old enjoyed walking through with us as well! It is also well kept, clean with nice bathrooms. Expect to spend about two hours here.

It’s a nice place to chill kids and adults . Place where family bonds, grandparents taking their grandkids having a grand time . It’s free , no entrance fee and it’s located in Rapid City . Easy parking too . It’s really a cute place to visit.

This place is awesome. I recommend any with kids in the Rapid City area visit. We loved it.

The Christmas lights were amazing. My granddaughter loved the train.Memories of mine from 50 years ago.

This place!!!!!! We have young toddlers who aren’t so aware of the characters/movies/stories and they still loved it. It really is a magical place. Give yourself some time to enjoy it! So many places to play; endless parks! Houses, tree houses, playgrounds, princesses, Dr. Seuss, Winnie the Pooh. The train was cute and had some funny music. Snow cone truck was nice on a hot day. Gift shop was small and cute.I think they could charge a small entry fee to get the money they are requesting to add on/upkeep. I wish they would stay open through the fall so more people could enjoy this without the heat.Clean bathrooms onsite. Free parking lot.This was a nice surprise and one of the highlights of our trip to Rapid City!

Fun place to take your kids that also brings up memories of my past of all the Disney movies and story books.

Terrific park for kids of all ages and kids at heart. It's a huge park with tons to do, all free except the train and carousel. There are even snacks available for purchase, but I recommend bringing a lunch or snack. Kids are busy for hours!

The kids had a great time. The music was really nice from various movies. There is even a section for the smaller kids to play.

4.7

(2108)

4.5

(823)

1301 Sheridan Lake Rd, Rapid City, SD 57702, USA

49 lists

This was fun for the kids. The gift shop was really good and had excellent prices. To see the dinosaurs you have to go up some stairs which are pretty steep so be prepared. The view from the top was really nice though. The dinosaurs are huge but in need of a fresh paint job. It feels pretty run down. It is free though so I can't knock it!

Recently remodeled very well done. I have visited this wonderful place since childhood and it gone through many ups and downs. Finally a quality remodel and restoration has both updated and beautified this wonderful attraction, while retaining it's vintage charm.

One of my kids loves dinosaurs, so here is a park with dinosaurs! With great views, trail, (visitor center: for us was closed for the season) it is not a big park, but it’s a great place to stay for around a hour, walk, take some pics, climb the dinos and enjoy the views of the city. Supposedly there are real dinosaur’s footprints, we can’t find them, or maybe I was misinformed. Enough parking.

Went here thanks to Owl City’s song. It was cooler than I ever thought it would be. It’s worth the stop and the gift shop is so cheap you should do all your souvenir shopping there. They have black hills, Rushmore and other souvenirs for around the area and of course dinosaur stuff and SUPER good food for super cheap prices.

Great little park to take the kids to. You can tell the statues are very dated, but the plaque said it was built in the 1930s and there's no admission fee so I suppose it's to be expected. Your kids won't care anyways.You have a 360 degree view of the city from the highest point and the sunset is gorgeous. Definitely come if you have kids who are into dinos, or even if you just want a nice view of the city.

Since we were staying the night in Billings Montana, found some free stuff to take the kids to do. This was on the list. It's okay if all your wanting to do is burn some energy off the young ones. Dinosaurs are in need of repair along with the signage.At the top is a nice view of the city.There is a little store, but I didn't go in it.

Well-kept dinosaurs and paths, wheelchair accessible. They were working when we were there and looks like room for additions in future. Nice panoramic views of the city. Worth the stop.

If you have a young Dino lover in your family, it’s worth a stop to see the giant dinos, but if not, I’d skip it. They have an option to go up several staircases, or take an accessibility trail up. There was some construction when we were there, but you could still walk around a majority of the attraction. We spent maybe 20 minutes looking at the dinos and the view of the city.

Not only was this a cute, free stop but they have one of the least expensive gift shops in the area! Bonus; they had a small but nice food selection at incredible prices! ($2.50 for a hot dog & small soda) Best views of Rapid City!

I was amazed by the exceptional cleanliness and meticulous maintenance of the place I recently visited. From the moment I entered, I was greeted with a spotless environment that exuded a sense of freshness. The floors were immaculate, shining as if they had just been polished. Not a speck of dust or dirt could be found on any surface, and the air carried a pleasant aroma of cleanliness. The washrooms were impeccably maintained, stocked with supplies and maintained in a pristine condition throughout my visit. Every corner and crevice seemed to have received thorough attention, reflecting a true commitment to cleanliness. The staff members were constantly on the move, diligently attending to any mess or clutter that might arise. It was evident that they took great pride in their work. The overall level of cleanliness and upkeep in this place was truly exceptional, creating an inviting and hygienic atmosphere. I left with a sense of admiration and satisfaction, and I would highly recommend this place to anyone seeking a clean and well-maintained environment.

Kleiner, kostenloser Dinopark im Hang. Derzeit wird viel umgebaut, aber man hat einen schönen Ausblick und die Kinder freuen sich. (Mai 2024).(Translated by Google)Small, free dinosaur park on the hillside. There's a lot of renovation going on at the moment, but there's a nice view and the children are happy. (May 2024).

My kids love this place! We visit whenever we're in Rapid City to see family. Great walk & experience for littles. They were almost done with the refresh/repair when we were there and the dinosaurs, grounds, & walkways look awesome!

This place is super cool... Has a very jurassic feel to it.

Absolutely amazing place. More of like a great view of the city of Rapid City, the dinosaurs are what they are from 1936. Oh, but definitely a great hike and a lot of fun. I probably wouldn’t say make an entire trip out here just for that but while you’re out here, definitely stop by. And make sure and check out the gift shop. It is seasonally open which they close after October. But great prices on everything that is in the store. They also have snacks like hotdogs, ice cream and popcorn.

It was a cool little stop. Definitely not a park with play equipment. Just has dinosaur statues, a gift shop, food, and picnic tables.

I can see the appeal. It’s a nice outdoor activity that every one of all ages can enjoy and appreciate. I saw this place from a distance and had to check it out. The dinosaurs did not look like your usual dino park figures. I say go and have a look. Take the kids. They will appreciate. The views are nice. The walk is not too bad.

Oh! My! GOD!!!This place was EVERYTHING I was hoping for!Kitschy, beautiful, dinosaury, wonderful!One thing to know, however, is that the entire place is under construction to make access easier. Check before you go if mobility is a concern (but it's on top of a hill with lots of stairs anyway. The new construction might address that.)It's exactly what you'd expect in an old roadside attraction.

Wonderful place for the whole family. Awesome views of Rapid City.

Loved the dinosaurs. Ladies in the gift shop were super nice. You had Huckleberry ice cream, thank you! I haven't had that since I was in Montana in 2009. Nice selection of t-shirts.

Wow! This place is looking NICE! I have visited this place throughout my entire 40+ years, and Im happy to see it still exists, and the improvements are fantastic! I am looking forward to my next trip back to the Black Hills, I will definitely make the trip to this little park that the kids of all ages love so much.

For something that has been around for close to 100 years, it's very well taken care of. Little kids will love the dinosaurs, and adults will love the amazing views. A must see if you're vacationing in the area.

This was such a cool and fun place to take the kids to! My kids had a blast walking up to the dinosaurs. And the view from up top was amazing to see!They are remodeling the area so there was a little bit of construction but it only had one dinosaur that wasn’t accessible. The construction looks like the are going to upgrade the path to the dinosaurs. I Can’t wait to see it completed!The gift shop was nice and had a lot of stuff to choose from! And the person working the register was friendly.

