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BamaFlum's avatar
BamaFlum
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013

San Antonio, TX to Yellowstone/Mount Rushmore

I've noticed some posters love to plan to trips. Next summer, we are planning on a trip with our three kids (at that time 15-daughter, 12-son, 10-son) to Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore and any places we can get to in between. My wife and I are teachers and like to use the month of June for our trips trying to keep it to three weeks. From what I have gathered here, I can plan on 400-500 miles a day. My wife's idea of camping is a Holiday Inn so this will be an adventure for her! I would like to make sure there are activities and cool sites for the kids.

So, for the planners out there, what route do you recommend going and coming? What sites do you recommend? What are the can't miss stops?

11 Replies

  • There's not much to see between SA and Mount Rushmore without going out of the way. My suggestion is to get up to South Dakota as rapidly as possible (Mt. Rushmore is about 1260 miles for you) then start sightseeing on your 3rd day. Heading westerly out of South Dakota to Montana I got a kick out of seeing the Little Big Horn Nat'l Monument. It was quite a history lesson sitting on the porch of the visitor's center and having the ranger tell the story of Custer where you could see the terrain. It's fairly easy to make it over to Yellowstone from there and you can keep the kids occupied for 5 days there easily. From there I'd suggest going by dinosaur Nat'l monument in NE Utah and the Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park in Colorado. They would probably like seeing the things around Colorado Springs or might get a kick riding the train from Durango to Silverton or checking out Mesa Verde before heading home.