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Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is a city of 77,946 people in Pennington County, South Dakota, founded in 1876.
Why visit Rapid City
Townapedia lists 42 museums and landmarks, 55 parks and trails, 230 places to eat, 64 places to stay and 9 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Golden Ticket Cinemas Rushmore 7, AMC Rapid City 10, Carnegie Public Library Building and Cassidy House.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 16°F, and about 54 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Rapid City
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Rapid City
Rapid City is a city in and the county seat of Pennington County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 74,703 as of the 2020 census, and was estimated at 80,589 in 2025, making it the second-most populous city in South Dakota, after Sioux Falls. The Rapid City metropolitan area has 156,934 residents in 2025.
From the Wikipedia article Rapid City, South Dakota (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do9
Golden Ticket Cinemas Rushmore 7
Cinema and theater · 2.6 mi
350 East Disk Drive, Rapid City
Mo-Su 10:30-22:45
Museums and landmarks42
Carnegie Public Library Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.7 mi
Historic public library building in Rapid City South Dakota
Cassidy House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Historic Lustron home in Rapid City, South Dakota, United States
Gambrill Storage Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Historic building in Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
Milwaukee Road Freight House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Building in South Dakota, United States
Pap Madison Cabin
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.3 mi
Cabin in Rapid City, SD, USA
Pennington County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
County courthouse in Rapid City, United States of America
Rapid City Commercial Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic district in South Dakota, USA
Rapid City Fruit Company
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Historic building in Rapid City, South Dakota, USA
Rapid City Garage
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Historic two-story building in Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City High School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Alternative high school in the United States
Lil' Harvester's Pumpkin Patch
Monument and historic site · 6.0 mi
Su 10:00-16:00; We 09:00-17:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-18:00
Rapid City Historic Commercial District
Monument and historic site · 0.8 mi
30 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds55
Dinosaur Park
Park · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
Sculpture park in Rapid City, South Dakota
940 Skyline Drive, Rapid City
Chuck Lien Family Park
Park · 1.9 mi
1510 West Omaha Street, Rapid City
05:00-21:00
43 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes230
Sumo Japanese Kitchen
Restaurant · Japanese, Sushi · 0.5 mi
214 East Saint Joseph Street
Tu-Sa 10:00-15:00, 16:30-20:00
Boba Cafe
Cafe · Bubble Tea · 2.5 mi
2200 North Maple Avenue, Rapid City
Mo off, Tu-Sa 11:00-19:00, Su 12:00-18:00
Colombian Market
Cafe · Coffee Shop, Pastry · 0.8 mi
2101 Mount Rushmore Road, Rapid City
Mo 08:00-17:00; Tu-Th 08:00-16:00; Fr 08:30-18:00; Sa 09:00-17:00;...
Colonial House Restaurant and Bar
Diner · American · 0.9 mi
2315 Mount Rushmore Road, Rapid City
Su-Th 07:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 07:00-22:00
Everest Cuisine
Restaurant · Indian · 2.1 mi
2328 West Main Street, Rapid City
Su-Sa 11:00-14:30, 17:00-22:00
Firehouse Brewing Co.
Bar and pub · American, Burger · 0.9 mi
610 Main Street
Mo-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 11:00-21:00
Ft. hays Chuckwagon Supper and Show
Restaurant · Pancake · 5.2 mi
2255 Fort Hayes Drive, Wildwood Addition
Mo-Su 08:00-20:00
Himalayan Kitchen
Restaurant · Indian · 0.7 mi
1720 Mount Rushmore Road, Rapid City
Mo-Su 11:00-21:30,16:30-21:00
Noodles & Company
Restaurant · Pasta · 2.6 mi
1734 Eglin Street, Rapid City
Su-Sa 11:00-17:00; Sa 11:00-17:00
218 more on the map.
History
The public discovery of gold in 1874 by the Black Hills Expedition, led by George Armstrong Custer, brought a mass influx of European-American miners and settlers into Rapid City. A group of unsuccessful miners founded Rapid City in 1876, trying to create other chances; they promoted their new city as the "Gateway to the Black Hills"; it was originally known as Hay Camp. The "Gateway" nickname is shared by neighboring Box Elder. In February 1876, John Richard Brennan and Samuel Scott, with a small group of men, laid out Rapid City. It was eventually named for the spring-fed Rapid Creek that flows through it.
The land speculators measured off a square mile and designated the six blocks in the center as a business section. Committees were appointed to recruit prospective merchants and their families to locate in the settlement. Such merchants soon began selling supplies to miners and pioneers. The city's location on the edge of the Plains and Hills and its large river valley made it a natural hub for the railroads that were constructed in the late 1880s from both the south and east. By 1900, Rapid City had survived a boom and bust and was developing as an important regional trade center for the Upper Midwest.
