Badlands/Mt Rushmore

If all you want to do at Badlands is drive through, you can easily do that and not even spend a night.

Just plan your previous night stop not too far from Badlands along I-90. Then pack up and head to Badlands and do your drive on the park road 240. The road is set up that you can enter the park at one end and exit at the opposite end. You don't have to backtrack to be on your way to the next stop.

You will be on I-90 and Hwy 240 is the park road through the park. It ends again on I-90. Very easy to drive in a half-day or so. Then when you get back on I-90 head for your next night stop.

Every national park and national monument has an excellent web site like this one. It gives a lot of helpful information - road conditions, maps, campground, things to do, etc. Check them out.

http://www.nps.gov/badl/index.htm

Don't overplan! Just check out all that there, and spend some time to just relax.

TyroneandGladys wrote:
Do not miss the Mammoth Site

X2

yaya
We have been there 3 times in the last four years. There is a lot to do in the area.
1. For the Badlands we like to stay at the KOA which is in Interior which is the south gate to the Badlands. The badlands have a lot of pull offs with many good things to see as it is so very unusual. You will see many prairie dogs, buffalo, and big horn sheep. The welcome center has a great movie which tells you everything that you need to know about the Badlands. It is at the south gate and is a must see. Hill City is a straight shot on a good road from the KOA. I would do two nights.
2. In Hill City our favorite place to stay is Rafter J Bar. There is so much to see there.
Mount Rushmore (day and night), The Needles, Crazy Horse, Wild Horse Sanctuary, Caves, Custer State Park, Wades Gold Panning in Hill City is a great experience. You have to eat at the Alpine Inn.
ENJOY!!!!!

rv2go wrote:
We have been there a few times. I plan my trip to arrive at the campground in the afternoon. Set up camp and do a little exploring. Maybe catch a sunset. The next day we roam about exploring and taking more pictures. Spend the night leave the next morning. If going west, we stop at the tourist trap, Wall Drug.

If you can catch the rangers "dark sky" night program.

i think you will be surprised how small the badlands are .one day is plenty without hiking
http://www.nps.gov/badl/faqs.htm

Try not to over plan! That adds stress to the trip. trips are to relax on!
We do not make reservations way in advance. Some locales you need reservations but normally can be made a day or to out, yes there are exceptions1

Thanks to all of you for your input. Planning a trip like this is overwhelming...

The https://www.travelsouthdakota.com/trip-ideas/scenic-drives/peter-norbeck-national-scenic-bywayPETER NORBECK NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY is a great road to travel in a car or motorcycle.



(not my picture)


My pics

I would spend the majority of my time in the Black Hills!