Currently we’re planning on flying into Rapid City, renting a car and staying in Keystone.

Planning on Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, horse riding in Custer park, driving the wildlife loop, zip line and one of those mountain coasters, the mammoth spot - in 3 full days + 2 travel days.

Is Badlands worth adding an extra day? Is there anything else we NEED to see?

Our group will have grandparents so running all over creation isn’t a good option.

for any advice

Not much to see in South Dakota. Badlands were neat to see just for the solitude of the place. Crazy Horse was kinda a gimicky letdown.....



Bucee's doesn't have anything on this place.

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world’s only Corn Palace located in Mitchell, South Dakota. The exterior of the palace is corn—kernels, stalks, et al.,

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Not much to see in South Dakota. Badlands were neat to see just for the solitude of the place. Crazy Horse was kinda a gimicky letdown.....

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There are a lot of things to do around Rapid City but Crazy Horse would be near the bottom of the list.
Mt. Rushmore is worth seeing at least once since it is in the area and doesn’t take much time. We went for the ceremony at dusk.

When you go to Custer State Park stop at the visitor center and get recommendations from the ranger. They can probably tell you where the bison are. Watch the short video about the park. There are several scenic drives in the park and a couple of caves nearby (Wind Cave Nat Park & Jewel Cave).

Spearfish canyon drive is another scenic drive. Deadwood & Sturgis are nearby and there is a museum at the Air Force base.

There is a train at Hill City; Google 1880train.com. I think it goes between Hill City & Keystone. And you will probably pass places to pan for gold or silver.

Badlands are worth the drive IMO.

Absolutely do Needles Hiway and have your camera ready. Louie's burger place in Lead is worth the stop
for their juicy lucy. The Casino has a decent steak. For sure drive Spearfish Canyon and see waterfalls. This area has some of the best motorcycle rides in the US and I go every year to Sturgis Rally. Mt. Rushmore is a must do at least once. You only pay $10 to park and the park is free. Nemo drive to Sturgis will remind you how amazing the US is.

On our South Dakota/Wyoming trip a few years back we stayed in the state game lodge (historic rooms are cool) in CSP. The restaurant there is pretty good as well.
Be sure to eat at black hills burger and bun company in Custer while in the area. I’ve eaten there a half dozen times and it never disappoints. The hot granny is my go to and Dimock dairy cheese curds for an appetizer is excellent.

Badlands is most definitely worth the trip. The Minuteman Missile national historic site is just down the interstate from badlands and worth checking out also.

The book The Killing of Crazy Horse has a lot of sites in that area where Indian battles took place and old forts and cemeteries are located. Those may take more time than you have though.
Devil’s Tower is a good place to visit.

We did this trip 2 years ago.

Mount Rushmore
Jewell Cave
Wind Cave
Badlands
Custer State Park
Wall Drug
Missile Silos

We drove by Crazy Horse on the way back from Jewell cave and it really did not look worth it ($30).

Badlands was the best part of the whole trip, seriously do not skip out on the Badlands. We saw a few Buffalo at Custer. We had a heard of hundreds, if not thousands, of buffalo at Badlands.

Did Mt Rushmore at sunset. It is what it is. We skipped Crazy Horse. The actual cave at Wind Cave NP was closed due to COVID so can’t speak to that — lots of barking prairie dogs and a scenic drive though.

Highly recommend this hike to get a taste of Black Hills National Forest near Mt Rushmore: creek, Sheridan Lake, and old mining tunnels. [link=LINK ]

If into beer, Lost Cabin Brewing in Rapid City was great

Highly recommend the Badlands. The Notch trail is really fun. The main area with the window and the door give a good taste without hardly any effort as well, often see bighorn sheep scaling the buttes. Guessing you’re not into backpacking but Badlands is awesome because you don’t need a permit and just set up wherever you want with perfect stargazing.

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Crazy Horse is garbage. Badlands are awesome.

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This, skip Crazy Horse and see the Badlands. We also drove up to Deadwood for a day trip.

Skip Crazy Horse. Go to the Badlands. Check out the Minuteman Missile silo site near the Badlands.

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