My husband Emil made an itinerary for my parents and me to explore South Dakota from Rapid City in about five days. My parents loved it so much they proclaimed, “Visiting you is fun!!!” We also somehow convinced them that all the food in South Dakota is “so delicious.” Haha, it’s not but if you plan your Mount Rushmore vacation with this itinerary in mind, you might think so too. I tweaked it a bit to maximize the fun times 
Emil lived in Rapid City for about six years and I lived there for a short two years, so together we made the perfect team of local expert and newcomer eyes. We are both very outdoorsy, which is heavily reflected in our activity preferences while creating this itinerary. (You probably should not be visiting South Dakota if you’re not an outdoorsy person to be 100% honest.) Also, just to be clear, Rapid City is a good central hub to book your hotel or Airbnb, because while everything is not in Rapid City, it is the largest city on the west side of South Dakota and about an hour away from all the key tourist spots.
With that, I give you the ultimate Mount Rushmore vacation:
Day 1: Arrival
Mount Rushmore
National Memorial
- Keystone, SD; parking fee ($10 for cars)
I’ve heard that flights into Rapid City at midday are uncommon, but if you do arrive midday as my parents did, that will give you just enough time to snap some photos at the main attraction: Mount Rushmore National Memorial. While it is an hour away, it’s actually a very quick stop, so afterward I recommend getting something to eat at…
- Keystone, SD $$-$$$
The Powder House Restaurant is only 12 mins away from Mount Rushmore, and they serve burgers, sandwiches, steaks, and salad for lunch. However, Powder House is open for all meals of the day, providing a great option for anyone traveling through Keystone. Plus, they’re only a 10 min drive from Prairie Berry Winery, so you could squeeze in a free wine tasting there too before you head back to Rapid City if you like.
Explore Rapid City
- Rapid City, SD; Free
On the other hand, if you arrive at some ungodly hour in the early morning like the majority of flights into Rapid City do, you’ll have time to spare after eating. I’d recommend stopping at my two favorite spots right here in Rapid City.
- Prairie Edge Trading Co. & Gallery – This is a pretty sizable store containing an expansive variety of Native American items and art. For instance, the Sioux Trading Post has herbs and animal pelts, upstairs there is a glass bead display and paintings by local artists, and hidden in the back there is a rare books library. Not a lot of things that you would actually want to buy, but very comparable to a museum that will get you excited to see more on your Mount Rushmore vacation.
- Chapel in the Hills – A fully functioning church replicated from Norwegian blueprints, Chapel in the Hills is a beautiful little hidden gem that you can tour right in the middle of Rapid City. They do close in the winter, so please keep that in mind.
Day 2: Badlands National Park
- Rapid City, SD $
Start the day early with breakfast at the best coffee shop in town. They’re open at 6:30 am during the week and 7 am on the weekends, allowing for plenty of time to explore the rest of the day. And get this: the menu is Perfection. If you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself completely torn between three different things.
- Interior, SD; entry fee
Plan to spend several hours here. While the loop itself should only take about an hour to drive, you’ll want to stop at all the turnouts to take in all the spires, canyons, grasslands, and rock formations. You’ll feel like you’re on another planet, and if you’re lucky you might see some bison and bighorn sheep. I recommend hiking Notch Trail and/or Door Trail while there. They are both well-known trails in the Badlands that will heighten the experience.
There is no food in or around the Badlands and it is about an hour drive back to Rapid City, not counting the 45 mins – 1 hour it takes to get back out of the park (~2 hours total). Wall Drug is on the way, but I have not been there myself so I cannot confidently recommend it. Besides bars, there are not a lot of restaurants open past 9 pm in Rapid City. I highly recommend bringing lots of snacks, then planning accordingly if you want to eat somewhere nice. You can also order sandwiches for takeout during your breakfast at Essence of Coffee. Otherwise, there are some fast-food restaurants open a little later, but still not a lot.
Day 3: Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway
- Rapid City; SD $
This restaurant is one of the only restaurants in Rapid City that Emil and I consider comparable to restaurants in big cities. You definitely must include it in your Mount Rushmore Vacation. They’re really creating something special at Tally’s, and it’s not a secret either. If you’re here for breakfast on the weekend, you will without a doubt have to wait 20-40 mins depending on the size of your party and time of day. If you’re here during the weekdays, the wait should not be much of an issue, but either way, I recommend making it a stop. The omelets and daily specials are our favorites, but the sweet potato fries they have at lunch are UNREAL. You won’t believe your tongue. No worries if you do have to wait, by the way, you can walk to two nearby spots to kill some time, which are…
- Rapid City, SD; Free
An alley full of ever-changing art. This popular spot is so easy to photograph, and an optimal backdrop for snapping selfies. Artists who receive a permit paint over everything from top to bottom, including alleyway walls, phone poles, and dumpsters. One day you’ll find a charizard mural, and the next day it will be words of activism. The appeal of Art Alley is so captivating, you really just have to go see it for yourself.
