

Things to do in Rapid City
Rapid City is the base for Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse tours, Badlands National Park loops, Custer State Park wildlife drives and Black Hills cave visits.
Quick answer
What are the best things to do in Rapid City?
Outty ranks 82 bookable experiences in Rapid City, United States. The highest scoring is Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Tour with Two Meals and a Music Variety Show at 89 out of 100, followed by Bus Tour of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills, Private Tour of Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park, PREMIER PRIVATE Tour: Mt Rushmore, CrazyHorse & Custer State Park. Prices start at $10 per person and 0 experiences score 90 or above, putting them in the Outty 90+ Club. May to September, with Sturgis crowding early August.
- Ranked experiences
- 82
- In the 90+ Club
- 0
- From
- $10 per person
- Bookable today
- 82
Top tour operators in Rapid City
The companies behind the experiences, ranked by how much of Rapid City they cover.
taxiGo Limo Airport Service
1250 experiences across 304 cities
Let's Roam
373 experiences across 156 cities
Alley Kat Adventures
343 experiences across 203 cities
WalknTours
183 experiences across 134 cities
Shaka Guide Apps
105 experiences across 47 cities
GuideAlong (GyPSy Guide)
59 experiences across 46 cities
Hearo
46 experiences across 39 cities
Travel with Action
41 experiences across 22 cities
Most Popular in Rapid City
The experiences travelers book most right now.


Pinnacle Zipline Tour in Keystone

Icons of the West: Black Hills & Badlands 3-Day Tour

Snow-Capped Escapes: Black Hills in Winter
Most Highly Reviewed in Rapid City
Highest traveler sentiment with enough reviews to trust it.
Last Minute in Rapid City
Confirmed availability today or tomorrow.

Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Tour with Two Meals and a Music Variety Show

Bus Tour of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills

Private Tour of Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park

PREMIER PRIVATE Tour: Mt Rushmore, CrazyHorse & Custer State Park

Pinnacle Zipline Tour in Keystone

Mount Rushmore Extended Expedition Tour
Family Friendly in Rapid City
Works with children in tow, by age policy and pacing.

Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Tour with Two Meals and a Music Variety Show

Bus Tour of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills

Private Tour of Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park

Cosmos Mystery Area Admission

Private Tour of the Badlands with Local Experts

Private Badlands National Park Wildlife and Scenic Tour
Food & Drink in Rapid City
Food tours, tastings, markets and dinner experiences.

Exclusive: Rushmore, Custer State Park & Crazy Horse

Badlands Natl Park with Minuteman & Wall Drug - Private Limo Tour

2026 - Sept 25th - Custer Buffalo Roundup and Corrals

Full-Day Private Bike Tour of Mickelson Trail and Brewery
Culture & History in Rapid City
Museums, landmarks and stories behind the streets.

Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Tour with Two Meals and a Music Variety Show

Bus Tour of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills

Private Tour of Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park

Mount Rushmore Extended Expedition Tour

Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park Wildlife Loop Tour

Private Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park Monument Tour
Outdoors in Rapid City
Fresh air, water, trails and skyline views.

Private Tour of Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park

PREMIER PRIVATE Tour: Mt Rushmore, CrazyHorse & Custer State Park

Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park Wildlife Loop Tour

Private Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park Monument Tour

Premier Private Badlands Day Tour

Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Black Hills and Mt Rushmore
Nightlife in Rapid City
After dark: bars, shows and evening cruises.

Mt Rushmore Lighting Ceremony Shared Tour

Mt Rushmore 8pm Lighting Ceremony Shared Tour

Twilight Tour: Custer State Park & Mt Rushmore Lighting Ceremony

Badlands National Park - Sunset and Stargazing (Private)

Badlands Sunset & Wildlife: Nature's Evening Glow

Private Mount Rushmore Lighting Tour w/ Former Park Ranger
Highest rated in Rapid City
The top of the Outty Ranking across 82 local experiences
- 1Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Tour with Two Meals and a Music Variety Show9h • from $16489.4
- 2Bus Tour of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills9h • from $13387.7
- 3Private Tour of Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park8h • from $45084.7
- 4PREMIER PRIVATE Tour: Mt Rushmore, CrazyHorse & Custer State Park9h • from $47584.2
- 5Pinnacle Zipline Tour in Keystone2h • from $12583.5
- 6Mount Rushmore Extended Expedition Tour10h • from $29581.1
- 7Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park Wildlife Loop Tour8h • from $31280.9
- 8Private Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park Monument Tour8h • from $36676.2
- 9Cosmos Mystery Area Admission0.7h • from $2075.9
- 10Premier Private Badlands Day Tour8h • from $45074.5
- 11Private Tour of the Badlands with Local Experts8h • from $42572.9
- 12Mount Rushmore Memorial Shared Tour from Rapid City, South Dakota4h • from $16472.5
People also ask
What are the top 15 things to do in Rapid City?
Our ranked guide lists the 15 best experiences in Rapid City with prices, time needed and quick picks for families, rainy days and last-minute plans. Read the answer
Planning questions about Rapid City
- What are the best things to do in Rapid City?
- Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Tour with Two Meals and a Music Variety Show is the highest ranked experience in Rapid City, scoring 89 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking from 1,075 traveler reviews. Bus Tour of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills, Private Tour of Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park, PREMIER PRIVATE Tour: Mt Rushmore, CrazyHorse & Custer State Park, Pinnacle Zipline Tour in Keystone round out the top five. Outty ranks 82 bookable experiences in Rapid City, United States, and 0 of them score 90 or above.
- How much do activities in Rapid City cost?
- The median price across everything we rank in Rapid City is $366 per person, and the cheapest starting price is $10 on Mount Rushmore Ghost Tour, Keystone - Self-Guided Driving/Walking. Guided, small-group and skip-the-line versions sit above the median, and peak weekends price higher than midweek mornings.
- Can I book something in Rapid City for today?
- Yes. 82 of the top 82 experiences we rank in Rapid City currently show same-day availability. Same-day slots are limited, so book early in the day where you can.
- Is Rapid City good for families?
- Yes. 7 of the experiences we rank in Rapid City are family friendly, covering short, low-cost activities as well as full-day outings. Check the minimum age on each experience page before booking.
- How many days do you need in Rapid City?
- Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting: one anchor experience each morning, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
- When is the best time to visit Rapid City?
- May to September, with Sturgis crowding early August. Prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
- Can I cancel a booking in Rapid City?
- 52 of the 82 experiences we rank in Rapid City offer free cancellation, usually up to 24 hours before the start time. The exact window is shown on each experience page before you book.
- How does the Outty Ranking work?
- Every experience in Rapid City gets a single 0 to 100 score built from traveler sentiment, the depth of review evidence, recent booking momentum, price fairness against comparable options in the same city, operator standing and cancellation flexibility. Scores are benchmarked within Rapid City so a strong local option is not buried by global volume, and anything at 90 or above joins the Outty 90+ Club.