I would like to offer up some of my experience with the Badlands. We traveled from SC to SD to PA where we left the camper to go into NYC. So I will give you some of my tidbits going backwards from PA.
- Upper Black Eddy, PA (Colonial Woods Camground) This is where we left the camper. Nice Campground in gorgeous countryside!
Upper Black Eddy, PA > Hershey, PA (Hershey Campground)
- Packed by nice facilities and easy bus ride to Hershey Park
Hershey, PA > Cambridge, OH (Salt Fork State Park)
- Beautiful campground, lots of Goose poo
Cambridge, OH > Clinton, IL ("Children of the Corn" Camground)
- I really can't recall the name, paid cash. It was late, we had to drive through corn fields and it was a scary place. Nuclear power plant nearby. Host said not to worry as he tested the water every day.
Clinton, IL > Clear Lake, IA (Oakwood RV Park)
- Excellent park in an adorable town on a beautiful lake. Wish we could have stayed the day as they were setting up for an arts festival the next day. Weather turned quite cool.
Clear Lake, IA > Oacomo, SD (Oasis Campground)
- Love this campground! Stayed coming and going. You overlook the MO river. Clean and neat. Seriously an oasis!
- Of Note: Take a detour to West Bend, IA to see the
Grotto of the Redemption - absolutely mesmerizing. Found it on WeirdUSA.com (Iowa)
Oacomo, SD > Badlands Nat'l Park (Badlands/White River KOA)
- Outstanding campground and an absolute God send.
- Stayed 2 nights - Prairie dogs will steal your hearty and they, along with the Mtn goats, are everywhere! Stop at Hay Butte Overlook in the Park to see the Mountain Goats.
We allowed for 2 days in Badlands (though my mother was there for 4 and loved it, even in the heat...which is really was not a big deal and didn't slow us down for a minute) and 5 days for Black Hills.
Badlands > Hill City, SD (High Country Guest Ranch)
- Here, I could go on and on. The Black Hills are simply sumptuously amazing!!! We stayed at the High Country Guest Ranch as my mother had a cabin and they have spots for rvs. They have a huge stage where an Amer Indian troupe perform almost every night, horseback riding and more. Centrally located for 5 days of road trips covering every sightseeing loop. Fell in love with Custer Nat'l Park where the Bison and Buffalo roam around your cars.
Black Hills:
Mt. Rushmore & Custer State Park Loop:
Crazy Horse Monument is outstanding. It is a must see. Go to Rushmore first and you will fully appreciate what they are doing at Crazy Horse. The Gift Shop might pinch your wallets, but we let the kids get a little something as we totally wanted to support the efforts. They are building more than a monument. It's just amazing.
This loop is so captivating. They have tunnels cut out of the rock that are just wide enough for a bus to pass through. One such passage frames Mt. Rushmore perfectly! Beautiful mountain lakes one minute, then you descend into prairie land with roaming Buffalo. Each turn in the roadway is such a surprise.
Northern Hills & Devils Tower Loops:
If you do the Northern Loop to Deadwood, make an early start of it and go on out to Devil's Tower Nat'l Monument in WY - absolutely fascinating!
On your way towards Devil's tower, while you are still in the mountains, there is a itty bitty sign at an intersection on which stands the Spearfish Canyon Lodge stating that parts of Dances with Wolves was filmed up the ravine. Take that road to the left and drive up the passage. There is the neatest little picnic area amidst towering rocks with a wide stream that the kids just loved.
Southern Hills Loop:
Oh! One more must see - Mammoth Site @ Hot Springs, SD on the southern end of the southern loop. They have a great exhibit. Jewel Cave is down this way, but we couldn't get in, but we passed a neat old frontier fort that was neat to see.
Hope this helps. The only thing sad about visiting the Badlands/Black Hills and that you can only do it for the First Time once. Take your time and thoroughly enjoy it all!
