How much does a trip to Rapid City Cost?
The Cost of a Trip to Rapid City
A journey to Rapid City will usually cost from $50 to $228 for an individual and $101 to $456 for two people. The mid-range tends to hover around $116 per person daily, as calculated from our travel cost data from fellow travelers covering food, accommodation, sightseeing, and local transportation expenses. This is a fairly wide price range, and your individual expenses will vary by the level of luxury and travel style that you choose. For those seeking a balance between comfort and budget, booking standard accommodation and eating at typical restaurants, your expenses will be close to this calculated average. Read on for a detailed breakdown of travel expenses by category and a comprehensive overview of accommodation and activity costs tailored to your visit.
How much money should you budget for your trip to Rapid City?
If you're planning an Independent trip to Rapid City, budget travelers should plan to spend around $50 per day for their trip. This average includes hostels and budget hotels, affordable meal options, local transportation, and activities. If you're on a mid-range budget, plan for around $116 a day which covers the cost of typical hotels, normal restaurants, and a variety of popular attractions. Luxury travelers should allow for $228 a day, which would cover higher-end hotels, nicer restaurants, and more private tour options. All of these price ranges are based on our extensive travel cost data for Rapid City from other travelers, along with hotel and tour data from travel companies.
Average Daily Costs, Per Person, by Category
| Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation1 | $26 | $60 | $114 |
| Local Transportation1 | $23 | $53 | $101 |
| Food2 | $10 | $23 | $51 |
| Entertainment1 | $11 | $26 | $49 |
| Alcohol2 | $3 | $7 | $13 |
How much does a weekend trip to Rapid City cost?
On average, travelers spend around $348 per person during a three-day trip to Rapid City. This average includes expenses for sightseeing, hotels, food, and local transportation. To align with this average price range, consider opting for mid-range hotels and dining at mid-level restaurants, while also allocating funds for entry tickets to popular attractions. For those seeking a more budget-friendly approach, it is possible to find lower-cost accommodations, dine at less expensive restaurants, and explore free activities. Also, many visitors choose to spend a higher travel budget, as Rapid City offers a range of high-end hotels and restaurants for those seeking a more luxurious experience.
Mount Rushmore, near Rapid City, South Dakota
How much does a five day trip to Rapid City cost?
With five days in Rapid City, you can expect to spend about $580 total, not including transportation to and from the city. It's possible to stay close to this daily average by booking mid-range hotels, eating at normal restaurants, and paying for some entry tickets to popular attractions. It's possible to find lower-cost accommodations, eat at less expenive restaurants, and find more free activities if you want to spent less money.
How much does a one week trip to Rapid City cost?
Most visitors spend between $352 and $1,594 for a one week trip to Rapid City, with the average being $812. This includes sightseeing, local transportation, food, and hotels. One week is enough time to have a more in-depth experience in Rapid City. Also, one week allows you to be more flexible with your time and money, so you can potentially save money on some aspects of your trip while spending more on others.
Hotel Prices in Rapid City
Based on our calculations from available hotels in the Rapid City, the average price for a hotel room is $124 per night. To save money, or if you're planning a more luxurious trip, it's important to look at hotel prices based on the overall star-rating as well as guest reviews. Also, prices can vary by amenities and location. Check out more details from our analysis of hotel prices in Rapid City here, and below is a breakdown of hotel prices by star-rating.
Hotels by star rating in Rapid City
| Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
|---|---|---|
| 3 stars | 19 | $152 |
| 2 stars | 30 | $106 |
Should you do a tour in Rapid City?
Many visitors enjoy the convenience of booking tours and activities while they visit, and Rapid City has a wide array of things to do. These activities often include knowledgable guides and unique experiences. Tours range in price from $27 for the Buffalo Hunt Coaster Multi Ride Wristband in the Black Hills to $349 for the JEEP Bison Safari - Public - Half Day Tour.
- Full-Day Private Sightseeing Tour in South Dakota: $275
- NEW! Half Day Tour of the Black Hills: $289
- Badlands Sunset and Wildlife Adventure : $289
- Bus Tour of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills: $133
- Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Tour with Two Meals and a Music Variety Show: $164
- Mount Rushmore Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $15
- Badlands Winter Wonderland Adventure: $239
- From Rapid City: Private Spearfish Canyon Tour: $650
More for Rapid City
If you're planning a trip to Rapid City, South Dakota, check out these other informative travel guides.
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.
1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.
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.
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.