Deadwood SD

djcjc wrote:
Thanks everybody booked a spot today at Whistlers gulch we will drop trailer there and travel in Pickup day trips are not a problem I now have no need to rush. Looks like a 14 hour trip from here in ILlinois but thats ok to. Should be some great scenery. Deadwood should be perfect for the wife she loves to shop.

Sounds good. We stopped in Sioux Falls (actually Brandon SD.) at the Jellystone for a stopover. Then we did a drive through of the Badlands on our way to the BH's! This is a great trip, have fun planning.

Mount Moriah Cemetery where Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are buried is in town. Very steep grade narrow suburb road to the entrance. Took my class C up there and found a sign that said I was not supposed to do that.

Driving into town there was a parking area with a sign telling all the big rigs to stay out park here walk in. Streets are very narrow. We drove though but did not stop in town. Not very far out of town is Mount Rushmore. We continued on to Fort Laramie. A bit of a drive but the best part of the trip.

The Fort is a living fort during the summer, everyone dressed in period clothes, all the buildings are original from the Indian wars. Very large fort first stop for pioneers after crossing the planes. Besides Custer's battle field, there is Old Fort Phil Kearny, The Wagon Box Fight, and the Fetterman Massacre site near Phil Kearny. Study the history before you go, the trip will be much more interesting. We did this with our children before we visited historical sites.

Martyn wrote:

1mtnman wrote:
We stay at Rafter j and like it very much. Rafterj

I agree with this one - stayed there a year or so back - by far the best campground in the area. Try and get a site on 'The Island'.

we stayed at rafters

Martyn wrote:

1mtnman wrote:
We stay at Rafter j and like it very much. Rafterj

I agree with this one - stayed there a year or so back - by far the best campground in the area. Try and get a site on 'The Island'.

I've gotten a good rec for Rafter J from a friend so plan to check it out this year. Curious: why do you like "The Island" area?

I second this ...

If you stay there bring carrots to feed the donkeys. Fun!

Also, if you like caving try the candle lit tour at Wind Cave. We loved that. Book that early.

3wheel wrote:
I second Custer state park as a great place to stay. (near Custer, SD). It is about 1 hour south of Deadwood.

Things we enjoyed:

• Wind Cave National Park
  
• Custer State Park

Of course Mt. Rushmore.

Although we did not make it... the South Dakota Air and Space Museum.


Caution: some of the roads in the area very restrictive in the turns and tunnels.