Best gift shop prices in SD. The food prices were great too with $2.49 for a hot dog and drink you can’t beat that. Plus they honor the coupons in the local travel book so we got free popcorn and an ice cream for $1.49. We got all of our t-shirts here too with a $3.00 coupon. So if you want to get all of your gift shop stuff this is the place for you.

Fun little stop above the town. Good views of the valley. Most of all it showcases Rapid City's foundation as a tourist town. It was under repair when we were there and looks like it'll be months before it's done. In the meantime there's a dirt path hike of maybe a quarter mile to see the big beasts.

Really enjoyed seeing all the dinosaurs and the visitor's center was great! The only disappointment was that there's a lot of construction going on right now. This means one of the dinosaurs was inaccessible entirely and it was a bit of a muddy hike right after a rain. It was still really fun!

The park has done significant upgrades over the last couple of years. The paths are now even and there are beautiful railings and the aesthetic has now been significantly upgraded.

Fun place to take the kids and let them run wild! Children love the bigger than life statues. Very nice scenic overlook to enjoy as well. The park looks like it is under developed currently, so I think there is more to come!👏👏👏

Dinosaur Park is an iconic stop for kids of all ages in the Black Hills and the new trail to the top sure beats the old stairs. A must visit for families with kids.And the gift shop is the cheapest in the region. Don’t buy Rushmore t-shirts anywhere else. This is the place to stock up on souvenirs! And the snack counter can’t be beat with cheap hot dogs and popcorn a fraction of the price you’ll pay elsewhere.

4.4

(2883)

4.0

(1145)

940 Skyline Dr, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA

5 lists

Neat town to walk around downtown, seeing statues of all the president's, and many are in different poses - not just standing on the corners - the city did it right! Good places to eat, also.

Every corner had a statue on them cool 😎 had to take pictures 📸

Small town vibes. Nice restaurants, cute movie theater, distillery, and shopping.

Final day in South Dakota. Kept it simple. Did downtown rapid city. Lot's of presidents statues. Historical hotel. Pawneseum. John Glenn lense and Michael Jackson glove

Specifically I was at the parking garage. I have learned that it is one of the best places to ponder, think, plan out a master plan for world domination. However world domination is incredibly last century. So instead I thought about how I can appear to be judging the subjects from above and they won't be thinking they are being judged. 10 out 10 would recommend.

Want something to do on a Thursday night?? Yep, me too. 7th and st Joseph is it!! The street is blocked off for concerts, dancing, food, vendors, and mingling. Adults can get wrist bands and wonder for beverages. Kid friendly event! A few stores are open to visit. Lots of fun food to eat your way through the event. My only regret....yep forgot my chair but it's ok! Always next time. A fun filled event for sure. Tonight's featured band " Flannel". A few originals and a few old school. Was fun watching people singing along.

It's a downtown.You will enjoy it.GO.

Be sure to come on down to main st square for free lunch presented by the YMCA of rapid city

Went to Mitzi's Books and found a new baking book to play with. Also the St Joe antiques mall is always worth walking through. This stone lamp had me laughing and my mom confused.

There are lots of statues in Downtown Rapid City. We got there around dinner time, walked around, spun lots of Pokestops, and were quite happy that they weren’t charging for parking at the time. Unfortunately, the place that we were planning to eat was closing almost at the time that we were going to arrive, so we went somewhere else. It was a nice walk, very clean, and felt very safe.

Had a great time. Enjoyed the shops and friendly people.

Art alley is a must see. great antique stores, and lots of statues and historical sites. Also highly recommend armadillo ice cream!

4.5

(182)

4.5

(2342)

512 Main St Suite 980, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA

This is a must see experience. We went here 2 years ago. Glad to see she is still up and running. Not sure if she will be down the line. 2 years ago there were no houses near his drive inn and now there are developments and housing etc.If you can go I definitely recommend for the nostalgia feeling!

A great memory of days past and our Grand Kids first time to a drive-in movie, so we watched the PAW PATROL MOVIE Fun.... Oh yes it is a Double screen movie theater one on the west did and the other on the east side.......

Very cool experience for adults to kids. Prices for admission are fair. Popcorn was not the best almost tasted old and was burnt. They don't want you to bring in your outside food, but they need to make sure what they are serving is quality. Parking was a bit of a battle, we got there at least 45 min early, but had to park more on the side, the first place I tried to park I was yelled at by someone saying I couldn't park there. We had a mini van with 7 people and we're not able to park backwards like most people. The man told me the row I was in was for cars only (I thought it was only the 1st two rows) we were in at least the 3rd or 4th row.Any how later on other mini vans were parking in the same area so I guess that was karma for him. We brought a few blankets for the kids to sit outside on.We will go again, but hope for a better experience next time.

Perfect summer night in South Dakota and what to do? Why go to a drive-in movie! Visiting from the east and hasn’t been to a drive in in 30 years! Roy’s has 2 screens each with double features and you tune on the sound through your radio. Even had the dog with us in the van. Loved it!

How fun, haven't been to a drive in for years. Great place to take the kiddos

I loved this place! You got options when it comes to the movies and great food. If they have the walking tacos…GET THEM! They are amazing. I will come back every season! I don’t know if a lot of people know this but they have radios you can rent too for cheap if you don’t want to keep your car running. So convenient! Would highly recommend.

Love bringing the family to the drive in! Way better than the regular movies!

4.7

(255)

4.5

(23)

810 Tenaya St, Hermosa, SD 57744, USA

27 lists

A must see if you love military planes. Great to see the B1,B52,B25,B29 and others up close! Hopefully the museum will acquire a B2 and an A10 someday. If you’re lucky you might see a B1 take off from the base like I did! Totally awesome!! We’ve had some great military planes protecting our sky’s!

Awesome museum, not to mention that it's completely free! They've got a decent amount of planes outside, my favorite probably being the F-111 Aardvark and the B-1 Lancer. Inside there were interesting exhibits mostly from the Cold War era, with those talking about nuclear deterrence and technology being particularly interesting. Would recommend to anyone who likes planes or History coming by on I-90.

Relatively small museum who's pride and joy is clearly the exterior static displays. I've been to many air & space museums and this was the first with a B-29 (and a gorgeous example at that). A B-1, B-52, a rare F-111, A7, an ICBM and many other interesting and lovingly maintained examples of the United States military might can be viewed up close outside the museum. Highly recommended.

So cool seeing all the planes!! Its fun to read about the planes and what they were used for!! They are alot of planes outside that you can just walk around and see them. There are stands that give information on the planes and they are really interesting. There are some bombers, fighters, missiles, trainers, and lots more. You are able to walk right up to the planes and check them out and you can see inside some of them. I would love to be able to go inside the planes!

Great free air museum. Worth a visit if you have an hour to spare in rapid city.Inside hangars were closed when I was there.

Very cool to see the planes up close and personal. A lot of different planes from WW2 to modern times. Also has two wings that shows the history those who served at Ellsworth in all eras. If you're into military history, it's definitely a place to stop!

This was recommended to us by a local hotel owner. Unfortunately, the inside display was closed for renovations. But some great planes outside.

A vast collection of USAF planes from trainers to B1b bomber. Unfortunately the hangers are closed right now. 9/2020. Still an excellent display of WWII to the current B1. Each has a spec sheet and interesting facts for each. As this is a major air base they have some important individual planes.Not a lot of modern fighters outside.All laid out around concrete walkway and arranged well close together.While I was there I got to see a bomber land AND takeoff. The takeoff was amazingly LOUD!!

