We are traveling for 5 nights to Mt. Rushmore area w/ 3 kids. We have booked the last 2 nights at Custer in State Game Lodge rooms. We are thinking of staying in Holiday Inn Rapid City for the first 3 nights. Any comments on this hotel? Also would you move on one night to Deadwood or Devils Tower area or another area? If so, where would you recommend? Thank so much!

A few years ago I stayed at the Comfort Inn & Suites in Custer while in the area for a wedding. The hotel was comfortable, clean, good basic buffet breakfast included, indoor pool, plus close to the sights. Rapid City is a bit of a drive from Custer - no so far that you can't do it but not something you'll want to do 3 days running.

The sights in the area all closer to Custer. Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer St. park (rock formations), prairie dog/buffalo sightings, Mammoth excavation, etc. If you don't want to or can't stay at the State Game Lodge for 5 nts, the Comfort Inn is reasonably priced and nearby.

You can make a day trip from Custer to Devils tower and not have to pack/unpack.

On the main road from RC to Custer are a few additional kid activities/sights. There's a small water park, reptile gardens.

There are also a number of cabin type accommodations nearby on places that have horses for day rides. I've heard of these through family members but can't offer a specific recommendation myself (without justly being accused of advertising).

We stayed in Rapid City at the Jellystone campground, and would have been better where you are staying. Everything isspread so when we went to wind cave, by the time we go to the mammoth site it was too late to go in- then to drive back. Custer is great- we at one place in the park- only wish we had more time there- to see more than the buffalo as we drove through. You'll have a nice location from the park. I like the fake dino on the hill in Raipid city and the maze on the main hwy. Plus I have a 12 yr so we did the mall thing, but otherwise we were checking out crazy hore and Mt rushmore. We ran out of time to get to Devils tower.. looks cool from the pic (www.flickr.com) I have seem. Have a great time. Mn Mom

The Holiday Inn in Rapid is pretty nice. It's built like an Embassy Suites, with an atrium in the center. Indoor pool with an outside patio. The hotel's within walking distance of downtown restaurants. Your kids will love the Firehouse--casual dining, great atmosphere and a brewpub for adults (if that's your thing--it is mine . Sanford's is also a great restaurant for families. Botticelli's Italian restaurant is also downtown--absolutely one of our favorite restaurants ANYWHERE.

If you don't mind switching hotels three times, you might want to consider a night in Deadwood before you move to Custer. That way, you'd have 2 nights in Rapid, 2 in Custer and one in Deadwood. Rapid is a great home base and you can easily do the hills during the day and come back to the city at night. Deadwood, though, is just far enough north that I'd get a hotel for that end. The Holiday Inn Express in Deadwood is great for families.

If you have time and your kids are fairly young, they will enjoy Reptile Gardens. Pretty touristy but my kids adored it when they were little. It's on the outskirts of Rapid as you head to the hills. Another place my kids loved when they were tiny is Flintstone's Village (can't remember exactly what it's called--Flintstone something).

We stay in Rapid every summer for soccer tournaments--now that our children are 16 and 13, our activities have changed a little and we have to include mall time for the 13 year old! Rapid has a pretty nice mall--it's on the north side of town.

We only live a few hours from the Hills and have been going there since I was small--it's a great place for families.

Let me know if you want recs for other Rapid City hotels but I think the Holiday Inn will be fine.

Have fun!

Try Hill City, specifically Mountain View Lodge. They have cabins and hotel rooms. On Friday night, unless there is a fire warning, the owners have smores and chocolate around the campfire. Our cabin had a gas grill where we did all of our cooking. We stayed 5 nights here and made day trips out to the sites. It was nice to have a "home" to return to everyday.

A. Nurse,

That's a really great tip--I'll remember the Mountain View Lodge for this year's trip. You learn something every day on this board!