I have not seen anything on the national news but there is a very large wildfire burning in CSP. Hwy 79 is closed from Maverick Junction to Hermosa. Many people have been evacuated or are on alert. The park is asking for donations to buy hay for t...
Rather than using Rapid City as a base I would suggest Custer/Hill City area. Much closer to Mt Rushmore, Wind Cave, Custer State Park. Rapid would entail a lot of extra driving.
Hwy 287 from I90 to Helena is just fine. A few hills but nothing to worry about. Mostly 2 lane with a few passing lanes to Townsend then 4 lane much of the rest of the way. Beautiful drive.
Much prefer Hwy 385. Going to Rapid City means going through Rapid City and all their major streets are continually under construction. There is a drop into Deadwood and a climb out of Deadwood but nothing that hasn't been done hundreds of times. ...