The inside portion of the museum was under renovation but it is definitely worth going to see the outside portion. We enjoyed the fact that you could walk right up to the planes and the amount of information on them was excellent. A great way to spend an hour or two!

Fantastic array of aircraft here.My grandfather was an aviation mechanic on Guadalcanal where he repaired numerous aircraft, but he would always talk about the B-25.Today I got to stand next to one and remember for a moment the man that helped inspire my own service.A great day for so many reasons.

Great outdoor activities for the whole family.And the museum inside is really good.I love reading about the Bismarck dog.There is a lot of history in one place and free.

My husband is retired Navy & I am retired USAF. We both thoroughly enjoyed our visit and continue to appreciate military aircraft and service members that have forged our combat history in the fight for defending our nation's freedom. Thank you for preserving our military heritage so well for others to learn about & appreciate the sacrifices that have been made by men & women serving in the US Armed Services. We actually met a gunner that flew in this specific aircraft during Vietnam. My only regret is that I didn't take his picture at the time we met him.

The museum building is being renovated but the park is open allowing you to walk around and see the aeroplanes.

Very neat museum. Lots of aircraft from different eras from WWII to present. Also history and displays of Nuclear missile systems that were part of the Nuclear Defense Strategy.

Worth stopping in to see some historic aircraft, as well as a guided tour through a Minuteman Missile Installation! On our stop they we’re running maneuvers with Stealth Bombers being refueled in the air as well as multiple types of aircraft flying in and out of the air base! Timing is everything, we were lucky to catch all the activity happening in the area. The small fee to tour the missile silo was worth it. Our guide had multiple stories and historical references. The multitudes of aircraft to greet you when you arrive will capture that kid at heart feeling! So much to see and take in when you come to visit! Make the stop to see this location!

Finally made it out to the South Dakota Air and Space museum in Box Elder, SD on my way back from the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The museum was only a couple minutes off the highway and easily accessible. You can park and walk around the grounds for free and check out dozens of actual aircraft on the grounds. Jet fighters, bombers, helicopters and anything else you can think of. I didn't have time to check out inside the buildings, but I will definitely be stopping in the next time I am out in the area.

We stopped by while visiting Rapid City. Lots of older aircraft with a couple modern bombers. Pretty cool to check out if your an airplane enthusiasts.

Wonderful free museum featuring both indoor and outdoor exhibitions. The interior exhibit space is divided between two wings, one that focuses more on space travel & modern military aircraft, the other that showcases Cold war era military tech. We went an hour before closing so had to go rather quickly through the inside exhibits but I would guess a more reasonable pace for the inside portion is about 1h30min. The outdoor airpark was definitely the main attraction and fortunately, guests are allowed to walk around outdoors after the museum itself has closed.

Museum was closed but it was fun walking around and getting up close to the airplanes. The B 52 alone is worth the trip.

Lots of aircraft, some of which I'd never seen. Some aircraft not really well kept up. The museum/gift shop was closed, which was disappointing. Would have liked more detail on the informational displays. You only get the most basic information on the aircraft, and I'd have liked more. For instance, engine power and manufacturer, etc.It is free! It's definitely worth a stop.

Love the history. I could have spent the whole day there. If you get a chance, stop by and check it out.

Fantastic variety of aircraft to view outdoors. Even if the indoor portion is closed, visitors can walk around (self guided) and take photos of the aircraft outdoors. Each aircraft has a corresponding sign with its name and historical details.

Sadly the inside of museum is closed "for renovations" when we visited on 5/8/23. However looking online it appears this has been a status for several years now. The outside aircraft and missle displays are great. The interpretive signage is in very good condition and had helpful info. The parking lot is nice and large but if traveling in an RV swing wide to enter thru the gate as it's a bit tight. Bc the museum is closed we essentially had the parking lot to ourselves. 4 other vehicles came in while we were touring the outside exhibits and once they saw the buildings were not open they left. I only wish that the operators of the museum would be sure to monitor online listing across the internet and have up to date info on their website as to fact the museum itself is closed until further notice so no one makes a huge trip here for just the outside stuff. We happened to already be staying on the base at their campground so we were ok. When and if it ever opens, currently their site says free to go inside. Perhaps they should start charging to raise some needed funds for operations??

I love it here! Such a fun place! I will definitely be back! So many planes and cool things! I saw big planes, small planes and giant planes! Their were guns and missiles and so many other cool things! The museum was closed for renovation but the outside was amazing! Fun for everybody! You get to learn so much about these old planes, just read the signs near the planes. I loved looking in the planes and seeing the controls. You can go right next to the planes! I definitely recommend this place for anyone who wants to have a great time!

The museum building itself is still closed for renovations, but we were still able to view the aircraft on display outside. It's a decent variety and in great condition. It was still worth visiting even without the indoor museum being open.

Pretty amazing to see so many different aircraft and that it is completely free. Loved being able to sit in the trainer cockpit. Only wish the F-16 trainer cockpit was also available but it was roped off.

4.6

(2019)

4.5

(953)

2890 Davis Dr, Ellsworth AFB, SD 57706, USA

+129 other lists

Absolutely beautiful! We drove the scenic route twice. Great park for all ages. You can see so much just from your car, super easy hikes on a boardwalk at several pullovers and of course you can hike out on your own for more intense and challenging hikes. Something for everyone. If you want to see wildlife, get out early in the morning (before 9am) lots to see! Def check out the yellow mounds overlook, my personal favorite.

Beautiful! We hiked Notch trail and it was a fun little hike. We intended to hike Door and Window trails as well, but it was quite hot so we ended up doing some exploring just off the parking area for Notch, Window, and Door trails and then headed back to the hotel to hit the pool. We drove most of the shelf raid and the loop and enjoyed the scenery.

Very unique! Awesome landscape here at badlands with an assortment of wildlife as well. It’s always amazing how life can thrive anywhere. We had fun at badlands and learned about the history and enjoyed seeing fossils in the visitor center as well. If you have ever visited painted hills in Oregon, this is a less colorful yet immensely more grand version. We loved it.

AMAZING! I stopped here while passing through the area and had so much fun. I recommend stopping at the visitors center first to grab a map. They were helpful in recommending different trails and drives throughout the park. A snowstorm was coming into the area when I was there, so it was slightly chilly and foggy but the views were still unbelievable. Definitely a must see!

been here about 8 times over the years and i can honestly say its one of my favorite places to visit in the world. i could go here a million times and still be amazed. huge national park with so many places to go trails to see and the wildlife is amazing. also it is so clean.

Love it! We came on a day when there was a wind advisory which probably wasn't the best idea, but it was the only day we could come and we didn't regret it one bit. You can easily spend hours here and I'm already planning on coming back soon. Buy the America the Beautiful pass for $80 and get unlimited admission to a ton of different parks around the country, including Devil's Tower if that's on your list.

Beautiful views and so many unique rock formations. There is also wildlife in the badlands. We enjoyed watching the prairie dogs runaround. It’s a very beautiful relaxing drive around the park and make sure you stop and check out the views up close. I am in a wheelchair and they have a few areas where I could go out and get a more close-up view. We definitely recommend stopping here!

