The Kid Tested, Mother Approved Itinerary – What to See and Do with Kids in the Black Hills

Coming from Rapid City, the best way to get to Mount Rushmore is along Mt Rushmore Road/Highway 16. Also known as "The Road to Rushmore" – it is lined with some of the best Black Hills attractions. Fort Hays, Reptile Gardens, Dinosaur Museum, America's Founding Fathers, Bear Country USA, Old MacDonald’s Farm, and Cosmos Mystery Area, are all right along the road.

If you hang to the left at the fork (into Keystone and towards Mount Rushmore), you'll find even more fun and exciting things to do! 1880 Train - Black Hills Central Railroad, has a depot here - it's the first attraction you'll see on the right-hand side of the road. You can hop on board a steam-engine driven train here and follow the historic tracks into Hill City. One-way and round-trip tickets are available. But book early - they fill up fast!

If you turn left at the stoplight, you'll head into "old Keystone". Up the hill is the old schoolhouse. Now home to the Keystone Historical Museum, it is a step back in time. Your kiddos will be amazed at how children experienced "school days" in the past - No Ipads or tablets here! Admittance is free, however, a donation is greatly appreciated. Just a few more miles down the road in that same direction is Rush Mountain Adventure Park - Home of Rushmore Cave and so much more! Here is the only "mountain coaster" in all of the Black Hills region. It's a thrilling time "coasting" down the mountain being driven only by gravity. Plan to spend some time here exploring the cave, and the other attractions.

Back at the stoplight in town, if you head straight, you'll notice the National Presidential Wax Museum on the right. Just past that is Holy Terror Mini Golf and across the street is a huge Alpine Slide. This is the home of Rushmore Tramway Adventures where you all can slide, climb, zip and jump through the trees and over the granite rocks. Surely a day full of adventure!

There is no way to get ALL of these amazing adventures done in one day - and go to Mount Rushmore. Our suggestion, pick 2 or 3 then head on up the hill from Keystone to "the faces" (as we locals call them). But make sure to save time another day to explore the attractions you want to see.

There are plenty of places to grab lunch in Keystone or better yet, enjoy dining with George, Thomas, Teddy, and Abe (don’t pass on the Thomas Jefferson-recipe ice cream) up on the mountain. While at Mount Rushmore, check-out a Self-Guided Tour. This interactive and multi-media hand-held devise will give you an in-depth history of the monument. And it includes a fun Junior Ranger activity for your children! Regardless, make sure to visit the new kid’s area (located off the Presidential Trail), as well as the Sculptor's Studio and continue the along the trail for a nice hike and some great views of the carving.

Honestly, with Mount Rushmore located in the central part of the Black Hills, anchoring so many attractions, you can continue exploring for days!  While the Black Hills are relatively small in "space", only 120 miles north to South and 60 miles wide, from east to west - they are plum PACKED with things to see and do! So here are some suggestions... Please take your time, choose what you want. Maybe plan an extra day or two - Or plan a second trip!

Right next door to Keystone is the neighboring town of Hill City. Known as "The Heart of the Hills", this charming town offers a busy Main Street with lots of boutique shops and dining options as well as a few attractions mixed in.  As you cruise into Hill City on Main Street, you can't miss the giant chair or Ninja Turtles at Dahl's Chainsaw Art - right on the corner. Next to that is Teddy Bear Town which, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, holds the worlds largest collection of Teddy Bears. Across the street is a delicious stop - the Beef Jerky Outlet provides "free samples" of all kinds of jerky - from buffalo to venison and everything in between - not just beef. Many additional snacks can be found there as well. You're sure to discover a tasty treat to take along on your travels.

This can be a good day to mix in some of the natural Black Hills offerings too. From Hill City, head south on Hwy 385 to Custer State Park via Hwy 87, also known as Needles Highway. This curvy drive is a National Scenic Byway. Go slow as there are plenty of hills and curves to navigate. Stop at any of the pull-outs to explore and be rewarded by magnificent views, this will drop you down right into Custer State Park. Heralded by national media as one of the world’s best animal destinations. Seek out the park’s buffalo herd, find the "begging burros" on the Wildlife Loop. Or for a closer look, jump on a Buffalo Jeep Safari tour, which can be found near the State Game Lodge. A hike around Sylvan Lake is beautiful or go for a trail ride at Blue Bell Stables. For the more adventuresome, give Sylvan Rocks Climbing School a call and take the opportunity to climb amazing formations in Custer State Park.

Travel a bit farther south and discover underground wonders at a couple of the world’s "top-five longest" caves in nearby Jewel or Wind Cave. The tours are first-come-first-serve and are one of the hottest tickets to score. It’s a definite Black Hills experience that can blow minds of any age.

