mount rushmore trip planner

Mount Rushmore Vacation Itinerary: The Best of the Black Hills

A Mount Rushmore vacation is an American rite of passage and a great introduction to the country for foreign tourists.

Table of Contents

You get a good dose of American history on the Black Hills itinerary as the “beautiful for spacious skies” you hear so much about. My Black Hills road trip was one of the best adventures I’ve had, so I put this itinerary together to help others make the most of the area.

Quick Facts about Planning a Mount Rushmore Vacation

Spring break: the best time to visit mount rushmore.

• So Now What? 7 Things To Do Near Mount Rushmore

This Mount Rushmore road trip itinerary is based out of Rapid City, South Dakota because it’s centrally located to all the attractions in the Black Hills region. It’s also home to Rapid City Regional Airport, which is the closest airport to Mount Rushmore.

The activities on each day are grouped by geographic proximity. So if you’d like to do day 3’s activities on day 4, it would work — but you shouldn’t mix activities from different days because they would be too far apart, spread across the Black Hills.

You should never spend more than 2ish hours in the car with this Mount Rushmore Road Trip.

• Where To Stay in Rapid City / The Best hotels in Rapid City 

My sister and I stayed at the historic Hotel Alex Johnson in Downtown Rapid City. It’s where Hitchcock stayed when he was in the area for North by Northwest f ilming AND it’s allegedly haunted. No word yet on the Mount Rushmore Illuminati, though.

If you visit the Black Hills during the off-season, you are likely to get a great deal at this beautiful hotel. If not, or you prefer to rough it when planning a trip to Mount Rushmore, there are plenty of reputable chain hotels in the area, like Best Western, La Quinta, etc.

• Places To Eat in Rapid City

Black Hills Bagels (closes 3pm daily)

913 Mt. Rushmore Road

Rapid City, SD 57701

Wobbly Bobby (opens 3pm daily)

510 Main Street 

• Where To Rent a Car in Rapid City 

If you fly in, you’ll definitely need to rent a car to properly experience the Black Hills. It’s best to pick up your rental car from Rapid City Regional Airport as it’s the closest airport to Mount Rushmore, so you can spend as much time exploring as possible and then drop it off right before you fly back out.

If your flight arrives late at night, consider returning to the airport via your hotel’s shuttle in the morning to save on rental fees, as odd pickup hours tend to drive up the rental price.

Day 1: Arrive in Rapid City and Get Settled

Whether you’re on a Mount Rushmore road trip or flying into Rapid City, odds are you will arrive in town in the late afternoon or evening simply due to the time it takes to make the trek. No matter if you’re driving from Kansas City to Mount Rushmore, or flying in from Houston like I did, I recommend spending your first evening settling into your hotel, gearing up for the fun you’ll be having, and exploring downtown Rapid City.

You could even watch a movie filmed in the area!

• Mount Rushmore Movie Scene: Films Made in South Dakota
• Paleontology and Presidents: Things To Do in Rapid City South Dakota

Day 2: Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse

You should get an early start to Mount Rushmore, stopping at Black Hills Bagels on the way for a spot of breakfast.

The drive from Rapid City to Mount Rushmore takes about 30 minutes. Plan to arrive no later than 10:00AM.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

13000 South Dakota 244

Keystone, SD 57751

10 Things To Do at Mount Rushmore: Ways To Make the Most of Your Visit

• 9 Reasons To Visit Mount Rushmore: A Snapshot of America

Plan to eat lunch at the Carver’s Cafe at Mount Rushmore, leaving around 1:00PM. Next up is Crazy Horse! The drive from M Rushmore to Crazy Horse takes about 30 minutes, putting your arrival at about 1:30PM.

Crazy Horse Memorial

12151 Avenue of the Chiefs

Crazy Horse, SD 57730

After your time at Crazy Horse, you can head on back to Rapid City for a nice dinner because there isn’t a Crazy Horse restaurant. Enjoy some R&R before your next full day or return to Mount Rushmore for the nightly lighting ceremony.

• Crazy Horse Memorial South Dakota: History in Construction since 1948

Day 3: Badlands National Park and Minuteman Missile Silos

Another early start! Plan to leave your hotel again between 8:00AM and 8:30AM, as it’s a solid one-hour drive to Badlands National Park from Rapid City. 

Ben Reifel Vistors Center 

25216 Ben Reifel Road

Interior, SD 57750

• 10 Bad Reasons To Visit Badlands National Park South Dakota
• Bad Puns Alert: 5 Bad Things To Do in the Badlands

You don’t want to miss out on the Minuteman Missile tour ! While you can look at the Delta-09 silo without a reservation, if you want to go down into the Delta-01 launch facility, you’ll need a reservation.

Tours run Thursday through Monday at 1:15PM and 2:00PM. The tour typically lasts about 30 minutes and because of limited space, accommodates six people and one Park Ranger. You should reserve your spot ASAP, up to three months in advance,  here .

Unfortunately, no same-day reservations are allowed. You don’t want to miss out, so book now!

If “day 3” of your Mount Rushmore Vacation happens to be a Tuesday or Wednesday when no tours are offered, just swap out today’s activities with a different day.

• Cold War History: Visiting the Minuteman Missile Site in South Dakota

As you can see, Badlands National Park and the Minuteman Missile Silos form a nice “loop” with the highway. Depending on your time of arrival and the pace at which your progress through the Badlands, you might have to do a little backtracking to see everything.

Be sure to stop at Wall Drug General Store on the way back to Rapid City for some good food and a fun souvenir.

Day 4: Devils Tower National Monument and the Geographic Center of the Nation

It’s about an 80-minute drive from Rapid City to Belle Fourche, South Dakota, home of the geographic center of the United States. It used to be in Kansas, but then Alaska and Hawaii joined the Union and things shifted.

Geographic Center of the Nation Monument

415 5th Avene

Belle Fourche, SD 57717

Belle Fourche South Dakota: The Geographic Center of the United States

You can spend anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes in Belle Fourche, depending on whether the museum at the monument is open. Then head to Devil’s Tower.

Devil’s Tower is a geological wonder heavily featured in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and regional Native American tradition, so it’s a can’t-miss!

Devils Tower National Monument

149 State Highway 110

Devils Tower, WY 82714

• The Legend of Devils Tower: America’s First National Monument

Devil’s Tower is also conveniently close to the Montanan border, so if you’d like to check Big Sky Country off the list on your Mount Rushmore Vacation, it’s easy to take a route back to Rapid City that cuts through the corner of Montana.

just call me Hannah cause I’m in Montana

Day 5: Jewel Cave National Monument and Reptile Gardens

The last day of your Mount Rushmore vacation should go out with a bang! The bang of bacon-looking rocks and lots of reptiles.

Start the day by making the 70-minute drive to Jewel Cave National Monument, southwest of Rapid City. Set your GPS to Custer, South Dakota, and from there, follow Highway 16 West. There are signs for the monument’s entrance along the road.

If needed, here are the exact coordinates:

594270, 4842528 (UTM NAD 83)

Latitude / Longitude:

43 43′ 46.6153″ N

103 49′ 46.6522″ W

You’ll want to head that way quite early as it’s a popular destination, you can’t reserve tickets ahead of time, and tours tend to fill up fast. Try to arrive at least 30 minutes ahead of the day’s first tour if you want to minimize the time you have to wait around for your slot.

You don’t want to miss the bacon rocks!

• Jewel Cave National Monument: Is It Worth a Visit?

On the way back into town, stop at Reptile Gardens! It’s got an impressive menagerie of snakes, frogs, turtles, and birds. There’s even a Bond Girl crocodile. It’s the perfect place for a little family bonding over your shared love (or hatred) of snakes!

