Mt. Rushmore & Badlands-Must-See Suggestions

[sedwheathome]

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.

[Us_out_West]

MissouriBird wrote:
Would highly recommend visiting Mount Rushmore in late afternoon. Watch the videos in visitor's center, hike the trail that takes you to the base of the monument, eat a snack and take a seat in the amphitheater to watch the night time lighting of the monument along with their very patriotic salute to veterans. It is both a beautiful and very moving program. Makes you proud to be an American and there's not many opportunities for that today.

Agree...

[MissouriBird]

Would highly recommend visiting Mount Rushmore in late afternoon. Watch the videos in visitor's center, hike the trail that takes you to the base of the monument, eat a snack and take a seat in the amphitheater to watch the night time lighting of the monument along with their very patriotic salute to veterans. It is both a beautiful and very moving program. Makes you proud to be an American and there's not many opportunities for that today.

Ellsworth AFB near Rapid City offers tours to the missile silos on their base==twice a day. Excellent tours and not nearly crowded as the Minuteman NP.

[rumerdenbev]

We have 3 1/2 days in the Black Hills. We are staying in Hot Springs.
Unfortunately we are there during the Sturgis Rally. (couldn't be helped and not happy) We want to go to the Badlands, Minuteman Missile Facility, and Deadwood. Of course needles highway and Mount Rushmore. Not sure how to squeeze this all in. One whole day at Minuteman Missile Facility and also Badlands. In my reading I have discovered that they do not do the street fights etc in Deadwood on Sunday and on Monday is the big rally through Deadwood with all the motorcycles. We have a 14ft travel trailer pulled by a 2500 chevy truck. Is it possible to park that in Deadwood and stop there on our way out of the area. We are arriving on a Saturday and plan to do Mt. Rushmore etc that day, then spend Sunday in Badlands area. Monday & Tuesday doing all the drives. Leaving on Wednesday morning. Next stop is Sundance. (so not far) Need any help anyone can give.

[Uppercrust]

Do a cave tour check out doing the candlelight tour. They fill up fast, so reserve your spot early, but so much fun. Mount Rushmore at night with the lighting ceremony is great. Badlands we did a hike, can't remember which one that you climbed up a wooden ladder to get to the main trail. That was real fun to do. Lots to see and do especially in Custer doing the Wildlife loop.

[TinyoneRV]

The Minuteman National Historic Site is an amazing look into just how close we came to the final countdown for the human race. Some scary stuff. We've been there twice; once when it was just a trailer and again just after the new visitor center opened. The exhibits weren't complete but still a fascinating look into history. Launch site tours fill early so get there when it opens if you want the tour; however, just the visitor center was enough for me.

[dewey02]

Your 8 year old boy may really enjoy going to an authentic Chuck Wagon.
We took our kids to the Circle B Chuck wagon. They rode horses on a long woodsy trail, panned for gold, saw a great gunfight, and then we had a great chuckwagon dinner (buffalo if you want it), and excellent entertainment while you eat. The place is run by a family and all the family members sing cowboy songs and play guitar beautifully. Just a great day to spend there.
Here's the link: [COLOR=]Circle B Chuckwagon Ranch

[GeoBoy]

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.

[Mortimer_Brewst]

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!

[pawatt]

Be sure to hike around Sylvan Lake. Very scenic.

[TyroneandGladys]

X3 on the Mammoth Site

[RGar974417]

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

[Alabama_Jim]

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.

[Murphsmom]

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.

[DAVES04RV]

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.

[1SG]

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