You definitely want to visit this national park and I would at least give yourself no less than a weekend to do it as it is said about most National Parks. We we here early June 2023 and conditions were idea and we only did the Badlands Loop...should have also traveled the southern loop but deferred to a later visit.

Great National Park to visit! The natural beauty is something to behold.There's many overlooks to stop at and get a great view of the various formations. The signage throughout is helpful & informative.Be mindful you are a visitor in the home of many amazing wild animals. Respect & love then from a distance, and don't litter! I'd highly recommend a camera with a good zoom if you're wanting good wildlife photos!While midday is a popular time to visit if you love sunsets it was beautiful taking in the evening colors! Just keep in mind facilities may close before sunset so just come prepared with food & water! Or stop by Wall, SD for any supplies!

What a surreal place!! We had the best time. Couldn't hike but there are some good viewing points. We asked the guy who was giving map in the front to see what are the famous points. We saw bison, mountain goat etc on the way as well. There are also some good camping sites. If you're interested in that. Overall, it was very nice and very different experience

This place cannot be described with photos or words. As amazing as the photos can be and how descriptive the words of those who have been are you simply have to see it to really know how beautiful it is.The stars at night look as though you could reach up and grab a handful of them. You are able to see so much more of our Galaxy here and it leaves you in awe. You realize just how small this blue orb we live on really is.

Incredible park where the world is your playground. If you see it you can climb it. Beautiful colors. Excellent star gazing. A ton of history to learn about. Excellent scenic drives.

If you have never been, it is worth seeing. Driving through and stopping at a few of the pull off areas once was enough for me. Roads on the East entry side need some work, and I enjoyed my time in the Buffalo Gap National Grassland a lot more. Less people and more freedom to explore.I did love that there is a free camping area near the west entry gates. Beautiful campsites with the best views in the area. 100% free to camp which is something that most of the National Parks do not have.Entry to the park is free to the Badlands with the America the beautiful pass. I love all of the National Parks I've been to. This one just wasn't one of my favorites. An occasional shaded area at some of the pull offs needs to be added. It certainly is something to see, though, and I very much appreciate all of our National Parks.

Beautiful and scenic! We came here while on vacation in the summer of 2020. The scenery is just breathtaking! We came during the middle of the day, though the sunset views seem to be where it's at! Loved our time exploring this national park! Definitely be sure to give yourself ample time for exploring, we only drove through and stopped at several of the overlooks.

There are some longer hikes but there is so much available to see that is within a mile or so of the road. These trails feel very hiker friendly to me. There isn’t a lot of shade when out exploring. Make sure to bring lots of water. We saw so many butterflies and birds and there are lots of flowers to enjoy also. This is a fantastic National Park.

One of our more favorite parks. Not as much crowds as others. You can go and venture anywhere you want. We saw mountain goats and a big horn. Come here for sunset, if you do anything here. The views at Panorama Point or Pinnacles is stunning with all of the colors. $30 to get in and there's tons of pullouts. There's hikes as well but if you're looking for something not too crazy & still gets you out with the rock formations, do Notch Trail. We wish it would have been cooler in temps when we came but it's still worth it- even in the heat. We spent a long time here. We didn't do all of the scenic loop but we should have. Even driving here is worth it.

I love visiting National Parks. This place is breathtaking. The park is very well maintained. Plenty of places to stop and get views. The views are amazing. There are trails to do hiking. Lots of wildlife. We were lucky and were able to see some bison right next to the road safely from our vehicle. Loved it

Wow this is a breathtaking NP! Going from seeing it from the top, to seeing it from the bottom was nice. Lots of wild Bison and Prairie dogs! Watch out for a jerk cop driving through their giving tickets for phone usage. Not happy about that. I would've love to have more time here!

Must visit in South Dakota and bucket list worthy! Such a unique experience with the roaming bison/Buffalo and unique views. Many hiking opportunities yet many overlooks accessible by car.

Amazing views! Fill your gas tank and your snack bag because it's a hike (long drive)! Immediately upon entering the park, we saw prairie dogs and big horn sheep. About halfway in we saw bison and deer. They aren't bothered by cars and I got some amazing, CLOSE photos without leaving the road or my car. There are a few areas to hike, but you have to be mindful of rattlesnakes and mountain lions. Not the best place to take pets. Plenty of spots to pull over or park. This place is a must-see because pictures cannot do it justice!

What a fabulous surpriseThis place is quite amazing.For all Australians who have visited Mungo national Park, this is like a massive version of that work the dunes carved by constant winds.You can wander through them & people were walking through them.

An amazing National Park with probably the most stunning scenic views, only second to the Grand Canyon.We have been to this park several times and are always awed by its natural beauty and panoramic views from multiple areas of the park.At some viewpoints, you can see 30 miles or more on a clear day.Be sure to stop at every viewpoint, because they are all different in some way.The viewing platforms are easy to access via some stairs and raised walkways, and most are within a few minutes walk from the parking areas.There are some amazing hiking trails, too, but be sure to take plenty of water and some snacks. It gets really hot on the trails in the summer and the sun can be brutal.Plan on spending at least 4 or 5 hours slowly driving through the park.One warning… the road to the Prairie Dog “town” is gravel and REALLY bumpy with a washboard sort of texture. It was pretty unpleasant to drive!

Absolutely beautiful. My husband and I spent the day here. Saw lots of wildlife, there are a few boarded pathways so if you have kids or are not a serious hiker you can definitely enjoy it. We came in winter so not all the restrooms were open so just keep that in mind. I hope to return one day for camping.

Very very pretty and very interesting to see. I would say it’s a must see atleast once. The animals there are amazing to see and they do get close to cars so you don’t always have to look far away. And the prairie dogs are so fun to see they are everywhere In the badlands . Roads are good and either are paved or rocks . Very well kept up national park. Lots of stops to take pictures and areas to pull over .

This is unlike any national park I have ever been to. The land is barren but beautiful. There aren’t many hiking trails and they are mostly dry or through grassland, wherein lie the rattlesnakes. The best plan is to drive through the park and stop at every viewpoint. The cell service is surprisingly good. The land is beautiful but extremely hot in the summer. Keep your dogs hydrated and remember only service animals are allowed on most paths. Parking is decent and the park isn’t too crowded. No one checked our pass so I guess I paid just to keep the park clean. Beware lots of tourists think they are the “sheep police” and will bother you for taking their photos if you’re even an inch too close. Saw lots of bison, birds, and prairie dogs.

Absolutely stunning. Nice drive through the badlands with many overlooks to stop and admire the beauty of God’s creation. There are some easy trails to do with kids like the door, window, and fossil trail. Make sure to go visit Roberts prairie dog town to see more wildlife.

It’s currently hazy due to wildfire smoke from elsewhere, but the formations are awesome to see. Easy and short hikes with good payoff, just beware of heat. Would suggest exploring early or late, as opposed to under the hot sun. Scenic route was excellent with various viewpoints each with its unique sight. Visitor center was informative. If you are not camping or staying here, you can still pay quarters to use the shower at the campsite.

The Badlands National Park is a must see. If it isn’t already on your “Bucket lists “ then I would go ahead and add it. Very rugged terrain and breathtaking views on every trail. Even on the road there are multiple pull offs with awesome picture taking opportunities. It is easy to get away from the crowds on the many trails. It’s an almost spiritual experience. Come prepared if you plan on hiking. Bring plenty of water and good hiking boots. This topography is very rough after all it is the Badlands.I highly recommend.

