Planning a Family Trip to South Dakota and the Black Hills that’s Memorable

Most people don’t initially associate South Dakota with the “ultimate family summer vacation.” But we’re here to tell you, that South Dakota has a lot to offer.  When we first started our goal to visit all the national parks, we were a young family and had a set budget. We started with parks that we could combine with other trips or get to in a car, which led us to traverse the plains of Wyoming (great rest stops there, by the way) and head to the Black Hills in western South Dakota to cross two more parks off our list – Badlands and Wind Cave. Holy Smokes.  The Black Hills are incredible. We thought we’d share some of our favorite spots and cheap or free ways to enjoy your stay! Let me help you in planning a family trip to South Dakota that you are sure to love.

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South Dakota Black Hills Quick Links

Planning a family trip to South Dakota: Where Should I Stay?

Rapid City

We chose Rapid City because it was a great home base for all the places we wanted to visit. It was less than 2 hours from all our destinations and had grocery stores, restaurants, and parks to play in. While some of our family stayed in nearby hotels, we split an Airbnb with my in-laws.  We had room to sleep 6, a living room, a bathroom, and a kitchen. By sharing a vacation rental, we cut our costs significantly. My favorite thing about the city was the statues of presidents. It was a blast finding different ones and taking pictures – like a giant scavenger hunt in the city!

Keystone

If you want to be closer to Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, and Wind Cave, then consider Keystone. Much smaller than Rapid City, some may find it a little more charming, but also very catered to tourists. You will find plenty of opportunities to spend your money at souvenir shops, restaurants, and activities like panning for gold, completing a ropes course, or visiting the Presidential Wax Museum.

Deadwood

If you want a feel for the wild wild West, then Deadwood is your best option when visiting the region. Both Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane spent time in the town and are buried nearby. In the summer, there are a variety of shows and activities focused on its wild past.

Planning a family trip to South Dakota: What Is There to Do?

Not only is South Dakota’s Black Hills region absolutely beautiful, but it has several National Parks and Monuments worth visiting. You can easily spend several days in the area and never get bored. Consider the following destinations when you plan a trip to western South Dakota.

Mt. Rushmore

An iconic stop for any American road trip, Mt. Rushmore truly is impressive. This is a must-see destination for any visitors to the region.

Cost: No entrance fee, but parking is $10/car or $5/car for seniors. The parking pass is good for one year, and we used it again when we visited at night.

Tips: You may not want to spend all day here, but there is a trail with a lot of stairs that takes you closer to the base of the monument, a small museum, and a 14-minute video.  Our two-year-old didn’t last through the film, but it interested everyone else!  

They do a special program around sunset (at least in the summer), but check the weather. It was canceled the night we showed up because of incoming lightning, but the 30-minute drive was still worth it to see the monument lit up at night.

The most important tip: use the parking garage to boost your numbers in the license plate game. It’s a gold mine.

Mind your Money: There is a restaurant, ice cream, and snacks.  The ice cream is supposed to be Thomas Jefferson’s personal recipe (apparently he had the first ice cream recipe in the States?!), so a little taste of history may be fun but can cost you.  If you don’t want to try it, be prepared with some other enticing snacks to distract little ones.  It’s so hard to see someone else eating ice cream and not getting any yourself! We also noticed several people who skipped visiting and the cost of parking and simply pulled over on the highway not too far out from the park to snap a picture and take a quick look.  We drove 13 hours to see it, so we splurged on the $10 and spent some time there.

Custer State Park

When planning a family trip to South Dakota, Custer State Park is a must. I’m so National Parks focused, that sometimes I don’t give much thought to state parks. Custer State Park is a gem. You can spend several days here, or even just drive through with a few stops along the way. If you choose to travel the wildlife loop, bring a good audiobook and enjoy the drive.

Cost: $20/car which is good for up to 7 days.  Year passes are $36 for those who live a little closer. (If we lived within two or three hours, I’m pretty sure we’d get a year pass!).

Tips: We LOVED Sylvan Lake, driving through the Needles, and taking the wildlife loop.  After driving the wildlife loop for what felt like forever, we came across a ton of buffalo (50+).  That made the lengthy drive worth it, but just know that buffalo sightings are not guaranteed. Bring some swimming clothes and towels if you’re visiting the lake – there’s a small swimming area that’s fun for all ages.

