Visiting Rapid City, SD in the Winter

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Last Updated on November 29, 2024 by Bonnie

As one of the biggest cities in South Dakota, if you’re looking to visit The Mount Rushmore State, Rapid City is a great place to start. We first visited this area, called the Black Hills, in 2012. We wanted to return almost immediately. This somewhat spontaneous visit to Rapid City in the winter turned out to be the perfect vacation!

Our original plan for this winter road trip was to visit the national park sites of Southern New Mexico. Unfortunately, the government shutdown in December 2018 forced us to alter our plans. After much consideration (and hotel price comparisons), we decided to chase the snow and finally return to the Black Hills.

Since then, we’ve returned to the Black Hills two more times. Honestly, there are very few places we return to at all. So, for us to have visited this area four times indicates just how special it is!

Snow in the Black Hills

So, why exactly did we choose Rapid City in the winter? First, we know from previous visits (both together and separately) that this area has some unparalleled natural beauty. Second, we found a really inexpensive Hilton Garden Inn. Third, the nearby Custer State Park is widely known as one of the best state parks in the country. And, finally, Rapid City has plenty of culture, dining and shopping opportunities.

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Winter Weather in Rapid City

If you’re visiting Rapid City in the winter, like we did, you certainly need to be prepared for the cold, though milder temperatures do often mix in. The average highs this time of year are in the 30s, with lows in the teens. Rapid City does get some snow, but it doesn’t usually stick around all season.

Rapid City in the winter
Snow on the sidewalk in Rapid City.

For us, though, it was the snow that we were looking for! We actually had to avoid a snow/rain storm on our way to Rapid City. Thankfully, we were able to navigate around most of the bad weather and arrived in Rapid City with enough snow to cover the ground, but not be a major problem.

Unexpectedly, another snowstorm (a blizzard, actually) moved through a couple of days after we arrived. This storm brought quite a bit of snow to the Black Hills and moderate snow to Rapid City. It also brought with it some serious wind and very cold (single-digit) temperatures! 

South Dakota DOT at work
A South Dakota DOT plow. We were very impressed with how well they kept up with plowing in South Dakota.

Thankfully, South Dakota Department of Transportation does a great job of treating their roads and we were able to get into town once the snow ended. The extremely low temperatures did keep us inside during the day on New Year’s Eve, though.

For a summer visit to the Black Hills, expect much warmer temperatures. Highs in the 70s and 80s are normal, but temperatures can climb up to the 90s or 100s at times.

Things to Do in Rapid City

Rapid City is a large city with all of the amenities you would expect in any city. You’ll find plenty of opportunities for shopping and dining, along with museums and other things to do. In the summer, tourists flock to Rapid City and the Black Hills. The winter is decidedly quieter.

Downtown Rapid City, SD
This statue in downtown Rapid City is called “Tying on the Eagle Plume.”

Unfortunately, fewer tourists in the winter also means many attractions are closed or have limited hours. We still found plenty to keep us occupied though.

Tour the City of Presidents in Downtown

In downtown Rapid City, you’ll find life-size statues of past US presidents. Indeed, as of July 2020, only President Trump is not included. (The city decided not to add new Presidents until they are out of office or no longer politically active.) The bronze statues are scattered throughout the main downtown area and are free to view.

City of Presidents in Rapid City, SD
Rapid City has statures of the presidents along the streets… we just had to find Teddy Roosevelt.

According to the Rapid City tourism website, “each of the sculptures is privately funded and the pattern of placement was chosen to maintain a coherent structure and eliminate any sense of favoritism or political gain.” As such, if you’re searching for a particular president, you’ll likely want to refer to the interactive guide or audio tour.

The online guide will also provide details on each president and why the sculpture is presented in the manner it is. Even if you’re not a history or presidential buff, you can enjoy finding the various presidents and checking out the sculptures.