Reptile Gardens South Dakota

Rapid City, SD 57702

• 10 Reasons to Visit Reptile Gardens South Dakota (Even if Snakes Scare You)

That’s a wrap on your vacation to Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills of South Dakota! Time to hit the road home or head to the airport for your flight home.

Emily’s all over the place. She’s an expert on working holidays, studying abroad, and turning your #GapYear into a #GapLife. Learn how here .

You may also enjoy:

The legend of devils tower: america’s first national monument, leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Past Stories

She’s a Trip contains affiliate links throughout the site. This means that if you purchase items through these links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can learn more in my Privacy Policy

Where to next?

Privacy overview.

How to Visit Mount Rushmore (+ Things to Do Nearby & Itinerary)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: February 2, 2024

Are you visiting Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota and are wondering what to expect? Looking for information on what to see and do at Mt. Rushmore, where to stay, and how much time you need? Or maybe you are planning a trip to the Black Hills and Badlands area and are looking for ideas for things to do near Mount Rushmore ?

This article should answer all your questions!

Our guest writer Jen from Travel With A Plan visited Mt. Rushmore with her family and wrote this very comprehensive guide to the area.

Whether you are looking for inspiration or practical information for your visit to Mount Rushmore or places to visit nearby, this article should answer all your questions. Find out!

Visiting Mount Rushmore

A national treasure in the United States, Mount Rushmore National Memorial symbolizes the ideals of freedom and Democracy. Completed in 1941, Mount Rushmore features the 60-foot high faces of four United States presidents intricately carved out of a granite mountainside.

Located in the Black Hills region of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore is often considered a rite of passage to see in one’s lifetime. Drawing in more than 3 million tourists per year, visitors from around the world travel here to take in the awe-inspiring views of this patriotic site.

Below you can find my tips on visiting Mount Rushmore National Memorial and things to do in the breathtaking area nearby. Read on!

Visit Mount Rushmore and What to See Nearby – OVERVIEW

• Wat to see & do
• How to get to Mt Rushmore
• When to visit
• Practical tips for visting Mt Rushmore
• Things to do near Mt Rushmore
• Mount Rushmore – Black Hills itinerary suggestions
• Where to stay near Mt Rushmore

Things to Do at Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Along with admiring the enormous sculpted faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, there are many activities available to immerse yourself in the history and beauty of Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

Here is a short summary of what you can expect to see and do when visiting Mount Rushmore.

1. Stroll the Avenue of Flags

The Avenue of the Flags is the main pathway to the Mt Rushmore memorial.  Here, guests are greeted by a walkway flanked on both sides by the flags of all 50 states and territories of the United States.

Arranged in alphabetical order, the names of each state, district, commonwealth, and territory are listed on the pillars directly below each flag.

This impressive scene is both eye-catching and welcoming, as it looks as if the 56 flags are waving guests into the memorial.

2. Enjoy the Monument from Grand View Terrace

The Avenue of the Flags is the pathway that leads to Grand View Terrace. Grand View Terrace is the primary platform where visitors have a clear view of the gigantic Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

The unobstructed views from this platform provide the classic visuals of the monument that most tourists are familiar with.

Be sure to take advantage of using the free telescopes located here, as well as take plenty of iconic photographs and selfies.

3. Visit the Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center

The Lincoln Borglum Visitor Center, Museum, Theater & Bookstore is located below the Grand View Terrace. This free visitor center offers interactive museum exhibits, a short film, and an information desk staffed by park rangers.

I recommend spending time here in order to truly appreciate the history and construction of Mount Rushmore.

By watching Mount Rushmore: The Shrine , visitors gain a true understanding of the immense amount of detail and work that it took to carve the faces of these four former U.S. Presidents.  

Likewise, the Exhibit Hall provides education on the sculptor and his workers, and even contains some of the original tools used for the carving.

4. Walk the Presidential Trail

The Presidential Trail is a paved half-mile observation loop that begins at Grand View Terrace and leads to viewing areas at the base of the mountain.

This family-friendly trail is a series of steps and vantage platforms that provide a closer view of the sculptures. Its winding walkways also give visitors a chance to get away from the crowds on the terrace.

The Presidential Trail is a paved surface that is suitable for both, wheelchairs and strollers. Plan to spend 40 minutes walking the Presidential Trail loop as it also includes a nature trail full of interesting wildlife, plants, and stones.

5. Join a Guided Tour

During the summer months, free ranger-led programs and guided walks are held each day at various locations throughout the memorial. Ranger Talks last 30 minutes and cover a variety of natural, cultural, and historical topics.

Rent an audio tour wand or multimedia device that features music, interviews, and sound effects that narrate your way around the park.

These are available at the Audio Tour Building across from the Information Center for $6 in English, French, German, Lakota, and Spanish.

6. Complete the Junior Ranger Program

Mount Rushmore’s Junior Ranger Program was designed to educate children on the importance of preserving and protecting national treasures. Likewise, they help teach about nature and history while encouraging kids to have fun exploring the outdoors.

Children aged 3 and up who want to participate can pick up a free age-specific Junior Ranger activity book at the Visitor Center.

Upon returning a completed activity packet to the Visitor Center, children are awarded a Junior Ranger Badge and certificate.

7. Sample Historic Ice Cream

Make a point to grab a taste of history at the Memorial Team Ice Cream Station.

Named in honor of the 1939 baseball team formed of Mount Rushmore carvers, Memorial Team Ice Cream features ice cream, snacks, fountain drinks, and specialty floats.

Favorites here include the popular soft-serve or hand-dipped “Monumental Scoop” and “TJ’s” vanilla ice cream. Locally produced by a small dairy farm, TJ’s ice cream is based on Thomas Jefferson’s original recipe from 1780.

8. Dine at Carver’s Marketplace

Open from early morning to late evening, Carvers Marketplace is Mount Rushmore’s only onsite restaurant.

With a perfect view of Mount Rushmore, many guests visit the cafe early in the morning for a hearty breakfast while watching a sunrise behind the sculpture.

Known for its locally sourced menu options such as bison burgers and bison stew, ample seating both indoors and outside on the patio can easily accommodate mealtime crowds.

9. Evening Sculpture Lighting Ceremony

From late May to late September, Mount Rushmore National Memorial holds a special program each evening at 9:00 PM to light the sculpture.

This program consists of a brief ranger talk and the “Freedom: America’s Lasting Legacy” film.  It concludes with the lighting of the sculpture as the audience sings the National Anthem.

The entire ceremony lasts approximately 45 minutes. Similar to all other programs here, it is free and you do not need a reservation to attend. Please note that from October to April the sculpture is illuminated at dusk without a formal program.

Further below, you can find our selection of the best things to do near Mount Rushmore. But first – some practical information for your visit.

How to Get to Mount Rushmore

Somewhat off of the beaten path, Mount Rushmore is located in a rugged, rural area of South Dakota. A popular road trip destination for those living in the U.S., most visitors arrive here by personal vehicle.

For those traveling from further distances, the closest airport is Rapid City Regional Airport. It’s located 35 miles (56 km) from the memorial.  From Rapid City, you can either rent a car, join a guided day tour , or hire a private tour company.

Upon arrival, you will find that Mount Rushmore National Memorial has several parking structures to accommodate its large number of visitors.

Though Mount Rushmore remains one of the few popular parks that has managed to avoid an entrance fee, there is a parking fee here.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Mt Rushmore

Mount Rushmore National Memorial is open year-round, except on December 25th, when it’s closed for Christmas.

Mt Rushmore National Memorial is a popular destination for families, so the busiest time to travel here is during the summer months of June, July, and August. It is then that school is out of session and the weather is the warmest.

Despite crowds being at their peak during this time, you should know that the park is still very doable when it is busy.

Though temperatures will be much cooler, spring and fall are two other great times to visit the Black Hills region.  Along with fewer crowds, the spring and fall months feature seasonal multi-colored trees and plants that are unique to this area.

