5-day Rapid City itinerary (South Dakota)

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1
Thu, Nov 5
Rapid City area
$279
- 09:051
  Mount Rushmore National Memorial
  mountain in South Dakota featuring a sculpture of four US presidents
  until 10:35Free entry 5 min
- 11:022
  Custer State Park
  state park in South Dakota, United States
  until 12:17Free entry 27 min
  Lunch at Pizza HutPizza restaurant
- 13:473
  Wind Cave National Park
  national park in South Dakota, USA
  until 15:17Free entry 31 min
- 16:054
  Needles Eye Tunnel
  Tunnel in Custer County, South Dakota
  until 17:05Free entry 48 min
- Back near Mount Rushmore National Memorial · 16 minDirections
Sunset 5:37 PM
Dinner atBuglin' Bull(American restaurant)
Stay near Mount Rushmore National Memorial · typical ~$150Hotels on the map Booking.com Airbnb
2
Fri, Nov 6
Rapid City area
$328
- 09:091
  Black Elk Wilderness
  wilderness in the Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota, United States
  until 10:09Free entry 9 min
- 10:192
  Mount Rushmore
  mountain in South Dakota featuring a sculpture of four US presidents
  until 11:49Free entry 9 min
  Lunch at Mountain Top Grille @ Rushmore Tramway AdventuresBurger restaurant
- 13:333
  Dinosaur Park
  sculpture park in Rapid City, South Dakota
  until 14:48Free entry 44 min
- 15:074
  Reptile Gardens
  zoo in South Dakota, United States
  until 18:07~$25/person · typical 19 min
- Back near Mount Rushmore National Memorial · 33 minDirections
Sunset 5:36 PM
Dinner atFt. hays Chuckwagon Supper and Show(Pancake restaurant)
Stay near Mount Rushmore National Memorial · typical ~$150Hotels on the map Booking.com Airbnb
3
Sat, Nov 7
Rapid City area
$279
- 09:531
  Jewel Cave National Monument
  cave in the Black Hills of South Dakota, USA
  until 11:08Free entry 53 min
  Lunch at The Custer BeaconAmerican restaurant
- Back near Mount Rushmore National Memorial · 53 minDirections
Sunset 5:35 PM
Dinner atThe Custer Wolf - Food & Drink(Burger restaurant)
Stay near Badlands National Park · typical ~$150Hotels on the map Booking.com Airbnb
4
Sun, Nov 8
Rapid City area
$291
Moving day: ~71 mi from near Mount Rushmore National Memorial to your new base near Badlands National Park.Directions
- 10:591
  Badlands National Park
  national park in South Dakota, United States
  until 12:29Free entry 5 min
  Lunch break: find restaurants nearby
- 14:252
  Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
  national historic Site of the United States in South Dakota
  until 15:25Free entryOpen 08:00–16:00 56 min
- Back near Badlands National Park · 56 minDirections
Sunset 5:34 PM
Stay near Badlands National Park · typical ~$150Hotels on the map Booking.com Airbnb
5
Mon, Nov 9
Rapid City area
$130
- 10:001
  Buffalo Gap National Grassland
  in southwestern South Dakota, United States
  until 11:15Free entry 60 min
  Lunch break: find restaurants nearby
- Back near Badlands National Park · 60 minDirections
Sunset 5:32 PM

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

Food you love

Lunch and dinner picks update instantly. Diets count double.

Road trip

356 mi

Driving

7 h 10 min

Behind the wheel

$57

Fuel (est.)

Driving per day

1

2

3

4

5

Day 4: moving dayMount Rushmore National Memorial → Badlands National Park · 71 mi · ~1 h 26 minDirections

Fuel at ~$3.50/gal and ~22 mpg. Fill up before rural stretches and national parks.
Electric? Find chargers on your route (U.S. DOE).

Open the whole route in Google Maps

How's this plan?

Drag, swap or remove stops; times and costs update instantly. Each day is one area, looping from where you stay. Costs are estimates, not live quotes: one room per 2 guests at typical nightly rates for your budget level, typical entry fees, gas at ~$3.50/gal, NYC transit at the $3 fare with OMNY’s $35 weekly cap, and taxi/rideshare estimates where you have no car. No flights or car rental. Hotel and ticket links show today’s real prices. Bookings open on partner sites; we never take payment.

Day 1 · Rapid City area Day 2 · Rapid City area Day 3 · Rapid City area Day 4 · Rapid City area Day 5 · Rapid City area

Road trip

356 mi

Driving

7 h 10 min

Behind the wheel

$57

Fuel (est.)

Driving per day

1

2

3

4

5

Day 4: moving dayMount Rushmore National Memorial → Badlands National Park · 71 mi · ~1 h 26 minDirections

Fuel at ~$3.50/gal and ~22 mpg. Fill up before rural stretches and national parks.
Electric? Find chargers on your route (U.S. DOE).

Open the whole route in Google Maps

Book everything

0/11 booked

2 nights near Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Nov 5 → Nov 7 · Rapid City, SD
Hotels on the map Booking.com Expedia Airbnb
2 nights near Badlands National Park
Nov 7 → Nov 9 · Rapid City, SD
Hotels on the map Booking.com Expedia Airbnb

Links open partner sites with today's real prices, prefilled for 2 travelers. We never take payment.

Get ready

Book your stays (4 nights)
Reserve a rental car (if you need one)
Share the plan with your group and vote on stops
Buy tickets: Reptile Gardens
Check the forecast and adjust rainy days
Download offline maps for your route

Where the money goes

$1,307

$654 per person · $261 per day

Stays: $600 46%
Food: $600 46%
Tickets: $50 4%
Travel: $57 4%

Cost per day

$328

D1D2D3D4D5

Split costs$654 each

Stays$600paid by
Food$600paid by
Tickets$50paid by
Travel$57paid by

Settle up

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5 days in Rapid City area

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Where the money goes