Tourists from Arizona.. a little advice? (Sioux Falls, Rapid City: living, moving, activities)

[MJ1986]

I can't add anything because it has all been said! I hope you have a safe, fun trip when you visit here.

I recommend ordering a vacation guide via the link Jammie posted... It's free of course. Click on the Vacation Guide and Map packet a little ways down the page. The map will include a close up of the Black Hills region.

I recommend Mt. Rushmore, Wall Drug (some say a tourist trap, but its worth a stop), and the Spearfish Canyon area. The Badland Loop (Highway 240) is also something I'd recommend. It's very interesting.

[SD snowbird]

Everyone has already given you great suggestions. Four days will not be enough, you'll have to plan a return trip to see all the things you'll wish you had time for this summer.
Definately see Sylvan Lake, it's where the city of gold was found in the National Treasure Movie, second one. Also, this is where the hiking trail to climb Hearney Peak starts. Gotta do that, you can see forever and you won't believe how beautiful.
Definately bring coats, one heavier and one lighter or do layers. Never quite know what the weather's gonna be, and can go from cool to warm just changing elevations, which happens when hiking out there.
Above all else, ENJOY!! You'll find plenty of friendly people who will be more than happy to help if you get turned around or have questions while you're here.

[thegirlinaz]

Okay. I've gone through all your suggestions and have narrowed it down to the places I would like to see the most. How far away are these from each other? Are they all within a reasonable distance, or is any one of these a long distance away? This will help me determine where we will go and what is out of the question.

-Mt Rushmore (Definately going here, so I am hoping the rest are within the vicinity)
-Crazy Horse
-Badlands National Park
-Spearfish Canyon
-Jewel Cave
-Custer State Park
-Wind Cave National Park
-Sioux Falls

And these are our maybes..if we have time or if they are located in the same citys then it probably wouldn't hurt to see. If any are too far then they are out. Can you let me know how close these are to my list above?

-Mammoth Site
-Wall Drug
-Fort Randall Dam
-Harney Peak
-Lewis & Clark Lake
-Deadwood

I am a terrible planner which is why you will probably get sick of me asking so many questions, but thanks ahead of time for your help, who better to ask then the experts! And I know we won't be able to see EVERYTHING in a few days, but this will help me narrow it down more.

Ps. When going to South Dakota for Mt Rushmore we would fly into Rapid City airport correct?

[SD snowbird]

Ok, so everything on both lists is close together EXCEPT Sioux Falls and Fort Randall Dam, they're on my side of the state, which is to say the opposite side from the Black Hills. If you get the SD vacation guide that Jammie suggested and a good map of the black hills (pretty sure there's a good one in the guide, there was when I got one for our trip to the hills 3 years ago) and plan carefully, you'll be able to see most of the stuff on both lists. Make a big circle (oval) through the hills and stay centrally to all and you'll have time for most everything. We stayed 5 miles outside Hill City and saw pretty much everything on your list, but we had a week. We also saw stuff that you haven't included.
Just enjoy. And plan ahead of time.

[DannyBanany]

Originally Posted by thegirlinaz

Okay. I've gone through all your suggestions and have narrowed it down to the places I would like to see the most. How far away are these from each other? Are they all within a reasonable distance, or is any one of these a long distance away? This will help me determine where we will go and what is out of the question.

-Mt Rushmore (Definately going here, so I am hoping the rest are within the vicinity)
-Crazy Horse
-Badlands National Park
-Spearfish Canyon
-Jewel Cave
-Custer State Park
-Wind Cave National Park
-Sioux Falls

And these are our maybes..if we have time or if they are located in the same citys then it probably wouldn't hurt to see. If any are too far then they are out. Can you let me know how close these are to my list above?

-Mammoth Site
-Wall Drug
-Fort Randall Dam
-Harney Peak
-Lewis & Clark Lake
-Deadwood

I am a terrible planner which is why you will probably get sick of me asking so many questions, but thanks ahead of time for your help, who better to ask then the experts! And I know we won't be able to see EVERYTHING in a few days, but this will help me narrow it down more.

Ps. When going to South Dakota for Mt Rushmore we would fly into Rapid City airport correct?

