Free Things to do in the Black Hills

Budget Friendly Stops in South Dakota

South Dakota is a great place to take an affordable vacation. There are plenty of budget friendly stops in the Black Hills while you are seeing great sites like Badlands National Park and the other South Dakota National Parks. There are even plenty of free things to do in the Black Hills. Enjoy your travels and do not worry about the price when you go to these entertaining low-cost attractions.

The places in this guide are free, so the only thing you will have to worry about are the souvenirs to bring home. You can even use some of these places as a backup plan in case the weather forces you to change your activities for the day. Read on to find out more information about Wall Drug, Prairie Edge Trading Co and Galleries, Storybook Island, Museum of Geology, and Petrified Wood Park.

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Wall Drug

Wall Drug is a world wild known tourist attraction near Badlands National Park. It is made up many different stores, restaurants and activities perfectly made for tourists. It has a western vibe to it and is filled with all types of novelty items of all sizes. You can buy shirts, jewelry, post cards, statues, and artwork. There are restaurants, places to get your picture, and other entertainment opportunities. If you discovered that you forgot to pack something, you can buy it here too. Wall Drug prides themselves on having something for everyone!

If you drove to the Black Hills in South Dakota, you would have seen billboards advertising this stop for hundreds of miles. The amount of money you will spend here is completely up to you. They give out free ice water and you can get a free Wall Drug bumper sticker with your purchase at most stores. You will find Jackalope memorabilia throughout the area and you can even have your picture taken on one.

Prairie Edge Trading Co and Galleries

In Rapid City, you will find Prairie Edge Trading Co and Galleries which is a Native American art gallery and store. They carry Native American herbs, beads, and other items of that nature. The store prides themselves on providing Native American artists from the North Plains a place to display their work and to sell it at a fair price to them. This is a great stop to admire the artwork and window shop or to support Native American artists if it is in your budget.

Storybook Island

Rapid City is also the home of Storybook Island, which is a children’s park fully committed to characters and scenes from nursery rhymes and popular kid shows. It will provide an entertaining trip back to your childhood memories and you will have fun trying to remember what obscure story or rhyme some of the characters are from. It has some playground equipment and children’s playhouses along with character statues spread around the park for you to explore and take photos with. There are several snacks stands in case you find yourself in need of food or drinks. Parts of the park could use a fresh coat of paint and some attention, but it is still an enjoyable stop to stretch your legs and have a fun time!

Museum of Geology

The Museum of Geology is located on the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology college campus in Rapid City. If you are interested in minerals, rocks, or fossils you should definitely fit this into your schedule. They have an abundance of great information and displays throughout the museum. The exhibits are separated by groupings and they have many other interesting facts about the history of the region (with respect to the fossils and minerals) as well.  The Museum of Geology even has some hands-on displays that you can interact with. If you have any questions you will find a couple of the college’s students working in the gift shop to help you out. I learned the most about geology from this stop during our entire trip.

Petrified Wood Park

If you head north from the Badlands National Park area you will find Lemmon, South Dakota, home of Petrified Wood Park. The park itself is about the size of a city block and full of beautiful creations made from petrified wood.  There are archways, benches, and even a house! The art is very aesthetically pleasing and there are paths that wind through the park so you can admire it all.

Onsite you would also find a very eclectic museum. This museum literally makes no sense and has a very intriguing collection of various and random things like old dolls and toys, many displays of taxidermy, old tools, and machines, and even a conductor wand with a corresponding picture of a Clown Band (band was actually made up of clowns). The museum in Petrified Wood Park will hold your attention and leave you with many questions. There is a small gift shop where they also carry brochures for nearby attractions including the Regent Enchanted Highway (one of the Roadside Attractions in North Dakota that I talk about in a different guide). This stop may be a little out of the way, but it is interesting and quirky enough to be worth it!

Why You Should Visit:

Sometimes you need a break from your vacation or a backup plan if something suddenly changes. If you are looking for sudden indoor plans that will not break the bank; make the trip to Wall Drug, Prairie Edge Trading Co, or the Museum of Geology. If you have people in your group that love rocks and fossils or Native American sites be sure to check out Black Hills South Dakota Attractions for other fun places like Mammoth Site or Crazy Horse Memorial.

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