Main Street in Rapid City
Main Street in Rapid City

Of course, you’ll be wandering around outside to view the statues so if you’re visiting Rapid City in the winter, be sure to dress warm! If you prefer to stay inside when it’s cold (or when it’s hot), consider one of Rapid City’s many indoor attractions.

Wander Through Art Alley

Just off Main Street, between 6th and 7th Streets you’ll find a small alley known as Art Alley. The color and creativity cover just about everything, from the walls to the dumpsters. It won’t take you long to walk through this small area, but you’ll surely be impressed.

Art Alley in Rapid City
Art Alley in Rapid City

The Dahl Arts Center

Located in downtown Rapid City, The Dahl is Rapid City’s art center for contemporary visual arts, art education and performing arts. Here you’ll find several art galleries, an interactive children’s gallery and the Cyclorama Mural of American History.

We are not typically huge art gallery fans, but with limited things to do in the winter, we decided to check it out. And, since admission is free, we figured we had nothing to lose.

The Dahl Arts Center in Rapid City
The Dahl Arts Center in Rapid City

During our visit, there were four different exhibits on display. Our favorite exhibit was “Painting the West” by Aaron and Jenny Wuerker, a husband and wife team. We especially liked how they captured the essence of the modern rural West and man’s interaction with the landscape.

We also enjoyed a collection by the Two Bulls Family, an Oglala Lakota family of artists and musicians from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, which is southeast of Rapid City. This exhibit featured the work of 21 different family members and covered a wide range of mediums. Pieces included paintings, graphic design, sculpture, leatherwork, mixed-media and much more. The diversity of the work here was truly impressive.

Exhibit at Dahl Arts Center in Rapid City, SD
An exhibit at the Dahl Arts Center in Rapid City.

The Cyclorama Mural of American History was also very impressive. The mural wraps around a large room and depicts about 200 years of US History. Included in the painting are significant events and people, such as the Civil War, the westward expansion and the invention of the telephone and automobiles. This was truly a great summary of American History and is very nicely done.

Of course, the exhibits rotate so be sure to check the website before visiting if you’re not sure if this is for you. The cyclorama, however, is permanent and certainly worth a quick visit. Even if you’re not an art enthusiast, you could probably spend 15 or 20 minutes here. Art lovers could certainly spend more time here.

The Journey Museum and Learning Center

Located just a short drive from the main downtown area, the Journey Museum provides an overview of the history of the Black Hills and the Native Americans who first settled this area. Here, you’ll get a fairly complete history of the western Great Plains through geology, paleontology and archeology. 

With exhibits including rocks and land formations, dinosaurs and other fossils, Native American life and the American pioneers, there is a little bit for everyone. Some of the most interesting exhibits covered the homesteaders who came with the westward expansion, the demise of Wild Bill Hickock and the great Rapid City flood of 1972.

The Journey Museum in Rapid City.
An exhibit on the Lakota in the Journey Museum.

We thought the adult admission price of $10 was a little high, but overall this was an interesting museum. We spent about an hour here, but have also seen many similar exhibits at other museums and national parks. If the story of the West is something you are not familiar with, you could easily spend two or three hours here.

Shopping

As you would expect in any town, there are plenty of shops in downtown Rapid City. For a traditional, yet modern, western trading post, check out Prairie Edge and Sioux Trading Post. Part souvenir shop, part art gallery and part Native American Trading Post, you’ll find just about anything you can imagine here.

Prairie Edge Trading Post in Rapid City, SD
Prairie Edge Trading Post has some great souvenirs, not to mention some fantastic Black Hills artwork.

Even if you’re not interested in buying anything, you should spend a few minutes walking through the store and checking out the goods. Be sure to wander upstairs to the art gallery and bead shop.

Other Attractions in Rapid City 

Due to limited time and winter closures, we were not able to visit all of the amazing attractions in Rapid City. Some others that looked interesting are the Museum of Geology, South Dakota Air and Space Museum, the Founding Fathers Exhibit, Dinosaur Park and Reptile Gardens. 

