I am planning on heading off with the family (2 adults, 3 kids) for a 2.5 months of traveling in the middle of June. We are headed out from the DC area with an ultimate goal of ending up at Mount Rushmore, then meandering back before school starts in Sept. Instead of planning every single hour of the trip, I was hoping to keep it relatively low key. We like state parks over private campgrounds for cost, but the occasional KOA is nice if it has a pool for the kids. If we don't make it to Mt. Rushmore, then that's okay as well. We will be traveling mostly Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays; and setting up camp Mon-Thursday (I do still have work to do). I have a lot of flexibility in my work so I could move that around, but my thought is that state parks should be easier to book Mon-Thurs than on the weekend. Are there any must see spots between DC and Mt. Rushmore, or any routes you recommend? I don't need a full length itinerary, but just personal experiences that I might not know about or see on a map. 36' Travel Trailer, so I know some places would be inaccessible due to lenght. We aren't really setup for boondocking, but with a generator I think we would be okay.

unless you have specific desires to see/stop at, I would do I-70 to I-74 at Indianapolis, to davenport I-80, to I-29 up to i-90 and across. bumpy

how old are the kids? interests? hiking, national parks, museums, etc?

I lived in NC for 2 years (many years ago), and I lived in the Washington DC area for about 5 years. My (home) is Indiana, I traveled back and forth a lot in those days. We've also traveled from Indiana to Wisconsin, to Minnesota, to Iowa several times as well. I will say, we have never stayed at a "bad" state park anywhere between Virginia and Iowa or Minnesota. Traveling that basic line, between DC to Indiana, then upward to South Dakota, just pick any State Park along the journey and you won't have a bad choice at all.FYI, we are going to Mount Rushmore in July for a 2 week trip. We're really excited about going too. We've never been there.

2chiefsRus wrote:how old are the kids? interests? hiking, national parks, museums, etc?10, 4, and 8 months (I know, I know). So hiking, biking (but not the mountain variety), swimming, kayaking, etc. Museums are okay, but they have to be kid oriented and really exciting (otherwise it won't captivate them for very long).

DutchmenSport wrote:I lived in NC for 2 years (many years ago), and I lived in the Washington DC area for about 5 years. My (home) is Indiana, I traveled back and forth a lot in those days. We've also traveled from Indiana to Wisconsin, to Minnesota, to Iowa several times as well. I will say, we have never stayed at a "bad" state park anywhere between Virginia and Iowa or Minnesota. Traveling that basic line, between DC to Indiana, then upward to South Dakota, just pick any State Park along the journey and you won't have a bad choice at all.FYI, we are going to Mount Rushmore in July for a 2 week trip. We're really excited about going too. We've never been there.I hear ya, I've never been either. I actually live in NC now, but we are hitting a pre-planned trip to Carolina Beach, then home outside of Elizabeth City for a few days for a family event, and then heading to D.C. I have a client to see on D.C. before we head off, so that's why we are leaving from there. Hoping for the best, but also open to heading back if everyone is miserable. We've never really stayed at a bad state or national park either, so usually things work out pretty well.

DC to Mount Rushmore | Good Sam Community

DrewE
Explorer II
May 24, 2017
Dick_B wrote:

I can think of Cedar Point the roller coaster capital of the world; probably good for an entire day. www.cedarpoint.com

If you do spend a day at Cedar Point, I would suggest giving strong thought to staying at their campground (Lighthouse Point), particularly with the younger children. The ability to walk "home" for lunch or a nap or whatever should not be underestimated.