Can't recommend enough. This is a great park if you are into scenery, driving, hiking, wildlife, camping, etc. It's family friendly for the most part and people seem to have not messed worth it too much. Spent 2 days exploring and feel like just barely scratched the surface. Would gladly spend a week here. You do have to be aware of the dangers such as snakes and take the proper precautions, but if you use common sense, you'll be fine. Was not super crowded, especially earlier in the day and there is plenty to see and do.

One of the more unique national parks I've been to, the landscape is so vastly different than the rest of them. There are so many different lookout spots located along the road running through the park, and also Robert's Prairie Dog Town is so neat! I saw so many prairie dogs, bison, pronghorn, and even a rattlesnake in the park.

Very beautiful experience. Loved the scenic loop and even More so seeing the proof firsthand to prove the flood during Noah’s lifetime. Fossils of ocean creatures and clams in the bottom layer of sediment just brings me to awe to reflect back on the days of the great big flood. Seeing these natural creations and wonders just brings me in awe of God. Beautiful and inspiring to see.

A desolate, beautiful National Park...very unique. We visited in the spring time and it had a surprising amount of color. The weather changes very quickly in this area, sunny for half the day then turned to severe thunderstorms the second half. We even outran a tornado near Wall...unreal experience! 😎🌪️

This is another place I thought I would spend an hour or two. I spent about 6 hours and could have easily stayed for weeks. The raw size of the park is immense, and there are natural wonders everywhere you look.

Badlands is without a doubt the most beautiful and mesmerizing place I've ever been to. From the incredible rock formations to the wide open grasslands, there's always something to admire here. The wildlife is really cool too, while I was there I got to see cliff swallows, prairie dogs, bison, and more that I just couldn't identify. If you stay in Sage Creek campground the bison just walk right passed you and it's really the best way to admire such an amazing animal. I should also mention that at night with a clear sky you can see a whole sky of stars. Come with friends or make some while you're there and admire the beautiful of the landscape, nature, and night sky.

I had an amazing time here. The hikes were amazing and the views are to die for. I loved the wildlife that I saw. All the Rangers I spoke to were incredibly friendly. Great place for a vacation, highly recommend.

Truly unique scenery that you must see to believe! It’s less crowded than the most popular parks, but still quite popular during g peak summer months. You can get amazing views here with minimal hiking.

Definitely a bucket list destination! Take your time driving through and stop at the overlook sites to really enjoy the views! There are many great “selfie” spots! With the diverse scenery throughout the park, it is very impressive and breathtaking at every turn. Start the trip with a full tank of gas and drinking water to be on the safe side.Pack a picnic because there are nice places to stop and enjoy a lunch or snack at the tables with shade covers! We also stopped at a very nice visitor center and store within the park.The wildlife was amazing from the wild buffalo to the millions of prairie dogs!

It’s an wonderful creation of Mother Nature. We visited around Christmas, it was too cold and windy. The mud and sand stone formations are amazing sight to behold. Some trails will take to the wonders this park has to offer. If you are lucky you can spot some fossils. Drive around the loop road to enjoy the badlands from the view points. Highly recommend this park. Please read about the geography and history of this beautiful natural wonder before you visit

Absolutely gorgeous!! We go to a lot of parks with red rocks. So, this was a really neat experience with lighter rocks and multiple layers of a variety of make-ups.The museum at the visitors center gives a really good explanation of the different layers and what is in them. What fossils may be present, what eras and the time evolution of the geography.Lots of easy beautiful walks for the family. ADA accessible ramps/walk ways are available in the work as well. Definitely worth checking out!

One of our favorites National Park. You get to see the park in different elevations along with wild life. The history of the park is amazing. You can see rock formations. Many hiking trails available, but be sure to bring enough drinking water with you. Heat exhaustion is real. Park rangers were helpful and friendly.

Great place to visit! Lots of opportunities to see some unique parts of the US. Wildlife is all over. Great trails and scenic overlooks. Bring water and good hiking shoes.

Very beautiful national park 🏞️ and unfortunately i couldn’t spend more time because it was very very hot. But one thing I can say that the land scapes are very different. Definitely a must visit national park, the drive is fantastic. The closest city is rapid city, if you can stay in rapid city definitely can cover this national park as well as Mt Rushmore both. Definitely recommend the drive is fantastic you can spend a good day here.

Don't go during a snow storm but that's probably obvious to anyone except for me. Roads going in and coming out are not well plowed. That being said, if you're looking for solitude and to be alone with literally no other people around then this is a great time to go. The trails like door, window and notch are not shoveled so you'll need to bring boots.

Surprised how cool this was. Highly recommend going at sunset or starry night as there aren’t any city lights for many miles. Ben Folds visitor center was great. Make sure to stop at Wall Drug on way to or from park.

Badlands is absolutely incredible. We went here without much planning and were blown away by the stunning landscapes. The rugged terrain, unique rock formations, and expansive views are unlike anything we've ever seen. The drive through the whole park is about 1,5-2 hours long with several short stops, no hiking included. The photo opportunities are awesome!

This is an amazing and unique park with crazy rock formations. There were so many different shapes and colors. We actually camped inside the park and were able to watch the sunrise and set over the badlands. The trail we did was very unique with great views. The bathrooms were all in good condition. The park rangers were all friendly and helpful as usual. Overall it was amazing and I can't wait to go back.

Beautiful park and the landscape is out of this world. I’ve never seen anything like it before. An absolute must if you are in the area. It gets very hot in summer though and no shade, it was a little too intense to do the full hike we planned, but still worth the visit.

4.9

(15319)

5.0

(1985)

South Dakota, USA

+43 other lists

This is a must stop location the prairie dogs are amazingly cute!! They are all over the place! you will definitely see prarie dogs!

100 perfect worth the to this location. Prairie Dogs literally everywhere with a splash of bison. Views are wonderful as well. If you have kids it's a must, but adults will enjoy it the same! Drove to this location in Thursday around 6 and there were very few other drivers around.

It was a blast hanging out with the prairie dogs. Several of them were very friendly....just short of being able to pet them.

Best gosh darn town in all of South Dakota! Tons of prarie dogs & bison!

Fields covered with little prairie dogs scurrying here and there.A few hundred feet down the road were Bison. We also saw pronghorn antel. You really have to do this leg of the loop to view the wildlife!!

Very fun place to see prairie dogs up close. They seem to be very accustomed to humans, so they let us come relatively close to take photos. Be careful not to get too close or touch them though- they are still wildlife and should not be fed!!

The 10 min drive down an unpaved, dusty track was well worth it. The prairie dogs were quite confident in their natural habitat. Lots of them, each standing on his/her burrow. The bison grazing a few yards away was a bonus.

Saw Prairie Dogs, Pronghorn, and Bison here on the night of 6-30-2024. The Prairie dogs are so fun to watch run around and make all sorts of sounds to eachother. The road to get to this portion is very rough gravel, your vehicle will emerge dusty.

Awesome experience to watch wild prairie dogs in their communal setting.

FYI- This is not the spot with the store and location to buy food for the prairie dogs. It is an open field off an unpaved road with an area to park to get close up pictures of the critters.However it is a cool stop, if you have the time.Recommend to use insect repellent to avoid flea bites and don’t wear flip flops. There is a warning posted that these prairie dogs can transmit the Plague. Yes, that Plague.

Amazing. So cute. $1 bag of nuts to feed them. Nice spot to stretch our legs

We enjoyed the little Prairie dogs. We only took pictures and filmed them. Some were curious of us, probably hoping we would feed them. One of the best parts of our trip.

