The Black Hills in South Dakota is truly an amazing part of the country. Not only is it beautiful but it is full of both natural wonders and fun attractions for everyone in your family! These are the top family things to do during your vacation to the Black Hills!
Plus, out of the top eight things listed below half are free! If you have a National Park pass and State Park pass that takes care of another two!
When it comes to a great place to take a trip, the Black Hills is going to be a perfect choice for everyone!
Family Fun in the Hills
In this post we are going to focus on places to go that are going to work great for families with younger children. Now, the Hills has some great wineries/breweries, intense hiking and crazy adventure parks! But those things are not exactly always good or fun with a two-year old.Â
If the idea of traveling with young children sounds daunting check out the top tips for traveling with toddlers!
When I travel I am also a big fan only doing things that I can only do there. It’s like when I go out to eat-I want to only order things that I can’t/don’t want to make at home.
These top eight things to do in the Hills are those types of unique things! There will always be the same type of tourist stops in popular locations like the Black Hills. Now, if you love yourself some mini-golf on vacations no matter what then go for it! Make your trip something that your family loves, cheesy or not!
But for the purpose of this list I dont include anything more “kitschy” and instead the best of what you will only find in the Black Hills!Â
Top Tip
Before we list the top things to do, let’s talk about my absolute top tip when taking a trip to an outdoor area like the Black Hills.Â
Always stop in at the Visitors Centers.
The Black Hills are an outdoor wonderland! The National Forest/Park Visitor Centers are going to be a wealth of information. The rangers who work them are all about helping your family love their time outside!
They will help you craft the perfect places to hike, picnic or really anything outside!
We always let them know what kind of hikes (length, difficulty level, points of interest) we are looking for and they point us exactly where we should go. Plus they have great free maps, printables for trails and even sometimes little treats for the kids!Â
I do not list hikes in the list below. The reason being that the hiking in the Hills could easily be its own whole post. This is why going to the visitors centers is my biggest tip! If you are looking to really get into the outdoor wonderland of the Hills those stops to grab trail maps may all you need to do to enjoy your trip!
Top Places to Go in the Black Hills
Mt. Rushmore
Seeing Mt. Rushmore for the first time (and every time!) is wild! Amazing what was created in the past that would seem almost impossible to pull off today!Â
They have done a really great job with the visitor center, small hikes and experience of being at Mt. Rushmore. I say that because it really is just looking at the faces in the rock otherwise! Which is still amazing! But once you drive there and pay for parking with kiddos in tow you are looking for a more immersive experience, haha!
The monument is free but you do have to pay for parking (last time I went was $10 for one car). Go early if you can! Mt. Rushmore gets pretty busy but if you are there before 9AM you get much more of it to yourself!
Expect to spend around 1-2 hours here. More if you really want to dig into the visitors center and less if it’s just to see the faces!
Dino Park
This free, quick stop in Rapid City was created back in the 1930’s so it’s been around for quite some time! There are a number of big dinosaur statues up on a hill that is overlooking Rapid City along with a gift shop.
Now, the statues are a little silly looking up close. Just to let you know not to expect something realistic! But this quick stop is so fun and young kiddos in particular love it! Take photos sitting on a dino tail and enjoy the birds-eye view of the city!
Expect this stop to take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour depending on how dino-loving your family is! Do this stop right before or after visiting the Chapel-in-the-Hills!
Custer State Park
Some people say that Custer State Park is one of the better state parks in the country. I would be hard pressed to disagree! As a state park goes, it is huge! Plan on spending one or two full days here depending on how much outdoor activities you are looking for.Â
The wildlife loop is a must! Drive to see bison, burros, elk, antelope, prairie dogs and possibly other animals roaming around the park. It’s a comfortable drive and so fun to see animals in their natural environment.
The Needles Highway is another drive you will want to hit up! Stop at some beautiful overlooks, drive through rock tunnels and see the iconic Needles formations.
Lake Sylvan. Now, I think all of the lakes in Custer are beautiful! My family rented a cabin at Lake Legion growing up a few times and I have great memories of that! But, I will say that Sylvan lake is extra incredible. The huge rock formations coming out of the water are amazing! The hike around the lake is particularly a great little hike.
Chapel in the Hills
Another free stop (though donations are accepted)! This is a great, more chill stop to make while in Rapid City. There is the Chapel, which is a beautiful replica of one from Norway, small house museum, prayer hike and small gift shop.Â
The Chapel is truly beautiful and it’s a very peaceful setting to spend some time.
