Rapid City, S.D. in Mount Rushmore National Park

Rapid City, S.D.

Rapid City, S.D. could be called the gateway to Mount Rushmore: its regional airport is just 31 miles and 45 minutes from the memorial.

Plan Around Rapid City, S.D.

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Rapid City, S.D. Details

Rapid City, S.D. could be called the gateway to Mount Rushmore: its regional airport is just 31 miles and 45 minutes from the memorial. But don't just fly in and leave Rapid City: it really is a town worthy of staying and visiting for a few days. The downtown area is filled with fun shops to peek into, restaurants, pubs where you can grab a pint, and plenty of options when it comes to staying the night (check out the historic Alex Johnson Hotel, for example). Take a cue from its famous neighbor to the southwest, Rapid City calls itself The City of Presidents: every U.S. president stands, life-size and in bronze, on downtown street corners. (President Obama's statue will be erected when his term ends.)

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Nearby Parks Around Rapid City, S.D.

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Nearby Points of Interest Around Rapid City, S.D.

Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Rapid City, S.D. while the map context is still fresh.

6.2 mi away

Veterans Point Trail

A fully accessible trail along the shore of the Pactola Reservoir.

6.4 mi away

Pactola Recreation Area

This is the largest and deepest body of water in the Black Hills National Forest, and a prime location for fishing and other water activities.

6.7 mi away

Pactola Campground

This campground at the southern shores of Pactola Reservoir is one of the more popular campgrounds in the National Forest.

6.9 mi away

Rapid City, S.D.

A hub for vacation activity, Rapid City boasts five museums, 17 movie theaters, hotels and nearby outdoor adventure.

7.0 mi away

Osprey Trail

This loop trail climbs up to a scenic overlook spur trail, with views of Pactola Lake.