Ice Skating in Rapid City in the winter
Ice skating at Main Street Square

In the winter, you’ll also find ice skating at Main Street Square. We had hoped to make it onto the ice, but, sadly, the rain and blizzard took away the opportunity.

Hopefully, we’ll get to check on some of these attractions during a future visit. 

The Black Hills

The area just west and south of Rapid City is known as the Black Hills due to the dense ponderosa pines covering the mountains, which gives them a dark appearance. Here, you’ll find an abundance of outdoor attractions, including four National Park sites and one of the best state parks in the country. In the winter, the snow-covered ponderosa pines create a scenic winter wonderland.

In the summer, the Black Hills attracts millions of visitors. The visitation is MUCH less in the winter. If you’re trying to avoid the crowds, the winter is the time to visit, just be ready for the cold (and potentially snowy) weather!

Mt. Rushmore in the winter
Mount Rushmore

From Rapid City, you can easily visit Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Devils Tower National Monument, Crazy Horse Memorial, Mammoth Site, Spearfish Canyon and, of course, the Black Hills National Forest. All of these parks and attractions provide hours or even days of fun all on their own.

If it is winter recreation you’re looking for, you’ll find that around the historic town of Deadwood. Driving through here, we saw quite a few snowmobile trails and signs for skiing and snow tubing. Deadwood itself is also an interesting town that seems to stay touristy through the winter. Additionally, we did find inexpensive hotels in Deadwood during the winter.

Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park in the winter
Hiking in the snow at Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park.

Finally, the nearby town of Belle Fourche, SD is known as the geographic center of the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii). While the official center spot is on private land, you can visit the 21-foot diameter monument off 5th Avenue.

Click here to read more about exploring the Black Hills in the winter.

Badlands

East of Rapid City you’ll find a decidedly different landscape from the lush green trees of the Black Hills. This area to the east is characterized by the traditional dry and wide-open spaces of the plains. It is here, about an hour east of Rapid City that you’ll find the town of Wall and two more national park sites.

Badlands NP at Sunrise
Badlands National Park at Sunrise.

Wall is a small town with not much to offer other than the famous (or maybe infamous) Wall Drug. Badlands National Park and Minuteman Missile National Historic Site are just a short drive from Wall and are both worth a visit.

Read more about things to do while visiting Badlands NP here.

A day trip to Wall and Minuteman Missile NHS is possible from Rapid City. If you want to include Badlands NP, I would suggest staying in Wall for a night or two.

Read more about our 2018 visit to Wall and these nearby national park sites here.

Where to Eat

Rapid City has a wide range of dining options. You’ll find the usual chain restaurants including our western favorite, Taco John’s. If you’re like us, though, you’d prefer something local or at least something you can’t get at home.

Firehouse Brewing Company

Located right in the heart of Downtown Rapid City, Firehouse Brewing was South Dakota’s first brewpub and is housed in the original firehouse, built in 1915. The brewery opened in 1991 and is now a favorite among locals and tourists. If you’re looking for someplace local, this is our first suggestion.

Firehouse Brewing Company in Rapid City, SD
Bonnie enjoying a beer at Firehouse Brewing Company in Rapid City.

You’ll typically find 10 local brews on tap and a large food menu. Grant enjoyed the Krampus Ale, a winter warmer habanero porter and I had the Jefferson Plug Nickel, a pale ale. Both beers were tasty and enjoyable. For lunch, I had the gorgonzola ale soup. The gorgonzola provided a nice twist on a traditional beer cheese soup. Grant had the Backdraft, which had some tasty smoked sausage.

For non-beer drinkers, you will find a root beer on tap. Firehouse also has their own winery, Firehouse Wine Cellars. There is a tasting room right next door to the brewery and restaurant. Sadly, we did not get a chance to stop in to try the wine. Guess we’ll just have to come back!

Sickie’s Garage Burgers and Brews

Sickie’s was recommended to us by the hotel staff. It is a relatively small chain restaurant with just a few locations around the country. Since it was new to us and something we couldn’t get at home, we decided to give it a try.