The prairie dogs are the cutest little things ever! So glad that we stopped here! The views are incredible, and the prairie dogs peek out of their mounds and run all over. Very fun place!

It is located about 5 mi down a gravel road. This was well worth the trip. Lots of prairie dogs very close in. In addition, we encountered longhorn sheep and a bison immediately roadside on our drive to prairie dog town. I highly recommend taking the time to visit here if you are in the Badlands national Park.

This place is halfway on the road to sage Creek campground. The prairie dogs seem not to pay pay too much attention to humans and you can take nice photos. The impressive things is that you can see their burrows all over the plateau.

Kinda funny that they call this particular spot a prairie dog town. the entire area north of the road once in the park is like one big prairie dog town. it was super windy the day we were there so we didnt spend that much time outside. it was fun to watch the animals run around between the holes in the ground.

We didn't get to visit the prairie dogs much this time... but we met lots of new friends!

The Prairie Dogs are too cute for words. You can also see Bison on this road.BUT the road is is not very well maintained.

Very cute.This spot has a lot of holes so it easy to see prairie dogs everywhere. Don't be shy to get out and walk a little. The more east you drive the less likely you will see them.Also there a good chance to see buffalo from this area and west.

They are so cute and they have their own version of barking. You have to travel on Rim Road to get here but Rim Road is well worth the trip just for the wildlife you see. You can do it in a car if it hasn't rained.

If you have only a day in the Badlands, make sure you hit this spot. We were told by a ranger that the road leading to Prairie Dog Town and Cedar Pass is a great spot to see Bison, and he was not wrong!. In this one spot we saw Bison, prairie dogs and burrowing owls.

4.7

(423)

4.5

(396)

Rim Rd, Wall, SD 57790, USA

+54 other lists

Although we never planned on going to the Wall Drug Store it was a quite little gem. We personally never even heard of this place but after seeing TONS of advertising signs on our drive to the Badlands we just had to check it out (I guess good job advertising team)! It is a fun little shopping mall that combined lots of small stores into a fun shopping experience. You basically can go from store to store without exiting the building. The place has a good variety of little unique boutique stores, souvenirs and food. After spending a few hours of shopping and exploring I think it was definitely worth the little detour!

Wall Drug Store is a nice, old fashioned western mini-mall. It’s essentially a collection of stores all themed like an old western town. The animals mounted on the wall, statues, signs, lights, and wood rustic architecture makes it feel like you got in a time machine and tracked back to the old west. There’s a large selection of tourist souvenirs, artwork, jewelry, and so much more. There’s even an old-style candy parlor, restaurant, and active pharmacy. It’s a very fun spot for tourists and I’d really recommending visiting if you’re passing through Wall.

Stopped here while on our road trip, great place to experience at least once. And OMG the cowboy boots! I couldn't leave without a pair. There are dozens of different shops inside. It's like it's own little mall inside. You can grab ice cream, sit down at the restaurant, have 5 cent coffee, etc.There are signs galore leading up to this place for pretty much hundreds of miles, so if you didn't know what it was before you came, you definitely know all about when you leave. The people here are friendly and helpful. The entire town is just beautiful.

We stayed in Wall during our trip to ND/SD and just had to see what the fuss was all about. We visited Labor Day weekend but the crowds were minimal. The backyard is perfect for kids, complete with a splash pad and a confined environment to explore. The ice cream shop had a short line and friendly service. Clean bathrooms too. If you like a kitchy place to stop and stretch your legs, it’s right off the highway and you won’t regret stopping in.

Got our free ice water and 5 cent coffee. It's interesting how the town of Wall was built around this drug store. It's very much a tourist location. Food wasn't that good but we ate there. Still a must do spot just to say you did it.

Very busy but went in the summer time so that is expected. There are many photo opportunities and it is just a fun spot in generally while road tripping. Make sure to get free ice water and a free bumper sticker. A lot to see and the food was pretty good too. I had a maple donut for breakfast and a burger at lunch and it both of them were delicious.

If your into old west it is a must see. Wall Drug takes up the entire block. There is something for everyone. The pharmacy is set up like your parents or grandparents would have been used to. The western store has most every article of clothing you need to walk out looking like buffalo Bill. They have a gift shop for all your tourist needs. The post office is conveniently located across the street for sending post cards to your family and friends. If the post office is closed the gift shop will put stamps on your post cards so you just have to drop them off in the mail box at the post office. Wall drug is like a mall for those that like the Old West.

If you’re reading this, you probably have seen enough of those random signs that say “wall drug” on the I-90. Hear me out, but they did an excellent job at marketing which is why we stopped here. We saw these signs at least one per mile for two hours. You can’t miss this place, since the signs will start to get more aggressive as you approach the town of Wall.This is a wonderland of road stops. You can easily spend over 3 hours with your road trip friends or family here. It’s filled with original merchandise, shops, paintings, etc. They are known for their free ice water (yes if you bring a whole bucket I heard they will fill it) as well as their 5-cent coffee. Lots of places to take pictures, it’s like a mini village but a lot more fun. Lots of parking, lots of food, and lots of fun. I can’t forget to mention that their doughnuts and burgers are fabulous. Breakfast is very classic but I loved it. Don’t forget to pick up your free bumper sticker from the Wall Drug gift shop!

You absolutely cannot miss this place with all the signs while traveling to the Badlands. This is a very tourist area that can get crowded as well as the parking that can be difficult. It was a fun spot to stop at and to walk around. You can easily loose time while walking around this area and in and out of the stores. Overall it was a great fun stop and experience.

If you are driving in the area, you cannot miss this place! Huge store with plenty of options to eat (inside or outside), shopping and have fun. The place is so surreal that you need to see it. Once you go inside, you will loose notion of time. We ate at the cafe and the food was okay. Again, it’s the experience. Get a coffee for 5 cents. There is also a chapel. Great option for families and travelers who need a break from driving.

A great place to stop for a few hours for some shopping, relaxing, and a bite to eat in the cafe.The drug store is more like a mall with multiple gift and specialty shops, a play area, a cafe, a gold panning activity area, and much more.Take a little time to explore the whole place, and then walk around the little downtown area.There is plenty of free parking along the street, or in several adjacent parking lots.

Visited Wall Drug for the 1st time a couple weeks ago. I wasn't sure what to expect when we got there but it was wild! Loved how much there was to see and all of the cool shops. Definitely a must stop if you are in SD!! I was loving all of it! March '22

If you aren’t interested in these catch-all miscellaneous stores, then you probably don’t need to visit Wall. Wall Drug is the attraction and the dozens of signs along the highway leading to it don’t lie. This spot it kid friendly. There is food, ice cream, and shopping. There is even a spot outside with water that shoots up for children to play in. The history section is cool. The cafe isn’t open late. It’s a little kitschy but a fun spot to walk through.

Such a fun place! You can’t miss it with all the signs 🤪. I’d suggest when planning your trip to take a few hours out of your travel time to go around and look at the shops. We didn’t eat lunch here, but, the food looked great. We did have homemade ice cream 🍦 and it was incredibly delicious! There are a ton of awesome things to look at and purchase! Have a blast checking this cool place out.

