Visiting Reptile Gardens with Kids: Tips, Highlights, and Life Lessons
- Jolene Phillips
- Aug 24, 2025
- 6 min read
If you’re anywhere near Rapid City, SD, Reptile Gardens is one of those stops you have to make. It’s got everything: giant tortoises, sassy prairie dogs, birds, and enough snakes to star in an Indiana Jones movie. I’ve been twice now, and let me tell you, this place is not one of those “been there once, you’ve seen it all” attractions. Nope. I loved it as much the second time, and the kids? They thought they’d found paradise… reptile-style.
Plus, as a counselor, I love being able to weave in learning opportunities. I couldn’t help noticing that the animals there are basically walking (or slithering) examples of emotional regulation, personal space, and communication. Who knew a tortoise could help me teach my kids about boundaries?
Let me walk you through the highlights, with a little humor and a few teachable moments tucked in.
The Sky Dome: AKA Snake City
Right at the heart of Reptile Gardens is the Sky Dome, a giant building filled with reptiles, amphibians, and spiders. Tarantula lovers, this is the space for you. For me, it's the fuel of my nightmares, but hey, anything for my kids! Plus, it’s like stepping into a rainforest. It’s humid, lush, and a little like walking into your bathroom after a toddler has been “playing” with the showerhead for 20 minutes.
Upstairs? Snake central. Cobras, boas, pythons—basically, every animal you don’t want to meet in a dark alley. Snakes don’t care about your personal bubble. Thankfully, thick glass does. The kids were fascinated; meanwhile, my inner survival instincts were screaming, "This animal could literally swallow you whole?"
Teaching moment:
The dome is perfect for practicing “quiet bodies.” We reminded the kids: “Use quiet voices, quiet feet, and calm hands.” It’s amazing how a place like this can turn into a mindfulness activity, slowing down, taking deep breaths, and matching our energy to the calm of the animals. (Also, it keeps you from being that family, you know the one. Loud, running, and about three seconds from knocking over a display case.)
The Giant Tortoises: Slow and Steady Wins the Day
Ah, the tortoises. These gentle giants are the stars of the show. Some of them roam freely in an open grassy area, and you’re allowed to touch them gently. The kids’ minds were blown. These tortoises are the size of your kitchen table; my toddler looked tiny next to them. These gentle giants have so much patience for the rowdy kids, although they are probably inwardly thinking, "I am 100 years old and I did not sign up for this craziness." Honestly, I can't blame them.
Teaching moment:
The tortoises are great for teaching about personal space. You can easily teach your kids that if a tortoise is walking away, that’s their version of saying, “I’m done here.” It’s exactly like when your sibling hides in their room after being poked one too many times or when I feel a need to hide in the bathroom for a few moments of peace. Recognizing those signals and respecting them is a life skill, not just for tortoises, but for humans, too. Personal space is a universal language.
Prairie Dogs: Tiny Drama on the Plains
If you ask me, the prairie dog area is the best part. They’ve got tunnels, lookout towers, and constant squeaky chatter. Watching them is like watching a live soap opera; there’s drama, gossip, bickering, and snack-stealing. (Basically, they’re the toddlers of the animal kingdom.) Keeping Up with the Prairie Dogs, coming soon to Netflix.
And then there’s the bubble dome, a little underground viewing spot where you pop up right at prairie dog eye level. I don’t know who invented this, but they deserve a medal. My kids felt like secret agents spying on prairie dogs. I felt like David Attenborough narrating my own personal nature documentary.
Teaching moment:
Prairie dogs are body language pros. A flick of the tail, a squeak, a little side-eye—they’re constantly communicating without words. Perfect chance to point out to the kids that people do this, too! Facial expressions, crossed arms, eye rolls—those are all signals about how someone’s feeling. The prairie dogs basically gave us a crash course in “reading the room.”
The Birds: A Master Class in Conflict (and Shade-Throwing)
The bird area is another highlight. My personal favorites were two vultures that were locked in the most intense staring contest I’ve ever witnessed. Vultures give the best stink eye you’ve ever seen. Honestly, they could give my "mom look" a run for its money. These vultures had their wings out to make themselves appear bigger and more intimidating. It was like middle school cafeteria drama in feathered form.