Knoebels in Elysburg, PA is another amusement park that has a campground right adjacent to the park. Their campground itself is unexceptional--it's clean and decently kept up, but otherwise quite plain with mostly smallish sites, some quite cramped--but the location at the park makes up for that in spades. Knoebels itself is smaller than Cedar Point, rather more traditional in general ambiance, and absolutely great family fun...and as it's run on the pay as you go system, it's quite possible to have a fine day comparatively inexpensively.
Dick_B
Explorer
May 24, 2017
Do Google searches for `_______ tourism' and put the state or city or area in the blank space or better yet let the kids do it and pick out what they would like to see/do.
I can think of Cedar Point the roller coaster capital of the world; probably good for an entire day. www.cedarpoint.com
Somewhat off the track is the Field of Dreams where the movie was made. Be sure to see the movie first, of course.
ken56
Explorer
May 23, 2017
Here is another suggestion. Head to Dayton OH and go to the Airforce Museum, then head up to Cleveland to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a stop at Cedar Point Amusement park in Sandusky OH. might be what the kids want too, then on to Dearborn MI to the Henry Ford Museum and maybe fit in a tour of the Ford truck factory. From there head 'up north' to Frankenmuth MI for a great chicken dinner then on to Mackinac City and Mackinac Island. Then over the 'Big Mac' bridge and west through the upper peninsula into Wisconsin and to the Dells. Oshkosh Has another aviation museum that is WAY cool too.
KPetrick
Explorer
May 23, 2017
The Sturgis motorcycle rally is August 4th - 13th. That would probably be a good time to avoid Rushmore and that general area. Camping is booked and the roads are packed with motorcycles. Rapid City S.D. has Bear Country which is cool for the kids.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
May 23, 2017
kids might enjoy gunfights, etc. in deadwood.
bumpy
Corky12
Explorer
May 23, 2017
Story Book Island in Rapid City, Reptile Gardens south of Rapid on US 16, 1880 Train ride from Hill City to Keystone, the wildlife loop through Custer State Park, Mammoth Site at Hot Springs, hiking any or all of the Mikkelsen Trail which runs from Lead to Edgemont but has access points every few miles. Every state has entertaining and educational opportunities and sometimes they are discovered by accident. Enjoy your journey.
2chiefsRus
Explorer
May 23, 2017
Badlands National Park is a great place to visit. We took the grandsons there when they were around the same age as your older two. High recommend the Junior Ranger Programs at the National Park. We stayed at Badlands NP in their dry camp campground. The grandsons really enjoyed visiting Bear Country USA in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Check out their website.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
May 23, 2017
I can't imagine driving all that way with your intended stops being state parks, wall drug, the corn palace, etc., and not Rushmore.
seems like a waste of a trip to me. and some mighty boring scenery from here to there.
bumpy
DrewE
Explorer II
May 23, 2017
If your work requires internet access, take care to ensure you have plans in place for that wherever you stop for the week. In many campgrounds your best bet (though not always inexpensive or exceptionally quick) would be via the cell network; but not all state parks have great or any cell phone reception. That's just generally speaking, of course.

In terms of places to stop, St Louis comes to my mind. Several nice traditional museums, a good zoo, the arch, and the not-to-be-missed City Museum that I personally think is cooler and more fun than Disney...not that they're quite aiming at being the same thing.

As an 8 or 9 year old, I really enjoyed cavorting around the Badlands. Mt Rushmore, on the other hand, struck me (and still rather strikes me) as somewhat "meh," something I'm content to only see in passing.
peoples1234
Explorer
May 23, 2017
DutchmenSport wrote:
I lived in NC for 2 years (many years ago), and I lived in the Washington DC area for about 5 years. My (home) is Indiana, I traveled back and forth a lot in those days.

We've also traveled from Indiana to Wisconsin, to Minnesota, to Iowa several times as well.

I will say, we have never stayed at a "bad" state park anywhere between Virginia and Iowa or Minnesota. Traveling that basic line, between DC to Indiana, then upward to South Dakota, just pick any State Park along the journey and you won't have a bad choice at all.

FYI, we are going to Mount Rushmore in July for a 2 week trip. We're really excited about going too. We've never been there.

I hear ya, I've never been either. I actually live in NC now, but we are hitting a pre-planned trip to Carolina Beach, then home outside of Elizabeth City for a few days for a family event, and then heading to D.C. I have a client to see on D.C. before we head off, so that's why we are leaving from there.

Hoping for the best, but also open to heading back if everyone is miserable. We've never really stayed at a bad state or national park either, so usually things work out pretty well.