Practical Tips for Visiting Mount Rushmore

Ready to plan your trip?  Here is a recap of things to remember when planning your visit.

• Mount Rushmore is located 35 miles from Rapid City, South Dakota.
• There is no entrance fee to visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial, but you have to pay for parking.
• The Mount Rushmore parking structure and memorial grounds are normally open from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM. The Visitor Center is open at 8:00 AM and closes at 10:00 PM.
• Plan on at least 2-4 hours to explore all that Mount Rushmore has to offer.
• Mount Rushmore does not have overnight accommodations onsite.

Things to Do Near Mount Rushmore

Since visiting Mount Rushmore National Memorial itself doesn’t require more than half a day, many people wonder what other interesting places there are to see and things to do in the Black Hills.

Below you can find some ideas for fun things to do and the best places to visit near Mount Rushmore. At the bottom of this article, you can also find some itinerary suggestions for what to do near Mount Rushmore in 1, 2, 3 days . Read on!

But first, here are some of the best things to do near Mount Rushmore:

Custer State Park

No trip to the Black Hills would be complete without a visit to Custer State Park . Custer has been named one of the World’s Top 10 Wildlife Destinations and is one of the few truly wild places that remain in the United States.

Home to a famous herd of 1,400 free-roaming bison, the park is known for its majestic wildlife, awe-inspiring scenery, and prairie dog towns.

TIP: Use this helpful park map to customize your family’s adventure throughout this wildlife oasis.

• 14 miles from Mount Rushmore
• Minimum time needed: 1-2 hours

LEARN MORE: Things to Do in Custer State Park

Needles Highway

The 14-mile Needles Highway within Custer State Park is an absolutely spectacular drive through pine forests and rugged mountains. The road’s name comes from the needle-like granite formations in which the highway was carved out of.

Due to its high elevation, hairpin turns, and narrow passageways, this drive can be a bit stomach-churning. Its beauty is so captivating, however, that even the faint of heart are sure to appreciate it.

When making travel plans, be sure to account for the slower speed of 25 MPH that is recommended when driving Needles Highway.  In addition, the highway is closed during winter months due to weather conditions and is typically only open April through October.

• 16 miles from Mount Rushmore
• Minimum time spent: 45-60 minutes

Wildlife Loop Road

The 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road , also part of Custer State Park , takes visitors through open grasslands, red-walled canyons, and pine-covered hills to experience Mother Nature at her finest.

Depending on the day, you might see buffalo, bighorn sheep, elk, whitetail deer, burros, prairie dogs, eagles, and hawks. Chances to see wildlife are always higher early in the morning or late in the afternoon, at dusk.

At the Loop Road’s southeastern tip, wild burros frequently approach car windows to ‘beg’ for treats. Similarly, travelers will experience ‘wildlife jams’ as some of the parks 1,400 roaming buffalo clog up the roadway.

• 20 miles from Mount Rushmore
• Minimum time spent: 45 minutes

Crazy Horse Memorial

Crazy Horse Memorial is set to be the world’s largest mountain carving and has been under construction since 1948. Considered the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World in progress’, Crazy Horse attracts 1.5 million visitors a year who seek to watch history being made.

Although it’s open as a site for tourists and currently features the completed  87-foot-tall head of Crazy Horse, it’s far from finished. When completed this Oglala Lakota Native American warrior is projected to be 641 feet wide and 563 feet tall (while the heads of the presidents at Mount Rushmore are only 60-feet high).

The Crazy Horse Memorial campus features an on-site restaurant, gift shop, Indian Museum, and Native American Educational and Cultural Center. Admission rates are based on the number of passengers per private vehicle.

• 15 miles from Mount Rushmore
• Time spent: 1-2 hours

Badlands National Park

Badlands National Park consists of a big area of colorful sharply eroded buttes and pinnacles, along with the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the United States. Some parts of the park remind a bit of Bryce Canon, the others – of Grand Canyon or Yellowstone NP… It’s a very unique mix of incredible landscapes…

The rugged beauty of the Badlands draws visitors from around the world to view its dramatic layered rock formations and steep canyons.

From camping and hiking to auto-touring and road-side observation areas, visitors to Badlands National Park are guaranteed countless outdoor adventures.

• 84 miles from Mount Rushmore
• Minimum time:  1.5-2.5 hours. But you can easily spend a day here.

Wind Cave National Park

The sixth-longest cave in the entire world, Wind Cave is located just a short drive from Mount Rushmore.  With its majestic boxwork cave formations and adjoining acres of mixed-grass prairies, Wind Cave is the first cave in the world to be designated as a National Park.

Ranger-guided tours of Wind Cave run the whole year-round. Tickets are very popular and are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.  So be sure to plan ahead during peak summer months, because it’s not unusual that you’ll have to wait quite a while to get in.

Though there are no fees to drive through or hike in the park, there are fees associated with visiting the cave.  You can find pricing, tour information, and important things to consider before taking a cave tour here .

• 40 miles from Mount Rushmore
• Time needed: 2 hours

Rushmore Tramway Adventures

If you are visiting Mt Rushmore with kids, you may want to check out Rushmore Tramway Adventures (RTA). Located in Keystone, just 2,5 miles from Mt Rushmore National Memorial, this adventure park offers a variety of amazing family-friendly attractions.

RTA has something for everyone: an aerial adventure park, an alpine slide, a jump tower, a tubing hill, a zipline tour, and a scenic chairlift.

Practical information: Opening hours vary a bit per season, but in general the adventure park is open on weekends in May and September and daily in June, July, and August. Please note that the park is only open weather-permitting.

• 2,5 miles from Mount Rushmore

Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway

Spearfish Canyon is a deep, but narrow gorge carved by the Spearfish River. The 21-mile long Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway winds it way through the 1000-ft deep canyon and allows visitors a pristine view of multiple natural wonders.

Rock climbing, biking, hiking, and fishing are just a few of the activities that can be done throughout Spearfish Canyon. Our favorite experiences were the up-close-and-personal encounters with the beautiful waterfalls in the area.

Bridal Veil Falls, Roughlock Falls, and Spearfish Falls are all well worth the short walks to get to from the byway.

• 60 miles from Mount Rushmore
• Time spent:  2 hours

The Mammoth Site

The Mammoth Site is not to be missed in the Black Hills! More than 26,000 years ago, dozens of woolly mammoths and other animals were trapped and died in a pond, which is now Hot Springs, SD. The site was discovered during excavation for housing development and is now preserved as an active dig site and public museum.

Mammoth Site Museum is fascinating and definitely worth seeing. There are hands-on dig experiences for children and knowledgeable guides that provide a fun and educational experience for the entire family.

You can find more practical info for visiting the Mammoth Site Museum here .

• 57 miles from Mount Rushmore

Mt Rushmore & Black Hills Itinerary Suggestions

Because of the large number of things to see and do near Mount Rushmore, as well as how spread out most places are, we recommend at least 4 days in the Black Hills . Just for clarity, the Black Hills is a nickname used to refer to the entire area around Mount Rushmore and all the attractions that are mentioned in this post.

If you have the luxury of having more time, you can easily spend up to 10 days in the Black Hills and you will not run out of things to do, especially if you enjoy hiking.

However, not everyone has a lot of time, and often visiting Mount Rushmore is the main reason for people to visit this area. To make your trip planning easier, I have some suggestions on how to best plan your time if you have just 1 to 3 days near Mount Rushmore. Take a look!

1 Day in the Black Hills

If you only have one day in the Black Hills , I suggest visiting Mount Rushmore first thing in the morning, before crowds build. You then have three options on how to spend the rest of the day in the area.

The first option is to visit Crazy Horse Memorial and Custer State Park, which includes Wildlife Loop Road and Needles Highway.

