Mt. Rushmore & Badlands-Must-See Suggestions

sedwheathome wrote:
We have only a week to visit & see the Mt. Rushmore & Bad Lands areas. Our plans also include a day trips to Devils Tower & Crazy Horse. What are other "must-see" suggestions? Like Jewel Cave National Park? Thanks for your time & stay warm.

Jewel Cave is a National Monument, not a National Park. See Wind Cave NP.

Lots of great suggestions above. There is so much to do in the Black Hills. Mount Rushmore is a must see. Custer State Park - ask about the location of the buffalo herd. Drive the Needles Highway, hike around Sylvan Lake, take a day trip to Devils Tower or a cave tour. Our favorite "touristy" things to do when our kids were younger were Reptile Gardens, Bear Country USA and Old MacDonalds Petting Zoo. There is an 1880s train that runs out of Hill City. Personally I would skip the Crazy Horse monument.
The Rafter J Bar Ranch is our favorite place to stay. Great location with spacious campsites. I believe they also have cabins.
Enjoy your trip!

Be sure to hike around Sylvan Lake. Very scenic.

X3 on the Mammoth Site

We enjoyed a place called " The Cosmos" and Bear Country USA. Also Badlands NP and Custer State Park especially the Wildlife Loop.

I agree with Needles Highway and I thoroughly enjoy Custer State Park, been there 3 times. The wild burrows are fun to pet and feed. While in Deadwood, visit the saloon where Wild Bill was killed while holding aces and eights. If you are a big history fan, go by Fort Meade just outside the city limits of Sturgis. That old Calvary fort is very interesting.

Definitely the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs! Check with them to see if the Junior Paleontologist Excavation is going on while you are there. I know my eight year old grandson would go nuts for that! Unfortunately he wasn't with us on that trip.

We visited Black Hills area last summer and also took drive from Hill City SD to Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, saw Roughneck Falls - Bridal Veil Falls and then drove over to Deadwood SD (Wild Bill Hickok killed there) for rest of day. Had great time visiting town and seeing various staged western skits and shootouts throughout day.

You have a lot of great suggestions but not knowing what time of year you are going to be there I highly recommend the annual buffalo roundup in Custer State Park. I believe it is in Sept.

Paul

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.