Fun Weekend Getaway to the Black Hills and Badlands South Dakota
Plan Your Fun Weekend Getaway to the Black Hills and Badlands in South Dakota
I’m obsessed with the Black Hills! It’s about 7 hours from Kearney, NE (where we’re from) so we tried to go when we had at least a 4-day weekend but even a 3-day weekend would do. Whether you’ve been or not, you need to visit South Dakota!
There are so many outdoor activities to do and a lot of history. The scenery is stunning, and we always end up just going for drives to take it all in. Our favorite area is the more southern end of the Black Hills, near Hill City but we’ve also stayed farther north in the area and in Rapid City. There is no bad place to stay. It’s all beautiful and really easy to get around.
How do You Get to the Black Hills?
Driving from Kearney, NE, we take a different route each time we go so we can see different things and depending on how much time we have. We have taken Hwy 2 through Alliance North to Hwy 385. Then come home through the Badlands and South on Hwy 183.
One time we made a side trip through Fort Robinson State Park and Toadstool Geologic Park since we’d never been to Toadstool and I’d never been to Fort Robinson. I’m so glad we did – it was well worth it! It was early May, so Fort Robinson wasn’t geared up for the summer, so we just did a quick stop, but we spent about 3-4 hours at Toadstool. The timing was perfect because we had the place to ourselves until we were almost done.
I highly recommend that you go through the Badlands at least one-way. There are scenic overlooks throughout and you’re very likely to at least see big horn sheep. If you can be there for sunset, you won’t be sorry. I’ll do a whole separate post on the Badlands because it deserves it, but suffice it to say, it will leave you in awe.
Where Should You Stay in the Black Hills?
We’ve stayed in a few different places. One time we rented a hotel in Rapid City because we were flying by the seat of our pants. We’ve also stayed at the Spearfish Canyon Lodge. There’s a restaurant on site and an outdoor hot tub. It’s set on a babbling brook and so beautiful. There are also three waterfalls nearby, like Roughlock Falls here.
There are ATV rentals and trails nearby, so it’s really convenient (more on that later). We have also stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Hill City. It has a nice pool and hot tub and typical hotel breakfast. The staff is really friendly.
We spent 5 days at an Airbnb with family in the Fall of 2017. It was a log cabin and had plenty of room for the dogs to run - see photo to the right. This was by far our favorite experience. Our cabin backed up to wooded land where we could hike and walk the dogs and ride our Ranger side-by-side. South Dakota is pretty dog-friendly.
Where Should You Eat in the Black Hills?
At the Airbnb, we cooked our own food, which was really convenient and saved a lot of money since there were 6 of us and 3 dogs. But we’ve also eaten at many places in the area. Deadwood has a lot of options, like Paddy O’Neill’s Irish Pub, which had good bar food and a sports atmosphere.
We ate breakfast at the most delicious little hidden gem in Custer, Skogen Kitchen. Jess had the eggs benedict, which he is a connoisseur of, and he said it was fantastic. I honestly don’t remember what I had but I do remember it was delicious. It’s a small place and it was packed, so go early or you may have a wait, but it’s worth the wait! We will definitely be back!
The Alpine Inn in Hill City has great food and a charming atmosphere. It’s a local institution and it gets packed so get there early. Miner Brewing Co. in Hill City also has good food and is a fun atmosphere, more on this place in bit. And the restaurant at the Spearfish Canyon Lodge is great too!
How Many Days Do You Need in the Black Hills?
Honestly, as much as you have. If you have 4-5 days or a week, you can fill it up. If you just have 2 days, you won’t see it all but you’ll still be happy you went. It all depends on what you want to see and do. There’s so much history and outdoor beauty that you won’t be bored!
What is There to Do in the Black Hills?
Where do I even start?? These are just a few things I recommend. There really are endless things to see and do. We’ve never been in the winter, but I know snowmobiling is a huge winter activity, as well as ice fishing and I imagine there are places to ski. But we have gone in early May and in the Fall several times.
