Railfan Motels

Rapid City, SD - Fairfield Inn & Suites Rapid City

Address:    1314 N. Elk Vale Road                  Phone:  605-718-9600

Location/ Directions: Take I-90, Exit 61 and proceed to Elk Vale Rd.

Average Price (Checked Jun 2011):   $179.00                                AAA Rated:   n/a       Stars: (n/a)

About Hotel: BRAND NEW.  4-Floors, 141-Rooms, Interior Corridors, High-Speed Internet, Complimentary on-site parking, Pets not allowed, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Coffee-tea maker, Crib, Individual climate control, Iron and ironing board, Mini fridge, Hair dryer, Color Cable/satellite TV with HBO/ESPN/CNN, Microwave oven, Phone with voice mail, Continental breakfast, Full-service business center, Restaurant / Lounge on site, Fitness Center, Whirlpool. 

Railroad View:  Excellent View!  All rooms on the rear of the motel face the railroad.   Trains pass by slowly, and quietly - almost no train noise was heard, no horns either.  I had my window open which lead me to catch the one train during the stay.

Railroads past Hotel:  Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad (Canadian Pacific owned).  Not a busy rail line, expect only a small handful of trains during a 24-hour period.  Only one train passed during my 15-hour stay, which was at 10:30pm.

Railroad Radio Frequency:  160.965 DM&E Road

Notes:  Nearby eateries include Arby's, McDonalds, and a steakhouse.    

Comments:    

Photo Comments: Aerial Photo:  A motel - railroad view doesn't get much better then this.  A clear view from all rooms on the rear of this new motel will make it easy to catch the handful of trains that pass on this line daily.

 Night Photo:  Taken from my 3rd floor room # 328 a DM&E grain train takes a pause as it enters town.  I had a great view of the one and only train that passed during my 15-hour stay.  Thanks to the parking lot lights, I was able to photograph this train at 10:30pm; I was also able to video this train with nice sound since the windows open 6 inches, protected by a screen.  All rooms on the 2 floor or higher will provide an excellent railroad view in this motel.

Reviewed September 2011 - RailfanMotels.com

Rapid City, SD - Radission Hotel Rapid City / Mount Rushmore  (Not Rated)

Address:    445 Mt Rushmore Road                   Phone: (605) 348-8300 

Location/ Directions:  

Average Price (Checked Jun 2011):   $159.00                                 AAA Rated:   n/a       Stars: (n/a)

About Hotel: 9-Floors, 177-Rooms, Interior Corridors, 100% smoke-free rooms, Airport shuttle, Business Center (complimentary), Car rental services, Concierge service, Fitness Center (complimentary), Gift shop featuring computer access, Starbucks© coffee and snacks, Free High-speed, wireless Internet access, Indoor pool and whirlpool, Lounge, Free Newspaper, Free Parking, Restaurant/fine dining, Room service (daily 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m.), Wake-up service, 40", 1080p HD TV with ESPN, HBO, CNN and Fox News, 100% smoke-free rooms, Alarm clock/radio, Coffee maker, Free local phone calls, Hair dryer, Iron/ironing board, Workk desk with ergonomic chair, windows open for fresh air, Two phones (one is a speaker phone), Voice-mail, On-site Dining.  

Railroad View: Excellent View.  Any room facing the railroad will give you a railroad view.  Hotel planted trees along the tracks, but there is still a clear view of the railroad at the Mount Rushmore Road grade crossing next to the motel. 

Railroads past Hotel:  Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad (Canadian Pacific owned).

Railroad Radio Frequency:  160.965 DM&E Road

Notes:    

Comments:    This motel has not been rated by RailfanMotels.com

Photo Comment:  The aerial view shows the Radisson Hotel as the tall building to the upper right hand corner of the photo.   The pine tree along the hotel parking lot are "hiding" the railroad tracks, luckily for us railfans a grade crossing next to the hotel offers an open view to watch passing trains from the hotel.  Several grade crossings in town should give you a heads-up on approaching trains.

Rapid City, SD - Castle Inn   (Not Rated)

Address:     15 E North Street                 Phone:  (605)348-4120

Location/ Directions:  

Average Price (Checked Jun 2011):   n/a                                 AAA Rated:   n/a       Stars: (n/a)

About Hotel: 2-Floors, 61-Rooms, Exterior Corridors,  Air Conditioning (In Room), Refrigerator, Telephone, Television (Cable/Satellite), Microwave, Daily Maid Service,
Kitchen/Kitchenette, Balcony/Terrace, Pool (Outdoor).

Railroad View:  Excellent View.  Ask for a room facing the railroad tracks. 

Railroads past Hotel:  Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad (Canadian Pacific owned).

Railroad Radio Frequency:  160.965 DM&E Road

Notes:    

Comments:    This motel has not been rated by RailfanMotels.com

Photo Comment: The aerial photo shows the Castle Inn located across the street from the railroad.

Rapid City, SD - La Quinta Inn & Suites Rapid City  

Address:    1416 North Elk Vale Rd                  Phone:  605-718-7000 

Location/ Directions: Take I-90, Exit 61 and proceed to Elk Vale Rd.