Here you’ll find an extensive burger menu with many unique topping combinations. There is even a Glazed Doughnut Burger that uses a glazed doughnut bun! We weren’t quite that adventurous, but did try to step a little outside of “normal.”

Burger and sweet potato fries at Sickie's Garage Burgers and Brews.
Burger and sweet potato fries at Sickie’s Garage Burgers and Brews.

I enjoyed the Beer Cheese burger with beer cheese dip, bacon bits, croutons and green onions. Grant had the Nodak Burger, which is topped with fried jalapeños, BBQ sauce and gouda cheese. Both burgers were tasty and a nice twist on the usual options. Even if you’re used to trying new and interesting burgers, you’ll likely still find something different here.

Other Restaurants and Bars in the Black Hills

The one other local restaurant we visited in Downtown Rapid City is, sadly, now closed. But, there are tons of great places to eat and drink in the greater Black Hills area.

In Custer, we highly recommend Black Hills Burger & Pizza Co. Seriously, their Black Hills Blues burger just might be the best burger I’ve ever had.

For the adventurous eater, the dining room at the State Game Lodge in Custer State Park offers a nice variety of game meat. The menu varies from year to year but you’re sure to find something new and interesting such as Elk Ravioli or Rabbit & Rattlesnake sausage. Of course, they also have traditional fare such as beef (or bison) burgers, fish and pasta.

In Hill City, the Alpine Inn offers a unique European dining experience. The extremely limited dinner menu consists of just two options: a bacon-wrapped Filet Mignon or a vegetarian dumplings and Swiss Cheese. I can’t say it’s the best meal I’ve ever had, but it was memorable and unique.

Finally, there are a slew of breweries, wineries and distilleries in the area. Check out our full article on some of the amazing bars and restaurants in the Black Hills for more suggestions.

Where to Stay

There are tons of hotel options in Rapid City. You’ll find all the standard chain hotels along with a few local hotels.

Hilton Garden Inn

I’m going to be honest, here… one of the main reasons we chose to visit Rapid City is because we were able to get a room at the Hilton Garden Inn for only 17,000 Hilton Honors points each night. Additionally, a standard room was available for less than $75/night. 

You might think at these prices that there would be something wrong with the hotel. Not at all. (Mind you, this was in 2018 so prices have gone up a bit. Still, a quick search shows that both point and cash prices are still lower than in many other cities that time of year.)

This was a great Hilton Garden Inn and we would certainly recommend it, regardless of the price. The hotel is located about 10 minutes outside of downtown, but that didn’t bother us at all. In fact, we enjoyed the proximity to the Interstate.

Hilton Garden Inn Rapid City, SD
Grant scraping the ice and snow off the truck.

As is standard for Hilton Garden Inn, there is a restaurant on site. Additional dining and shopping are available within a 5-minute drive.

The staff was helpful with restaurant suggestions, tips on road conditions and anything else that we needed. They even upgraded us to a junior suite (having Hilton Honors Gold status helps for that) and kept us in the same room when we added an extra day to our stay. We can’t say enough good stuff about the staff at this hotel.

Book the Hotel | Read TripAdvisor Reviews

Hotel Alex Johnson

If you prefer a hotel in downtown, look no further than the Hotel Alex Johnson, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton. The building dates back to the 1920s, offering a historic setting for your visit. 

Hotel Alex Johnson in Rapid City,SD
An old railroad hotel, the Hotel Alex Johnson dominates downtown Rapid City.

We did not stay here, but we have always had good experiences at Hilton properties so we have no problem recommending it. 

Book the Hotel | Read TripAdvisor Reviews

Final Thoughts on Rapid City

Grant and I had both visited the Black Hills with family/friends before we met each other. Our summer visit back in 2012 opened our eyes to the beauty of the Black Hills. This winter visit of 2018-19 really solidified our true love for the area.

