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Road Trip To Black Hills of South Dakota--itinerary advice needed
Posted on 2/6/24 at 6:53 am
Posted on 2/6/24 at 6:53 am
Wife and I are planning a road trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota. We need itinerary advice.
Plan so far:
Fly into Denver and pick up car. Drive to Rapid City, SD for lodging, which will be our home base for Badlands Natl Park, Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park, Deadwood, and Mt Rushmore. We're thinking 2-3 days to visit this area.
We're then going to see Devils Tower. Is there anything worth seeing in that part of Montana(southeast) since we'll be pretty close to the border. I've never been to any of these states(besides CO) btw.
Then thinking of going through Casper on our way back to Denver. What am I missing? Anything that are must do,'s while in this area?
Plan so far:
Fly into Denver and pick up car. Drive to Rapid City, SD for lodging, which will be our home base for Badlands Natl Park, Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park, Deadwood, and Mt Rushmore. We're thinking 2-3 days to visit this area.
We're then going to see Devils Tower. Is there anything worth seeing in that part of Montana(southeast) since we'll be pretty close to the border. I've never been to any of these states(besides CO) btw.
Then thinking of going through Casper on our way back to Denver. What am I missing? Anything that are must do,'s while in this area?
This post was edited on 2/6/24 at 11:59 am
10
Posted on 2/6/24 at 9:06 am to Greenie10
Little Bighorn Battlefield is about 3.5 hours from Devils Tower. Amazing place to visit IMHO.
Depending on the time of year you will be out there, on the drive back down I-25 to Denver you can:
1) Detour west on I-80 and drive Wyoming 130 between Walcott and Laramie through the Medicine Bow Mountains.
2) Take US 34 West out of Loveland, up Big Thompson Canyon to Estes Park, and into Rocky Mountain National Park.
Depending on the time of year you will be out there, on the drive back down I-25 to Denver you can:
1) Detour west on I-80 and drive Wyoming 130 between Walcott and Laramie through the Medicine Bow Mountains.
2) Take US 34 West out of Loveland, up Big Thompson Canyon to Estes Park, and into Rocky Mountain National Park.
Posted on 2/6/24 at 9:40 am to Greenie10
quote:itinerary
itenary
quote:
Fly into Denver and pick up car. Drive to Rapid City, SD
Why not fly into Rapid City? There isnt anything worth seeing between Denver and the Black Hills.
quote:
Casper on our way back to Denver. What am I missing?
Wind and meth
Posted on 2/6/24 at 11:14 am to PJinAtl
quote:medicine bow NF is stunning. One of the coolest unexpected places we’ve been
Medicine Bow Mountains.
Posted on 2/6/24 at 11:33 am to Greenie10
Do Mt. Rushmore later in the day and catch the evening show at dusk IF it is running at that time. Check before you go. They did fireworks last time I was there but that was over the holidays so they probably aren't doing that. They do a laser show that is pretty cool though.
Posted on 2/6/24 at 11:42 am to idontyield
quote:
Why not fly into Rapid City? There isnt anything worth seeing between Denver and the Black Hills.
Much cheaper for a direct flight into Denver. Can't find a direct flight into Rapid City from DFW that doesn't cost an arm & a leg.
Was thinking we may check out Ft Laramie. Is there really nothing else to do in that part of Wyoming?
We've been to CO multiple times, so that's why no Estes Park, etc this trip
This post was edited on 2/6/24 at 11:59 am
Posted on 2/6/24 at 1:24 pm to Greenie10
To see the Badlands NP you can go east on I 90 to Wall; there you can go south to BNP on Hwy 240 or continue to another exit farther east and then go to BNP.
At Wall is the Wall Drug Store; known for their doughnuts and a lot of stuff. We had lunch there and it was not bad; the doughnuts were not that great. A little father east is a Minuteman Silo - we did not do that.
Either way you will pass the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. To return to RC you can take Hwy 44 or I 90.
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If you are going to Devils Tower I would not do the trip in BNP to see the prairie dogs. IIRC it's a 5 mile dirt road. You will see plenty at DT.
When you get to Custer State Park go to the Visitor Center and watch the short video about the park.
At Wall is the Wall Drug Store; known for their doughnuts and a lot of stuff. We had lunch there and it was not bad; the doughnuts were not that great. A little father east is a Minuteman Silo - we did not do that.
