This post is a part of my Black Hills Road Trip Series 

Looking for things to do in Rapid City South Dakota? The tourism capital of the Mount Rushmore State is a great place to base yourself while you are exploring the nearby natural and historical wonders.

While Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and the Badlands are the main draw of the area, there’s still plenty to do and see around Rapid City instead of staying shut up in your hotel room after a long day of exploring.

The view from Dinosaur Park.

Here Are Three Fun Things To Do in Rapid City South Dakota

See also:

• So Now What? 7 Things To Do Near Mount Rushmore
• Spring Break: the Best Time To Visit Mount Rushmore

Rapid City Dinosaur Park

Some “love” at Dinosaur Park.

Address: 

Rapid City Dinosaur Park has been open to the public since 1936! Although the draw these days are the life-size sculptures of Little Foot and his friends, the park was actually built where real fossils were found from the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous periods!

Just riding a Stegosaurus nbd.

Real life dinosaur footprints have also been found in the area. Thinking about how these majestic beasts could have actually been walking where you are walking so long ago makes climbing on the models a lot more fun.

See also:

• Bad Puns Alert: 5 Bad Things To Do in the Badlands
• 10 Things To Do at Mount Rushmore: Ways To Make the Most of Your Visit

Berlin Wall Exhibit in Memorial Park

On the way to see the Berlin Wall Memorial.

Address: 

444 Mt. Rushmore Rd. N
Rapid City, SD
57701

My sister and I actually stumbled on the Berlin Wall Exhibit on accident. We were on a walk in Memorial Park, saw it in the distance, and ventured over. It’s very easy to find as Memorial Park runs along Rapid Creek through the heart of Downtown Rapid City. The exhibit is actually one of the largest on Berlin in North America!

See also:

• Cold War History: Visiting the Minuteman Missile Site in South Dakota
• Mount Rushmore Movie Scene: Films Made in South Dakota

A piece of the wall in South Dakota.

South Dakota Tourism prides itself on preserving freedom, hence Mount Rushmore and the Minutemen Missiles. With this in mind, information about the reunification of Germany doesn’t seem so out of place.

It’s a quick stop, as it should only take about 15 minutes to take it all in, but it’s worth it.

City of Presidents — Downtown Rapid City

Guess who? (FDR, DUH!)

Address:

Downtown Rapid City on St. Joseph Street and Main Street between 4th Street and 9th Street.

This was one of my favorite things to do in Rapid City South Dakota! There are life-size bronze statues for presidents 1-43 scattered throughout downtown Rapid City.

Since trivia is my strong suit, my sister and I made a game out of it. She’d cover the name and I’d have to guess the president based on his face and what was with him, like a tophat, legbraces, or microphone.

See also:

• Jewel Cave National Monument: Is It Worth a Visit?
• 10 Reasons to Visit Reptile Gardens South Dakota (Even if Snakes Scare You)
• Crazy Horse Memorial South Dakota: History in Construction since 1948

Bill Clinton, the president when I was born.

She was able to guess the likes of Bill Clinton and George Washington, while I even got the tougher ones, like Taft. Jeopardy here I come!

Obama and Trump haven’t been added yet, but since each sculpture is individually commissioned and crafted, I’m sure their renditions will be worth the wait.

We made sure to get a photo with each Texan president!

See also:

• 9 Reasons To Visit Mount Rushmore: A Snapshot of America
• Belle Fourche South Dakota: The Geographic Center of the United States

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Emily Kammerlohr

Emily’s all over the place. She’s an expert on working holidays, studying abroad, and turning your #GapYear into a #GapLife. Learn how here.