Mt. Rushmore & Badlands-Must-See Suggestions

Both of the caves, Wall drugs is worth an hour or two, Custer state park, Minuteman NM if they started up tours again. Lots of people come away underwhelmed by Crazy Horse and Rushmore. If you like rocks then the Geology museum at the SD School of Mining in Rapid City is worth a visit.

Needles Highway

Iron Mountain Road - route 16A

Wind caves

Bill

agesilaus wrote:
Both of the caves, Wall drugs is worth an hour or two, Custer state park, Minuteman NM if they started up tours again. Lots of people come away underwhelmed by Crazy Horse and Rushmore. If you like rocks then the Geology museum at the SD School of Mining in Rapid City is worth a visit.

I second the mining recommendation. Took two grandkids when they were very young and they loved it. Should not be missed.

We have an 8 year old boy. So love these suggestions!

Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway - A must to drive if you are in the area. It has the best views of Mt. Rushmore and Black Hills area.

However, you cannot drive this while towing a 5er or a TT, as it has pigtail bridges.

More info here: Peter Norbeck Byway, Black Hills National Forest.

We stayed in the wilds of the Badlands at no cost. We were in a small class c at the time,but there were several large trailers stopped in the same area. Bison,prairie dogs,rattlers (avoidable),coyotes,Eagles and a few people. The Rangers showed up in the late afternoon and gave a lecture about the area and its history. One of the high points of a cross-country adventure. Go to the first overlook in the park off rt 90 and ask a ranger for directions.

Wind Cave and Jewel Cave NPs, Storybook Island in Rapid City, Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse are close enough to each other to take in in an afternoon, Reptile Gardens, the Mammoth site near Hot Springs, Evans Plunge in Hot Springs, Custer State Park Wildlife Loop. Cabins are available in CSP but may be too late for reservations - call now. Avoid last week of July and first two weeks of August. The Sturgis motorcycle rally make the Hills a living he**.

Black Hills Institute in Hill City.
Great dino fossil collection

Don't waste your time at Wall Drug. There is absolutely NOTHING special about it. The famous glass of ice water is a tiny little thing and they overcharge for everything else in there. And what's in there is a bunch of tacky souveneir stuff made in China.

The Corn Palace in Mitchell SD, is worth an hour or so, if only to see the outside, which is quite remarkable.

Go to Rushmore as early in the day as possible. It gets very hot and there is a lot of rock/concrete with no shade.

The Mammoth Site is amazing, too, and really kid-friendly.

The MinuteMan Missile National Historic Site is worth a trip. If you don't know much about the Cold War era, read up on it a little bit before you go, and get your kids to do that, too.

Needles Highway

Iron Mountain Road - route 16A

And the Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park. All together one of the great drives of the country.

Of course, you know not to take the RV these roads.