The Dakota Pines is a good hotel in the Rapid City area. We stayed there one night before seeing Mt. Rushmore. The hotel is average but a good value for the area. It was clean but a little older. A good place to stay for a night.

We spent one night here recently. The room was OK, but even though it was non smoking (and all the rooms around it had "non smoking" on the doors too), it smelled like smoke. We didn't notice it right away...but half way through the night I woke up with a headache and noticed a faint smell of smoke. Maybe it was coming up from the first floor (we were on the second floor)? The breakfast was very basic...2 kinds of cereal, toast, and some doughnuts. The location was right off of I-90, close to several restaurants and right across the street from Wal Mart. There was one computer for guest use. I would not stay here again because of the smell of smoke in our non smoking room.

Motel recently changed hands - was formerly the Thunderbird Lodge. It is located at a busy intersection with lots of motorcycle noise and an occasional ambulance. Kids love to run up and down the hall. Complimentary breakfast is cereal, juice, coffee, and bread. Clerk was very helpful. It should be much nicer for the price!

We received a phone call just a couple days before leaving for our recent vacation that Thunderbird Lodge in Rapid City was under new ownership and is now called Dakota Pines. The caller was courteous and assured us the only thing that changed was the name (and they were no longer serving English Waffles at Breakfast). I don't know how the new ownership will effect the hotel down the road, but we had a nice 2 day stay here while visiting the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore and Custer State Park. The hotel was clean and the staff was courteous. The breakfast here was good, but basic (cereal, toast, fruit, beverage). We again booked a great rate directly through the hotel website.

Nice room and reasonable rates. Able to negotiate a good rate for a 7 night stay. Rooms clean and well equipped. Located not far from large Mall and close to excellent restaurants.Central for visiting the Monuments and parks.