Cambria Hotel Rapid City, South Dakota Review: Great Location Near Mount Rushmore

R. C. Staab Avatar
Cambria Hotel Rapid City, South Dakota
Cambria Hotel Rapid City. Photo credit: R.C. Staab

The writer was hosted.

With the proliferation of hotel brands, it’s a challenge to differentiate them. Having never stayed at a Cambria Hotel, I was pleasantly surprised to find this upscale Choice Hotel brand is now one of my new favorites. Representing the western roots of its surroundings, The Cambria Hotel Rapid City Near Mount Rushmore (its official title) is conveniently located in Southwestern South Dakota for family travelers and organizations seeking a destination for meetings.

Inside the front doors, visitors will enjoy the high-ceiling lobby, modern front desk, and ample seating area to hang out or gather family to head out on a Western adventure in Rapid City.

There’s plenty of parking outside including bus parking.

Read More: Best Places to Eat in Rapid City SD Beyond the Chain Restaurants

Cambria Hotel Rapid City, South Dakota - Guest Rooms
Guest room. Photo credit: R.C. Staab

Guest Rooms

There’s a modern feel to the rooms with a separation between the bedroom and a small seating area with a desk and chair. Room types:

  • Single king suite with sofa bed/couch
  • Single king bed in an accessible suite with tub
  • Two queen beds with sofa bed/couch
  • Two queen accessible with sofa bed/couch
  • Single king tower suite with wet bar
  • Two bedroom double king suite with wet bar

All rooms feature these items:

  • Flat-screen TV
  • Air conditioning
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Ironing board and iron
  • Hair dryer
  • Coffee maker
  • Shampoo, body wash and conditioner
  • Internet access and free wifi

All rooms and hotel common areas are non-smoking. Safes or safe deposit boxes are not available.

Cambria Hotel Rapid City, South Dakota - Indoor pool and whirlpool.
Indoor pool and whirlpool. Photo credit: R.C. Staab

Splash Down and Work Out

The indoor pool has plenty of room for kids to splash around. The adjoining whirlpool/hot tub accommodates a dozen people with seating on several sides. The pool and whirlpool have accessible chair lifts for easier access. The area around the pool offers a very good selection of nice chairs and a handful of tables.

Cambria Hotel Rapid City, South Dakota - Fitness center.
Fitness center. Photo credit: R.C. Staab

A 24-hour fitness center is equipped with Stairmasters, bikes, elliptical Stairmasters, weights and mats, plus towels and a water cooler. Unlike many hotel fitness centers, there’s ample light from windows that look out to the swimming pool. The indoor pool has plenty of room for kids to splash around. The adjoining whirlpool/hot tub accommodates a dozen people with seating on several sides. The pool and whirlpool have accessible chair lifts for easier access. The area around the pool offers a very good selection of nice chairs and a handful of tables.

Outside of the pool is a large paved picnic area.

Cambria Hotel Rapid City, South Dakota - Lobby
Lobby of Cambria Hotel Rapid City. Photo credit: R.C. Staab

Hotel Amenities

Internet and free wifi are in each room and throughout the hotel.

A guest laundromat is on the first floor with a washer and dryer. Laundry detergent and fabric softener can be purchased at the front desk. A dry cleaning service is available through the front desk.

Vending machines and ice machines are located on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors. On the first floor, there’s an ice machine plus the Refill Market to purchase snacks, sodas, tea, water, toiletries, beer, and wine.

Meeting rooms are available for use, including a handsome Board Room. Contact the hotel’s sales department for rates and availability. A fax service is available at the front desk. (No business center or printer is offered, nor is there a daily newspaper delivery.).

An ATM that accepts credit cards is located in the lobby.

There’s no concierge desk, but the friendly staff at the front desk will help with most guest service requests.

Cambria Hotel Rapid City, South Dakota - Reflect Bistro
Reflect Bistro. Photo credit: R.C. Staab

Dining Options

Adjacent to the lobby with plenty of natural light is the Reflect Bistro, the on-site restaurant and bar which is open from 6-10 am for breakfast, closed for lunch, and re-opens for dinner from 5-10 pm. The menu offers American classics with a modern twist. Local craft brews are on tap.

Room service is not available, but a block away is a full-service restaurant, Sickies Garage Burgers & Brews.

On the other side of Interstate 90 is the WaTiki Resort which includes a Starbucks. For coffee shop fans, next door to the resort is the Perkins Restaurant and Bakery.

Cambria Hotel Rapid City, South Dakota - Mount Rushmore.
Mount Rushmore. Photo credit: R.C. Staab

Around the Hotel

With easy on and off access from Outfitters Road to I-90, the hotel is an ideal location to quickly discover eating, drinking, and shopping options in Downtown Rapid City or to visit a student at the USD (University of South Dakota) School of Health Sciences or School of Mines. For sightseeing, the Badlands National Park is to the east, and to the west are Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, and Crazy Horse in the Black Hills. It’s the American West at its finest as you explore the USA.

Airport Access

A free airport shuttle service is offered daily. Make arrangements through the front desk. It’s a 15-minute drive from the hotel to the Rapid City Regional Airport.

The Basics

Check-in time is 3 pm. Check-out time is 11 a.m. No pets are allowed, but service animals are permitted. Cancellation policy varies depending on how a person booked the room.

The Cambria Hotel Rapid City near Mount Rushmore is a Choice Hotels location at 3333 Outfitter Rd, Rapid City, SD 57701. The phone number for reservations is 605-341-0101.

R.C. Staab is a New York-based author, playwright, musical theater writer and lyricist. His latest book, New York City Scavenger: The Ultimate Search for New York City’s Hidden Treasures, was published in Spring 2023. His first book 100 Things to Do at the Jersey Shore Before You Die was published in 2020 and is now in its second printing. In 2021, he walked the entire 139-mile coastline of the Jersey Shore from Sandy Hook to Cape May the book, generating more than 200,000 views on social media. He frequently contributes to New Jersey Monthly magazine and online travel publications. He is long-time member of the Society of American Travel Writers having traveled to 49 of the 50 US States and more than 60 countries. He specializes in cultural tourism, adventure travel and historical sites. His off-Broadway musicals and plays have been produced in New York, San Francisco, England and the Midwest. He is a two-time nominee for England’s Best New Song competition. He lives in New York City with his wife, Valari, and his dog, Skye.
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