Also, be aware of the yearly Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. It is held for 10 days starting on the first Friday in August, and can either be an added experience to your trip or something you want to avoid due to large crowds.

Mind Your Money: At $20 a car, this is a pretty good deal, and worth every penny for us.  Broken down, our family cost $5/person and we’d happily pay that again! Bring snacks or a meal.  There are places to purchase souvenirs and snacks by Lake Sylvan, so be aware and plan accordingly.  They also offer some non-motorized lake rentals, but they are PRICEY.  There may have been a small meltdown over the boats, but we were able to find plenty of free things to enjoy at the lake.  Our son’s favorite was an impromptu splash in the lake with his cousins.

Wind Cave National Park

One of the oldest national parks, and the first created to preserve a cave system, Wind Cave was established in 1903. Its unique geology includes abundant box work and other cave formations such as frostwork and cave popcorn. Wind Cave offers tours for a variety of travelers, including families, those with disabilities, and visitors looking for more adventurous exploration.

Cost: Entrance to the park is free, but you’ll want to make time for a guided cave tour.  There are several tours – we chose the Natural Entrance Tour which is $16/person for adults.  Kids 6-16 are $8, and 5 and under are FREE. Seniors and Access Pass holders are also $8. Having a National Parks Annual pass does NOT provide a discount. There are several tours to choose from depending on the season, and adult prices will range from $6 to $45 depending on the experience you decide on.

Tips: Get there early to ensure you get a spot on an early tour, or even better, reserve a spot on recreation.gov to guarantee entrance.  When we visited, we happened to arrive just in time to grab tickets for a tour that started fifteen minutes later, but I don’t think I’d leave it to chance next time.

Make sure to bring a jacket and/or long sleeves because the cave is typically 54 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. You cannot bring backpacks, food, or any type of bag. Front-carry infant carriers are permitted. Make sure everyone takes a bathroom break before your tour time.

There is a picnic location near the visitors center that would be great for an after-tour lunch break.  We opted to eat on a short hike, but with kids, it would have been simpler to eat at the picnic benches.

While Wind Cave itself is the main highlight of the park, there are several hiking paths you can take as well that are above ground.

Mind Your Money: Bring lunch and plenty of snacks.  There will be small towns with places to eat along the way, but it will cost you.  Some of our family members stopped at the Purple Pie Palace in Custer and enjoyed their slices of pie after a long morning.  Just be warned – the pieces don’t come cheap ($6), so budget accordingly. Lunch and dinner are also served.

Badlands National Park

The incredible geological formations of the Badlands are quite the contrast to the prairie life surrounding it. Make sure to not only explore these interesting natural wonders, but keep your eyes peeled for agile mountain goats, and see if you can learn a little more about its dinosaur history too!

Cost: $30/car.  Keep in mind that currently a year pass for all national parks is $80.  

Tips: I think we did Badlands backward.  We entered through the Pinnacles entrance and had a fun time, but by the end of the drive, we didn’t feel like hiking around because we were tired and hot.  Most of the group missed out on some cool, simple hikes that were worth the effort.  Our suggestion (if you’re coming from the Rapid City area), is to drive down to the entrance closest to the Ben Reifel visitor center and then drive the scenic road/main road towards the Pinnacles Entrance.  

Not too far after the visitor center, two easy hikes share a parking lot – the Window and the Door.  These are great for little kids, those who can’t do very strenuous hikes, and everyone else in between.  If just choosing one – do the Door.  There is an easy-to-follow boardwalk that ends at a bench overlooking some great views.  For the more adventurous, you can scramble some rocks with markers along the way for a closer look.  

While  Badlands wasn’t our favorite national park, we saw some great views, and awesome wildlife, and enjoyed some family time. A visit in the early fall or late spring may provide more pleasant temperatures.

Mind Your Money:  There aren’t many places that will cost you within the park – just the entrance fee and most likely a gift shop at the visitor center.  Do bring lunch, snacks, and water.  You don’t want to be stuck in the heat hungry and thirsty. If you plan on stopping off at Wall Drug after (see next site), having food already in the car will help you curb some impulse buys at tourist trap prices.

