A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Milwaukee vs. Rapid City for Attractions, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Milwaukee or Rapid City?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Milwaukee and Rapid City can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Milwaukee

Milwaukee is a welcoming, undiscovered, and friendly city. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Milwaukee travel costs.

Rapid City

Rapid City is a activity-filled, friendly, and fascinating city. Visitors also love the hiking, shopping, and museums. See Rapid City travel costs.

Milwaukee and Rapid City: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Milwaukee or Rapid City?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Rapid City than Milwaukee. While Milwaukee is larger than Rapid City, Rapid City has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Rapid City is better known for its museums and attractions, food, and hiking, while Milwaukee is more popular for its nightlife. Rapid City is more touristy than Milwaukee and is known for its proximity to Mount Rushmore and many other iconic parks. Also, Rapid City is famous for Mount Rushmore. Milwaukee is well known for its many breweries and its baseball culture.

How is Milwaukee different from Rapid City?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Rapid City and Milwaukee. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Milwaukee or Rapid City?

Rapid City is terrific for its museums and history. Also, Milwaukee is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

The museums and tourist attractions in Rapid City are world-renowned. You'll find a wide variety of museums and landmarks nearby. Popular places to visit that aren't far from town include the Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, the South Dakota Air & Space Museum, and the Journey Museum & Learning Center. There's also the Museum of Geology and the National Presidential Wax Museum. And of course, there's the iconic Mount Rushmore.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Milwaukee. There are several unique museums like the Harley-Davidson Museum, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Milwaukee Public Museum. There's also the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Grohmann Museum as well as outdoor sculpture parks and other cultural and historic museums.

Is the Food Better in Milwaukee or Rapid City? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Rapid City is a city with good options for its restaurants. However, Milwaukee is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Rapid City has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. You'll find local restaurants in town that serve local specialties such as chislic (grilled meat), fry bread, and walleye (a local fish.

Milwaukee may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. The Midwest is known for its artery clogging comfort foods, and Milwaukee is no exception. Cheese curds, fried fish, fruit dumplings, and frozen custard are all popular.

Is Milwaukee or Rapid City Better for Nightlife?

Milwaukee is very good for nightlife and partying. However, Rapid City is lacking in good options for its evening party scene.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Milwaukee. You'll find a decent number of breweries around town. There are also wine bars, nightclubs, and live music venues that are worth checking out.

Rapid City is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. You'll find some places with live music and good drinks, but the city isn't really known for its nightlife scene.

Is Milwaukee or Rapid City Better for Hiking?

Rapid City is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Milwaukee is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Rapid City. The region is filled with national parks, state parks, and natural areas with wonderful hiking trails. You don't have to travel far to get into nature and experience some of South Dakota's best natural beauty.

Milwaukee is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Milwaukee or Rapid City?

Shoppers can find a variety of notable stores in both Milwaukee and Rapid City.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Milwaukee. You'll find the standard shopping centers and shopping malls around town, but if you want some more local vendors, check out the areas around the Historic Third Ward and The Village in Wauwatosa.

Many visitors go to Rapid City to go shopping. Rapid City has some interesting local shops as well as larger malls and shopping centers.

Is Milwaukee or Rapid City Better for Families?

Rapid City is terrific for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Milwaukee is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Rapid City is an extremely popular city to visit for families. Nearby national parks and outdoor activities, this is the perfect base for exploring the area with kids. Nearby you'll find the Big Thunder Gold Mine, which has tours and lets you pan for gold, and Custer State Park, which is filled with wildlife. Wall Drug is worth a stopoff, as is Dinosaur Park.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Milwaukee. Kids will enjoy a visit to Discovery World, which is a science center with hands-on exhibits. There's also the Milwaukee County Zoo and the Milwaukee Public Museum. Younger kids will also enjoy a stop at Betty Brinn Children's Museum.

Is Milwaukee or Rapid City Better for Couples?

Rapid City is an excellent place to visit for its romantic activities. However, Milwaukee is lacking in options for couples.

Rapid City makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples will enjoy the amazing national parks in the area and the easy access to iconic landmarks like Mount Rushmore. There are many opportunities for wildlife spotting as well as great hiking trails and unique landscapes.

Milwaukee is not always the best place to visit for a couple. Take a walk or visit a local restaurant. There are also museums and performances that make for a nice outing.

Is Milwaukee or Rapid City Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Rapid City is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Milwaukee is lacking in options for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Rapid City. Backpackers will appreciate the surrounding natural beauty and the nearby national parks.

Milwaukee is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There's not a lot to attract backpackers to the area.

Is Milwaukee or Rapid City Better for Students?

Milwaukee is very good for its student-friendly activities. However, Rapid City is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Milwaukee. It's home to a number of colleges and universities, so there is a bit of a college town vibe.

Rapid City is not popular with students.

Is Milwaukee or Rapid City Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find respectable public transit in both Milwaukee and Rapid City.

Public transit is mostly limited in Milwaukee. There are buses that travel around town.

Public transit is generally limited in Rapid City. While there are a few buses, this isn't a realistic option for traveling through the region.

Is Milwaukee or Rapid City a more walkable city?

Milwaukee is very good for its high level of walkability. However, Rapid City is lacking in good options for its ease of walking around.

Milwaukee is a somewhat walkable place. Parts of the city are relatively compact and walkable. The most walkable neighborhoods are East Side, Riverwest, Brewers Hill, Downtown, Avenues West/Marquette, Third Ward, Walker's Point, and Bay View.

Rapid City is generally not very walkable. While the downtown is walkable, most visitors use the city as a base for exploring the surrounding areas, and this requires a car.

For even more information, also check out Is Milwaukee Worth Visiting? and Is Rapid City Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Rapid City or Milwaukee?

How long in Milwaukee or Rapid City?

It's fun to spend time in either Milwaukee or Rapid City. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Rapid City due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Milwaukee, and 2-4 days is enough time in Rapid City.

Families should spend more time in Rapid City than Milwaukee. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Rapid City, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Rapid City than Milwaukee. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Rapid City that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Rapid City than Milwaukee if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Rapid City.

One day in Milwaukee or Rapid City?

With museums and nightlife around the welcoming city of Milwaukee, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Milwaukee, one day is sufficent for most.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Rapid City. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Milwaukee or Rapid City?

With nightlife and shopping around the destination of Milwaukee, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

You'll find museums and food around the friendly destination of Rapid City. Hikers are also drawn to this area. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Milwaukee or Rapid City?

Milwaukee, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the fascinating city of Rapid City. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Most people head to the area for the museums. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Milwaukee or Rapid City?

Milwaukee is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Rapid City is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Milwaukee and Rapid City, we can see that Milwaukee is more expensive. And not only is Rapid City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rapid City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rapid City and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Milwaukee would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Milwaukee than you might in Rapid City.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Milwaukee Expensive? and Is Rapid City Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Milwaukee or Rapid City?

Milwaukee has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Rapid City. When comparing the sizes of Milwaukee and Rapid City, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.