Either way you will pass the Ben Reifel Visitor Center. To return to RC you can take Hwy 44 or I 90.
[/url][/img] If you are going to Devils Tower I would not do the trip in BNP to see the prairie dogs. IIRC it's a 5 mile dirt road. You will see plenty at DT.
When you get to Custer State Park go to the Visitor Center and watch the short video about the park.
Posted on 2/6/24 at 1:40 pm to Greenie10
Drive the Needle Highway, beautiful scenery.
Posted on 2/6/24 at 1:51 pm to Greenie10
We did this trip and loved it. South Dakota was absolutely beautiful, I did not expect it.
Day 1 - We flew into Denver at night and went to hotel.
Day 2 - We rented a car and drove to Rocky Mt National Park. Spent a couple of hours driving around the park and seeing the beauty. Then drove to Cheyenne that evening. Stopped and ate at The Bunkhouse Bar and Grill just outside of Cheyenne. The only regret was the short time at the Rocky M Park, but we didn't have time to stay but still went to see a little bit of it because we never have.
Day 3 - We spent about an hour looking around downtown Cheyenne, taking pics with the boots statues. Stopped at a WalMart and picked up waters, snacks, etc. Then we drove through Wyoming (a great experience) to Custar SD to an airbnb cabin.
Days 4-6 in Custer:
- Crazy Horse
- Mt Rushmore
- Drove the Custer State Park to see animals
- Wind Cave tour
- Sylvan Lake short hike
- Dinner in downtown Custer
- Wanted Jewel Cave but we didn't realize it was closed some days
- We weren't able to go on the long road loop around Mr Rushmore because it was April and snowing, the road was closed
Planned on taking a day to go to Badlands, but we couldn't make it happen. Wanted to go to Deadwood, but we didn't even try to make it happen due to needing an extra day.
Day 7 - Drove back to Denver through the corner of Nebraska. This allowed the kids to see one more state and we stopped for an hour at the Scotts Bluff / Oregon Trail National Park and Chimney Rock. From Custer, we went to the park and then took the highway back to Cheyenne which we then took the interstate to Denver. Dinner in Denver and sleep in the hotel.
Day 8 - flew home.
We got the kids National Park passports and began their stamp collection. This trip was all about seeing as much as we could and a planned road trip from Denver. The kids got to see 4 states and about 5 national parks and 1 state park in SD. We saw the rocky mountains, cheyenne, a bit of wyoming wilderness, the black hills, rushmore, mountains in SD, the prairie with prairie dogs and buffalo, and a little bit of the Oregon Trail. It was a great trip.
Day 1 - We flew into Denver at night and went to hotel.
Day 2 - We rented a car and drove to Rocky Mt National Park. Spent a couple of hours driving around the park and seeing the beauty. Then drove to Cheyenne that evening. Stopped and ate at The Bunkhouse Bar and Grill just outside of Cheyenne. The only regret was the short time at the Rocky M Park, but we didn't have time to stay but still went to see a little bit of it because we never have.
Day 3 - We spent about an hour looking around downtown Cheyenne, taking pics with the boots statues. Stopped at a WalMart and picked up waters, snacks, etc. Then we drove through Wyoming (a great experience) to Custar SD to an airbnb cabin.
Days 4-6 in Custer:
- Crazy Horse
- Mt Rushmore
- Drove the Custer State Park to see animals
- Wind Cave tour
- Sylvan Lake short hike
- Dinner in downtown Custer
- Wanted Jewel Cave but we didn't realize it was closed some days
- We weren't able to go on the long road loop around Mr Rushmore because it was April and snowing, the road was closed
Planned on taking a day to go to Badlands, but we couldn't make it happen. Wanted to go to Deadwood, but we didn't even try to make it happen due to needing an extra day.
Day 7 - Drove back to Denver through the corner of Nebraska. This allowed the kids to see one more state and we stopped for an hour at the Scotts Bluff / Oregon Trail National Park and Chimney Rock. From Custer, we went to the park and then took the highway back to Cheyenne which we then took the interstate to Denver. Dinner in Denver and sleep in the hotel.
Day 8 - flew home.
We got the kids National Park passports and began their stamp collection. This trip was all about seeing as much as we could and a planned road trip from Denver. The kids got to see 4 states and about 5 national parks and 1 state park in SD. We saw the rocky mountains, cheyenne, a bit of wyoming wilderness, the black hills, rushmore, mountains in SD, the prairie with prairie dogs and buffalo, and a little bit of the Oregon Trail. It was a great trip.
