How much does it cost to travel to Rapid City?
You should plan to spend around $116 per day on your vacation in Rapid City. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $23 on meals
- $53 on local transportation
- $119 on hotels
A one week trip to Rapid City for two people costs, on average, $1,624. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Rapid City has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Rapid City expensive to visit?
Prices in Rapid City are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, Rapid City is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in North America for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Hope, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Key West.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Rapid City Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Rapid City?
The average Rapid City trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Rapid City travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
$119
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
$53
|
|
Food 2
|
$23
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
$26
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
$3 -
10
|
Accommodation Budget in Rapid City
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Rapid City is $60. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Rapid City is $119. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Rapid City? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Rapid City
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Rapid City is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $53 per person, per day, on local transportation in Rapid City.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$53
How much does it cost to go to Rapid City? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Rapid City will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Rapid City
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Rapid City can vary, the average cost of food in Rapid City is $23 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Rapid City should cost around $9.38 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Rapid City is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$23
Entertainment Budget in Rapid City
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Rapid City typically cost an average of $26 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$26
Alcohol Budget in Rapid City
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $6.93 on alcoholic beverages in Rapid City per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$6.93
Rapid City On a Budget
Mount Rushmore, near Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is a large city in western South Dakota that is considered the gateway to the Black Hills National Forest. Rapid City is often used as a base for all types of outdoor activities, including tours to the infamous Mount Rushmore and surrounding parks. The city has a budding art scene and offers the perfect combination of a metropolitan city surrounded by stunning natural scenery. Rapid City experiences the best weather from June-September with temperatures in the 70's and 80's Fahrenheit. Temperatures drop to the low 20's F in the winter and the area receives the most rain pour in April and May.
Sights
The most popular sight in the Rapid City area is Mount Rushmore, the infamous monument of four presidents carved from the rocky mountain inside of the Black Hills Forest. After viewing the monument, you can wander through the Black Hills to Rushmore Cave where you'll find a stalactite filled cavern. Then, continue on to the Jewel Cave National Monument, the third longest cave in the world with over 180 miles of passageways that wind through the cave. After an adventure through the Black Hills, head into town to view Art Alley, a public art project that incorporates work from both local and visiting artists. Then, during summer, enjoy a movie in the park under the stars.
Neighborhoods and Nearby Areas
Rapid City's major neighborhood is the Downtown area where the majority of sights, activities, restaurants, and hotels are located. The other neighborhoods in Rapid City are mainly residential or commercial and of little interest to tourists.
West and South of the city is the Black Hills National Forest and
Custer State Park, which is home to
Mount Rushmore and countless hiking trails and outdoor activities. Here you can also find enormous amounts of wildlife. The famous Mount Rushmore draws lots of visitors who then stay on for the other nearby attractions.
The Crazy Horse Memorial is not far from Mount Rushmore and is a monument to the Native Americans, their history, and their culture.
Wind Cave National Park, just south of Custer State Park, is a great place to explore a very large underground system of caverns. Hiking, wildlife viewing, and camping are also plentiful here as well.
Southeast of the city is
Badlands National Park, a popular spot for adventure enthusiasts thanks to its rugged landscape that is perfect for hikers, campers, and wildlife viewers.
Activities
Rapid City acts as the perfect base camp for going on all sorts of outdoor adventures. Right outside the city is the Black Hills National Forest where you can go hiking, rock climbing, and cycling. For the adventure enthusiasts, go to the Badlands, a rugged natural area with twisted canyons, slanted walls, and rock domes that create the perfect place for exploring. For something more relaxed, you can go boating, fishing, or swimming in one of the 17 lakes in the area. Rapid City also hosts many annual festivals, including the Art and Wine Festival that features locally sourced wine and artwork from local artists. In summertime, you can relax downtown and enjoy the Main Street Square Summer Concerts or the Native People of the Plains arts and culture weekend in July.
Food and Dining
Rapid City has a wide range of restaurant options and cuisines, including American, Chinese, and Japanese. Many restaurants serve buffalo meat, with buffalo hamburgers being one of the most popular buffalo dishes. For something with a local feel, head to the Firehouse Brewing Company, which is located inside of the original Rapid City firehouse that was built in 1915. The restaurant serves American cuisine and features original memorabilia, the original fire pole, and even offers beautiful views of downtown Rapid City from the patio. Combine fine dining with a casual atmosphere at Wine Cellar Restaurant where you'll find a huge wine and beer menu nestled in a historic building.
Transportation
Rapid City is served by the Rapid City Regional Airport, a domestic airport that accepts flights from a select few major US airlines. From the airport, you can take a shuttle or a rent a car to get into the city. It is also easy to drive into the city or take a bus from larger cities. You can easily get around the city on foot, or take the Rapid Ride System which takes you to areas further outside of the city including Mount Rushmore. Keep in mind that the rail system closes between 6 PM and 6 AM, but there are plenty of taxis in the area that run when the rail system doesn't.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.