3.5 stars. This was a drug store many years ago. Now, it's a melting pot of things - shops to shop at, props to take pictures with, eateries, free water stations, etc. It is spectacular in the sense of how many things there are in here! The food was pretty good. Their homemade ice cream and blueberry pie were both delicious! The rest of the place was a little touristy filled with artsy shops, western wear, books, photo shops, really sorts of eclectic things! It is a must go once. The shopping inside is actually quite reasonable pricing wise. There are little statues everywhere that you can take pictures with. If it weren't for people dressed in today's attire, it would resemble a little downtown street from the 1800s. The free water/ice thing is hilarious! We tried the water. Lots of people didn't like the taste of it including my friends. I thought it wasn't too bad.This is a one time visit but should be visited. The experience is like no other. The homemade ice cream is AMAZING. The pies are really good too. We didn't try the shakes because they said they don't use the ice cream to make the shakes. Instead, they add flavoring, which was disappointing. I found myself a cute sparkly hat for $35 and friends found some pretty ceramics and incense sticks. Aim to spend a couple of hours here. It's a nice break from Badlands in the afternoon when the sun is blazing down on you.P.S. Look out for all the signs along the highway as you drive into Wall. They are funny, eye-catching and definitely unique!

Had to visit, we heard all the hype. Now we can say we went. It was not what we expected. We thought it was a large drug store that had a soda fountain counter and sold a bunch of stuff in the large store along with being a drugstore. Turns out it's a long building with a bunch of souvenir stuff. If that's your thing...there is plenty of it.We would have been disappointed if we drove all the way here just for this, but we were here to see the Badlands National Park. Which was awesome.Wall drugs was not too busy, this is a weather driven tourist stop(trap). We did buy a couple of shirts at the shop at the end on the right side. Better prices.So if you are headed to the Badlands National Park stop by Wall Drug's to say you were there.Wikipedia states its "a road attraction and tourist stop"

If you ever find yourself humming along the dusty trails of South Dakota, Wall Drug in the quaint town of Wall is an unmissable pitstop. Since opening in 1931, this legendary spot has morphed from a struggling drugstore offering free ice water to a buzzing haven attracting over two million visitors each year. With its eclectic mix of dining options, a myriad of quirky gifts, and the ever-famous free ice water, Wall Drug is more than just a place to stretch your legs—it's a delightful blend of history and kitsch that guarantees to perk up even the weariest of travelers. Whether it's to savor a home-style meal or to soak in the vintage charm, stopping at Wall Drug is like stepping into a living postcard, one that promises a refreshing dash of fun in what was once dubbed “the geographical center of nowhere.”

A must stop and see! Traveling across the country, I was told about this place we should stop. Wasn't originally in the plan, but we said, why not?! I'm so glad we did! I looked up and read about how it all got started and the story is one of hope, perseverance and creativity so I couldn't wait to see! The place is now huge. Filled with more than the eye can handle for the small 2 hours we were there. Kids climbed the jackalope for a picture, food was delicious, home made ice cream was a nice treat. Home made fudge for the road. Too many toys and souvenir stores. Kids had a blast. And now we can say we have been to the world renowned Wall Drug.

Quite the experience! Free ice water and 5 cent coffee, many unique things to view, and hours of potential wandering. Warning: some in your group may want to buy at least one thing in every shop...and there are many shops. Be aware that, in the off-season, most food services and certain shops shut down at 5. While I would not go out of the way to visit, it is worth stopping after trekking through Badlands or while passing through.

Tons of souvenirs. Pretty large store that has a small shopping mall feel to it. I recommend picking up one of their maps. It helped me a lot. There's a lot to see. Prices are kinda steep. I picked up 1/4 of fudge from the fudge shop for a good price of like $5. Salted caramel dark chocolate, and it was delicious and well packaged. I bought a donut which was good but dry (cake donut so understandable). There's a restaurant but I didn't like the prices. Tourist prices for sure. Of course, you have to get the free ice water. You can't walk around with it, though, as the stores say no food or drink allowed. I didn't buy anything else from here. There's other stores surrounding it to go check out. I ended up getting a shirt at one of those shops as it was much cheaper than in Wall Drug store. Everything in the backyard and the shops behind the backyard that are still part of wall drug were closed for the season. It was disappointing, as apparently the biggest bathroom is back there and I wanted to check it out.

This is a major tourist stopping point make sure you stop in. You will not be disappointed. I’m sure there’s plenty of reviews on Google. I’m just adding one more. It’s worth a stop. Good food good people good town.

The little town of Wall South Dakota is a great stop. While drug has plenty of connected stores with a lot of interesting things you can find. Crystal's, sundries, a little apothecary, a little water the playground in the back for the kids.. and really so much more. It's a great place to stop along the way and there are some nice little hotels and motels to stay at that were great. We stayed at America's Best Value Inn and it was a really nice room I highly suggest it.

Had to experience Wall Drug, as recommended by our neighbor who has been to South Dakota before. Many vendors/shops, but a little confusing with all the additions, passing through one shop to get to another, and the many doors to enter the long front hallway. Had to pay each store/vendor individually. Historical photos throughout.A separate building with historical displays. The courtyard in between has a kid friendly western display that can be touched and climbed on.Also, the famous free "ice" water was not cold in the courtyard, but the Cafe offers free self-serve ice water from the soda machine.The 5 cent coffee is self pay at the dining areas, or you can add it to your order, like we did. Need to read the history of the free ice water to understand the significance. We read the story on the menu.Cafeteria style, but you had to go to the back of the room, behind the central kitchen, to place and pay for your order. Confusing. A Bison hotdog was $10, but was more like a bratwurst. With fries, it was over $14.They are located only a few miles from the Badlands, so it is a good place to stop before you go on your way. Reserve a couple of hours. There is even a chapel for those needing quiet time. The origins of the chapel are also listed in the history.

It is a huge mall-like country store with a lot of different shops that sell clothes, jewely, books, art and handcrafted items, etc. and includes a drug store and a cafe. They provide a free donut and coffee to veterans that visit, which is a nice touch. They even have a beautiful chapel that visitors can spend some quiet time in. It is clean and well kept and well worth a visit!

On our road trip, we have been encountering billboards advertising "Wall Drug". The closer we got to this destination, the more mystical it became as we were infatuated with the suspense. Once we finally arrived, it became clear that Wall Drug is essentially a themed souvenir shop. Definitely, come visit if you're on the way to Badlands or Mt Rushmore.

If you are in the region you must stop at Wall Drug. It’s a necessity. You will be amazed and maybe slightly overwhelmed. There is so much to see and do. It’s huge with lots of shops and everything is interconnected. The history and story spews through every nook and cranny. Every wall has a story and piece of the past. You will not regret and you will find something you want to but. I highly recommend.

After hearing so much about this place, we made it a point to come out here. To say this place is big is an understatement. There are so many photo opportunity spots. I loved the Traveler's Chapel, such a quiet sanctuary, if only for a few moments. For some reason, the "free ice water" makes me laugh, but we took advantage of it! We spent hours here and so did not see it all. This is a definite must-see when you are in the area.

Definitely a tourist trap, but if you're into that, you'll have a fun time. Our dogs were allowed inside, which was nice, but they were very scared of the creaky wooden floors. Luckily, it was a pretty quiet day, but I could imagine this being overwhelming for sensitive dogs on a crowded day

Nice stop with ev chargers nearby. Their marketing on the highway was impressive. 5 cents coffee is legit. Food was decent. Cool little stop

Insane tourist trap with anything you could ever want. Donuts are incredible and you gotta try them. Certainly a fun place to check out. Ice cream claims homemade but it’s not great and the cones are stale. Really really nice staff everywhere.