Other alternate stops could be the Mammoth Site, BH Balloons, Evans Plunge Mineral Springs, Beaver Lake Water Park, and Four Mile Old West Town.

If the group is still cooperating, know that Crazy Horse Memorial, yet another mountain carving – and the bigger one at that – is right outside of Custer. If late in the day, stay for their laser light show.

Rapid City is the largest city (by far) and on the first day, everyone in your traveling party had to of taken note of all the attractions here. It’s been a hub for tourists since the 1930s while work on Mount Rushmore was just taking shape. Today, it’s known as the City of Presidents for the statues located downtown and the thriving rejuvenation of that area.

Reptile Gardens with its Guinness-record holding collection of reptiles, tropical fauna, and animal shows is a must. Adding to the fun, other animal attractions like Bear Country USA and Old Macdonald’s Farm are nearby. Load up on a cheap cowboy breakfast at Fort Hays on the way. After the morning fun, heading back into Rapid City your group can clean up any other Hwy. 16 stops you wish.

In Rapid City, we also suggest some time at Storybook Island, a free attraction that’s a fave of locals, and the action downtown at Main Street Square. There’s a fountain the kiddos can cool down in and usually all sorts of other things going on.

Head West down Hwy 44 towards Black Hills Caverns. Explore the expansive, awe-inspiring cave system on a specialized tour or try your hand at gemstone panning.  

Alternate stops in Rapid City are the 30,000 SQ. ft WaTiki Indoor Waterpark, Dinosaur Park, Dinosaur Museum, Putz n Glo, Rapid Escape, Journey Museum, and the Outdoor Campus – West.

With Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, a cave and Reptile Gardens done, the last region to hit is the region locals call the Northern Black Hills. Here, you’ll find many family-friendly things to do in the towns of Spearfish, Sturgis, Deadwood, and others.

You’ll also find great attractions that aren’t as well-known as previous day stops.

Devils Tower National Monument is a scenic hour drive away (a great chance to nap for the littlest ones) and has an easy, paved trail around the base that is stroller-friendly. This was the nation’s first national monument and is worth the trip. On the way there or back, just across the South Dakota/Wyoming state line, stop at the Vore Buffalo Jump. This step back in time will teach you how the Plains Indians hunted buffalo at this natural sinkhole.

In nearby Spearfish, wander the beautiful grounds (open year-round), and feed the fish at DC Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery. Located along the bubbling and COLD Spearfish Creek and right next door to the hatchery is Spearfish City Park. Both places are full of natural beauty and offer plenty of space for youngers to run off energy while Mom and Dad relax on a park bench nearby.

Spearfish Canyon, with its waterfalls and hikes, is where locals often make a fun day of exploring. Roughlock Falls is a beautiful stop and one of the easiest hikes in the Hills leads to it. If you really want to discover "The Hills" a little off-the-beaten-path, rent a bicycle, or UTV at Spearfish Canyon Adventures and hit the trails!

Just a few miles southwest, through Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, is the town of Lead (pronounced; Leed). This fun, the little town is "Miles Above Ordinary" and is rich in gold-mining history. A stop at the Black Hills Mining Museum allows the opportunity to take a tour of what a goldmine looked like. You can even experience panning for gold there. At the bottom of Main Street, you'll find the Sanford Homestake Visitor Center. Offering a one-of-a-kind view of a mile-wide open cut gold mine and a great gift shop with many unique items. Guaranteed everyone in your group will learn about the science of yesterday - and today!

Most think that Deadwood is just for adults with lots of casinos and gambling. However, there are bucket-loads of family-friendly history there too! Catch an award-winning Old West "shootouts" and reenactments on historic Main Street, then follow the crowd up the street to watch the Trial of Jack McCall. You can even hitch a ride on the historic, horse-drawn Deadwood Stagecoach, creating memories that will last a lifetime.  Drive up the hill to see if you recognize any famous names buried at Mt. Moriah Cemetery. Everyone would enjoy wandering through the Adams Museum. You'll learn all about the history of Deadwood - as well as many of the characters that lived and died there. Only have a short amount of time, yet want to see and learn a lot about Deadwood? Book a seat on the Original Deadwood Tour bus. The accurate, but hilarious stories the driver tells are sure to leave you laughing!

For groups with older ones seeking more adventure, rent a UTV from outfits like Mystic Hills Hideaway, Mad Mountain or other outfitters and head into the forest.

Alternate stops in the Northern Hills could include Bear Butte State Park in Sturgis, Broken Boot Gold Mine in Deadwood, beautiful Wonderland Cave nestled in the hills just off Vanocker Canyon, as well as Termesphere Gallery and Spearfish Rec/Aquatics Center in Spearfish.

This list is jam-packed - but when traveling with kids, it is all subject to change. Highlight one or two stops a day and know that you can always come back. These Black Hills experiences will be here for generations to come.