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mackelprang's avatar
mackelprang
Explorer
Apr 20, 2017

Trip to Mt.Rushmore

Am leaving southern Utah in late May and traveling to Mt. Rushmore and badlands.would like to stay off interstates as much as possible. Like to take about 10 days to get to Custer SD.we are pulling a 37 foot 5th wheel with a 2002 Dodge Cummins. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
  • mackelprang wrote:


    Am leaving southern Utah in late May and traveling

    ....>>>>.... Southern Utah? Monument Valley? I'd head up to Moab and take RT 128 over to I-70 then on up to Dinosaur NM stay at the Split Mountain Campground in the park right on the Green River - Map - Map to Moab and Dinosaur NM



    Beautiful from there I'd head up to Lucerne Marina Campground on the left side of Flaming Gorge NRA, again on the water, just beautiful - if that's not to your liking you could just head into the high side and look down, just not sure where there might be a Camp Ground from there head up toward the Wind River Canyon - little CG right on the River as yo push up to Custer and Mt Rushmore - Map - Flaming Gorge to Custer - Custer's Gulch.


    While in Custer you can visit Custer SP - Sylvan Lake - Emerald Cave NP - Mt Rushmore at night - Needles - Wind Cave - then on to the Badlands and Wall Drug.



    to Mt. Rushmore and badlands.would like to

    stay off interstates as much as possible. Like to take about

    10 days to get to Custer SD.we are pulling a

    37 foot 5th wheel with a 2002 Dodge Cummins.

    Any suggestions would be appreciated.


    All these routes are doable with your unit - not to far between stops - all will provide you with great views - Hope this is what you were after.

    Best of Luck,
  • mackelprang wrote:
    Am leaving southern Utah in late May and traveling to Mt. Rushmore and badlands.would like to stay off interstates as much as possible. Like to take about 10 days to get to Custer SD.we are pulling a 37 foot 5th wheel with a 2002 Dodge Cummins. Any suggestions would be appreciated.


    I love Custer SD....Go to the Purple Pie Place and black hills burger and bun. We stayed at Beaver Lake Campground in Custer...Best CG ever! Keystone is an hour away, highly recommend. Aside from Rushmore, visit Crazy horse. The laser show at night is really cool.

    have fun...
  • There is a Koa outside the badlands that we stayed at a few times which is nice for a koa Not far from the south entrance and the national park campground.
  • If you are going to get that close, go to Crazy Horse and Devil's Tower too.

    Yes, Wall Drug is a tourist trap, but they do have free cold water and cheap coffee that is not too bad.

    Matt
  • There must be at least a half dozen completely different routes you could take between those two points. So, help us out by indicating a few places you definitely want to see on your trip.

    First, where have you been in the past and what do you like to see and do? Are you interested in scenery photography, fishing/boating, Western history, Anasazi pueblos? Have you been to Grand Teton NP, Yellowstone NP, and the Buffalo Bill museum complex in Cody? Would you like to follow the original Oregon Trail and see forts and fur-trading posts? Have you been to Mesa Verde NP, Chimney Rock NM, Great Sand Dunes NP, and Rocky Mountain NP?

    All of these interests/experiences are possible between your two endpoints, but you can't see/do them all on one route. But you probably could if you are making a round-trip from Arizona.
  • We like old western history.have been to the tetons and yellowstone.was thinking of going up by fort bridger and martins cove and seeing those types of things. Thanks for all the ideas.