Wall Drug

You may see Wall Drug come up time and again when planning a family trip to South Dakota. Warning: Tourist Trap! But you almost can’t keep yourself from stopping after the millions of billboards you will see along the highway. Give it a chance while you stretch your legs.

Cost: Parking and entrance are free, as are many activities.

Tips:  Have a meeting spot and time for your group if you’re bigger than just your family, you can get lost in there! In the “Backyard,” there is a mini splash pad and some fun photo ops (all free).  For some reason, the kids decided that the covered wagon and fiberglass horses pulling it were the bee’s knees.  They easily spent 30 + minutes pretending to drive to Radiator Springs.  We sat back and relaxed for the first time on the trip. 

Mind Your Money:

There’s lots to look at and plenty to spend your money on. Have a budget limit and stick to it.  There is art, jewelry, attractions and games, toys, treats, you name it. Let kids know the expectation and use this as a teaching opportunity on sticking to their budget and making choices with their money. (Easier said than done, I know.)

Crazy Horse Memorial

Started in 1947, this monument meant to honor all North American Indians, is still in progress. It is the largest in-progress memorial carving with the head of the figure 27 feet taller than the heads of Mount Rushmore. Definitely, a site to behold. It also offers museums and cultural programs at certain times.

Cost: $12-$35/car (based on per-person pricing).  You can also take a bus ride to the bottom to get a closer look for $4/person (under 6 free)

Tips: Make sure to plan your activities based on geography. Open up Google Maps, plot the destinations you want to visit and figure out a route that isn’t overly ambitious. We were too tired and worn out with our kids to consider an extra stop at Crazy Horse when we went. I talk about prioritizing what’s most important in my post on building your travel itinerary found here.

Mind Your Money:  You can easily get a good view of this mighty monument from the roadside just outside the entrance gates.  However, consider purchasing entry to support this magnificent endeavor and learn more about the indigenous people of the area.

South Dakota Air and Space Museum

Located just outside the entrance to Ellsworth Air Force Base, this museum may not be the largest air museum, but it’s certainly worth the entrance fee.

Cost: Free (See?! Totally worth the cost.)

Tips:  We made a stop at the South Dakota Air and Space Museum on the last afternoon we had after Wind Cave in the morning.  However, it is east of Rapid City and on the way to or from the Badlands, and can be a nice stop if you’re visiting the national park.  There are inside and outside exhibits, so dress accordingly and check hours as they change based on the season.

Mind Your Money: There is, of course, a gift shop. If you have any flight enthusiasts, there will be plenty for them to shop for.  Let kids know the different places you are visiting on your trip so they can wisely choose where they want to spend their money.  It would be a big bummer if they chose to buy something at a gift shop earlier in the trip, not knowing they will have a chance to get something they might like more, such as a model airplane.

Downtown Rapid City

Rapid City is a fun stop, even if you don’t end up staying there. You can do a grocery run, walk around downtown, and visit a park to help kids have a sense of the familiar.

Cost: Free 

Tips: Have a map handy and know what you want to see.  Google Maps has a lot of the main sites built in and can give walking directions.  We loved spotting the presidential statues at the street corners and stumbled upon an outdoor concert.  We also found a great park that had playgrounds, a small lake, grass for soccer, and picnic tables.  It even had a piece of the Berlin Wall and commemorative plaques that can provide a great teaching moment.

Mind Your Money: DON’T START YOUR STROLL HUNGRY.  If you’re starting with dinner, choose before you leave.  Being hangry leads to bigger expenses and bigger arguments.  You don’t want either.  If you’re going to walk around and simply discover, have some food and water with you.  Sounds kind of obvious, but many an outing has led to hot tempers when one or all of us is hungry or thirsty.  And when you’re desperate, it’s a lot easier to fork over $3 for a bottle of water.

Start Planning a family trip to South Dakota Today!

We loved South Dakota, and anyone who can get a chance to go should visit the Black Hills.  There is so much to see and do that will interest all types of travelers.  Our clan consisted of toddlers, teens, grandparents, and school kids.  Everyone had a great time.  And the 13 hours in the car weren’t that bad.  (Bless you, electronics and Netflix downloads.)

Are you ready to start planning a family trip to South Dakota? Get started with defining your purpose. This will help you set the tone for everything else that follows.