Yes, you will fly into Rapid City. Rapid City is called "The Gateway to the Black Hills" and it is about a 30 minute drive from Rapid City to most any attraction in the Black Hills. More than likely you will be staying at a hotel in Rapid City.

Like Snowbird said, all of those attractions are close together in the Black Hills. I'd say within 30 minutes of each other. The only ones that aren't are Sioux Falls which is a city clear at the other side of the state, Fort Randall Dam which is also about 200 miles away, and Wall Drug which is a tourist attraction about 45 minutes east of Rapid City.

Here is a printable map of the Black Hills Region and it includes all of the tourist attractions you will want to see. Notice that the airport is east of Rapid City about 8 miles. That is where you will fly in.

Black Hills Printable Area Map | South Dakota

[Jammie]

Are you still limiting yourself to four days? Rapid City is close to the Wyoming border and Sioux Falls is on the opposite side of the state close to the Mn. border. They're over 330 miles apart. I believe our state is around 400 miles in length.

Fort Randall Dam is southwest of Sx. Falls.

Here's my suggestion if you're still planning on only four days~

Take Sx. Falls off your first list. Replace it with Mammoth Site (where is that anyway?), Harney Peak, and Deadwood. Instead of Lewis and Clark Lake, choose one that's in the Hills~maybe Sylvan Lake???

If you have seen everything before you're time is up, add Wall Drug and the Badlands to it. The Badlands are about a 2 hour drive from Rapid City. Does that sound correct to the rest of you?

The other things are pretty much in the eastern part of the state and unless you have at least 6 or 7 days, I wouldn't try to see it all. But we would definitely welcome you to tour our whole state if you have more time.

And I do realize it's kind of hard to judge distances in a strange place so don't be afraid to ask more questions.

[MJ1986]

I agree with the others. I would take Sioux Falls off your list (Sad I know, you can't see my city ). If you had more than 4 days, I'd say leave it on there, but Sioux Falls is about 340 miles straight east of Rapid City. So it would be out of your way. If you did make it to the east side of the state, you could also visit the Corn Palace in Mitchell.
Sorry I'm probably going to confuse you more!
The Mammoth site is in Hot Springs. Hot Springs is about 70 miles south of Rapid City. If you go to Hot Springs, you could also visit Evan's Plunge, which is the World's largest indoor natural warm water indoor swimming pool.
Sylvan Lake is very pretty... That would be a good spot to visit in the Black Hills area.
The Badlands are about an hour from Rapid City, I think...

[DannyBanany]

Badland kind of depend on which way you go. If you take I-90 east out of Rapid City it's about an hour. The you'd get to see Wall Drug too. That's the way most people go.

Then you could also take Highway 44 through Pine Ridge Indian Reservation which takes about two hours and it has less stops. It's pretty isolated and there are few provisions. I doubt you'd make it out to the Badlands having only 4 days to sightsee anyway. You'll likely want to stay around the Black Hills and in Rapid City.

[belami28]

I do know at both Mt Rushmore & Crazy Horse a needy hand will come out for money. I can't remember the charge, but find coupons, or just get close. You never really get close. You can see it from the side of the mountain. This might not be fair, I've been there so many times, but at $10 - 25 a car? If you like Bisbee, you might try poor little Hotsprings. So much history, kinda sad. but ducks & deer right on the river in town. Deadwood is kinda like Tombstone, but they fixed it up, & I think they ruined it. All the wooden sidewalks are gone, and new is made to look old. Find some Leftse (Norwiegen potatoe bread) if its not to late in the year, an maybe some Grainbelt Beer

[Jammie]

At one time Crazy Horse was either free to see or very cheap~can't remember. But I understand they have really gone up in price and I'd guess you could get some info on it on the internet~possibly even in the vacation guide.

As far as Mt. Rushmore, it used to also be free to see. But a few years ago they had to redo their parking area so they now charge a fee for parking. The last time we were there it seems like the fee was 8 per car and I'd guess that's pretty close to the fee now. After that, you can wander around with no more charges.

http://www.nps.gov/moru/planyourvisi...servations.htm

This is the current rate.

I think you'll find the Black Hills to be a very reasonable vacation since you're coming from Az.