The Black Hills of South Dakota offer a wide variety of fun for kids, for both the young and young at heart! Whether it is thrilling adventures on a zip line through the trees, exploring dinosaur museums, water park fun, or visiting historical sites and monuments, the Black Hills has something for every family to enjoy! This article features 15 “fun for kids” activities you can explore during your visit to Rapid City and the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Dinosaur Park
Since the 1930s, an 80-foot-long brontosaurus has straddled the city skyline on Dakota Hogback Ridge, which extends south straight into the Black Hills. Generations have come to visit our quirky long neck named Deano and six other dinosaur friends. You can spot the brontosaurus from different spots around town and get the best views of the city from the top. On a clear day, you can see the Badlands formations in the east and sweeping views of Black Elk Peak the Black Hills to the west. A sunrise or sunset visit boasts colorful views that might actually knock your socks off! This location also offers a perfect view of the city’s fireworks during Independence Day celebrations.
The Dinosaur Park Gift Shop & Visitors Center, open May through September, features unique gifts and souvenirs. You’ll find your fair share of dinosaur memorabilia, but they also carry items reflecting the region. Food items and ice cream are also available at pocket-change prices.
Visit: Dinosaur Park
Rushmore Tramway Adventures
Catch the excitement at Rushmore Tramway Adventures, the ultimate family-fun adventure park offering exhilarating experiences and unforgettable memories. De-stress with a relaxing ride on our scenic chairlift, feel the rush as you race down our alpine slide at top speed, harness up and glide along our ziplines, try some downhill tubing or visit their new Aerial Park for a crash course in rope climbing available for all skill levels.
Visit: Rushmore Tramway Adventures
Bear Country USA
Few people have had the unforgettable experience of a full-grown bear peering into their car window—and for those who have, it was probably unplanned! Seeing reindeer or elk up close in their natural habitat is just as memorable, and at Bear Country U.S.A. in the picturesque Black Hills of South Dakota, these encounters are all part of the adventure.
Spread across over 200 acres of lush pine forests and rolling meadows, just eight miles south of Rapid City, Bear Country U.S.A. offers an unparalleled opportunity to get close to wildlife. Guests can enjoy a relaxed three-mile drive through enclosures, spotting animals such as black bears, elk, reindeer, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and bison. From the comfort of their cars, visitors can watch as bears climb trees, splash in pools, and stroll across the road just feet away.
Visit: Bear Country USA
Reptile Gardens
Are you ready for an adventure that’s fun for the whole family? Reptile Gardens has one of the largest collections of reptile species and subspecies of any zoo or wild animal park in the world! Reptile Gardens is a premier South Dakota destination that houses some of the world’s deadliest snakes and has been in the Guinness Book of World Records as the World’s Largest Reptile Zoo.
Visit: Reptile Gardens
Cosmos Mystery Area
Combine a 40-minute cabin tour with their other activities for hours of family fun that will turn into a lifetime of memories. After you tour their Mystery House and dig up some treasures in our geode mine. And why not cool down with some ice cream? Then browse their huge gift shop full of souvenirs from the Cosmos Mystery Area and the Black Hills of South Dakota. Bring along a picnic lunch and enjoy it on their deck that overlooks the amazing surrounding wilderness. Purchasing tickets in advance is recommended.
Visit: Cosmos Mystery Area
WaTiki® Indoor Waterpark
WaTiki® Indoor Waterpark Resort in Rapid City, South Dakota is open every day all year round! WaTiki® Indoor Waterpark Resort is your ultimate family getaway, offering over 30,000 square feet of indoor water fun! Whether it’s splashing through Koko’s Kingdom, racing down six thrilling slides, or unwinding in the relaxing Oasis Hot Tub, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. As part of a premier resort complex, WaTiki® features multiple on-site dining options and an exciting arcade to keep the fun going. Convenient on-site changing facilities and locker rooms make your visit seamless.
Visit: WaTiki® Indoor Waterpark
Rapid City Splash Pad at The Fountains at Main Street Square
The Main Street Square fountains serve as an interactive splash patio, offering a fun way to cool off in the downtown. Surrounded by historic charm, shops, and eateries, the fountains provide a perfect setting for free water fun. Cleaned weekly, the water is treated with a UV disinfectant system as well as chlorine and is regularly tested with samples sent to the South Dakota Department of Health. The Main Street Square Fountains typically open in May and close in September/October as long as weather permits. The fountains will not run when temperatures are cooler than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. During the colder months, the fountains are transformed into an ice skating rink. Check for updates on their Facebook page.
The 1880 Steam Train
Every kid beams when the steam whistle blows on this historical train that chugs between Hill City, SD, and Keystone, SD, in summer and fall. Even if you don’t take a ride, it’s fun to watch it rumble into the depot! The 1880 Train features steam-powered rail excursions from mid-May to mid-October. Each 10-mile leg takes approximately one hour and features a narrated history of the mining districts and communities served by the original rail line. Round trip departures are available from either community depending on the train schedule.
Visit: The 1880 Steam Train
Horseback Ride at Custer State Park
Take part in the exclusive opportunity to ride in Custer State Park, as they are the only riding stables within its boundaries. Their guided horseback rides depart from Blue Bell Lodge Stables and are one of the most peaceful, scenic ways to experience the park’s trails. All ages are welcome, with Lil’ Buckaroo rides at the stables available for the youngsters. However, to go out on the trail, children must ride alone and meet minimum safety requirements. Open mid-May through the end of September.
Visit: Blue Bell Lodge Trail Rides
Buffalo Safari Jeep Tour at Custer State Park
Their buffalo safari tour will take you where only they can go: off-road to the private, interior dirt roads of the Park. Trek through the park in an open-air Jeep in search of pronghorns, elk, and the noble buffalo. Along the way, their guides will share historical and educational facts about the park and wildlife—and help you spot the critters. Don’t forget to add this unforgettable expedition to your itinerary!
Visit: Buffalo Safari Jeep Tour
Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument Cave Tours
Kids can earn Junior Ranger badges while learning about cave formations such as boxwork, flowstone and underground pools at Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument, the third-longest cave system in the world..
Drive the Custer State Park Wildlife Loop
Drive the 18-mile Custer State Park Wildlife Loop on the lookout for antelope, Rocky Mountain sheep, the park’s comical begging burros, chirping prairie dogs that duck up and down from stretches of prairie, or the herd of 1,300 bison. Don’t miss a side trip up Mount Coolidge; binoculars bring into view both Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse monuments, plus the Badlands on a clear day.
Visit The Mammoth Site
Discover The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, South Dakota. You can tour this indoor active dig site and view Ice Age fossils. The Mammoth Site offers self-guided tours, enhanced educational experience and Summer Educational Programs. The Mammoth Site is open year round.
Visit: The Mammoth Site
The Museum at Black Hills Institute
The Museum at Black Hills Institute in Hill City displays T-rex skeletons, triceratops and ancient sea fossils at a location run by the folks who unearthed the T-rex named Sue displayed at Chicago’s Field Museum. A bonus: Everything Prehistoric is one of the area’s best souvenir shops, with field guides, educational games, rocks and fossils.
Journey Museum and Learning Center
Step through their doors and embark on a journey through 3 billion years of history—connecting you with the people, cultures, and science behind the ancient Black Hills and prairies of Western South Dakota.
From the perspective of the Lakota people and the pioneers who shaped its past to the scientists who now study it, you can choose which corner of the universe to visit! Their exhibits, theater, art galleries, gift shop, and natural landscapes all reveal stories that comprise a fully immersive and educational experience unlike any other in South Dakota.
