Rapid City - South Dakota - United States. Guide & Hotel Reservations from Cheap Hotels

Founded by a group of gold miners in 1876, Rapid City, South Dakota is known as the Gateway to the Mountains with its close proximity to the Black Hills. It is centrally located in the middle of the state along the eastern slopes of the mountains. It is easily accessed by air or if you are driving, I-90 is the main route to this city. It has a population of about 60,000 and is an excellent location to visit at any time of the year.

Choose one of the many bed and breakfasts or hotels in the city. There are also rustic cabins that you can rent and campgrounds where you can park your RV or pitch a tent. No matter what kind of food you prefer, you will find it here. You also have the option of trying International cuisines and sample foods from all over the world.

Visit the Stavkirke Chapel in the Hills to see a replica of a Norwegian Church with symbols of pagan and Norse gods. Of course, no visit to Rapid City would be complete without a trip to Mount Rushmore with the faces of four American presidents carved into the granite wall. Take a journey through time at the Museum of Geology or enjoy the interactive features of the Children's Science Center.

Natural scenery abounds everywhere you look, but there are some sights that you shouldn't miss out on. Explore the cave formations at the Black Hills Caverns and the underground tunnels at the Crystal Cave Park and the Sitting Bull Crystal Caverns.

Storybook Island features scenes from over a hundred fairy tales and the Reptile Gardens boasts the world's largest collection of reptiles. A scenic drive through bear country affords you with a glimpse of the fascinating wildlife of the area that includes bears, elk, bighorn sheep and many others.

Enjoy the thrill of a 400-foot waterslide at the Rushmore Waterslide Park or take a horse ride through the countryside. Tee off at one of the golf courses or spend some time shopping at the Rushmore Mall. You will be so busy when you visit Rapid City, you won't have time to think of the stresses of your daily life. This city will give you memories that will last forever.