The second option – ideal for families – is to spend the afternoon at the Rushmore Tramway Adventures adventure park.

Alternatively, you can opt to visit Wind Cave National Park and The Mammoth Site.

TIP: If you have just one day in the area and don’t know where to start, consider joining this highly-rated Mt Rushmore day tour from Rapid City . It also covers Custer State Park and the Crazy Horse Memorial.

2 Days in the Black Hills

If you have two days in the Black Hills , visit Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Custer State Park on the first day.

You can then spend the second day visiting Wind Cave National Park, Mammoth Site Museum, and Rapid City. RTA is also a great option, especially for families with kids.

Alternatively, visit the Badlands National Park. There is a Visitor Center, several long and short hikes, and multiple scenic overlooks. You can spend just a few hours here, but the Badlands can take up to the whole day as well. It really depends on what you want to see and do there.

Black Hills 3 Day Itinerary

If you have three days in the Black Hills, you can do everything mentioned in the 1 and 2-day itineraries above. So, your itinerary could look like this:

• Day 1: Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park.
• Day 2: Wind Cave National Park, Mammoth Site Museum, and Rapid City or RTA.
• Day 3: Badlands National Park.

TIP: If you are looking for even more ideas for your Black Hills vacation, here you can find a more detailed Black Hills itinerary for 4 days .

TIP: If you are visiting Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills and are looking for more detailed information, I recommend you also check this highly-rated Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills, and the Badlands guidebook .

Where to Stay – Lodging Near Mt Rushmore

As you can see from the suggested itineraries, it’s best to spend a few days exploring the Mount Rushmore area. You’ll need at least 3 days in order to have time to experience just the main attractions of the Black Hills.

Whether you are searching for the best match for your experience or your budget, dozens of lodging options are available in the cities and towns surrounding Mount Rushmore. But what are the best places to stay for visiting Mt Rushmore?

Staying in a local community such as Keystone , Custer , Hill City , or Rapid City , will not only give you quick access to Mount Rushmore but also to the many other Black Hills attractions.

Accommodations include mid-range and budget hotels, cabin rentals, campgrounds, tent sites, and romantic B&Bs.  All can be found within 3-25 miles from Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

TIP: If you want to stay as close as possible to Mount Rushmore, then check out Keystone, SD . Just 1.7 miles from Mt Rushmore National Memorial, it has a very central location for all the sights mentioned in this article.

K Bar S Lodge and Roosevelt Inn are highly recommended here.  For a unique experience consider ‘glamping’ with a view of Mount Rushmore at Under Canvas Mount Rushmore .

LEARN MORE: Complete Guide to Mount Rushmore Hotels

Compare Hotels and Short-term Rentals near Mt Rushmore

Using the map below, you can compare hotels, apartments, and short-term rental accommodations in Keystone, the closest town near Mount Rushmore.

Simply insert your travel dates and group size, and you’ll see the best deals for your stay. Check it out!

So, this is our guide to Mt Rushmore. I want to thank our guest writer Jen for this great blog post about visiting Mount Rushmore and all the amazing things to do in the Black Hills. Just reading this, makes me regret that we didn’t include Mount Rushmore and the Badlands to our American road trip itinerary that started in Denver and ended in Yellowstone … The Black Hills area would have made the circle round!

TIP: If you are visiting the Black Hills, you should know that it’s really easy to combine this area with a visit to Yellowstone and the Grand Teton National Parks.

About the author. Jen is an American travel writer.  A planner by nature, Jen has spent the last 12 years planning fun, and hassle-free family vacations for her family of 5. She considers travel to be an essential part of their family’s health and wellbeing. Her blog Travel With A Plan  is a compilation of the planning and execution that has gone into making family vacations efficient, enjoyable, and memorable.  She is dedicated and passionate about sharing travel ideas, products, and experiences that are practical, and that work for families.

More USA travel inspiration:

• Mt Rushmore area: Mount Rushmore Hotels and Best Things to Do in Custer State Park
• Yellowstone NP:  Best Things to Do in Yellowstone National Park
• Glacier NP: Glacier National Park Itinerary
• Chicago: How to See the Best of Chicago in 2 Days
• California:  San Diego Itinerary & Los Angeles Itinerary
• Arizona:  Best Places in Arizona , Monument Valley Scenic Drive , How to See the Best of Grand Canyon in 1 Day
• Utah: Top Places in Utah & Best Things to Do in Moab
• For many more destinations all over the USA, check out our USA travel guide .

If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin this image!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Kathy Hulsebus

Friday 1st of March 2024

Definitely looking forward to spending time at Mount Rushmore after a 30 year first visit.

Monday 4th of March 2024

Have a great trip!

Sunday 17th of September 2023

How can I download this so that I can reference it when I don't have internet.

Hi Jim, you can do Ctrl+p and then save to a pdf instead of printing. Have a great trip!

Carmen Cipriano

Monday 26th of September 2022

Great info on the Black Hills area! Thank you! We are doing a coast to coast road trip starting in PA on October 3rd with no defined end date. I'm taking a more northern route heading west and a southern route when heading back home. We will likely spend 2-3 exploring the Black Hills following your recommendations. I've also checked out your blog which is excellent. I recently retired so our days of traveling with the 'kids' are behind us but I find your tips and suggestions for successful road trips good for anyone, regardless of age. I really agree with your comments about eating healthy while on the road. I take along a small single burner stove for enjoying some hot foods while traveling. Again, thanks for the info and good luck with your pursuits.

Thanks for your kind feedback, Carmen. Enjoy your trip to the Black Hills!

Tuesday 1st of February 2022

Hi i am doing a road trip and Mount Rushmore is my final destination this August 2022. Your tips and must sees are going to hopefully help me plan our two week trip from California. We are also making stops at Zion and Yellowstone. Any other tips or advice on how to make this trip itinerary will be great!

Wednesday 2nd of February 2022

Hi Debbie, you are planning to pass so many amazing areas in just two weeks that it's really difficult to give any suggestions for an itinerary. There are just too many options... Driving from California to Zion, then Yellowstone, and then Mt Rushmore means that you'll have lots of hours on the road. It's like 30 hrs of pure driving time even taking the shortest way. So much depends on your interests, how many hours you actually want to drive each day, are you planning to move around every day or stay at one place for a few days, where do you sleep, do you plan to do any hiking or sightseeing or just pass by... So there's really no way I could help you with the itinerary suggestions... Me, personally, I'd pick a few places that interest you the most and foresee at least a few nights at each of them so that you can actually see something, and then just drive between them without too many long stops. But also make sure you research some 'smaller' places to see en-route so that the drives are less boring. I'd probably stop in Vegas for a night if you haven't been (since you'll likely pass there anyway), and also definitely add at least a short visit to Bryce Canyon (even if you just stop at the main viewpoints when passing by, it's worth it). In Zion, I'd try to stay at least 2 nights and do at least a few hikes (see hiking in Zion). In Yellowstone, 2 days is - in my view - an absolute minimum (see Yellowstone itinerary suggestions). Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon are also well worth it, but it's a detour and you need at least two days to enjoy it a bit and not just drive-through. On the other hand, it's so hot in August (that counts for Zion too) that you might not be able to do much exploring outdoors in this area anyway. The possibilities are literally endless... Pick the places that interest you the most and work around that. Good luck!

Peter Paszek

Monday 30th of August 2021

Great information. This really helped me plan out my visit to Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Monument, Custer State Park and Wind Cave National Park. Planning a 2 day visit, mid September, weekdays. Staying in Rapid City. Prior to this I will stay in Deadwood and visit Spearfish Canyon and Devils Tower in WY.

Tuesday 31st of August 2021

Have a great trip, Peter! Mid-September should be perfect for the area!

