Hi Everyone! Finally purchased our tickets to South Dakota; we will leave in late May and have allocated two weeks for this trip. Our thinking it one week to see everything in South Dakota and then drive to Yellowstone, which would be our 3rd trip here. I am curious to know if anyone has based themselves in Rapid City for the South Dakota part instead of moving around and changing hotels. If so, I would appreciate some help on the lodging. I have Yellowstone pretty much planned, but am unsure of the Dakota portion. My first thought was just to stay at a Comfort Inn and drive where we wanted each day until we move to Yellowstone. Any and all help greatly appreciated! Thanks!

We spent about ten days in the Black Hills in August 2011. We arrived mid-afternoon, and spent the first night in Wall, the second night in Badlands NP.

From there we went to Custer State Park and got a room at the State Game Lodge. Even though we booked quite late (like a week before hand), we got one of the "historical rooms." Small but quite romantic! Incidentally, teh restaurant there has the best breakfast buffet I have ever visited in the US.

We then spent a week in a cabin in Hill City, from VRBO. We found the location to be perfect, more or leass equidistant from everything.

For me, Rapid City would be too far from too many attractions.

Greenway, thank you so much for your reply! I will now rethink where to stay!
Also, how many nights did you stay in Custer?

We too stayed in Custer State Park at the State Game Lodge. We also enjoyed dinner in the restaurant. The room we had at the Lodge did not have AC and we had to move, it was Aug and very hot. May would not be bad and the rooms might all have AC now, this was about 8yrs ago.

I'm afraid your question is a bit vague for specific recommendations. When you say "everything in South Dakota" are you referring to the Black Hills area? That is where most tourists commonly go and I would assume that's what you meant since there's an airport in Rapid City.

If you want to go to Badlands, you are best off staying in Interior or the park overnight, rather than driving from elsewhere. You could also stay in Wall and enter the park from the west, it's only about 12 miles from there to Wall.

For everything in the Black Hills, you are best off coming up with an itinerary and changing hotels as needed. There's no point in driving back and forth from Rapid City to your daily destinations.

WE only stayed one night in the park.

I would not change hotels, but stay in one central location. But that is just our preference.

If you are interested, I can email you my trip diary.

Thanks, Greenway! Please send me your trip diary. Do you think that staying in the State Game Lodge is central enough? Here is my email address: [email protected]

WhereAreWe: Sorry for the vague post. Yes, we want to see everything in the Black Hills area. We will then have an extra week for an additional area if we want. Thank you!

Late May won't be as ridiculously busy as later in summer, so traffic won't be as bad. But I still would not want to stay in one central location for the entire Black Hills area.

For sure you'd want to stay in Wall or Interior for Badlands. And if you are planning on any time in the Deadwood area, you'd want to stay up there instead of driving back and forth from Custer.

For one week or more I would not stay there or in any hotel, as the meals would get too expensive for me. If you are going to concntrate on the southern part of the Black HIlls, the park or the town of Custer would be good.

Greenway: The State Game Lodge is in the park....

Yes, of course it is. (It is also not the only Lodge in the Park.) It would not be my choice for an extended visit, as I said. It is too far south for me. We were quite happy with Hill City as a central location.

And of course if you want to visit Badlands NP you would really have to stay within the park (which I would highly recommend) or in Wall.

Thanks, Greenway!

There are several other options in Custer State Park besides State Game Lodge. It is not "the only"

spirobulldog: I realize there are other options in the State Park. What are your suggestions?

just wanted to clear up Greenway's post
"(It is also not the only Lodge in the Park.)"