Always a fun, eclectic place to stop. There's just so much to see. I took the family there about 20 years ago and it's pretty much just how I remember it! I love the jam-packed walls and spaces. It's fun for kids to see what they can find, and fun for adults for all the historic items. If you're in South Dakota, there's no way you'll miss the signs. Just do it!There's also a bank of Tesla chargers a block away so a great way to spend that time.

It was fun to stop in as this has been a roadside attraction I have always wanted to visit. Although we got there about 2 hours before closing it was well worth it. We got to grab dinner (Buffalo Burger, Burgers, and fries) where for an extra buck 50 you get a souvenir cup! Cool stores, great art work, beautiful building.

I have been traveling down interstate 90 for close to 3 decades and always wanted to stop in to wall drug well today I finally got my chance and it was well worth the stop, as soon as I entered I was greeted by Benjamin who was someone just about every company’s wishes for when it comes to first contacts with customers very friendly and welcoming, the store itself was well laid out and easy to move around, the bathrooms were spotless and well kept up, will I go back absolutely

A tourist trap if there ever was one!We stopped in after seeing signs for MILES away. Hard not too, just like "The Thing".A lot of knick knacks and clutter. I'm sure kids would like the hundreds of toys or souvenirs. Things that'd probably end up in a land fill.They have several "attractions", like an animatronic T-Rex, and panning for gold.They did have an original Zoltar fortune machine, which I liked.Best go when they open to beast the crowd.We arrived in the evening and wanted dinner but unfortunately the restaurant closed at 530p.

Fun place to visit! There is 5 cent coffee and free ice water. Lots of shops to browse through and some cool photo opportunities. The restaurant was reasonably priced and the gift shops had decent prices $6 for a shot glass and $10 for a t-shirt.

This is, to say the least, a very unique store. A must stop in South Dakota. The pancakes and sausage are very good, although pricy. The 5 cent coffee is a buy. The whole experience was hokey Americana. It is an eclectic collection of small departments to make a huge store. Four hours is enough to see everything.

They put a million signs along the highway. How can you miss that? It's overrated. Crowded with gift shops selling souvenir which can also be bought at anywhere else. Better spend time on national parks.

Still the same as when I was a kid. Such nostalgia! Great lil place to shop, relax, and take a step back in time. Reasonable prices are a bonus too 😁

Quite the place! Lots of things to see. Yes it’s a tourist trap but that’s the point!! Food is a bit overpriced for what you get and the 5¢ coffee tastes like 5¢ coffee but fun nonetheless!

Interesting place!! It is like a big traditional shopping center that sells souvenirs, gift items, art pieces among others. It is a nice stop during a long drive on highway 90 and if you don’t find anything to buy at least get the 50 cent coffee that will keep you awake for the next hours of the car ride. Plenty of parking.

Fun for the entire family. There's shopping for souvenirs, toys, clothes, pharmacy, food, and jewelry. You must stop for a donut and coffee. I enjoyed my maple donut. There is a play area for the kids: shooting games, mineral mining, and more activities. It's worth making your way through the whole store in the back is a candy kitchen with fudge across for the art gallery that has western and native American art.

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3.5

(4281)

510 Main St, Wall, SD 57790, USA

8 lists

Visitor center building is closed for renovations. Only a small room outside is open. Staff are nice, hence 2 stars. The fact that the visitor center is closed should be noted on the google location.

Went in on Smokey Bear's birthday and we were offered free cake to celebrate!The ranger on duty was very knowledgeable and a lot of fun to have a conversation with. We ended up staying for nearly a half hour just talking!

National park is beautiful with natural diversity.

Really cool visitor center for info about all of America's National Grasslands. Head into here for info on black-footed ferrets, two passport stamps, questions about geology and ecology, or just to have a chat with the rangers.

Girls were quite knowledgeable and very friendly. Had a wonderful discussion about Willa and the genetics involved in trying to save the species. Register was down, but we did a work around with cash and everything was fine. Thank you. Fantastic selection of items.

Make sure to stop here if you're in Wall. The staff is great. You can ask get the junior ranger grasslands badge here.

Great informative national park run exhibits. Not a huge place,but a lot more things to look at than you would expect in a grassland. There is also a 25min video,gift shop, and jr. ranger program for the kids.

Some interesting things, definitely worth a browse while you're at wall drug

Helpful staff. Great educational and informative video. We got info and PDF map and went deep into some of the grassland property that's open to public use and found some cool rocks and awesome evening views.

The door was locked -no sign except for “We’re open! Come in in!”The Ranger Station next door confirmed its closure but did not say for what duration. Whatever. One more reason to skip Wall altogether.

The Park Rangers were very knowledgeable about rock hounding and wildlife in the area. They made suggestions as well as they had some items they found in the area they showed us. This helps you know what you can expect to find in those places/what to look for. We appreciated their time and info.!!

If you are planning on stopping at Wall Drug then you should also stop here especially if you have kids.They have a junior ranger program and it's super cute. The kids fill out a questionnaire about the grasslands (they find all the answers in the gallery area) and then they are given a badge and "sworn in"It's great and educational!

Ranger Madison was incredibly informative about the region and helpful with recommendations. Go visit her and the displays at the center. You’ll leave much more intelligent than before. Thank you, Ranger Madison.

Informative small museum. The staff was very nice and friendly.

We stopped by to find that the full visitor center is undergoing renovations but they are operating out of a small trailer in the mean time. rangers inside were super knowledgeable and they had some pretty sweet smokey the bear merch that we purchased.

The main building is under renovation, so it is currently located in a small trailer on site. The kids still enjoyed the small room of pictures and furs to touch. Nice staff and gift shop area. We had a picnic outside by the flowers.

4.5

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4.5

(233)

708 Main St, Wall, SD 57790, USA

+4 other lists

THEY ARE CLOSED ALL OF 2023. They will reopen in the Black Hills area in 2024. This according to their phone recording. Website says nothing.

This is a small museum that is sad but very educational. While sad, I thought it was worthwhile.

It is a must to see if you are in Wall. We can not believe that our army slaughtered these people like they did. Also if you go to Wounded Knee you will see that the people their are living in poverty. It's a shame.

Offensive on many levels. When you walk in, you're charged 6 dollars for admission. Then you're given a fake white feather, with the tip painted black.*offensiveAs you then walk around the museum, decorations are made of western print towels, sectioned up wool blanket, more fake plastic feathers and rugs.Some of the historic information is useful, and some of it is odd.There is a movie room where you can watch an informations movie, but there is no display of what the name of the movie is. This room is decorated with rugs on the wall.As you get done and ready to leave, there is then a display of "prayer ties", which you can scribble what ever you want on to ribbon of precut material, and tie it on the chicken wire they have. Its noted that these will later be taken to the monument. ***OffensiveI will give props for the accurate historical facts provided, including the listing of those murdered at Wounded Knee.

A must see! Wonderful rangers and a small museum. Our dog Ace was awarded a junior ranger badge! So much history here.

As of October 8, 2017, it has moved from temporary location, back to original sight on 10th street. Sign says CLOSED FOR THE SEASON. They shold update info on Google & add info to their website. Sorry we missed seeing it as it was something we really wanted to do.

We checked online for the hours so stopped as we were really interested. Sign said Closed for the Season! June 10th? What season?

A very well organized museum with powerful and informative displays. I highly recommend stopping by this special place, you won't regret it or forget it!

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4.0

(159)

600 Main St, Wall, SD 57790, USA