- Rapid City, SD; Free
A 2-minute walk from Tally’s, Bonzeye Studio is a cute little store featuring stickers, prints, and a few tees of South Dakota attractions. The store owner designs them herself, and they are so much more nicer than anything you can find at other souvenir shops. Plus, you’ll be supporting a local artist!
Secret: There are also a lot of really cute Black Hills Shirts created by other local artists at Plato’s Closet and Scheel’s for a reasonable price.
Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway
- Spearfish, SD; Free
So. Gorgeous. That’s all I have to say about this scenic road alongside towering limestone and beautiful forestry. Drive all the way to the end, turn right before Spearfish Canyon Lodge into Roughlock Falls Rd, and head to the Roughlock Falls trail. It’s an easy 2-mile roundtrip hike that you’ll be glad you did. If you want to kick it up a notch, I’d also recommend the more moderate 2-mile roundtrip trail to Devil’s Bathtub.
- Dinner in Spearfish
I actually have not eaten anywhere in Spearfish, but a quick glance at Yelp makes me want to try Barbacoa’s. Otherwise, Killian’s, and Redwater Kitchen look like good options.
Day 4: Custer State Park
- Rapid City, SD $$
There is a lot to do in Custer, so I recommend having a fast breakfast that’ll have you out the door asap (but still fully fueled) for more fun on your Mount Rushmore vacation! Black Hills Bagels opens at 6 am, and they’re a local favorite.
Custer State Park
- Custer, SD; entry fee
Another day, another fun-filled park. Put on your safari hat and take the 1-2 hour drive through the Wildlife Loop searching for bison, pronghorns, burros, wild turkey, and prairie dogs. You can also take the windy Needles Highway, where you’ll find yourself driving through Needles Eye Tunnel, a narrow passage through a massive granite spire, among other tunnels (closed during winter).
If you’re feeling more active, I recommend hiking to Black Elk Peak (Previously known as Harney Peak), which is the highest Peak in South Dakota, or my favorite trail: Sunday Gulch. Both trails, however, are harder than any of the previous trails I’ve recommended and will require some planning as they may take several hours. For something easier, consider Prairie Trail, and Sylvan Lake.
- Custer, SD $$
If you can make the stop, I absolutely highly recommend getting burgers here. They are the best burgers in the United States, and that’s not just an opinion — TripAdvisor named them the Best Burger Joint in 2014. Their hours are quite limited (5 pm to 7:30 pm during the evenings), because the owner cooks every single burger himself, grinds the meat fresh everyday, and bakes the buns in-house. However, they will be the best burgers you have ever had in your life, and I know that is a big promise, but I stand by it 100%.
Day 5: Downtown Rapid City
Breakfast
If this is your last day of your Mount Rushmore vacation, it’s a good time to take it slow. Pick one of your favorite breakfast spots from any of the previous days, or have a quick bite at Harriet & Oak.
Explore
There are lots to do in Downtown Rapid City. Take this opportunity to be spontaneous and let the moment take you to your next destination.
- Hanson-Larsen Memorial Park has some easy trails that’ll give you a great view of the city. Falling Rock, on the other hand, is about a 20-minute drive out, and offers a gorgeous cliff-side view.
- A stroll downtown will bring you to a variety of shops such as Roam’n Around, Mitzi’s Books, Karma Boutique, St. Joe Antiques Mall, Silver Lining Creamery, Decades Vintage Clothing, the list goes on! Not to mention, there are presidents on every block just waiting for a selfie.
- The Dahl Arts Center is a nonprofit art gallery that features local artists and also has classes.
- Lost Cabin Beer, and Hay Camp Brewing Co. are the favorite breweries in my circle for just chilling.
- The Blind Lion Speakeasy in Murphy’s Pub and Grill. Find your way into the prohibition era.
- During the summer, food trucks are available all over Rapid City. My favorite is Eddie’s Tacos, but there is also Nosh, Everyday Jake’s, and others. You can usually find them in Founder’s Park or at Lost Cabin Beer, but check their Facebook pages for the exact location of the truck you’re looking for. Otherwise, Kathmandu Bistro makes a bomb Lamb Bhuna.
- Further out – If you’ve done all that you can do Downtown, there are more fun times awaiting in and around Rapid City.
That about wraps up my ideal itinerary for your Mount Rushmore vacation. If you have additional days in the area, you should definitely revisit your favorite spots. There are always more trails to hike and things to see. I myself have hardly scratched the surface. Keep in mind what time of year you will be visiting, as there will be plenty of tourists, but more things open in the summer months. Tourist season starts to die down in the fall months, meaning less people in your pictures, but be prepared for cooler temperatures, possibility for snow, and closures due to weather conditions.
I definitely tried to narrow this tour down to the most popular tourist spots, but there are SO many things that I didn’t get to mention (Click here for my full South Dakota Travel Guide). Feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions about other areas or attractions in South Dakota. I’m always excited to share my experiences.
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