This was more than we expected. We came for a map and stayed for a half hour movie on the National…read moreGrasslands. So much wonderful information. We had already crossed the Oglala grassland and didn't understand the importance. If you have time see the free film.

Informative. Several maps and local guides available, potable water and bathrooms. A "patio talk"…read moretwice a day and upon request during this summer season, a film and please-touch gallery

At this overlook we had a view above the Badlands. It was a very smelly tree here and garbage…read morereceptacles. We followed the boardwalk for a view over the Badlands. that's priceless.

As I came down HWY 240 and made my way through the entrance gate to Badlands NP, I knew I was in…read morefor something amazing. Pinnacles Overlook is the first pullover spot from after the entrance station in the Northwest part of the park and is a tremendous way to start your loop. (Don't worry, if you start at the Northeast, Big Badlands Overlook is just as spectacular). I recommend taking a few extra minutes to walk down from the parking area to the viewing area if you're able to.

I definitely recommend putting this on something you go and visit in your lifetime. It is a very…read moreamazing monument from the time you walk up through the main gate you can start to see the monument and it's just amazing at the work that was put into it they have lined the pathway with the flags from all 50 states and it just kinda gives you this amazing walk up experience and that if you haven't seen you early enjoy. My family and I spent about an hour and a half there which is a great amount of time you can walk up get some great photos plenty of park Rangers around to talk to get directions and tell you a little bit more about the park They do offer videos certain times of the day that are very informative. They have a full-blown theater at the foot of the mountain, which is really amazing when people can perform and things like that which I had no idea that was there until later. And then they have this amazing easy to travel trail. You can do about 50% of it with the stroller and get close up to the monument and take a great photo but then there comes an area where it says I have almost 450 steps so we stopped right there and turned back, but it does do a loop around the whole area with spectacular views. I definitely think that this is a great place to go and visit really peaceful place well-maintained. They do have restaurants and gift shops there so if you're ever in South Dakota, go and give this place a visit

It's always fun to visit Mount Rushmore!…read more This time around I got to listen to a great presentation given by one of the staff. It was about the battle in Baltimore Maryland in 1814. He talked about the Poem "The Star Spangled Banner" that originated from the site of that battle and how it later became the national anthem. It was a very interesting and educational program that I appreciated experiencing. That paired with the usual amenities of the site really made for a fun part of the day! There is some confusing messaging about how to pay for parking that I think should be smoothed out, but I appreciate that the staff work to create a good experience even when there are uncertainties.

Very interesting and comprehensive history of the Minuteman program with interactive exhibits and…read morememorabilia from launch sites. It doesn't appear to be an actual decommissioned launch site, so don't go into this expecting to see a big hole in the ground.

This is a free attraction. The museum was really cool. The video was half an hour long, but might…read morerehash a lot of what you already read in the museum. Staff were friendly and there's bathrooms and a little gift shop too. Again, don't miss this! Great history lessons here. There is also a Delta 9 missile station about 10 minutes away that you can check out as well. You have to sign up for the tour 3 months in advance, but you can just walk around the outside otherwise.

Flood control, irrigation, and recreation. For us, this was just a beautiful and restful stop on a…read morelong driving day from Wyoming to South Dakota. Photographs don't fully capture the beauty of the area. Sept, 2024.

Such a beautiful lake. Reminds me of Emerald lake in Lake Tahoe. The first day we did the reservoir…read morewhich is an overlook with a large parking lot to take photos. The next day we went to the actual lake to swim and kayak. It's $7 to enter the parking lot for day use and free if you have the State pass. There are two boat launching area but only one swimming area. Plenty of picnic tables. If you want to rent equipment, you'll need to drive further up. Saw people fishing in this area. If you bring your own food, make sure to pack a trash bag because we did see any trash cans near us. Also wear water shoes, it's really rocky in the water. Bring floaties and everything that will make your day complete.

This is a beautiful drive and cool tunnel. We really enjoyed soaking in all of the views! The rock…read moreformations along this drive are so beautiful! The tunnel is narrow so fold your mirrors in if you have a larger vehicle! Only one car can fit at once so take your turn. This whole area is so beautiful so make sure to stop to take in the views! It can get more crowded as the day goes on, so I would recommend going early if possible. Highly recommend checking this place out!

