Plans for 2015 Mt. Rushmore Trip

Yellowstone is great, but it's another 500+ miles each way from Ellsworth AFB/Mt. Rushmore. Personally, I'd want another 6 days just to see Yellowstone. However, to fill up a week in the Black Hills, check out Hot Springs Mammoth Site, Custer State Park and the Needles Hwy, Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave Natl Monument, hike to Harney Peak, float on Lake Sheridan, try the Circle B Ranch Chuckwagon Dinner Show in Hill City, the Journey Museum and the School of Mines Museum in Rapid City, drive Spearfish Canyon scenic byway, Devil's Tower in WY....

Thanks for the info. Looks like mid to late September will be the time to go then.

Late October is too late for Yellowstone. All campgrounds in the Park (except for Mammoth Hot Springs, which is open all year) will be closed by the third week of October. All roads in the park close at the beginning of November except for the road between the North entrance and the Northeast entrance. That one road is kept open all winter to allow supplies to get to Cooke City just beyond the Northeast entrance.

No experience with the Black Hills area in late October, but it is likely that most of the tourist attractions will be shut down for the season due to lack of tourists.

We are also planning a trip to Mt. Rushmore. Just wondering if we should go to Yellowstone too or would that be too much to take in on a three week trip? We like the cooler weather and thinking about traveling late October. A little snow is ok. We just don't want to experience a blizzard so what would be the latest time to visit?

If you decide to try Yellowstone from Rapid be aware the shortest route has a very long steep grade. First time we did it years ago had a 15 yr old MH with tow vehicle and we had to stop twice to cool off. Second time with a TT wasn't a big deal but still a long hard climb. Can go around and come in from the north which is a little easier.

Sounds like an awesome trip - have fun and be safe!

Thanks for all of the responses. The idea behind the trip is to use Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City as a base for day trips to Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, the Badlands and other sites in the area. I wanted to include Yellowstone into the trip, but this is the longest trip we will have made with the Minnie and my bride (of 43 years) isn't comfortable going any further. However, if everything goes well, I may convince her to go a bit further and make to Yellowstone. If not, there's next year.

Navy Smoker wrote:
We are planning a tree week trip to the Mt. Rushmore and Black Hill areas in late June or early July (six days out, seven back and 8 days there). This is our first trip west with an RV. Going west, we will take I70 to Indianapolis, I74 to I80 to I35 to I90 and I90 to Rapid City (Ellsworth AFB) and make local tours from there. We’d prefer not to take the exact same route home and are considering going south from Rapid City on either route 85 or 79 to connect with I80 around Cheyenne, WY, but are concerned, about hills (i.e. mountains) and general conditions along these roads.

Our 1999 Minnie Winnie will be close to max weight on both axels and we will be towing a 2006 Jeep Liberty that weighs in at 3700 lb. and are concerned with long or steep climbs and descents. If you are familiar with these roads, please give me your opinions of my chance for success or suggest alternate routes that get us to Cheyenne in two (2) days from Rapid City.
Thanks,

Bill

Welcome fellow Veteran,I assume based on your handle. I to am a Vet. We lived at/in Ellsworth/Rapid City for 9 years and did not see it all. I would very highly recommend you get reservations for the Ellsworth Famcamp if that is where you will be staying. They were full this past July when we were there. Your routing will be just fine. We went to Cheyenne on our way home last year then I-80 east. If you can swing it I would recommend a day in Cheyenne. We went specifically to see the Big Boy train engine. While in Cheyenne we stayed at F.E. Warren AFB famcamp. I suggest reservations for there also. Oh one other thing, we usually take I-80 clear to I-680 and hook up to I-29 north to I-90 west. Choice is yours. Have a safe and happy trip.

We took a similar route a couple of years ago, starting in North-central Illinois and following as you have listed. Actually had more fun along the way than we did at Rushmore. Once you see it from the parking lot well then, you've seen it! But it is cool and in-person is something everyone should do once.

Someone mentioned the Badlands. Definitely would recommend. If you don't want to waste an overnight there is a beautiful driving loop that will take you through and put you right back on I-90 (loop is 240). No worries with an RV, some slight grades.

Also right on I-90 you can tour a cold-war era missile silo and control center (http://www.nps.gov/mimi/planyourvisit/hours.htm). That was really cool - they just up and left everything exactly as it was after the last missile for the control center was decommissioned, including magazines on the tables and duty roster on the wall. Only takes a couple of hours.

Finally as to the route back, we dropped down through Wyoming back country to hit I-25 and I-80 (roads 16 to 365 to 18 to 85 to 18 again at the split). Beautiful drive. Our itinerary took us as far West as Salt Lake City before we turned back but this is how we got to Cheyenne before dropping further South and over the mountains. Popping back East on I-80 will give you different things to look at vs I-90.

Also I know time is tight on these, but man since you are that far out there might consider trying to hit Rocky Mountain National Park. The climb to Estes IS a little intense but if you take it slow I'd imagine not very many issues.

All roads we were on were RV friendly. Enjoy your trip!

4runnerguy wrote:
Just curious. With such a long drive to get there, why not another day and make it to Yellowstone? The Black Hills are OK, but Yellowstone . . . all I can say is WOW.

Sounds nice but it's an extra day out and back, leaving 2 less days at the destination.
The drive time to destination time ratio is already tight!...LOL