Budget-friendly Black Hills Itinerary

7-Day Black Hills Vacation Itinerary

If you are looking for a 7-day budget-friendly Black Hills itinerary, then this post is for you. South Dakota is full of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone! Use this itinerary as is or as a guideline for your perfect upcoming South Dakota vacation. Get ready to visit the area’s National Parks, Custer State Park, and other Black Hills Attractions. This trip plan will cost 1 adult less than $300 for 7 days and 6 nights. The price is around $150 per adult if two people split the cost of all parks and camping fees. This price does not include transportation, food, or any souvenirs you may purchase.

Tip: Consider booking your trip in the spring or fall to avoid the high heat of summer or deep freeze during the winter.

*This itinerary is not dog-friendly due to restrictions of most of the stops on the schedule. If you are hoping to bring your dog along, consider spending the bulk of your trip in Custer State Park.

How to Get to and Around the Black Hills

If you choose to fly to the Black Hills area, then you will most likely use the Rapid City Regional Airport. Whether you decide to fly or drive, it is highly recommended that you have a car available during your vacation so you can easily get from one location to the next. Having your own car will be necessary for this schedule.

Where to Stay

To keep the cost low, this itinerary does involve camping each night. The first two nights will be at a free primitive campsite in Badlands National Park that has no running water and pit toilets. There is however a bison herd that stays nearby! There are other campgrounds available in the park that do have running water, but they do require payment.

The rest of the nights will be at an electric campsite in Custer State Park. By moving campgrounds, you will be able to save on gas and cut down on travel time to the stops that are on the schedule each day. Camping while on vacation is one of our seven Low Budget Travel Tips to help save you money on your vacations. If camping is not for you, there are cabins or hotels that you can choose to stay at instead. Keep in mind that this will change the final amount for your trip.

7-day Black Hills Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive at Badlands National Park and get your 7-day park pass that covers everyone in your car for $30.  Arrive and claim a FREE primitive camping spot at Sage Creek Campground. These spots are first-come, so it’s best to arrive early! We found that most spots were taken by 12 noon.  (There are several paid campgrounds available in the park if you would rather stay in one of them. Make sure to book these in advance). This will be your campsite for 2 nights.

Once you have set up camp, stop at the visitor center, pick up a map, and get your National Park Passport stamped if you have one. Spend the day admiring the gorgeous views on the scenic drives and hikes in the North Unit of the park. My favorite hikes were Notch Trail, Door Trail, and Saddle Pass Trail (this one was a bit more difficult). Window Trail is another short trail that provides a beautiful photo opportunity and if you have children, you might find the Fossil Exhibit Trail interesting. If you take a hike by the creek near Sage Creek campgrounds, you may be able to spot some more evasive animals near the water. My friend was able to see a porcupine one night.

There is a South Unit in Badlands National Park, but unless you have extra time and 4-wheel drive, I wouldn’t stress about including it into your travel plans.

Cost: $30

Day 2

Wake up and enjoy the quiet morning. Depending on what time you get up, you may be able to see some bison walking by the campground. Always remember to keep a safe distance from these majestic and dangerous creatures!

Get ready to head to Minuteman Missile Silo. There are 3 different locations as a part of this National Historic Site, but I recommend that you start at the visitor center. Here you can meet some of the volunteers that used to man the sites when they were active during the cold war. The visitor center has a small museum-like area and a movie that you can watch that will set the scene for the next two locations you can visit: Delta -01 Launch Control Facility and Delta -09 Missile Silo.

If missiles or the Cold War spark interest, they do offer a guided tour of the Launch Control Facility for a small fee. This tour does book up quickly so make sure you sign up a few months in advance if you are interested.

After you are done with the Minuteman Missile Silo, head to Wall Drug for some good old-fashioned touristy fun. Wall Drug is a must when you travel to the area. It is a stop filled with all sorts of stores which makes it a great spot for souvenirs and anything you might have forgotten to pack. There is also a good selection of restaurants to choose from when you get hungry.

Cost:  Free– except for what you decide to spend food and souvenirs or the guided tour

Day 3

Today you will break down your campsite and head over to Wind Cave National Park for a Cave tour. There is no entrance for the park itself but there is a fee for the cave tours that range anywhere from $10-30. There are several tours to choose from depending on what your interest and activity level is. The tours are first come first serve so I recommend arriving early so you can get into one of the first tours of the day. This way you don’t get stuck waiting for the next open tour which could affect the rest of the day’s schedule. After your tour, feel free to explore the visitor center and the rest of the park.

