How do I choose the right daycare in Rapid City?

When choosing a daycare in Rapid City, consider visiting facilities in person and checking: Licensing status with South Dakota's regulatory agency Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in South Dakota) Safety measures and cleanliness Daily routines and educational curriculum Parent reviews and ratings Location and hours that fit your schedule

What types of daycare are available in Rapid City?

Rapid City offers several types of childcare facilities: Child Daycare & Preschools — 30 facilities Headstart Programs — 4 facilities Church Daycare — 3 facilities Before or After School Daycare — 13 facilities Each type serves different needs — center-based facilities typically offer structured programs, while head start programs are federally funded for low-income families.

Child Daycare & Preschools in Rapid City, South Dakota (30 Results)

Q: What is the average cost of daycare in South Dakota?

Daycare costs in South Dakota typically range from $200 to $400 per week for full-time care, depending on the child's age, facility type, and location within the state. Infant care tends to be more expensive due to lower staff-to-child ratio requirements. Contact individual facilities in Rapid City for current pricing.

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Rapid City

Ranked using a weighted score that combines Google rating with the number of parent reviews — daycares with more reviews rank higher than those with a high rating but few reviews. Last updated: March 2026.

Little Owls Daycare & Preschool

4.64 score

5(9)

110 N Cambell St., Suite D, Rapid City, SD · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

Little Owls Daycare & Preschool in Rapid City receives universal praise from parents who highlight the caring, responsive staff led by owner Karen. Families consistently describe feeling confident in their children's safety and happiness, with particular appreciation for the structured environment, meal quality, and emotional support during life transitions.

Caring and responsive staffSafe and well-maintained facilitiesSupportive owner and managementQuality meal preparation

Little Nest Preschool LLC

4.48 score

4.6(20)

3459 Jet Drive, Rapid City, SD · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

Parents consistently praise Little Nest Preschool for its caring, attentive staff, strong Montessori-based curriculum, and extended hours. Children are reported to be excited about attending daily and well-prepared for kindergarten. The director, Jessica, is noted as professional, approachable, and responsive to parent concerns.

caring and friendly staffstrong academic preparationMontessori curriculumextended morning/evening hours

Kidstop - Canyon Lake

4.48 score

4.6(20)

1500 Evergreen St, Rapid City, SD · Before or After School Daycare · Capacity: 30 children

KIDSTOP - CANYON LAKE appears to be a community center rather than a traditional daycare. Reviews consistently praise the friendly atmosphere, diverse activities, and well-maintained facilities. The center offers memberships for ages 21 and up with numerous programs including dance nights, bingo, pickleball, exercise classes, and a thrift store.

Friendly and welcoming staffdiverse activities and programswell-organized eventsclean facilities

Zion Lutheran Preschool And Daycare

4.45 score

4.7(9)

4550 S Highway 16, Rapid City, SD · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 96 children

Zion Lutheran Preschool and Daycare receives uniformly positive feedback from parents and families. Parents consistently praise the warm, welcoming community, excellent balance of academic challenge with encouragement, and the genuine care teachers show for children. The facility is noted for strong educational quality, integration with church activities, and family-friendly atmosphere.

Outstanding educational experiencewarm welcoming communitygood balance of academic rigor and supportcaring and loving teachers and pastors

Fit-N-Fun

4.37 score

4.6(8)

3660 Sturgis Road, Suite 4, Rapid City, SD · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 98 children

FIT-N-FUN receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, with most praising the clean facilities, engaging activities, and supportive staff that help children enjoy attending. Parents highlight the variety of programming, healthy snacks, reasonable class sizes, and good teacher communication. One parent expressed concerns about activity fulfillment and parent-staff communication.

clean facilitiesvariety of activity areas (obstacle courseplaygroundgymnastics equipment)

Venture Kids University

4.25 score

4.5(5)

1339 East North Street, Rapid City, SD · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

Venture Kids University receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, with most praising the caring staff, strong educational curriculum, and safe environment. Parents consistently report their children enjoy attending and are learning well. One dissenting review criticized staff qualifications and care standards.

caring and sweet teacherspersonalized attention to each childstrong educationsafe environment

Our Little Treasures Daycare

3.93 score

3.9(11)

1123 Kansas City Street, Rapid City, SD · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

Our Little Treasures Daycare in Rapid City receives overwhelmingly positive reviews, with parents praising the caring staff, engaging activities, and strong communication through daily photos and app updates. The facility is noted for its welcoming atmosphere, Christian-based curriculum, and individual attention to children's needs. However, a small number of negative reviews raise concerns about classroom transparency, health/safety protocols, and staff performance issues.

