Bear Country USA — Attraction in Rapid City

Bear Country USA: A Must-Do Experience!

Bear Country USA in South Dakota is an absolute highlight of the Black Hills region and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for all ages. From the moment you drive through the entrance, you're immersed in a captivating world of wildlife. The experience of driving through the park, getting up close and personal (but safely) with black bears, elk, reindeer, wolves, and other North American wildlife is truly unforgettable. Seeing these majestic creatures roam freely in their spacious and natural habitats is breathtaking. The bears, in particular, are fascinating to watch - whether they're playing, napping, or just strolling along, they're a constant source of entertainment. Beyond the drive-through, the Wildlife Walk-through Area is a fantastic addition. It allows you to stretch your legs and get even closer to the smaller animals like playful river otters, curious foxes, and adorable baby bears in the Bear Cub Village. Watching the cubs frolic and interact is an absolute heart-melter! What I truly appreciate about Bear Country USA is their commitment to animal welfare. The animals seem healthy, well-cared for, and content in their environments. It's clear that the park prioritizes their well-being and provides them with ample space to roam and exhibit natural behaviors.

Here's what makes Bear Country USA so great:

Incredible Wildlife Encounters: Unforgettable close-up views of black bears and other iconic North American animals. Educational and Engaging: Learn about the animals and their habitats in a fun and interactive way. Well-Maintained and Clean: The park is well-kept and provides a comfortable experience for visitors. Family-Friendly: A perfect attraction for visitors of all ages. Wildlife Walk-through Area: Provides a chance to see smaller animals and stretch your legs. Commitment to Animal Welfare: Shows genuine care and respect for the animals in their care.

If you're visiting South Dakota, do yourself a favor and add Bear Country USA to your itinerary. It's an experience you won't soon forget! Just remember to roll up your windows! 😉 Highly...

Best place in the area to visit if you have kids with you (or if you love watching wildlife and do not have these animals where you live). Our twin 10 year old granddaughters loved Bear Country USA even though a few of the same types of animals frequently visit our property for them to see in their natural habitat.

No animals permitted in the walk around area. While this makes perfect sense (to not upset the place’s animals), the restriction could impact some traveler’s decision to visit. Good chance a visit would still be worth it if you only do the drive through portion due to traveling with an animal.

Visiting this place costed us 70 for two adults and two kids with military discount. Seemed steep when we first arrived, but it quickly proved to be well worth the cost since all had a great amount of fun.

Highly recommend hanging around to catch the bears eating, particularly the baby bears. They get so playful after eating, super fun to watch them goof off with each other.

Gift shop prices were relatively reasonable and the selection of stuff was really nice.

Business did a good job providing shelter for the animals while also giving visitors a chance to view the animals.

Finally, if adding this stop to your trip to Mt Rushmore or something make sure you set aside a decent chunk of time for Bear Country USA… we decided to stop on a whim at the last minute with every intention of only being there 30 minutes for the drive through, we left hours later since the kids were grinning ear to ear and giggling so much as they checked one thing out...

I had brought my parents and son here in 2012. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Being from the South, we hadn't seen many of the animals.

This year, I brought my sister-in-law who was visiting from the South. She had the best time taking pictures of the animals and was thrilled when a black bear walked up to my vehicle, down the passenger side, and then behind, between us and the next vehicle. We enjoyed the walking tour, grabbed snacks at the outdoor stand, and visited the gift shop. I treated myself to a tee shirt and small dish with a bear paw imprint. She indulged in a tee and other items.

I would like a pottery coffee mug "Made in the USA." I don't buy Chinese cups anymore because after a couple of uses or washings in the dishwasher, the glaze inside begins to thin out or fade showing the material underneath. I have beautiful mugs from Glacier and Montana made by local artisans in that area; surely you can find someone in our state or the other 47 mainland states.

Overall, you have a lovely exhibit of wild animals that are well cared for by attentive staff. Your other park staff, at the entrance gate, at concessions, and in the gift shop are friendly and helpful.

I plan to visit again soon with a friend who hasn't traveled to the West side of our state. I'm looking forward to...