How to Spend 5 Days in South Dakota's Black Hills

From the iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial to the rugged beauty of Badlands National Park, you'll experience some of western South Dakota’s most stunning sights. Step into the past in Historic Deadwood, where Wild West legends come to life, then explore the wildlife and scenic drives of Custer State Park. Whether you’re hiking, sightseeing or simply soaking in the views, this itinerary showcases the unforgettable beauty and spirit of the Black Hills.

Arrive in Rapid City, the City of Presidents, named for its life-size bronze sculptures of U.S. presidents displayed throughout downtown. With all the destinations in this itinerary within an hour’s drive, Rapid City is the perfect base camp for your adventure.

Travel Tip: If you're flying into South Dakota, Rapid City Regional Airport offers a convenient gateway to the Black Hills.

• Black Hills Reptile Gardens houses one of the largest reptile collections in the world, including some of the planet’s deadliest snakes!
• Mt. Rushmore Black Hills Gold Factory welcomes visitors inside to see how their jewelry is made by skilled artisans. 
• Storybook Island is an admission-free theme park inspired by classic nursery rhymes and fairy tales.
• Chapel in the Hills replicates an 850-year-old Norwegian stave church.

Head east from Rapid City on Highway 44 for a day of adventure in Badlands National Park, where 244,000 acres of otherworldly landscapes await. Enter via Interior, a gateway to both the Badlands and Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. Afterward, stop at Wall Drug Store, the iconic roadside attraction known for its quirky charm and free ice water.

Take Interstate 90 to spend an action-packed day exploring the northern Black Hills. Exits 30 and 32 bring you to Sturgis, home of the world-famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Next up is Spearfish, a beautiful mountain town that offers year-round outdoor adventures. In Historic Deadwood, legends like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane once roamed the rough, dusty streets — now a lively, family-friendly destination. Play your cards right and you could strike your own fortune at one of the town’s many gaming casinos.

• Olde Fort Meade Museum explores the military’s role in maintaining peace on the western Dakota frontier from 1878 until 1944.
• D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery & Archives, where visitors can learn about the fish-production process and tour historic facilities.
• Adams Museum, a repository of fascinating Deadwood relics, and Historic Adams House, where one of Deadwood's leading families once lived.
• Mount Moriah Cemetery, where the likes of Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and Seth Bullock are buried.
• Black Hills Mining Museum, which preserves the mining heritage of the Black Hills.
• Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center, the former site of the deepest gold mine in the Northern Hemisphere — now home to an underground research facility. Don't leave before chipping a golf ball into the Open Cut!

A “monumental” adventure awaits on day four! Begin your day in Keystone for a majestic morning visit to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Stroll the streets of Hill City, the second-oldest town in the Black Hills, for beauty, history and a bit of culture. Continuing into the southern Black Hills will bring you to Custer, a beautiful small city surrounded by large granite outcroppings and ponderosa pine trees. 

Pro Tip: These cities are linked by the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, one of America’s most scenic drives. Follow the byway signs for the best views of iconic landmarks like the Needles formation and the wooden bridges of Iron Mountain Road.

• Black Hills Institute of Geological Research in Hill City is home to an extensive collection of invertebrate, mammal and fish fossils.
• Black Hills Aerial Adventures offers flightseeing tours over the breathtaking Black Hills and Badlands. 
• National Presidential Wax Museum features the works of world-famous wax artist Katherine Stubergh, displaying more than 100 life-sized sculptures of some of America’s most iconic figures. 
• Rush Mountain Adventure Park & Rushmore Cave is a thrill-seeker’s delight, with ziplines, mountain coasters, cave tours and interactive ride experiences.
• Enjoy an evening of entertainment at Black Hills Playhouse, a theater in Custer State Park that has been putting on summer stock performances since 1946.

The city of Hot Springs was founded as a frontier health spa to capitalize on springs of warm mineral water rising in Fall River Canyon. Explore this southernmost part of the Black Hills for some amazing finds above and below ground.