When you are done, get ready to head over to the Mammoth Site. The Mammoth Site is a live dinosaur dig site. There is a $12 admission fee. Currently, the tour is self-guided, and they do recommend you download the tour app before you arrive. After you are done with the tour, you are able to explore the rest of the exhibits and grounds.

Next, head to your Custer State Park Campground to set up camp. This will be where you will stay for the rest of the week. Relax for the evening, go swimming, or squeeze in a few hikes. There is a $20 entry fee to get into the park which will be good for the next 7 days. The price of campsites ranges anywhere from $7/night for a primitive campground to $55/night if you want to stay in a cabin. Most electric campsites cost $30/night. You will want to choose and book your campsite in advance.

Cost: $74 (assuming a $12 cave tour and an electric campsite)

Day 4

Drive to Jewel Cave National Park for another cave tour. The cave tours can range between $4-$31. There is no entrance fee for the cave itself. I recommend booking one of the first tours available that day.

Remember to switch out your bag, purse, jackets, pants, and shoes so you don’t spread White-nose Syndrome to the bats in the cave. After you are done with the tour, explore the visitor center and the park.

After Jewel Cave, drive to Mount Rushmore where you can enjoy the trails while seeing this famous monument. There is a $10 parking fee per vehicle. This Park will most likely take you about 1-2 hours to be able to see everything depending on how busy the park is. If you want to come back at night, they do put on a light display during the main tourist season.

The last stop of the day is Crazy Horse Memorial which has plenty onsite to keep you busy. They host several demonstrations throughout the day in addition to having a museum and several educational displays onsite. There is also a fantastic restaurant where you can order Native American food. I highly suggest that you have at least one meal here. This location also has a light show that they put on after dark if you wish to stay for it. There is a fee for this stop; $15 for one person, $30 for two, and $35 for 3 or more people in the same vehicle.

Cost: $67 (assuming an electric campsite and a $12 cave tour)

Day 5

Explore Custer State Park today. There are several scenic drives and no shortage of hikes in this park. If you are up for a challenge, Black Elk Peak is worth it! If the weather is agreeable, you can also go swimming or fishing.

Cost: $30 (assuming electric campsite)

Day 6

Today you will spend the day in Rapid City. There are three spots on the itinerary today that you can do in any order you choose. If one does not interest you, feel free to skip it or replace it with something else in the area that interests you.

The Museum of Geology is free to enter and is perfect for anyone who is interested in minerals and fossils- especially dinosaur bones. This stop is a great complementary outing to the Mammoth Site that you are visited earlier in the week.

Storybook Island is a fun-loving free stop full of statutes from childhood nursery rhymes and even tv shows. This is a park that is great for flat surfaced walks (give your legs a break from mountains) and getting some energy out, especially if you have little ones. The park is open between Memorial and Labor Day.

Reptile Gardens is the world’s largest reptile zoo, and they have several animal shows available to watch. Spend a few hours getting some face time with all types of animals, you may even learn some cool new facts. There is a $20 entrance fee per person for this attraction during the summer season.

If you have time left in the day, you can do some more shopping in the city or head back to Custer State Park to squeeze in a few more hikes.

Cost: $50 (assuming electric campsite)

Day 7

Today is unfortunately your last day in the Black Hills. Depending on what time you have to leave the area, you can go back to one of the parks you’ve visited to squeeze in a few more hikes or stop at a new attraction if one has caught your eye during your travels. You can also spend your last day relaxing before you must head home.

Cost: Free

Trip Cost Summary

The total for 1 adult for this trip will be around $251 and $140 for two adults when camping and car entrance fees are split evenly. This does not include money spent on gas, food, souvenirs, or if you choose different sleeping arrangements.

Why You Should Visit:

The Black Hills in South Dakota has been one of my favorite trips that I’ve taken stateside so far. It is not only full of breathtaking landscapes but is also incredibly affordable. I hope this itinerary has inspired you to start booking your next vacation in the Midwest and realize that travel doesn’t have to be expensive! Spend your week visiting museums, national parks, and more.

If you are up for adding another couple of days to your trip and willing to drive an additional 5 hours consider adding Theodore Roosevelt National Park to your itinerary.

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