Why go
- City in South Dakota, United States.
- Known for Mount Rushmore (Mt Rushmore).
- 1 curated must-see attraction on record, including Black Hills National Forest.
- Served by Black Hills Airport-Clyde Ice Field (SPF).
History
Rapid City is a city in and the county seat of Pennington County, South Dakota, United States. It is located on the eastern slope of the Black Hills in western South Dakota and was named after Rapid Creek, where the settlement developed. It is the second-most populous city in the state with a population of 74,703 as of the 2020 census. The Rapid City metropolitan area has 156,000 residents.
Must-see attractions
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 5 airlines, 7 direct destinations
- Allegiant Air G4 (MD-80) · 2 routes: Las Vegas, Mesa
- Delta Air Lines DL (CRJ, CRJ-900, Embraer 175) · 2 routes: Minneapolis*, Salt Lake City*
- United Airlines UA (ERJ, Dash 8-400, CRJ) · 2 routes: Chicago*, Denver*
- American Airlines AA (CRJ, ERJ-145) · 1 route: Dallas-Fort Worth*
- US Airways US (CRJ, ERJ-145) · 1 route: Dallas-Fort Worth*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Black Hills Airport-Clyde Ice Field (SPF); 14 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: RAP has direct flights to 7 destinations on 5 airlines (incl. Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Mesa…).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Rapid City, South Dakota. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.