Mt. Rushmore?

DrewE wrote:
Huh--I'm of the opinion that Mt Rushmore is more of a drive-by, but I rather enjoyed my time at the Badlands and could easily spend more time there.

I guess all that shows is that tastes differ.

Sure do. Over the years here there have been members who claimed that the whole Black Hills were at best an overnight stop. Having spent hundreds of nights there in the last 2+ decades, I just shake my head when I read comments like that.

Going in June from Ohio RM, what do you advise as best route from Colo and stop over to break up trip in motorhome? What camp grounds do you recommend at MR and other sites that are must visit?

Thanks

Rangerman40 wrote:
We spent a few hours at Mt. Rushmore. You can hike a couple different trails, go to the sculptors museum, etc..... make sure you take Iron Mtn road to get there. The tunnels line up perfectly with Mt Rushmore and the pig tail bridges are cool. Then go to.Crazy Horse... it's ten minutes away. Then drive the Needles Highway... it's five minutes from Crazy Horse. We took side trips back to the Badlands and Wall Drug and the Minuteman Missile Site but we stayed at Custer SP. Wind Cave NP is connected to Custer and Jewel Cave isn't far from that. We panned for gold in Keystone, visited the Mammoth site in Hit Sprigx. Spent five days and didn't get to see it all.

We spent a few hours at Mt. Rushmore. You can hike a couple different trails, go to the sculptors museum, etc..... make sure you take Iron Mtn road to get there. The tunnels line up perfectly with Mt Rushmore and the pig tail bridges are cool. Then go to.Crazy Horse... it's ten minutes away. Then drive the Needles Highway... it's five minutes from Crazy Horse. We took side trips back to the Badlands and Wall Drug and the Minuteman Missile Site but we stayed at Custer SP. Wind Cave NP is connected to Custer and Jewel Cave isn't far from that. We panned for gold in Keystone, visited the Mammoth site in Hit Sprigx. Spent five days and didn't get to see it all.

As long as it's not Sturgis time.

Big Katuna wrote:

DrewE wrote:
Huh--I'm of the opinion that Mt Rushmore is more of a drive-by, but I rather enjoyed my time at the Badlands and could easily spend more time there.

I guess all that shows is that tastes differ.

I agree with your Rushmore opinion.

Make that three.

I agree with the staying longer at Rushmore. My wife's parents live in Hot Springs (45 min south of Rapid City). We travel up there with motorcycles in tow. Not yet with the RV. Black Hills and all the scenic drives are amazing. You can spend 2 weeks up there and not see the same thing twice. As far as Mount Rushmore, if you are going to see just Mount Rushmore, then it is a "drive by" unless you do to the night lighting. It is your vacation and trip but to not spend more time in the Black Hills is "wasting" a vacation trip (IMHO). Of course because my In-Laws live up there, I am partially bias but we can also take our time seeing things because we know we will be back.

Needles Highway, wow what a cool drive that was as well as seeing Mt Rushmore at night all lit up.

DrewE wrote:
Huh--I'm of the opinion that Mt Rushmore is more of a drive-by, but I rather enjoyed my time at the Badlands and could easily spend more time there.

I guess all that shows is that tastes differ.

I agree with your Rushmore opinion.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
If doing Mount Rushmore you need an overnighter.....

Reason:
Go during daytime THEN go back at night

Two completely different experiences.

Well worth an overnight stay!

Yes ^^^^

Not to mention Custer - Custer SP - Needles Hwy - Jewel and Wind Caves - Rushmore is a week.

Pictures

Enjoy the trip,

Have a great trip and spend the time you have. If you miss something or wished you had more time at one place plan a return trip. That is what we do.

We are planning a trip to Manitoba and Saskatchewan this summer and already wished we had more time but we cannot leave earlier and have to be back at a certain time so we do what we can do with the time we have.