Discover the Black Hills

Four seasons of adventure await you in Rapid City and the Black Hills. From hiking to snowboarding, biking to paddle-boarding, the School of Mines location provides an exceptional range of outdoor recreation. There are also many shopping, restaurant and entertainment options, as well as area history and cultural attractions that draw millions of visitors from all over the world. A few miles to the north, the Sanford Underground Research Facility provides collaborations on cutting-edge science projects. The Black Hills also provide an unparalleled "lab" for geology, engineering and mining students.

Location

• Rapid City is the 2nd largest city in the state of South Dakota
• Population: about 70,000
  
• Six-hour drive from Denver; direct flights daily to Minneapolis, Denver, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, Chicago, Atlanta, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas
• View the Interactive Campus Map ( Google map) to see our campus and the Black Hills area
  

Visit

• For directions to the SD Mines Campus, go to:  Visit Our Campus 
• To schedule a visit with our Admissions department, go to:  Visit With Us
• Experience SD Mines Virtual Tour
• Why choose SD Mines? Visit our Online Viewbook to get an overall view of what it looks like to be a Hardrocker

Weather

• Four distinct seasons. July average temperature: high-86/low-58. December average temperature: high-38/low-13.
  
• Average annual snowfall: 26 inches
  
• Number of sunny days per year: 226
  
• Named a National Geographic Adventure Town, Outdoor Life Magazine's best outdoor town, and the most changeable area nationwide
  

Things to Enjoy

• Explore the Black Hills - Students will find a variety of activities to enjoy off campus, from exploring the Black Hills and Rushmore Region to Top 10 Outdoor Adventures in the Black Hills & Badlands!
  
• Hiking, biking, camping, canoeing, golf, skiing, snowboarding, rock-climbing, fishing, water sports
• Top 10 Outdoor Adventures in the Black Hills & Badlands
• Art galleries and Art Alley, shopping, restaurants, theater, music events
  
• Parks, museums, libraries, churches
• Top 10 Hiking Trails
  
• A huge range of tourism venues that draw millions of visitors every year: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Wind Cave (and many others), the Badlands, historic Deadwood
  
• Rapid City's Main Street Square (boutiques and cafes . . . plus a statue of a president on every downtown corner)
  

Dining in The Black Hills

• Visit Rapid City Dining
• Downtown Rapid City Dining and Restaurants
• Black Hills & Badlands Food and Drink 
  

Hotel Recommendations

When making your reservation at The Rushmore or the Howard Johnson, mention that you're visiting SD Mines for a special rate.

The Rushmore Hotel & Suites
445 Mt. Rushmore Rd., Rapid City, SD 57701 
605-348-8300

Hotel Alex Johnson
523 Sixth St., Rapid City, SD 57701 
605-342-1210
Use this  link to make your reservation and receive a special rate.

Howard Johnson
950 North St., Rapid City, SD 57701 
605-737-4656

Slideshow (below) and video (above) are courtesy of the Rapid City Convention & Visitors Bureau (learn more at www.VisitRapidCity.com.