The bird area also has a ton of facts about different birds, handlers who are ready and excited to teach, and a cool space for you and your kids to measure themselves up to the height and wingspan of different birds.
Teaching moment:
The vultures gave us a laugh, but they also gave us a lesson: everyone handles conflict differently. Some people (or birds) confront, others avoid, and some just stand there glaring until the other one gives up. It’s a good reminder that in our family, we need to practice handling disagreements in healthier ways than “long-distance glaring matches.”
The Play Area (AKA the Parent Recharge Zone)
By midday, the kids were bursting with energy, and thankfully, Reptile Gardens thought of that too. The play area is like a release valve for that energy. While the kids burned energy, we snuck in snacks, water, and a few blissful minutes of sitting and feeding the babies while the older kids were occupied. Bonus: There are a ton of great photo opportunities in this area, so you can carry memories home from the whole experience.
Extra Fun: Old West Town
Tucked into the gardens is a little Old West-style area with a shooting gallery, sluicing box (where kids can sift for treasure), and a pretend jail. Pro tip: throw your husband in there if he’s driving you crazy. The kids loved it. I loved it. Everyone wins.
Food, Gift Shop & Accessibility
The café deserves a round of applause. Prices are reasonable (hallelujah) and you don’t feel like you’re being price-gouged just because your kids suddenly claim they’re starving in the middle of an exhibit.
The gift shop is strategically placed at the exit, and honestly, I don’t mind. It’s fun to grab a small souvenir or book to keep the learning going. I appreciate that all the items in the gift shop range in prices, so you don't have to spend a fortune to find a fun item to bring home. It's a strategically placed test of your parenting patience. Will you make it out with just a $12 book… or a $30 stuffed cobra? Place your bets.
The entry cost is reasonable, and the coolest part is that if you’re local, or semi-local like us, that entry fee is a one-time fee for the entire season. Throughout the gardens, there are season pass signs. If you take a picture in front of this, everyone in the picture gets in free on their future visits (so long as it’s during that season).
Accessibility gets a thumbs-up, too. Wide paths make it easy for strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs. The Sky Dome does have an elevator (unlocked by an employee), but it’s small and slow, so be patient. On hot days, the water misters were lifesavers; we parked ourselves there for a good ten minutes while the kids shrieked with joy like they’d discovered Narnia. Nothing unites tired parents and overheated toddlers faster than a blast of cold mist.
We do have dogs that we leave at home when we head to the Reptile Gardens. You can leave your dog in your car, as dogs aren’t able to go inside, but on the day we went, it was too hot to leave them in the car that long. There is a dog walking area, though, if you’re going on a cooler day and need to walk your dog.
The Drive Home: Silence is Golden
By the time we piled back in the car for our two-hour drive home, the kids were wiped out. Not the “grumpy meltdown tired” but the magical “they actually fell asleep in the backseat” kind of tired. Which is truly the highest endorsement any family attraction can get.
Final Thoughts
Reptile Gardens is hands-down one of the best family-friendly spots in South Dakota. It’s beautiful, interactive, and full of animals that spark curiosity (and the occasional jump scare if you accidentally lock eyes with a tarantula).
More than that, it’s an opportunity to sneak in little life lessons: regulating our energy around animals, respecting personal space, reading body language, and handling conflict. Basically, Reptile Gardens is a crash course in emotional intelligence… with snakes.
So if you’re planning a trip, go. You’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and you’ll probably leave with a child begging for a pet tortoise.
10/10 recommend. We’ll definitely keep going back.
Bonus: Some Great Items to Pair With Your Reptile Gardens Adventure
I love pairing learning opportunities with adventures. Anytime I can continue the learning opportunity for the kids through a book or activity, I'm all for it. Either grab something from the gift shop or check out some great options below to lead into your adventure, use during your visit, or use following your adventure. These are affiliate links. Just click on the pictures to see the listing for more information.
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