In the Park

Walking/Hiking

A short stroll along the Presidential Trail will provide close access to the sculpture. More intimate views of the artwork are available along the way as either a self- guided or ranger-guided walk. Two other trails lead to Borglum View Terrace and the Sculptor’s Studio: One is a nature trail that starts from the main entryway; the other is a steep trail with uneven steps that starts from Grandview Terrace.

Junior Ranger Programs

Kids between the ages of five and 12 can join this popular program and learn more about the importance of our national parks. Kids can earn Junior Ranger certificates and may purchase patches by completing the fun activities described in the park’s Junior Ranger booklet. For more information, please ask a ranger at the Information Center or Visitor Services.

Interpretive Programs

Ranger-led activities are conducted daily during the summer. Visit the exhibit hall which features interactive exhibits through which you can learn more about the men and methods used to create Mount Rushmore.

Nearby Activities

In the land where trout is king, fishing has attained royal status. All headwater streams, including Grizzly Bear Creek near Mount Rushmore, are full of brook trout; Rapid Creek and Spearfish Creek have wild brown trout; and Horsethief Lake below Mount Rushmore and many other Black Hills streams are stocked with rainbow trout. Some good spots to try are Pactola Reservoir and Sheridan Lake in the Black Hills National Forest, and Center and Stockade lakes in Custer State Park.

Technical Climbing

Short, demanding, technical climbs abound in the Black Hills, making it the ideal place to explore different ways to reach individual summits. The Needles-Sylvan Lake district of the Black Hills also offers excellent climbing among its approximately 300 granite spires. Equipment, maps and other information are available at many sports shops in Rapid City.

Horseback Riding

Various private outfitters offer horse rentals in the Black Hills. Gunsel Horse Adventurers also conducts western pack trips, including multi-day trips, in Badlands National Park. For more information, please call (605) 343-7608.

Mountain Biking

Mountain biking is quickly becoming a popular activity in the Black Hills, with nearly 6,000 miles of fire trails and logging roads available to explore. Though you probably won’t find these roads marked on a map, any gravel road into the Black Hills National Forest such as Deerfield Road, west of Hill City – will lead you to one. If you need to rent a bike, check in the communities of Rapid City or Custer.

A wave that is sweeping the country. According to the  www.geocaching.com  there are 160 caches hidden within 45 miles of Rapid City, Custer State Park and dozens more throughout the Black Hills. Geocaching is the widely popular, high-tech outdoors game of treasure hunting that involves the use of a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to find a “geocache” or “cache.” A typical cache is a small, waterproof container containing a logbook and “treasure,” usually trinkets of little value. Great fun for the entire family!

Rockhounding

The unique geology of the Black Hills ranks it in the top five locations in the United States for variety of minerals. Besides the obvious “rock” gold, rockhounds can find more than 40 different minerals here, including rose quartz, copper, silver and feldspar. Keep your eye out for a Fairburn agate, the state’s official gem, which is rusty brown with a white core that is visible when it’s split in half; they are found in alluvial deposits along the foothills.

No camping is available at Mount Rushmore. However, just minutes away, the National Forest Service operates a campground at Horsethief Lake. The closest camping resort to the memorial is the KOA Mt. Rushmore, which has camp cabins, tent sites, full hook-ups, showers, a restaurant, a lodge and other amenities. Only five miles away, the resort offers free shuttle service to the sculpture lighting ceremony. Visit www.koakampgrounds.com for more information.

Visit our  Nearby Attractions  page for more information.

• 1.866.601.5103

Wind Cave National Park

Sylvan lake kayaking, pactola resevoir, summer camping, custer resort trail rides, book the black hills, check out our ultimate activity menu.

Spring is here in the Black Hills – book your Spring and Summer Road Trip now!

Explore Summer Activities

Attractions.

Vacation memories are some of the most precious for families.

Tours of the Black Hills

Guided tours.

Stay in the Black Hills. Visit Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial and more!

Ride the Trails

Rabbit bicycles.

Basic Rentals, E-Bikes, Gravel & Mountain Bikes and Shuttle Services Available.

Rushmore & More

National & state parks.

Whether your plans include hiking, wildlife viewing, or just exploring, you’ll make lifelong memories.

Activities You Should Check Out!

See the Black Hills by rail!

Bear Country USA

See Wildlife Up Close!

Big Thunder Gold Mine

Tour an actual gold mine!

Fall, Winter, Spring, Or Summer… we have the lodging for you….

Kitchen in Room!

Grandstay residential suites.

All rooms have kitchens. Save money, eat healthier and have a home away from home!

Large Family Rooms

Rushmore express.

Various types & sizes of family rooms available. 2 Queen with Sofa. Bunkbed Rooms available.

Cabin Rentals

Black hills rentals.

Find a vacation home or cabin rental in the central Black Hills to fit your needs.

A peaceful oasis

Newton fork ranch.

Your home away from home. Watch wildlife, spend the night by the fire and relax.

Stay near Deadwood

Ponderosa pines.

Cabins and motel rooms located 3 miles from downtown Deadwood.

May 17, 2024 – Deadwood Hops and Hogs

Craft beer lovers will enjoy Deadwood’s finest at this festival.  Enjoy craft beer paired with samples of unique bacon dishes on May 17th & 18th, 2024 . Ticket holders receive an event pass, tasting card, schedule and an open container cup.

Once the event begins, attendees taste at locations on that day’s schedule during designated hours. Tickets are valid for both Friday and Saturday. A list of craft brews served at each business will be listed closer to the event date. Tickets are $60 and will be limited to 600 sold. The event has sold out in prior years, so get your tickets early!

VIP tickets will be available that will allow VIP ticket holders to sample rare and hard-to-find brews at special locations in Deadwood.  These tickets are $110 and are limited to 100. VIP ticket holders will also receive all the benefits of the regular ticket holder.

May 26th, 2024 – Back When They Bucked

PRCA “Back When They Bucked” is back for the fourth consecutive year, May 26, 2024. We are looking forward to hosting this elite event again in the unique, rustic, old west setting of the Days of 76 Event Complex, Deadwood, SD,. The WLF and Naja Shrine of Deadwood are excited to partner for this annual Back When They Bucked Fundraiser.

Sunday, May 26, 2024  |  Day’s of 76 Arena Complex 10am MT  – WPRA Ladies’ Breakaway Roping Long Round 2pm MT – South Dakota High School Rodeo Breakaway and Saddle Bronc Match 3pm MT  – Xtreme Saddle Bronc Match & WPRA Breakaway Roping Short Round

June 7th & 8th, 2024 – Deadwood PBR

Bear witness to the wildest ride in the West at the Annual Deadwood PBR Event!

Get ready to experience heart-pounding action, daring feats, and cowboy courage at its finest in the iconic town of Deadwood, South Dakota. Mark your calendars for the second week of June for the 4th stop on the King of the North Showdown series, when the rugged spirit of the Wild West comes alive in a spectacle like no other.

July 21st to 27th, 2024 – 102nd Annual Days of ’76 Rodeo

Since 1998, the Days of ’76 Rodeo has been honored with the Rodeo Committee of the Year award 19 times. The Days of ’76 is also a 16-time winner of the Badlands Circuit Rodeo of the Year award and was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in July 2011.

General Admission Tickets on SALE: Monday February 12, 2024. Reserved and VIP Seating on SALE: April 1, 2024. VIP Roughstock Deck: ONLY sold at the ticket booth during the week of the Days of ’76

Things to love about visiting the black hills

Mount rushmore national memorial.

Cross this majestic monument off your bucket list.

Come for the Rally. Stay to see everything else.

Black Hills Events

Find tickets and event information.

Historic Deadwood

Go west and get wild in this historic mountain town.

See Badlands National Park, Custer State Park and more.