Caring and friendly staffengaging activities and field tripsdaily photo updates via appsmooth transitions for children

Harmony Childcare & Preschool II

3.79 score

3.7(11)

606 E. Indiana St., Rapid City, SD · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

Harmony Childcare & Preschool II has highly polarized reviews. Positive reviews praise the staff, owner Brenda, caring environment, and engaging activities. Negative reviews report serious safety concerns including unsupervised children, inadequate staffing ratios, unsafe sleep practices, and lack of attention to supervision.

Caring and attentive staffengaging activities and craftsoutdoor playtimewelcoming environment

Banana Bunch Too-Range View Circle

3.66 score

3.5(11)

1200 Range View Circle, Rapid City, SD · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: -999 children

Banana Bunch Too-Range View Circle receives highly polarized reviews. Most parents praise the caring staff, long-term stability, flexibility with schedules, and child development outcomes. However, several parents report serious concerns including alleged abuse, favoritism toward staff members' children, and disrespectful treatment.

Attentive and kind staffexperienced teachers with tenureflexible schedulingcommunity involvement

Banana Bunch Clc 2-St. Pat

3.66 score

3.5(11)

924 E. St. Patrick St., Rapid City, SD · Child Daycare & Preschools · Capacity: 140 children

Banana Bunch CLC 2-ST. PAT receives highly polarized reviews. Most parents praise the caring staff, long-term stability, flexibility, and strong kindergarten preparation, with several families using the center for over a decade. However, serious concerns have been raised by some parents regarding staff behavior toward children, including allegations of abuse and reports of inconsistent discipline.

Attentive and kind staffexperienced teachers with long tenureflexible schedulingopen during weather closures

Child Daycare & Preschools in Rapid City, South Dakota

There are 30 child daycare & preschools in Rapid City, South Dakota, making up 60% of the 50 total childcare facilities in the city. Below you'll find a complete directory to help you compare and choose the right daycare for your child.

When choosing a daycare in Rapid City, consider visiting facilities in person, checking their licensing status, and asking about staff-to-child ratios, daily routines, and safety policies.

Frequently asked questions

There are 30 child daycare & preschools daycares in Rapid City, South Dakota, out of 50 total childcare facilities in the city. Browse our directory to compare options and find the right fit for your child.

When choosing a daycare in Rapid City, consider visiting facilities in person and checking:

Licensing status with South Dakota's regulatory agency
Staff-to-child ratios (requirements vary by age group in South Dakota)
Safety measures and cleanliness
Daily routines and educational curriculum
Parent reviews and ratings
Location and hours that fit your schedule

Rapid City offers several types of childcare facilities:

Child Daycare & Preschools — 30 facilities
Headstart Programs — 4 facilities
Church Daycare — 3 facilities
Before or After School Daycare — 13 facilities

Each type serves different needs — center-based facilities typically offer structured programs, while head start programs are federally funded for low-income families.

Daycare costs in South Dakota typically range from $200 to $400 per week for full-time care, depending on the child's age, facility type, and location within the state. Infant care tends to be more expensive due to lower staff-to-child ratio requirements. Contact individual facilities in Rapid City for current pricing.

Yes, daycare centers in Rapid City must be licensed by South Dakota's childcare licensing agency. Licensed facilities are required to meet standards for safety, health, staff qualifications, and staff-to-child ratios. You can verify a facility's license status through your state's licensing database.

30 Child Daycare & Preschools in Rapid City, South Dakota

Top 10 Best Rated Daycares in Rapid City

Top Rated

Little Owls Daycare & Preschool

Little Nest Preschool LLC

Zion Lutheran Preschool And Daycare

Kids Kastle INC.

Fit-N-Fun

Brighter Minds Preschool & Day Care

Map

Daycare types in Rapid City

Browse by type in Rapid City