From the History section of Rapid City, South Dakota on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay64
Comfort Suites Hotel & Convention Center Rapid City
Motel and hotel · 3.7 mi
1333 North Elk Vale Road, Rapid City
Churches and places of worship35
Chapel in the Hills
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 4.3 mi
Church of the Immaculate Conception
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Emmanuel Episcopal Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
First Congregational Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Shopping45
Gas and EV charging49
Schools, colleges and libraries59
Healthcare27
Rapid City Medical Center South Clinic
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.9 mi
101 East Minnesota Street, Rapid City
Westside Family Medicine
Clinic and pharmacy · 3.3 mi
3810 Jackson Boulevard, Rapid City
Map of Rapid City
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 16°F | 0.3 in | 5.3 in |
| Feb | 38°F | 18°F | 0.5 in | 9.1 in |
| Mar | 47°F | 26°F | 0.9 in | 10.4 in |
| Apr | 55°F | 34°F | 2.3 in | 10.0 in |
| May | 65°F | 45°F | 4.1 in | 2.2 in |
| Jun | 76°F | 55°F | 3.3 in | 0.1 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 62°F | 2.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 83°F | 60°F | 2.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 51°F | 1.4 in | 0.1 in |
| Oct | 59°F | 38°F | 1.5 in | 3.4 in |
| Nov | 47°F | 27°F | 0.5 in | 6.5 in |
| Dec | 38°F | 19°F | 0.4 in | 6.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Rapid City Wfo (0 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Pennington County has had 14 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2026-04-07: Straight-Line Winds (Straight-Line Winds)
- 2021-10-04: Auburn Fire (Fire)
- 2021-03-29: Schroeder Fire (Fire)
- 2020-04-05: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-09-23: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 8 miles away.
- Rapid Valley 5 mi east, about 8 min by car
- Green Valley 6 mi southeast, about 9 min by car
- Colonial Pine Hills 6 mi southwest, about 10 min by car
- Ashland Heights 6 mi northeast, about 10 min by car
- Box Elder 7 mi east, about 12 min by car
- Blackhawk 8 mi northwest, about 13 min by car
- Summerset 10 mi northwest, about 17 min by car
- Johnson Siding 11 mi west, about 18 min by car
- Wonderland Homes 11 mi northwest, about 18 min by car
- Piedmont 13 mi northwest, about 21 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Rapid City Skyline (2022), WeaponizingArchitecture, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pennington County Sheriff Dodge Durango in Rapid City, SD, Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
- Rapid City Police Department - Pennington County Sheriff - Public Safety Building (52217238269), Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
- South Dakota School of Mines and Technology - Classroom Building - Rapid City (52213657686), Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
- The Fairmount Creamery Building, Main Street and 2nd Street, Rapid City, SD, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- The Fairmount Creamery Building, Main Street and 2nd Street, Rapid City, SD - 53757721003, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Pennington County Courthouse - Rapid City - South Dakota (52471565067), Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
- Pennington County Court House - Rapid City - South Dakota (52504062906), Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
- South Dakota Mines and Technology - Rapid City (52467911289), Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
- Rapid City Journal -Father of Rushmore Honored, Jrryjude, CC0
- Rapid City Carnegie Library, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Dakota Mill and Grain facility in Rapid City, SD, Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
- Hotel Alex Johnson - Rapid City, South Dakota, Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
- Hotel Alex Johnson, Rapid City, South Dakota (28754543166), Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Rapid City Masonic Temple, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hotel Alex Johnson, St. Joseph Street and 6th Street, Rapid City, SD - 53756609972, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Hotel Alex Johnson, St. Joseph Street and 6th Street, Rapid City, SD - 53756609987, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Hotel Alex Johnson, St. Joseph Street and 6th Street, Rapid City, SD - 53757932615, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Hotel Alex Johnson, St. Joseph Street and 6th Street, Rapid City, SD - 53756609597, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Hotel Alex Johnson, St. Joseph Street and 6th Street, Rapid City, SD - 53757844099, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Hotel Alex Johnson, St. Joseph Street and 6th Street, Rapid City, SD - 53757843794, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Hotel Alex Johnson, St. Joseph Street and 6th Street, Rapid City, SD - 53757843889, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Hotel Alex Johnson, St. Joseph Street and 6th Street, Rapid City, SD - 53757516446, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Hotel Alex Johnson, St. Joseph Street and 6th Street, Rapid City, SD - 53756609437, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 6th Street, Rapid City, SD - 53757720093, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Elks Theatre, 6th Street and Main Street, Rapid City, SD, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Elks Theatre, 6th Street and Main Street, Rapid City, SD - 53757719783, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 6th Street, Rapid City, SD - 53757844549, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Hotel Alex Johnson, St. Joseph Street and 6th Street, Rapid City, SD - 53757832474, w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
- RapidCitySD MauriceNelsonHouse, Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pennington County Courthouse, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Mammoth sighting (4236344860), Mike Beauregard from Canada, CC BY 2.0
- Motor Service Company, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- New paint (14818186188), Jerry Huddleston from Hampton, Minnesota, US, CC BY 2.0
- Dean Motor Company, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- South Dakota Mines Hardrockers Football Field - O'Harra Stadium (52445141285), Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
- Casper Supply Company of SD, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fair not Creamery Building, Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Statue of George Washington, Caroline E Willis, CC BY 3.0
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Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.