Deadwood Events

Come and check out summer events here in the Black Hills in the beautiful and historic town of Deadwood South Dakota.

South Dakota’s Great 8

The Black Hills of South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park are bucket list destinations. Together they make for a great American road trip. Explore South Dakota’s Great 8 and Yellowstone with this seven-day trip itinerary. 

Native American Culture Tour

Native American culture is rich in the Black Hills. Learn about the heritage of the Great Sioux Nation, as you explore Crazy Horse Memorial®, the Oglala Lakota College, Bear Butte State Park and the Journey Museum.

Spearfish Canyon of Colors

Take in one of the Black Hills’ most colorful locales with this trek through Spearfish Canyon. No matter the time of year, you’ll find beautiful waterfalls, picturesque views, and charming local restaurants and breweries.

Your Black Hills Expert

As the official central reservation company for the Black Hills and Badlands, our friendly travel agents live here and know the best local sights and stops for a vacation you’ll never forget. Packages from Black Hills Vacations are perfect for families, outdoor enthusiasts, special event travel and more. From airline tickets to lodging, car rentals and shuttles, one click or one call does it all.

Request a Vacation Guide

Black Hills Vacations offers free vacation guides from a variety of communities. Get an insider view of attractions around South Dakota, things to do in Deadwood or a guide to Black Hills campgrounds and cabins. Choose the guide you want, and we’ll send you a printed guide in two to three weeks.

South Dakota

See South Dakota’s great faces and great places with trip ideas in every region.

Hotels, gaming, wild west shoot outs and more – that’s how you Do Deadwood.

Explore the Region

A Black Hills vacation is central to hundreds of scenic monuments, parks, restaurants and attractions. Start planning your trip by getting the lay of the land – literally. Browse Black Hills maps to pick your perfect vacation spot that’s central to everything you want to experience.

READY TO PLAN YOUR TRIP?

Mount Rushmore National Monument

Travel guide.

• Things to Do
• Things to See

Planning a Trip

• Organized Tours
• Active Pursuits

Avoiding the Crowds

Mount Rushmore is very popular, with peak visitation during June, July, and August. The best time to visit, though, is September and October, with April and May as alternatives. Although spring months can be wet and cold, the Black Hills' dry weather patterns make fall visits ideal. The varied mix of trees and plant life found in the high meadows and creek-carved canyons also makes the area a popular destination for fall foliage tours. 

If possible, view the sculpture at daybreak, when the sun emerges from the morning mist of the Badlands. Few vacationers are stirring at sunrise, making it one of the best times to enjoy a contemplative and less crowded experience. There may be no finer setting for breakfast than the park's Carvers' Cafe, which affords a commanding view of the presidents.

Visitor Center

Visitor facilities at Mount Rushmore are open every day except Christmas. For current operating hours and temporary closures, visit NPS.gov/MORU .

The Lincoln Borglum Museum contains 5,200 square feet of exhibits, a bookstore, and two 125-seat theaters. Interactive displays tell the story of how dynamite blasting was used to carve the mountain. The facility happens to have great views of the sculptures, too. 

Mount Rushmore remains one of the few popular parks that have managed to avoid an entrance fee. However, you will have to pay for  parking . To see current rates, visit the monument's National Park Service website .  

The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Annual Pass, the annual pass for military members, the Senior Pass, the Access Pass, and the Every Kid Outdoors Pass cannot be used for parking fees at Mount Rushmore.

Special Regulations & Warnings

Visitor access is prohibited within a restricted area around the Mount Rushmore sculpture. In other areas of the park, rock climbing and hiking are permitted.

Useful Publications

The National Park Service has a number of informational pamphlets and other materials at the Information Center as you enter the memorial grounds. A variety of books, maps, and videos are sold in the bookstore inside the Lincoln Borglum Museum.

Note : This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

• All Regions
• Australia & South Pacific
• Caribbean & Atlantic
• Central & South America
• Middle East & Africa
• North America
• Washington, D.C.
• San Francisco
• New York City
• Los Angeles
• Arts & Culture
• Beach & Water Sports
• Local Experiences
• Food & Drink
• Outdoor & Adventure
• National Parks
• Winter Sports
• Travelers with Disabilities
• Family & Kids
• All Slideshows
• Hotel Deals
• Car Rentals
• Flight Alerts
• Credit Cards & Loyalty Points
• Cruise News
• Entry Requirements & Customs
• Car, Bus, Rail News
• Money & Fees
• Health, Insurance, Security
• Packing & Luggage
• -Arthur Frommer Online
• -Passportable
• Road Trip Guides
• Alaska Made Easy
• Great Vacation Ideas in the U.S.A.
• Best of the Caribbean
• Best of Mexico
• Cruise Inspiration
• Best Places to Go 2024

Home » Roadside Attractions Blog » South Dakota Tourist Attractions & Road Trip Stops » Mount Rushmore road trip itinerary (& things to see on the way)

Mount Rushmore road trip itinerary (& things to see on the way)

• Pinterest 129

And I’m back from my Labor Day Mount Rushmore road trip from Chicago to South Dakota and back! It was quite the whirlwind of adventure! I have to admit that my list of roadside attractions to see on the route was pretty ambitious, but we managed to make it to twenty-nine attractions in four days! (Including two that weren’t on my itinerary and not including the handful that we passed by and saw without being able to stop.)

I DID make it to Mount Rushmore and it was quite a thrill to see it up close. You see, one of my favorite photos that I have is an old black and white picture of the monument that my grandparents took long ago:

Notice something missing? The photo has George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Jefferson, but Teddy Roosevelt is just framed out. I’m not sure when the photo was taken but it had to have been somewhere between 1934 and 1939, when Roosevelt was dedicated. It was that photo that inspired my road trip to Mount Rushmore. I had to see the monument, completed, for myself!

Since I’d never seen Mount Rushmore in person, and I happened to have a four-day weekend over Labor Day, I decided that it was the perfect time to pack up my car and head on over to South Dakota on a road trip to Mt Rushmore. By Saturday afternoon we were standing in front of the carved Black-Hills Mountain and four complete presidential faces.

While in South Dakota, we also went to see Crazy Horse, which is another monument that’s been in the works for 50 years and still has 50 years to go. Who knows, maybe someday my grandkids will find this photo and be inspired to take off on a road trip of their own.

What is Mount Rushmore?

Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a larger-than-life sculpture of four U.S. presidents carved into the side of a mountain in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. The four giant faces are of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Each bust spans about 60 feet tall.

Mount Rushmore road trip itinerary

When planning a road trip to Mount Rushmore your itinerary will really be determined on where you are coming from. I drove from Chicago to South Dakota and back and that took me over 2,500 miles through five states over four days.

Our Mount Rushmore trip itinerary took us there on I-90 the whole way, driving through Wisconsin, Minneapolis, and South Dakota. On the way back, we went south through Nebraska (stopping at Carhenge on the way), then took I-80 across Nebraska and Iowa .

Here’s a map full of Mount Rushmore road trip ideas: the pink pins were what to see on the way there and the blue pins were things to see on the way back. We didn’t make it to all of the stops, but we saw quite a few!

Attractions near Mount Rushmore

There are plenty of attractions near Mount Rushmore to add to your itinerary. Make a full day, weekend, or week of tourism by visiting these nearby places on your Mount Rushmore vacation or while driving through the Black Hills.

Badlands National Park

Visit Badlands National Park to experience 244,000 acres of breathtaking landscapes full of rock formations, buttes, canyons and spires. Take a scenic drive through the Badlands Loop Scenic Byway, hike one of the many trails, hunt for fossils, and look for wildlife (like prairie dogs and bison) in the grasslands. Visit their website for more information.

