No Cash Required: Free Things to Do in the Black Hills

Have you heard the saying “the best things in life are free”? If you’re looking for a fantastic but affordable place to book your vacation, you can’t beat the Black Hills region in South Dakota! This often-overlooked state has it all: history, wildlife, culture, and more. The best part is that a lot of these attractions are FREE!

I am a true believer that you don’t have to spend a ton of money to have a fantastic, memorable vacation. That’s why I put together this list of free things to do in the Black Hills. This guide has a bit of everything, from parks and presidents to museums and historic sites.

Let’s make planning your budget-friendly South Dakota itinerary easy with this list of free stops and guaranteed family fun for everyone!

Budget-Friendly Stops in South Dakota

Having a ready-to-go list of free attractions on vacation is a game-changer, even if you don’t plan on going to them all. You can use these places as a backup plan in case the weather forces you to change your activities for the day or you realize that you have extra free time on your hands.

These budget-friendly South Dakota stops are all technically free, so the only thing you’ll have to worry about is what souvenirs you want to bring home. And don’t worry – if there’s anything extra, like tours that you may want to pay for, I’ll include it in the short description of each place so you aren’t surprised.

Wall Drug

If you drove to the Black Hills in South Dakota, you would have seen billboards advertising Wall Drug for hundreds of miles. Wall Drug is a world-renowned tourist attraction near Badlands National Park. It is made up of many different stores, restaurants, and activities. Basically, it’s the perfect stop for tourists with a Western vibe and filled with novelty items of all sizes. You can even get our Pup Memory Passports here!

The amount of money you 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 also find Jackalope and Old Western memorabilia throughout the area for some fun photo opportunities.

Prairie Edge Trading Co. and Galleries

Technically, any store you visit is free, and there are a TON of shops throughout the Black Hills. However, if you are interested in Native American art, you should stop at Prairie Edge Trading Co. and Galleries in Rapid City. It’s a Native American art gallery and store that sells Native American herbs, beads, etc. The store prides itself on providing North Plains Native American artists a place to display and sell their work at a fair price. 

This store is free to visit, but it will be hard to leave empty-handed! Other than that, depending on when you go, you may have to pay for parking.

Dahl Arts Center

This art gallery offers a relaxing, more cultured break as you walk through the rotating exhibits. They do have paid classes you can take and a gift shop/gallery where you can shop.

Wind Cave and Jewel Cave National Parks 

Wind Cave and Jewel Cave National Parks are both free to visit. There are multiple hiking trails in each park where you can see bison, coyotes, prairie dogs, and other wildlife. You can also go to the visitor centers for maps, exhibits, and gift shops.

Most visitors stop at these parks for the cave tours; however, you will need to purchase tickets to enjoy the underground part of the parks. 

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Mount Rushmore is one of the places everyone wants to see when they go to South Dakota to get their picture with the Presidents.  Surprisingly, there is a lot of misinformation about how much it costs to visit this popular attraction. 

There is NO fee to enter this national memorial, BUT if you drive, there is a PARKING FEE. If you don’t want to pay the parking fee, your driver can drop you off at the main entrance. Nothing else costs money here except your souvenirs.

Dinosaur Park

Dinosaur Park in Rapid City is a fun, short stop at a city park on a hill. With large dinosaur statues and some great views overlooking the city and the surrounding area, it makes the perfect time filler if you find yourself with extra time to burn. 

If you go during the day, there is a gift shop and a super budget-friendly food stand.

Memorial Park

Another Rapid City park worth a visit is Memorial Park. The walking path takes you by one of the largest Berlin Wall Exhibits in the U.S., as well as other sculptures and memorials. There is also a band shelter where you may be able to catch a free concert.

Storybook Island

Rapid City is also home to Storybook Island, a children’s park full of characters and scenes from nursery rhymes and popular kids’ shows. It has playground equipment, children’s playhouses, and character statues throughout the park to explore and take photos with. 

There are several snack stands in case you find yourself in need of food or drinks, as well as a gift shop. 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 while taking a trip down memory lane!

Petrified Wood Park

North of Badlands National Park, 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! 

Onsite is also 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’s wand with a corresponding picture of a Clown Band (the band was actually made up of clowns). 

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). 

Minuteman Missile NHS and South Dakota Air And Space Museum

Cold War and Air Force buffs will appreciate this cluster of free stops. The Black Hills were home to one of many missile sites prepped and ready to go if needed. These attractions are all part of the National Park Service and tell the story of what it was like to live and work near or on the missile sites. 

The Minuteman Missile NHS visitor center and the Air and Space Museum both have a small gift shop.

Mt Rushmore Black Hills Gold Factory Tour

The Black Hills region was part of the 1800s gold rush, so obviously, there’s a place where you can learn how they make gold jewelry. The factory tour itself is free, but you may be tempted by the jewelry displays and deals in their outlet store.

Historic Deadwood

Deadwood is an Old Western Town with a history made for the movies. Though there are multiple museums and tours that you have to pay for, there is still plenty to do and see that won’t cost you a cent. There are even live shootout reenactments on Main Street in the summer to make you feel like you are visiting the real Wild West.

When you arrive, go to the visitor center for maps and suggestions. When we went, we were told to take selfies with any Wild Bill Hickok images around town. If we took enough, we could go back to the visitor center, show them the photos, and get some free chocolate!

Fort Hays Old West Town Square

Fort Hays Old West Town is free to visitors who just want to visit the pioneer town and the Dances with Wolves movie set. The town has interactive exhibits and live demonstrations that showcase skills that were needed in the past, like blacksmith work. 

Fort Hays is also home to paid attractions like dinner shows and an interactive ride.

Free Admission for Priceless Memories on Your Black Hills Vacation

The best adventures in life don’t come with a price tag, and the Black Hills region takes this to heart. This area of South Dakota is full of budget-friendly stops that cover a wide variety of interests. From all sorts of outdoor recreation opportunities and museums to Old Western towns and reenactments, there’s no way you’ll be bored or broke. 

With this list of family-friendly free things to do in the Black Hills at your fingertips, the only thing you’ll have to worry about is what souvenirs you want to bring home. South Dakota is calling – and admission is always free!

Pin For Later:

Want a quick list of 25 places to visit in North Dakota and South Dakota? Click here!