If you are there during the busier summer months check for when they have evening services. You will also be very close to Dino Park so hit up both at the same time!
Reptile Gardens
Largest reptile zoo in America! Now, usually I am not a huge fan of going on a trip and doing things that are not unique to the area (since zoo’s can be similar. Though some are not!). But as the largest reptile zoo in America they certainly have the advantage of being different!Â
As an adult…reptiles are not my favorite thing. Or anything close. But going here as a kid and I loved it! If your kiddos would like touching a giant snake, alligator or all sorts of slimy/creepy things then this is the place to be.
Storybook Island
If you have young children, Storybook Island is a must! It’s free, full of child-like magic and fun for the whole family. Walk along and see children’s books come to life in a fun park setting. Check the hours of the park to make sure it’s open when you are visiting!Â
Plan to spend a few hours here as you soak in all the goodness that children’s books and magic brings. It’s also in Rapid City-so near Chapel-in-the-Hills, dino park and Canyon Lake Park.
I have really great memories of visiting Storybook Island when I was a kid and I am so excited that I can share it with my kiddos!
Badlands National Park
The Badlands is one of those areas that will take your breath away. Shockingly beautiful, different, barren and otherworldly.Â
Now, with driving you can see the Badlands from the interstate. But I highly recommend going into the park! The drive you can do with the different overlooks is breathtaking. Hiking through the badlands is so very different then just seeing them from the interstate!
One of the amazing things about the Badlands is that it has an open hike policy. Meaning, you can hike off trail. This is not something that is common! They do have trails in the park but much of it is simply open to hiking/camping as you wish. With my toddlers we did both a shorter established trail along with a free hike to a picnic spot of our choosing.
My husband and I have been to so many different national/state parks and the Badlands is one of his all time favorites. That is saying something.
Plan on spending at least a half day at Badlands. It’s very close to Wall Drug as well.
South Dakota Air and Space Museum
Another free activity at the South Dakota Air and Space Museum! Go and check out the incredible collection of aircraft located both outside and inside the museum. Learn about the different aircraft used during the different wars and times of combat.Â
If you have small or big kiddos in your family that loves airplanes then this (free!) stop will be well worth your time!
Plan on 1-2 hours here depending on how much you want to read/learn about. Conveniently located along the drive to Wall, SD and the Badlands.
Honorable Mentions
Now, there is much more that the Black Hills has to offer! So here are some of the honorable mentions that I would hate to not list. Some are simply not super toddler friendly like the Minuteman Missile Site or I think another lake (like Sylvan!) should be your first pick over Canyon Lake Park (still very nice!).
I would highly encourage you to stop at any or all of these places if you have the time while out in the Hills!
The Outdoor Campus-West is a free educational center offered by the State of South Dakota. Check to see if there is any fishing, archery or other outdoor classes you could join! They also have a really great interactive educational center that is interactive along with a hiking trail and pond.
Canyon Lake Park is a city park in Rapid City. It has a beautiful lake with fishing, nice walking trails, a bridge to a gazebo and some great playgrounds as well!
The Mickelson Trail is a 109 mile trail stretching across the Black Hills. It’s a very popular biking trail in particular along with hikers and horseback riders. It’s not a loop trail but there are companies in the area that specialize in shuttle services. I did not include this in the top list of things to do simply because a big bike trip with young kiddos in tow is something most families are not looking to do as a day trip on vacation.
The Minuteman Missile National Historic Site (near the Badlands) is incredibly fascinating. While learning more about the cold war and the nuclear missiles kept at the ready throughout the Great Plains may not be something a young child wants to learn about (haha!)I still had to mention it! The visitors center for the Minuteman Missile is engaging, informative and really well done!
While Wall Drug did not make my list of top things to do in the Hills as a family, it’s worth mentioning if you are close by! If you are in the Hills you will see so many billboards about Wall Drug that your interest will certainly be peaked. If you are close, stop by! It’s mainly tourist-like shops but an experience nevertheless!Â
Hot Springs, SD lives up to its name with Hot Springs! An area with naturally occuring hot springs that has turned into several commercial spots to enjoy the springs. You can also look up Cascade Falls if you are looking to not pay for swimming in the springs.
Enjoy the Hills!
The Black Hills are truly an amazing area that families travel back to year after year without growing tired of the area!
It’s the perfect place to keep coming back to as your family grows! While someday your family may grow out of Storybook Land they will grow right into hiking up Black Elk Peak (highest Peak east of the Rockies).
Most of all enjoy your time with the people you love in a beautiful place like the Hills!