Had spent the morning in the southern area of Custer State Park, and the afternoon was going to be…read morethe Needles Highway, followed by Mount Rushmore. It was a little bit drizzly, but the sites were still amazing as we drove the ever winding path. The tunnels were pretty crazy, one in particular being extra narrow! We were in a big SUV, but we were following a big SUV, so I figured if the car in front of us made it, we would! This is a great drive to make if you're in the Rapid City area.

The Mammoth site is a must see if you're in hot springs. It's a nice history lesson and a great…read morevisual on mammoth fossils. If you have kids it is a must see for them and a great learning opportunity for their knowledge. Stop by the mammoth site and get a historical lesson on the mammoth site and how they got there.

Do you like mammoth bones and/or paleontology? If so, this is one of the best locations in North…read moreAmerica. A Land developer, who was planning to build new homes, stumbled onto this mammal trap and donated it to the government. So far, they have discovered #67 mammoth bones among other mammals. Be prepared for at least 2 hours of history and excitement (or maybe more) via a scanned qr code audio lecture and 15 mt feature movie. However, you and your traveling companions will enjoy every minute of their experience.

Crazy Horse Memorial was honestly one of the most impressive stops of our entire South Dakota road…read moretrip. Pictures really do not prepare you for how massive this mountain carving actually is in person. The scale is unbelievable, and learning that it has been actively worked on since 1948 makes it even more fascinating. What surprised me most was how much there is to do besides just looking at the mountain. The museums, cultural exhibits, artwork, and history throughout the memorial made the experience feel much deeper and more meaningful. You can tell there is a huge focus on honoring Native American culture and preserving history, which made the visit feel educational as well as visually incredible. We also highly recommend doing the bus tour to get closer to the carving because it really helps you understand the size and detail of the project. The views from the property are beautiful, and there are so many great photo opportunities everywhere you look. If you are visiting the Black Hills or heading to Mount Rushmore, this is absolutely worth adding to your itinerary. It ended up being one of the most memorable places we visited in South Dakota, and I would definitely go back again. Check out our videos on our socials @reessroots

Rip Off! $12 a person and you can't even get to the sight unless you pay another $5 a person…read more You can see what you want to see from the road - stop and take a picture and save your time and money. In addition, it's a scam, because the carving has barely changed in 40 years. This will never be a finished product. Don't waste your money at this private site.

A temporarily placed statue of Pres. Lincoln outside the Hotel Alex Johnson, Don Perdue came up…read morewith the idea to put a life-sized statue of every U.S. President on the sidewalks of Downtown Rapid City. Each statue is privately funded, then a local artists is selected . They research the president ; learning their passions, hobbies & achievements during their presidency. Well known mannerisms or characteristics are incorporated. This information helps to decide on the pose, facial expression, clothing, and all the amazingly tiny details found on each statue. After they have their concept the sculpting work can begin. It can take up to 9 months for each statue to be created. All the statues match the height & weight of the president except one. Pres. Taft's statue was trimmed down from his actual weight to make the monument affordable. A new audio tour allows us to get to know each as people, not just presidents. We can now dial in or scan the QR code found in the brochure to read along. The audio will even point out those tiny details the artist added info we might overlook.

We were in the area for Mount Rushmore, and were looking for other historic things to do/see. The…read moreFounding Fathers exhibit is really a unique experience. Being able to walk around a display with that kind of detail is impressive. I just wish that there was a bit more included in the price. It is $12 per person (discounts for large families/groups). This price includes a light and audio show (about 20 min) of a life size replica of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. For $30 per person, you get to see the show and shoot 3 shots from a musket at the range out back. The light and audio show was a pretty standard museum type explanation of the events surrounding the Declaration of Independence and the people involved. It's well done and fun to look at. They have information around the room to look at afterwards that gives you a background of all the people mentioned. The stories on them are worth taking a few minutes to read and was probably my favorite part. We really just didnt get enough out of it to make it worth the stop, especially for the price. We were in and out of there in less than an hour. We loved the idea of being able to shoot the replica guns out back and it would have been a fun way to complete the experience, but for $30 each it just didn't make sense. I'm glad we checked it out, but its needs a bit more included to make the detour worth it.