Devils Tower National Monument

Devils Tower is a laccolithic butte that rises 867 feet above the surrounding Wyoming landscape . Made of igneous rocks, this was the first national monument. Climb to the top or admire from afar. Visit their website for more information.

Custer State Park

Custer State Park is a wildlife reserve in the Black Hills. It’s known for its incredible wildlife, including famed bison herds. Visit their website for more information.

The distance from Rapid City to Mount Rushmore is only 23.1 miles, a short 29 min drive via US-16 W. There’s plenty to see in Rapid City, South Dakota. There’s a dinosaur park full of dino sculptures, Bear Country USA (a drive-through wildlife park), and presidential monuments on every corner. Visit their website for more information.

Things to see on the way to Mount Rushmore

There are so many things to see on the way to Mount Rushmore! My road trip took me from Chicago to Mount Rushmore by car, so these are all the roadside attractions and fun stops we stopped at on our way there and back. Click learn more for each one for more information!

Bessie The Cow

Janesville, Wisconsin

A 16-foot-tall, 20-foot-long, one-ton fiberglass giant cow statue.

MouseHouse Cheesehaus

 Windsor, Wisconsin

A delicious cheese shop with a fun mouse mascot.

Sissy the Cow

DeForest, Wisconsin

Giant fiberglass cow in front of Ehlenbach’s Cheese Chalet.

Pinkie the Pink Elephant

A beloved Wisconsin roadside attraction , this giant pink fiberglass elephant wearing glasses lives outside of a gas station.

Dr. Evermor’s Forevertron

North Freedom, Wisconsin

The “world’s largest scrap metal sculpture.” 

Giant Cowboy Mouse

Oakdale, Wisconsin

A truck stop mouse wearing a big cowboy hat.

FAST Fiberglass Animals, Shapes & Trademarks

Sparta, Wisconsin

Workshop and outdoor gallery for the “premier manufacturer of fiberglass statues” and water park attractions.

World’s Largest Bicyclist

World’s Largest Six-Pack

The Bicycle Man of Sparta is a thirty-two-feet tall fiberglass sculpture symbolizing the town’s claim as the Bicycling Capital of America.

La Crosse, Wisconsin

Dressed up storage tanks for City Brewing Company that hold 688,200 barrels of beer 

Culvert Man

Nodine, Minnesota

A 30 foot giant metal cowboy sculpture made from corrugated steel culvert pipes.

Jolly Green Giant Statue

Blue Earth, Minnesota

A 55-foot statue of the Green Giant mascot. (Also find Little Green Sprout , another Minnesota roadside attraction , nearby.)

Blue Mound Wayside Chapel

Luverne, Minnesota

A tiny church on the side of the road.

Concrete Outline of USS South Dakota

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

A concrete structure depicting the actual dimensions of the USS South Dakota. 

Mr. Bendo Muffler Man

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

This muffler man and South Dakota roadside attraction has been around since 1963.

Wall, South Dakota

A drug store and gift shop known for its free ice water and can’t miss highway signs.

Men Made from Tires

Rapid City, South Dakota

Red, white, and blue rubber figures standing outside of a tire shop.

Dinosaur Park

A hill-top playground for giant green cartoon-like dinosaur sculptures.

Storybook Island

A children’s play area and family theme park with a fairy tale twist.

Cosmos Mystery Area

Stand sideways and watch balls roll upwards on this tours full of interactive optical illusions.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Keystone, South Dakota

Four former president’s busts carved into the side of a mountain in the Black Hills region of South Dakota

Crazy Horse Mountain Memorial

Crazy Horse, South Dakota

A perpetually-in construction monument depicting the Oglala Lakota warrior Crazy Horse.

Alliance, Nebraska

A replica of England’s Stonehenge made from cars.

World’s Largest Porch Swing

Hebron, Nebraska

Sit on a 32-foot long porch swing that holds up to 18 adults or 24 children.

World’s Largest Time Capsule

Seward, Nebraska

The world’s largest time capsule was dedicated on July 4, 1975 and is set to be opened 50 years later on July 4, 2025.

Spider Made Out of a Volkswagen

Avoca, Iowa

A giant VW beetle spider made from a vintage Volkswagen beetle car sitting on top of eight long, thin, spider legs.

10-Foot-Tall Rotating Ear of Corn

Coon Rapids, Iowa

A giant ear of corn that spins and welcomes you to town.

Where to stay when visiting Mount Rushmore

There are a variety of options when deciding where to stay when visiting Mount Rushmore. There are plenty of budget hotels or rustic lodges. Camping in the black hills is also available for tents, cabins, or RVs.

We briefly set up camp at the now defunct Flintstone Bedrock City, but it was really windy so we decided to keep going and find a hotel in Nebraska. See the map below for hotels near Mount Rushmore.

Pin this Mount Rushmore road trip itinerary for later:

Plan Your Road Trip

Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota

Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City, South Dakota is a phenomenon of a place where gravity and the laws of nature go out the window. …

The 15 Best South Dakota Roadside Attractions

Are you planning a South Dakota road trip and want to find all the best South Dakota roadside attractions along your route? Whether you’re driving …

Men Made From Tires in Rapid City, South Dakota

A couple of friendly-looking men made from tires stand outside of the Tires Tires Tires tire shop (now The Tire Guys) one of the tire …

Valerie Bromann

Founder & road trip expert.

Valerie Bromann is a a website manager, content creator, and writer from Chicago, Illinois (currently living in Dallas, Texas). As an avid road tripper who has visited hundreds of roadside attractions, Val always pull over for a world’s largest thing. Founder of Silly America and author of The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book , she visits, photographs, and writes about all the weird tourist destinations she visits and offers road trip planning advice and inspiration based on her own travels so you can hit the road for yourself.

Follow Valerie & Silly America

Last modified: July 5, 2020 Category: South Dakota Tourist Attractions & Road Trip Stops

Labor Day Weekend Road Trip: Four days, five states, 2,500 miles

Large rotating ear of corn in coon rapids, iowa, share this post ⤵.

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

Everything you need to have and record an epic road trip, by valerie bromann.

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

The road trip you’ve been dreaming of starts here! Journal about your stops and get to know your fellow passengers with activities and exercises designed to pass the time and bring you closer together. Instead of “Are we there yet?” you’ll find yourself asking, “We’re there already?”. Complete with prompts you can turn to while driving between locations, this journal will one day be a memento of your life-changing trip.

Silly America

Silly America is a roadside attractions blog designed to help travelers find unique stops for their next road trip. The website is a tribute to the great American road trip, devoted to all that is odd in America: roadside attractions, tourist traps, peculiar destinations, bizarre events, road food, fun festivals, and more! It’s a travel website and trip planner for those seeking an offbeat road trip.

Explore Roadside Attractions by State

Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

© 2007-2024 Silly America

Silly America is a Participant In The Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, An Affiliate Advertising Program Designed To Provide A Means For Sites To Earn Advertising Fees By Advertising And Linking To Amazon.Com

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

• HOW IT WORKS
• TRIP PLANNERS

Planning a Trip to Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills

Planning a road trip to South Dakota may seem intimidating at first.

How much time do you need to visit Mount Rushmore? Can you combine it with a trip to the Badlands in the same day? And when is the best time to go?

Here are some of our expert tips to help you get the most out of your visit;

How Much Time Should You Spend in the Black Hills? Should I take my RV? When Is The Best Time of Year to Visit? Dining Suggested Detours & Sidetrips 3 Scenic Driving Routes

How Much Time Should You Spend in the Black Hills?

We recommend three days, which gives you time to explore all three driving loops, as well as tour downtown Rapid City.  But if you only have one or two days, you can still make it work.

In two days, we recommend visiting the Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills on day one, and the Badlands on day two.

If you only have one day, focus on Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills. If you’re traveling along I-90 (east or west), remember that you can add the Badlands and Spearfish Canyon to your trip with minimal hassle and no backtracking, so you may be able to work one or both of these places into a travel day.