This post was edited on 2/6/24 at 1:57 pm
Posted on 2/6/24 at 2:00 pm to Greenie10
quote:
Rapid City, SD for lodging, which will be our home base for Badlands Natl Park, Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park, Deadwood, and Mt Rushmore. We're thinking 2-3 days to visit this area
For the Custer area, you need 2 days minimum (state park, rushmore, crazy horse, jewel cave, wind cave, Lake Sylvan)
You'll want 1 day for the Badlands and you can squeeze in the state park or maybe one of the caves
If you want to include Deadwood, you'll need the third day for sure
My suggestion is 3 days and add a 4th day if you want Deadwood.
Posted on 2/6/24 at 2:31 pm to 3BlockUber
We think we'll only do 1 cave, so picked wind cave as it's a NP. Not really interested in Crazy Horse as I hear it's just a tourist trap.
Figured Rushmore would take 1-2 hrs. May check out Sylvan lake, but we're going in late September.
Interested in what there is to check out in Eastern Wyoming. Looking forward to Devils Tower. Was hoping I could squeeze in a small trip to Montana as I've never been, but doesn't seem like much to do on that side of MT.
We're doing no CO other than flying in. We've been to CO many many times.
Figured Rushmore would take 1-2 hrs. May check out Sylvan lake, but we're going in late September.
Interested in what there is to check out in Eastern Wyoming. Looking forward to Devils Tower. Was hoping I could squeeze in a small trip to Montana as I've never been, but doesn't seem like much to do on that side of MT.
We're doing no CO other than flying in. We've been to CO many many times.
Posted on 2/6/24 at 7:05 pm to Greenie10
quote:
we're going in late September.
quote:
Each fall, the ground rumbles and the dust flies as cowboys, cowgirls and park crews saddle up to bring in the thundering herd. The annual Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup, held the last Friday every September, is open to the public. Adding to the weekend's festivities is the annual Arts Festival, held Thursday through Saturday, adjacent to the State Game Lodge.
Posted on 2/6/24 at 9:34 pm to nctiger71
Northeast of Cheyenne on the way is fort Laramie. I enjoyed visiting. On the Laramie river just before it empties into the Platte River. There is an old iron bridge across the platte there from the black hills gold rush days.
Posted on 2/6/24 at 10:08 pm to nctiger71
quote:
Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup
We did this several years ago. Just by chance we were in Rapid City that weekend. Everyone has already suggested what we did while up there. One thing I wanted to do, but we ran short of time, was to go north into North Dakoda to the Teddy Roosvelt NP.
Posted on 2/6/24 at 10:20 pm to Greenie10
Eat at black hills burger and bun company in Custer.
Posted on 2/7/24 at 5:21 am to 3BlockUber
Bookmarked. We are planning a long road trip to the area for late May, getting home just before Memorial Day. Hope to catch spring weather but avoid summer tourist crowds.
Plan to stay in Rapid City for about 6 days as a base and venture out most days to various parks/sites/towns.
Plan to stay in Rapid City for about 6 days as a base and venture out most days to various parks/sites/towns.
Posted on 2/7/24 at 5:59 am to Greenie10
I’d rather fly to Minneapolis and go that way.
Posted on 2/7/24 at 7:00 am to Tigertown in ATL
quote:
I’d rather fly to Minneapolis and go that way.
9 hr drive from Minny. Less than 6 from Denver
Posted on 2/7/24 at 9:23 am to Greenie10
This is going to be a trip they'll never forget. Search this forum bc I've seen this topic before and have posted in it.
Best place to see prairie dogs is Badlands Ranch Store where you can feed peanuts to them.
Best place to see prairie dogs is Badlands Ranch Store where you can feed peanuts to them.
Posted on 2/9/24 at 7:20 pm to Twenty 49
Looking at The Rushmore vs. Hotel Alex Johnson (Hilton) downtown Rapid City. We like to be walking distance to good restaurants, taprooms, etc., and these appear to be among the only hotel choices. A couple others are across the river/park about a mile away, not toooo far to walk, and others are out on the interstate near an Applebees or such.
Any experience with either of those downtown places, or other suggestions for downtown lodgings?
Any experience with either of those downtown places, or other suggestions for downtown lodgings?
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