Things to see on the way to Yellowstone

In Sioux Falls SD, the 'Butterfly House And Marine Cove' is worth a stop.

The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs SD is well worth the time, too. Not too far from Custer SD.

Scotts bluff is worth a night or day depending upon activity levels.

I know someone else mentioned it, but don't forget Devils Tower.

Doug

Thanks for all the suggestions!!

If you can get to Minden, Nebraska, I would recommend the Harold Warp Pioneer Museum. If you like history,old cars, trucks, motorcycles,tractors,snowmobiles etc, this is the place. They have a campground there. It's ok for one night but could use some work. But the museum was amazing.

My daughter and her family are on their way home from an amazing trip to Yellowstone and out to the Oregon coast. She sent great pictures from Voyagers Nat'l Park, Fort Abercrombie, N.D., Custer State Park, Wind Cave, Mt. Rushmore, and Wind Cave before getting to Yellowstone. Enjoy your trip! You are creating amazing memories for you and your family.

Right near Wall Drugs and the Badlands is the Minuteman Missile museum. They just built a new visitor center and it is well worth the stop. Be sure to call ahead to schedule a tour of an actual missile silo. The visitor center and silo tour give you a fresh perspective on this critical defense system that we don't often think about...but that still exists and is manned 24/365 by dedicated military folks.

In the SD Badlands area, there's a Cold War nuclear missile site maintained as a National Historic Site. You have to get tickets ahead because the elevator only holds six people going down to the control center where the missiles would have been launched. Fascinating tour.

Google Minuteman Missile National Historic Site.

There are numerous Lewis & Clark historic sites - several (depending on your route), going N and W above Omaha to South Dakota. Some markers and nice small museums about their expedition, if you like history.

Google theNational Park Service's L&C National Historic Trail.

The best guide is "Along the Trail with Lewis & Clark" by Barbara Fifer. Printed a while back but still relevant, obviously. It tells where to find such sites by using modern roads.

Also shows state parks, campgrounds, etc. There is a Lewis & Clark State Park in Onawa, Iowa with waterfront camping near where they camped, and a replica keelboat. In Chamberlain, SD, along their route, you can camp right on the mighty Missouri at American Creek Campground.