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RedLionCookie's avatar
RedLionCookie
Explorer
Feb 22, 2019

Bad Lands/Black Hills/ Yellowstone Vacation

I'm starting to plan our summer vacation and I'm looking for advice/recommendations. My wife and I are in our 50's and it's just her and I and the dog. We live in PA and I'm a high school teacher. My wife works in the insurance business. I obviously have more vacation time than she does.

Here's my rough plan. The dog and I are going to leave Pa on Sunday June 30th and head west.

My wife will catch a flight and catch up with us in Rapid City on Wednesday July 3rd. I've heard the rodeo in Belle Fouche on the 4th of July is really nice. We are planning on attending that. After that we don't have any specific plans other than we want to visit Mt. Rushmore, The Bad Lands, The Black Hills and then move on to Yellowstone.

I will put my wife on a plan to head home on either Friday the 12th or Saturday the 13th. Not sure if she will fly home from Rapid City or Salt Lake.

So I'm looking for recommendations.
How much time should we plan to spend in SD before moving on to Yellowstone?
Would you recommend we stay in one campground in SD or should I plan on moving once or twice?

Where do you recommend we stay in SD?

What is the best way to see Yellowstone? I know that is vague but if you can give me some ideas I would appeciate it.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Dave
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    Feb 22, 2019
    We did something like that except I picked up my wife at Bozeman airport some thing you may want to consider as the point for her to fly out of unless you want to go to SLC.

    As for the Black Hills there are basically these main spots to see:
    Rushmore--no more than a half day
    There are two caves- a half day at each
    Custer State Park-- A day or so and it's the prime place to stay
    Badlands NP- Can just be a drive thru plus stopping at various pull outs or longer if you are going to do the trails. Wall drug is in the same area for a hour or two of tourist glitze.
    There are other sites but I'd skip them if you want to maximize your time at YNP. There are many private CG in the Badlands.

    Think about the short detour to see Devil's Tower on the way to YNP.

    There is no best way to see YNP. We have spent maybe 6 weeks there over the years and still haven't seen it all. But concentrate on the geyser basins, spend a day at each of them. Then there are a lot of other places to see if you have time. A day trip to Tetons is something to think about.

    Let me warn you if you don't have reservations by now you could have a problem. The main CG in YNP--Fishing Bridge will be closed for renovations.

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