Business: Museums . There are so many things that make fall an amazing time to visit—the cool, crisp autumn air, fewer crowds, and undeniably picturesque views of the fall foilage—it's easy to see why autumn is the ideal time to tour the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota. Fossil Exhibit Trail. A bit further away is Deadwood, old mining town and stomping grounds to Wild Bill Hickok, among others. And what’s better than buffalo? if (document.referrer) document.write ("&referer=" + escape(document.referrer)); Together they make for a great American road trip. Another must-do when visiting the Black Hills with kids is to spend time enjoying … We saw one doing what looked like play with its mom, and others were being led to water by mama buffalo. And then that view, wow. Started in 1973 and still under the same owner, we are widely regarded as the local experts in the bus tours for Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills. If you can ever do it, we highly recommend it with Black Hills Aerial Adventures. When is the best time to visit The Black Hills? Below you'll find a guide that covers the Great 8 of the Black Hills of South Dakota. WHERE: Rapid City, South Dakota. The deep canyons and spires reaching into the sky were breathtaking. The Custer State Park entrance is just outside the town bearing that same name. *July: The first three weeks in July are a good time to visit. Some more shopping coupled with amazing food (scallops and bread pudding) and a walking tour of the bronze statues of presidents that are on every street corner closed off the first full day. And while, yes, it had snowed, the roads were fine and the snow-capped president heads were stunning. They’re wild animals that can be dangerous doing their thing. Bear Country U.S.A – There are lots of places to see wildlife in the Black Hills, but if you want a guaranteed slam dunk, visit Bear Country U.S.A. South Dakota Road Trip Day 1. . Mount Rushmore Tours is the longest operating local family owned and operated tour company in the Black Hills. You can also purchase a wooden frog that “croaks” when you scrape a wooden rod down its ridged back. Custer State Park. Fly into Rapid City, … This post was produced in partnership with Travel South Dakota. Our guide, Casie, made everything so easy and comfortable and really treated us like a friend. But there are also a few free things to do in the Black Hills. There is nothing like seeing the beauty of nature from a bird's-eye view, and we were lucky to have that opportunity. Bear Country U.S.A. is located on Highway 16, on the way to Mount Rushmore from Rapid City. All Rights Reserved. See the Black Hills of South Dakota from the windows of a vintage steam train. Driving to the Badlands was incredible. If you're going to the Badlands, you'll want to include the Black Hills--Custer State Park and Mount Rushmore at a minimum. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial and award-winning wineries. var m3_u = (location.protocol=='https:'? While walking this trail, you could hear chipmunk squeaks as they popped their heads in and out of their holes. Since it was starting to feel like spring, that offered a perfect excuse to sit outside after the outings of the day, sip a drink on Hotel Alex Johnson’s amazing rooftop bar, and prepare for the next day of adventure. After breakfast and checking into the beautiful, historic Hotel Alex Johnson in downtown Rapid City, it was time to explore. • Hottest months: July, August, June, September (average 62°F) [CDATA[ Instead of riding Interstate 90 from Spearfish down to Sturgis, you can take this little loop and visit the waterfalls. Just south of Spearfish, climb aboard a horse-powered sleigh and go dashing over 350 miles of marked, mapped and groomed snowmobile trails.Most of the 1.2-million-acre Black Hills National Forest permits snowmobiling, but the enhanced trail system gives the Black Hills a national prominence. Teresa N./Tripadvisor This loop takes you past some of our state's most iconic spots, and fall is the perfect time to visit, since most tourists have left by September/October. Why Springtime is the Best Time to Visit the Black Hills of South Dakota. Read more. From downtown Rapid City, it’s about an hour drive, but the wide open, bright blue skies make it seem like a quicker trip. As we were driving through Custer State Park, you could see ahead where cars would start to slow and stop to take photos of wildlife or to let it pass in front of them. | Gently rolling prairies through shallow fertile valleys mark much of this endlessly attractive state. It's Epic! Enter to win a $500 travel voucher to customize your perfect vacation to the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota. This historic experience is narrated and fun for railroad enthusiasts of all ages! The Black Hills of South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park are bucket list destinations. Things to Do in The Black Hills, South Dakota: See Tripadvisor's 82,939 traveler reviews and photos of The Black Hills attractions. There are other waterfalls in South Dakota, but two of the grandest are in Spearfish Canyon in the northern Black Hills. Then we headed into Badlands National Park, and wow! … This normally sleepy little town is home to fewer than 7,000 people, but during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, it's packed with as many as 700,000. By clicking "Sign Up" or "Sign In with Facebook" I acknowledge and, Join 100k like-minded travelers by subscribing to iExplore, 3 Ways to Get Wet and Wild in Myrtle Beach, 14 Landmarks That Should Be Considered World Wonders, These Are the Most Peaceful Countries on the Planet, Deserts in Bloom: 6 Spots for Springtime Wildflower Watching, Yoho National Park Is the Most Incredible Place You've Never Heard Of. Our recent trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota only lasted a few days but we saw two seasons, snow, rain, abundant sunshine, and the most spectacular views and experiences we could have hoped for. Baby buffalo! Allow at least four days for the Black Hills portion. Hot Springs. document.write ("