Average Price (Checked Jun 2011):   $159.00     AAA Rated:   YES       Stars: ***3***

About Hotel: 4-Floors, 116-Rooms, Interior Corridors, Free Breakfast, Free Wireless High-Speed Internet Access, Free Local Calls, Free Newspaper, Free Parking, Business Center, Restaurant On-site, Guest Laundry Facilities, Fitness Center, Airport Shuttle Available, Pets Welcome, Microwave in some rooms, Refrigerator in some rooms, Cable Television, Coffee Maker, Hair Dryer, Iron with Ironing Board, Voice-mail, Alarm Clock. There is a Water Park connected to the motel (fee).

Railroad View:  Good Clear View.  No rooms face the railroad directly.  You need a room on the rear of the building to see the railroad, tracks will be off to the right.  Try for 2nd floor or higher because of a single story structure behind the railroad end of the motel.  3rd & 4th floor rooms on the railroad end of the building may provide an excellent railroad view. 

Railroads past Hotel:  Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad (Canadian Pacific owned).

Railroad Radio Frequency:  160.965 DM&E Road

Notes:    

Comments:    This motel is located next to the Fairfield Inn which provides an excellent view of the railroad.

Photo Comment: Standing outside the north end of the building provide a clear view of the railroad line.  I shot this picture just to give an idea of the view from the rooms. The area behind the motel is open and clear for viewing passing trains..

Reviewed September 2011 - RailfanMotels.com

Rapid City, SD - Sleep Inn & Suites (SD067)

Address:   4031 Cheyenne Blvd.                   Phone: (605) 791-5678

Location/ Directions:  

Average Price (Checked Jun 2011):   $149.00                                 AAA Rated:   n/a       Stars: (n/a)

About Hotel: Brand New.  4-Floors, 80-Rooms, Interior Corridors, Free deluxe continental breakfast, Free daily newspaper, Free wireless high-speed Internet access, Free local calls, Pet-friendly hotel (fee), Truck & Bus Parking, Exercise Room, Fitness Center, Guest Laundry, Indoor Heated Pool, Indoor Whirlpool/Hot Tub, Outdoor Parking, Picnic Area, 100% Smoke Free Hotel, Speaker Phone, Cable/Satellite Flat Screen/Plasma TV, Hair Dryer, In-Room Coffee Maker, In-Room Desk, Individual A/C & Heat, Iron & Ironing Board, Microwave, Refrigerator, Wake-Up Service. 

Railroad View:  Good Distant View.  Clear but distant view of the DM&E mainline.  Rooms on the 2nd, 3rd or 4th floors on the rear of the motel will offer a railroad view.  Tracks are off to the left, slightly down the hill.  This motel is the furthest from the railroad in this town that we list on this website.

Railroads past Hotel:  Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad (Canadian Pacific owned).

Railroad Radio Frequency:  160.965 DM&E Road

Notes:    

Comments: 

Photo Comment:  The photo is taken from the Fairfield Inn parking lot.  The Sleep Inn is pictured in the center of the photo.  Only one train passed during my 15-hour visit to the area.  Luckily I stayed in the Fairfield Inn, where the view of the railroad is better then here at Sleep Inn.

RailfanMotels.com

Rapid City, SD - Comfort Suites (SD072)

Address:    1333 North ELK Vale Road                  Phone: (605) 791-2345 

Location/ Directions:  From I-90: Take exit 61 South. Hotel immediately on the right. From Highway 79: Take bypass highway to I-90. Hotel on the left at I-90 intersection.

Average Price (Checked Jun 2011):   $109.65                 AAA Rated:   YES       Stars: ***3***

About Hotel: 4-Floors, 92-Rooms, Interior Corridors, Free deluxe continental breakfast, free 24-hour coffee, Free wireless and wired high-speed Internet access, Free weekday newspaper, Indoor heated pool & hot tub, Exercise room, Truck & Bus Parking, Business Center, Exercise Room, Guest Laundry, No Pets Allowed, Outdoor Parking, 100% Smoke Free Hotel, Speaker Phone, Cable Flat Screen/Plasma TV, Hair Dryer, In-Room Coffee Maker, In-Room Desk, Individual A/C & Heat, Iron & Ironing Board, Microwave, Refrigerator, Voice Mail, Wake-Up Service.  

Railroad View:  Fair View. While most rooms in this motel will offer a railroad view, room on the rear maybe a better choice to see passing trains.  From rear rooms you can see down the rail line.  Motel is situated on a hill; seeing trains maybe hard unless your on the railroad side of the building on 3rd or 4th floors.  4th floor room may provide an excellent view of the railroad. 

Railroads past Hotel:  Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad (Canadian Pacific owned).

Railroad Radio Frequency:  160.965 DM&E Road

Notes:    

Comments:

Photo Comment:  This photo was taken from the rear parking lot of the Comfort Suites.  Standing at ground level, this is the best railroad picture one can achieve from this property.  Higher floor rooms should be able to get a better look down the hill as the railroad passes the motels property directly on the south side.  Don't look too hard, no trains can be seen in this photo, as the only train that passed this area during my 15-hour visit was at 10:30pm the night before.  This is a morning photo, looking west.