A Quick Afternoon in Rapid City, South Dakota

Once upon a time, my family was interested in a vacation where there would be no crowds and we could spend time in the great outdoors. We flipped a coin between South Dakota and Maine and wound up booking a flight to Rapid City, South Dakota. Never in a million years, did I think I would be traveling to this state and it quickly became one of my favorite trips ever!

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Art Alley
Rapid City Restaurants
Main Street Square
City of Presidents

South Dakota has several different airports, but the main two are Sioux Falls on the east and Rapid City on the west. Since we were heading to the Black Hills, we chose to fly into Rapid City. Rapid City is about 60 miles from Badlands National Park and just over 100 miles to Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming.

The airport is definitely small, but does have car rental, a small eatery and a gift shop. Upon our arrival, we picked up our rental and drove off to the downtown area. Parking in downtown Rapid City was very easy. They use Smart Meters that accept card, coin or in-app payment. Read more here.

Art Alley in Rapid City, South Dakota

Art Alley is located near 599 7th Street in Rapid City. Local artists are able to paint murals and we enjoyed our stroll down the alley.

Where to eat in Rapid City

After Art Alley, our bellies let us know it was time for some dinner! We happened upon Que Pasa Cantina. They were able to seat us quickly and our meal was tasty. If we return, I would choose to explore some of the other restaurants in the downtown area. Other choices include:

• Firehouse Brewing Company
• The Bashful Bison
• Holy Sm(Oaks) Craft BBQ– They even offer family meals!

If you’re looking for a place for the kids to burn off some steam, there is also the Press Start arcade. They offer a menu that includes brick-oven pizzas, as well as a full bar.

If you are looking for a sweet treat to end your meal, try the Silver Linings Creamery. Located right off of Main Street Square, its a great place to sit and people watch while the kids run through the park.

Main Street Square

The heart of downtown Rapid City is certainly Main Street Square. With plenty of outdoor seating, this area is home to large fountains in the summer and an ice skating rink in the winter. We were visiting in late June and the kids took full advantage of the chance to run through the fountains. Parent be warned: Bring some extra clothes if you plan to walk through this part of town!

Rapid City- City of Presidents

As you walk through this cute downtown area, you will also come across many statues of former U.S. Presidents. Earning the nickname, “City of Presidents”, the city also provides an audio tour and scavenger hunt of these bronzed sculptures on its website.

Rapid City is a great place to spend an afternoon with your family. We enjoyed our time here before venturing on to the Black Hills of South Dakota.