In fact, we returned again in September 2019 for the Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup and for three weeks in the Summer of 2020. Even after several visits, a three-week visit was not long enough for us to do everything we wanted to in the summer. And the Buffalo Roundup is truly one of the coolest things we’ve ever done.

Check out our full guide to visiting the Black Hills.

The wranglers in the Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup driving the herd of bison toward the corral.
The wranglers in the Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup driving the herd of bison toward the corral.

Whether you are looking for the outdoor recreation of the Black Hills or the amenities and culture of the city, Rapid City is a great destination any time of year. The tourists flock to Rapid City and the Black Hills in the summer. Rapid City in the winter, though, is a quiet treat of culture and beauty.

Regardless of when you are traveling, if you haven’t been to Rapid City, it’s worth a visit.


Travel Resources
What do you use to find a flight?

We use Skyscanner to find deals on flights. Skyscanner has a great interface and compares tons of airlines for the best pricing and routing. That said, it does not always have every airline and some airlines will have better deals on their website. Still, Skyscanner is a great place to start.
Click here to search for a flight.

What do you use to find a hotel?

We typically stay at Hilton properties, so we use the Hilton website. You can find good Hilton Honors discounts or AAA discounts for a hotel there. We make great use of our free night certificates from our Hilton Honors American Express.
Click here to book a Hilton property.

If there are no Hilton properties available, we use TripAdvisor to read reviews and book the hotel. We find we can get the best price that way.
Click here to search for a hotel.

We recently partnered with Stay22 to add interactive maps to each of our destination posts. This will allow you to see a plethora of hotels and vacation rentals all in one responsive map of the area.
Click here to search an interactive map.

What if I need more space than I can get at a hotel?

We use Vrbo for the times when we have rented a cabin for a weekend getaway, like this cabin in Townsend, TN, or needed to rent a house for a large family vacation. We had a great experience with them in terms of refunding deposits when COVID hit and will continue to use them.
Click here to search for a vacation rental.

Who do you use for rental cars?

As a general rule, we book with Hertz for rental cars. We have had nothing but good experiences with them. Plus, we really like unlimited mileage and not worrying about crossing state lines. We have even rented from Hertz overseas in both Slovenia and Croatia.
Click here to book a rental car.

How about booking a cruise?

We have found some amazing prices for booking a cruise through Cruise Direct. We have saved a lot of money on our cruises compared to what we found elsewhere, making a last-minute Bahamas cruise even cheaper.
Click here to book a cruise.

What if I want to rent an RV?

We highly recommend Outdoorsy for RV rentals. We rented a camper van for a week to visit Rocky Mountain National Park for the elk rut and Custer State Park for the Buffalo Round-Up and had a blast. The program was easy to use and we really enjoyed the freedom of having a camper van for that trip.
Click here to rent an RV.

What do you use for booking tours?

We don’t often book tours. Typically, we like to do stuff on our own. That said, there are some experiences you can’t have any other way. So, when we do want to book a tour, we always check Viator first.
Click here to book a tour.

Do you use anything to get discounts on the road?

We make extensive use of both Good Sam and AAA on the road. Good Sam is normally regarded as a discount card for RVers at campgrounds and Camping World but anyone can use the 5 cents off a gallon at the pump at both Pilot and Flying J.
Click here to get a Good Sam membership.
We have had AAA as long as we have been married and it has more than paid for itself in discounts at hotels, aside from the peace of mind of having roadside assistance. Add in paper maps and the ability to get an international driver’s license and it is more than worth it for any traveler out there.
Click here to get a AAA membership.

Where can I get Travel Insurance?

We have partnered with Global Rescue for travel and evacuation insurance. This provider will put you out of the worst situations and get you to medical care promptly. You can even purchase “cancel for any reason” insurance from Global Rescue. This is our go-to provider of travel insurance. Traveling somewhere dangerous? They will even extract you if war were to break out on your trip.
Click here to get Global Rescue for your upcoming trip.

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