Off Campus
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Located on a 118-acre campus in the eastern foothills of the beautiful Black Hills, South Dakota Mines is just 35 minutes from Mt. Rushmore and an hour from Badlands National Park. The Black Hills area is known for a milder climate than other parts of the state, a climate more akin to the front-range of Colorado. Our winters are warmer and our summers cooler, making us a perfect climate for outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, rock climbing, and more.
Though our temperatures tend to be milder, we do have unpredictable weather - perfect for atmospheric science majors on campus.
Located one hour to the northwest of Rapid City you will find Lead, SD, home to the Sanford Underground Research Facility. SURF, as it's called, is base to world-renowned research and science experiments involving scientists from around the world as well as students from South Dakota Mines.
Location
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Rapid City is the 2nd largest city in the state of South Dakota
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Population: approximately 75,000
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Six-hour drive from Denver, eight-hour drive to Minneapolis; direct flights to Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, and Phoenix.
Weather
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Four distinct seasons. August average temperature: high 85/low 56. January average temperature: high 36/low 12
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Average monthly snowfall ranges from 7 inches in Rapid City to 15 inches in the Black Hills
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Number of sunny days per year: 226
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Named third best city for new graduates in 2022 , and top 25 coolest towns in America in 2021.
Things to Enjoy
- Hiking, biking, camping, canoeing and kayaking, golfing, skiing and snowboarding, rock climbing, fishing, dirt biking and ATVing, hunting, water sports, and more!
- Art galleries and Art Alley, shopping, restaurants, movie theaters, music events, theatrical productions
- Parks, museums, libraries, churches, escape rooms, arcades, indoor climbing walls
- A huge range of tourism venues that draw millions of visitors every year: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Wind Cave and Jewel Cave (and many others), the Badlands, historic Deadwood
- Rapid City's Main Street Square (boutiques, cafes, fountains, and skating in the winter . . . plus a statue of a president on every downtown corner) - also featuring free weekly summer events - Summer Nights.
Dining in The Black Hills
Hotel Recommendations
When making your reservation at The Rushmore or the Howard Johnson, mention that you're visiting South Dakota Mines for a special rate.
| The Rushmore Hotel & Suites | Hotel Alex Johnson | Howard Johnson |
| 445 Mt. Rushmore Rd., Rapid City, SD 57701 605-348-8300 |
523 Sixth St., Rapid City, SD 57701 605-342-1210 Use this link to make your reservation and receive a special rate. |
950 North St., Rapid City, SD 57701 605-737-4656 Use this link to make your reservation and receive a special rate. |