The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in South Dakota

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to South Dakota

Are you looking for a hotel for your first trip to 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 South Dakota, don't worry, we've got you covered. We've analyzed the hotels in South Dakota 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 South Dakota, 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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota for first time visitors.

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

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Deadwood

Deadwood, South Dakota
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $135 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to South Dakota
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool

Located at 322 Main Street, SpringHill Suites by Marriott Deadwood has great rooms from $135 (before taxes). It offers skiing, room service, a casino, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 8.90 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 171.3 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love a bar, parking, breakfast, mountain views, and laundry services at this relaxing hotel. The indoor pool at this hotel is very nice, and is a great place to unwind and relax on your trip. 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
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Indoor pool
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Infinity pool


Holiday Inn Resort Deadwood Mountain Grand

Deadwood, South Dakota
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $180 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

A great place to stay is Holiday Inn Resort Deadwood Mountain Grand which has nice rooms starting at $180. Offering skiing, room service, a casino, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also has a great guest rating of 8.80 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 1906 Deadwood Mountain Drive. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a bar, mountain views, child care, laundry services, and pet-friendly rooms which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 171.9 miles from the city center. Having the delicious restaurant in the hotel is an added bonus.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Indoor pool
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Spearfish Canyon Lodge

Spearfish, South Dakota
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $184 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

We found Spearfish Canyon Lodge to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $184. We loved that is has skiing, a restaurant, a bar, hiking, and mountain views, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 10169 Roughlock Falls Road. You'll also find rooms with kitchenettes, pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, free parking, and kids meals which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 178.4 miles from the center of town. Being able to prepare food in the room is also very convenient.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


DoubleTree by Hilton Deadwood at Cadillac Jack's

Deadwood, South Dakota
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $136 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to South Dakota
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.

With terrific rooms from $136, DoubleTree by Hilton Deadwood at Cadillac Jack's, at 360 Main Street provides skiing, room service, a casino, a restaurant, and a fitness center. Its terrific guest rating is 8.50 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers a bar, parking, hiking, rooms with kitchenettes, and pet-friendly rooms. It's located just 171.4 miles from the city center, too. The room service is especially nice after a long day. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Indoor pool
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool


Lodge at Palmer Gulch

Hill City, South Dakota
2-star Hotel with prices starting at $208 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Heated pool

Lodge at Palmer Gulch has a great guest rating of 8.50 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, a water park, a restaurant, a bar, and breakfast. The great rooms here start at $208 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 12620 Hwy 244. Furthermore, it also offers hiking, mountain views, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, and a free breakfast, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 168 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. And with the ability to cook your own meals in the kitchen, you can save money and time.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Water park
  • Breakfast included
  • Kitchen
  • Free breakfast
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Fishing
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground


Hotel Alex Johnson Rapid City Curio Collection by Hilton

Rapid City, South Dakota
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $176 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in South Dakota
  • Family-Friendly

The great guest rating of Hotel Alex Johnson Rapid City Curio Collection by Hilton is 8.30 out of 10. This place has room service, a casino, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $176, and it's located at 523 6th St. We also love the parking, hiking, laundry services, golf, and pet-friendly rooms which are great for visitors. And since it's just 150 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too.

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


The Lodge at Deadwood

Deadwood, South Dakota
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $198 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

A cool place is The Lodge at Deadwood because it has great rooms that start at $198. It has skiing, room service, a casino, a water park, and a restaurant, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.00 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 100 Pine Crest. Only 171 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love a fitness center, a bar, hiking, rooms with kitchenettes, and laundry services at this convenient hotel. That hot tub is terrific after a long day of sightseeing.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Skiing
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Child pool
  • Indoor pool
  • Airport shuttle
  • Family-Friendly
  • Spa/Wellness
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


1899 Inn

Deadwood, South Dakota
Bed & Breakfast with prices starting at $174 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to South Dakota
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

1899 Inn offers a casino, mountain views, rooms with kitchens, city views, and a game room which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $174 (before taxes). It's located at 21 Lincoln Avenue and has earned a guest rating of 9.70/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers free parking, horse riding, bicycle rental, family rooms, and air-conditioning which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 171.7 miles from the city center.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Kitchen
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Hilton Garden Inn Rapid City

Rapid City, South Dakota
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $176 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly

Located at 815 E. Mall Drive, Hilton Garden Inn Rapid City has great rooms from $176 (before taxes). It offers room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and rooms with kitchenettes. It has a terrific 8.70 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 free parking which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 148.2 miles from the center of town.

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


Tru by Hilton Deadwood

Deadwood, South Dakota
2-star Hotel with prices starting at $117 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.

A great place to stay is Tru by Hilton Deadwood which has nice rooms starting at $117. Offering room service, a casino, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.40 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 372 Main Street. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers parking, breakfast, hiking, golf, and a free breakfast. It's located just 171.4 miles from the city center, too. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
More Great Amenities
  • Casino
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator


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


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in South Dakota?

South Dakota Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$139

Travelers to 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 117 first time trip hotels, their average price is a very reasonable $139. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in South Dakota.

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

  • 3-star hotels: $149
  • 2-star hotels: $134


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