The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Rapid City

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to Rapid City

Mount Rushmore, near Rapid City, South Dakota Mount Rushmore, near Rapid City, South Dakota

Are you looking for a hotel for your first trip to Rapid City, South Dakota? With plenty of activities and sites, this is a great destination for first-time visitors. So if you're deciding where to stay on your first trip to Rapid City, don't worry, we've got you covered. We've analyzed the hotels in Rapid City to find out which are the best for first timers based on price, amenities, location, reviews, and guest ratings. In this guide, we'll be showcasing the best hotels for first-time visitors in Rapid City, taking into consideration all of these important factors. Whether you're traveling solo, with family, or with friends, there's a hotel that caters to every traveler's needs to make the most of your first trip here. So, if you're visiting Rapid City for the first time, the hotels below will be great options, as many of them have pools, breakfast, and plenty of comforts to help you relax. So, here they are, the best hotels in Rapid City for first time visitors.

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Hotel Alex Johnson Rapid City Curio Collection by Hilton

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $176 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Family-Friendly

Located at 523 6th St, Hotel Alex Johnson Rapid City Curio Collection by Hilton has great rooms from $176 (before taxes). It offers room service, a casino, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 8.30 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 0.2 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love parking, hiking, laundry services, golf, and pet-friendly rooms at this relaxing hotel. Nothing says relaxation like having room service delivered.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Luxury


Hilton Garden Inn Rapid City

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $176 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Rapid City
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

A great place to stay is Hilton Garden Inn Rapid City which has nice rooms starting at $176. Offering room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and rooms with kitchenettes, it also has a great guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 815 E. Mall Drive. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, an indoor pool, and free parking which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 2.6 miles from the city center. Everyone loves a good hot tub, and this one is really nice.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Home2 Suites By Hilton Rapid City

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $117 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.

We found Home2 Suites By Hilton Rapid City to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $117. We loved that is has a water park, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and breakfast, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.40 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 621 WaTiki Way. You'll also find rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, a free breakfast, and pet-friendly rooms which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 4.4 miles from the center of town. Having an indoor pool means that you can swim and have fun any time of the year. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Water park
  • Breakfast included
  • Kitchen
  • Free breakfast
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Fairfield Inn & Suites Rapid City

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $103 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Rapid City
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.

With terrific rooms from $103, Fairfield Inn & Suites Rapid City, at 1314 N. Elk Vale Road provides room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and child care. Its terrific guest rating is 8.30 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers laundry services, a free breakfast, a game room, free parking, and laundry facilities. It's located just 4.2 miles from the city center, too. Having the delicious restaurant in the hotel is an added bonus. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave


Sweetgrass Inn Bed & Breakfast

Bed & Breakfast with prices starting at $198 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Sweetgrass Inn Bed & Breakfast has a great guest rating of 9.20 out of 10, and offers room service, a restaurant, a bar, breakfast, and mountain views. The great rooms here start at $198 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 9356 Neck Yoke Rd. Furthermore, it also offers golf, a free breakfast, a game room, free parking, and kids meals, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 6.7 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Breakfast in the room


La Quinta Inn & Suites Rapid City

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $100 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.

The great guest rating of La Quinta Inn & Suites Rapid City is 8.20 out of 10. This place has room service, a water park, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $100, and it's located at 1416 North Elk Vale Rd. We also love the breakfast, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, and a game room which are great for visitors. And since it's just 4.2 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too. Having a water park here is a terrific addition, too. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Breakfast included
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop


Residence Inn by Marriott Rapid City

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $119 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Rapid City
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Pool

A cool place is Residence Inn by Marriott Rapid City because it has great rooms that start at $119. It has a pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.90 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 581 Watiki Way. Only 4.3 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love breakfast, rooms with kitchens, laundry services, golf, and a free breakfast at this convenient hotel. We always love being able to cook meals in a hotel room, and the kitchen here was a nice touch. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Pool
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Kitchen
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Rapid City SD

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $69 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Heated pool

Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Rapid City SD offers room service, a fitness center, breakfast, mountain views, and laundry services which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $69 (before taxes). It's located at 2321 North Lacrosse Street and has earned a guest rating of 8.50/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers a free breakfast, pet-friendly rooms, city views, a hot tub, and an indoor pool which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 2.3 miles from the city center. It's always nice having a heated pool to relax in. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Private pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Holiday Inn Rapid City - Rushmore Plaza

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $208 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Rapid City
  • Family-Friendly

Located at 505 North Fifth Street, Holiday Inn Rapid City - Rushmore Plaza has great rooms from $208 (before taxes). It offers room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking. It has a terrific 8.40 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, an indoor pool, and laundry facilities which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 0.7 miles from the center of town.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Indoor pool
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


The Rushmore Hotel & Suites BW Premier Collection

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $174 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Family-Friendly

A great place to stay is The Rushmore Hotel & Suites BW Premier Collection which has nice rooms starting at $174. Offering room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and laundry services, it also has a great guest rating of 8.12 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 445 Mt. Rushmore Rd.. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers golf, pet-friendly rooms, free parking, evening entertainment, and laundry facilities. It's located just 0.1 miles from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Deadwood, Custer, and Hill City.

For more terrific hotel ideas in Rapid City, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Rapid City, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Rapid City, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Rapid City, Best Hotels for One Week in Rapid City, Best Hotels for One Night in Rapid City, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Rapid City, or Best Business Hotels in Rapid City.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Rapid City?

Rapid City Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$145

Travelers to Rapid City, South Dakota will have a large number of terrific first time trip accommodation options with a variety of great prices. The price of first time trip hotels here can vary by amenities, dates, and the neighborhood. Based on thorough data from 20 first time trip hotels, their average price is a very reasonable $145. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Rapid City.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 3-star hotels: $155
  • 2-star hotels: $126


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