Custer State Park is a must-see. There are buffalo everywhere and you’ll see other animals, such as mule deer and antelope. In the Spring the baby bison are born and needless to say, they’re adorable! There are resident mules that live in the park. There were fires a few years back that unfortunately killed many of them and traumatized the remaining ones so the last time we were there, they didn’t approach our car. But by now, they are probably back to begging for whatever treats you have to give them. They stick their heads right in your window, it’s hilarious!
Wind Cave National Park is inside Custer State Park. We’ve never been but that’s because I get claustrophobic but I’m sure Jess will make me go one of these days, haha! It looks really neat.
Hill City is such a cool little town! We’ve stayed there a few times. The Miner Brewing Company has excellent beer and food, as mentioned above. Do yourself a favor and get the jalapeno pretzel bites with nacho cheese (pictured above), yummm! The atmosphere is relaxed and fun and plenty of space inside and out.
And next door is Prairie Berry Winery. They offer tastings and it’s a fun atmosphere. We had an awesome lady who did our tastings and made it a really cool experience. They’re famous for their Redass Rhubarb wine, give it a try!
The 1880 Train offers a historic train ride from Hill City to Keystone and back. It takes about 2.5 hours total roundtrip. We haven’t done this yet but it’s on our list for next time. There’s even an Old West Shootout on the train too!
And you can get your Old West photo taken at Buffalo Old Time Photo. I think everyone needs one of these keepsakes.
Mount Rushmore really is a sight to see. If you’ve never been to Mt. Rushmore, make it a goal to go this year. Don’t just drive by either, park and walk up and marvel at the skill it took to create. Erosion affects it more and more every year. I can see how it’s easy to say, someday… but you never know so just make it happen.
Crazy Horse Memorial is pretty awesome. We went years ago and it was just getting started. The last time we went by it was a lot farther along. We haven’t done the actual tour up to it, just stopped, went through the gift shop area and looked at it through telescopes. It’s an amazing tribute.
Deadwood is a pretty famous small town and one most people want to go to. It has a lot of gambling and nightlife. We really prefer outdoor activities so haven’t spent a lot of time here other than to eat and walk around a bit but if you want some excitement, this is your spot.
Bear Country USA I remember going when I was a kid. We’ve gone again as adults and it’s still fun for me to drive through there and watch the bears all lounging around. Whether you have kids or not, definitely make time to drive through, even if you don’t stay long.
Bridal Veil Falls is right along the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. Make this drive for sure. It isn’t called a scenic byway for nothin’. There are so many beautiful places to pull over and see picturesque landscapes, like this rushing creek to the right here. Ahhh, that sounds is so peaceful!
It’s a really pretty waterfall with a creek running right in front of it. There are also two more waterfalls in the area, Roughlock Falls and Spearfish Falls. They each have their own unique beauty so be sure to see them all!
ATV/UTV Trails are a big summer attraction. As mentioned, we brought our Ranger side-by-side one time and rode it all over the trails by our Airbnb. This last time, when we stayed at Spearfish Canyon Lodge, there is an ATV rental place right across the road and we rented.
It’s not cheap but you can rent for half a day or the full day and it’s much easier than hauling your ATV there. We rode the trails all around Spearfish Canyon and had a blast! Jess just had to jump in this freezing creek and cool off. You don’t run into a lot of other people, plenty of cows though, haha, and the scenery is gorgeous. In the winter, you can rent snowmobiles and do the same. We had the best morning!
The Black Hills and Badlands are the Perfect Long Weekend Getaway!
As you can see from this extensive list, there is soooo much to do in the Black Hills. I haven’t even scratched the surface here. Don’t let it overwhelm you though, even if you only have 3 days, pick a route and see as much as you can and then make a plan to come back and see more next time. We have all this natural beauty so close; we have to take advantage!
Here’s a map with all locations noted to help you plan your trip! Looking for more long weekend adventures? Check out this one to Estes Park or this one to Jackson, WY!
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