A ninety-mile loop, this tour takes in all the best sights, from the spectacular hairpin turns of the Needles Highway to the pigtail bridges of Iron Mountain Road , with an optional detour on the Custer Wildlife Loop , before finally concluding at Mount Rushmore .

You can also add a few more detours to your drive, depending on your interests: these include Jewel Cave, Wind Cave, the Crazy Horse Memorial , and even the former cabin of cowboy poet Charles Badger Clark.

The Black Hills are just east of Rapid City; it’s a quick thirty-minute drive from Rapid City to Mount Rushmore.

Should I bring my RV?

If you’re traveling in an RV, be aware that you probably won’t be able to drive the Black Hills Loop, which contains several height-restricted one-lane tunnels and sharp hairpin turns.

However, if you’re only interested in visiting Mount Rushmore, your RV should not encounter any restrictions.

The best dining options are in centrally located Rapid City. There are only one or two lodge restaurants on each driving loop, so we recommend taking a picnic or snacks during the day – it’s much more convenient and you’ll be able to find some spectacular viewpoints to enjoy your lunch.

DISCOVER MORE ON YOUR NEXT ROAD TRIP

3 Scenic Driving Routes for Black Hills, Badlands and Spearfish Canyon

When Is The Best Time To Go To The Black Hills?

Many of the scenic drives in the Black Hills are closed once the snow starts falling in mid-October, and only open again in April.

Another note that the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is held annually in early August.

This ten-day event usually attracts over half a million riders each year – depending on how you feel about motorcycles, this is either a reason to visit, or a period to avoid.

Detours & Sidetrips

In addition to the three main driving loops, there are several detours you can make depending on your interests.

Some of these may require advance reservations, so it’s good to know about them ahead of time.

Jewel Cave National Monument

The third-largest cave system in the world and South Dakota’s premier caving destination.

Reservations for Scenic Tours and Wild Caving Tours are strongly recommended.

Historic Lantern Tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Jewel Cave is located 30 minutes from the end of the Needles Highway in the Black Hills.

Wind Cave National Park

The seventh-largest cave system in the world, and South Dakota’s oldest national park. Three first-come, first serve tours available.

Specialty tours, such as the Wild Cave Tour and the Candlelight Tour, need to be reserved in advance.

It’s located about forty minutes south of the Custer State Park Wildlife Loop.

Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

Learn all about the Cold War missile silos housed beneath the Great Plains.

The Visitor Center and the Delta-09 missile silo require no reservations.

Tours of the Delta-01 Launch Control Facility do require advance reservations, however. It’s located off I-90 near the eastern entrance to the Badlands.

Crazy Horse Memorial

The legendary Sioux warrior is memorialized in this massive sculpture – when it’s eventually finished, it will be the world’s largest (all four Mount Rushmore heads will fit inside).

It’s a short ten-minute detour off the Needles Highway.

Custer Wildlife Loop

This eighteen-mile loop connects the Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road in the Black Hills. You’re best off doing this drive (figure on 90 minutes) at dawn or dusk if you’re serious about seeing wildlife.

However, in the middle of the day, it’s still possible to see wild burros, wandering bison, and the occasional antelope.

Acadia Alberta Arches ARIZONA AUSTRALIA Badlands Banff Big Island Big Sur Black Hills Blue Ridge Parkway British Columbia Bryce Canyon CALIFORNIA CANADA Canadian Rockies Canyonlands Capitol Reef Catskills COLORADO Copper Country Trail Death Valley FLORIDA Florida Keys Glacier Going To the Sun Road Grand Canyon Grand Canyon West Grand Teton HAWAII Hikes Honolulu Hoover Dam Hwy 61 Hwy 101 Icefields Parkway Itineraries Jasper Joshua Tree Kancamagus Kauai Keweenaw Key West Kings Canyon Lake Louise Lake Superior North Shore Lake Tahoe Las Vegas Lodging M22 MAINE Maui Mesa Verde Miami MICHIGAN MINNESOTA Mount Rushmore NEVADA New Hampshire NEW YORK Niagara Falls NORTH CAROLINA Oahu OBX Olympic Ontario OREGON Oregon Coast Outer Banks Red Rock Canyon Road to Hana Rocky Mountain Sedona Sequoia Shenandoah Sleeping Bear Dunes Smokies SOUTH DAKOTA Tech Tips TENNESSEE Travel Tips Trip Planners UTAH Videos VIRGINIA Waikiki WASHINGTON Wildlife WYOMING Yellowstone Yoho Yosemite Zion

Visiting Mount Rushmore is on the top of many peoples “must-do” list when they are in the Rapid City, South Dakota area. Honestly though, while beautiful to look at, it’s not an attraction that can captivate your attention for an entire day. The good news is that there are lots of lovely sites to visit in the Black Hills area of South Dakota. We’ve put together this Road Trip Planner to show you our itinerary that took us through Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, the Black Hills, and the Badlands!

Rapid City is the largest city in South Dakota, and an excellent choice for a place to stay for a tour through the area. It’s centrally located, has a lot of hotels (including some dog-friendly ones), and is relatively affordable. On top of all the large tourist attractions, there are many smaller, locally owned, businesses in the area to keep you and your family entertained. This planner only covers one of several great drives in the area, but for us it was the best way to see the key points we were interested in.

Road Trip Planner –  The Route

This Road Trip Planner assumes that you will already be in the Rapid City, SD area and begins from there. When you leave Rapid City  (H and A on the map below) you’ll want to head South on Highway 16 towards Mount Rushmore. There will be a LOT of signs for this :-). You’ll continue on that route for a total of about 18 miles and then go south on Route 16A until you connect with SD 244 West. If you look up at this point you’ll see Mount Rushmore in the distance :-) (point B) Follow the signs into the park if you’d like or do a drive by and stop in the designated pull outs.

Once done with Rushmore, continue west on 244 and be on the look out for the intersection of 244 and 87 South. You have two choices here. Go South on 87 and follow my route OR continue on HWY16 towards Crazy Horse . If you go towards Crazy Horse you can loop back to 87. If you skip Crazy Horse (like we did) continue South on 87 for about 50 Miles. It’s a lovely drive through the Black Hills. You’ll pass the Blue Bell Lodge which is a good landmark to look out for. After that you’ll want to make a Left on Wildlife Loop Road which is just a bit further.  You’ll pay the park entrance fee for Custer State Park , but its totally worth it. Take the 18 mile loop through the park and it will take you back to Highway 16. Go East to HWY 36 and then it will connect you to Highway 79 North back towards Rapid City.

To hit the Badlands next, take 79N to 44E about 32 miles and into the scenic route running through the southern portion of the Badlands. It’s a scenic drive through scrubland and you’ll pass a neat little abandoned town on the way. While on 44E  you’re looking for Highway 240N. This will take you through the Badlands National Park and an amazingly beautiful drive that will last about 30 miles. We spent a couple hours here, with lots of stops and lookouts.  If you stay on 240 it will take you to Interstate-90 at Wall, SD. Stop for refreshments and fun at Wall Drug and the surrounding area. Then hop onto Interstate 90 and go West until you hit Rapid City again. This whole route took us about 8-9 hours to complete so you should plan on getting started pretty early. As you can see in our pics below, the sun started setting towards the end of our trip through the Badlands.

Road Trip Planner – The Photo Tour through South Dakota

The trip down to Mount Rushmore was the shortest part of our day. It was a quick jaunt down the road and then BAM! Faces in the mountain!

We then continued on our scenic drive through the Black Hills. The mountain, forest and views were beautiful.

There were also some great opportunities for wildlife spotting as we headed towards the Wildlife Loop Road of Custer State Park.

One of the coolest parts of the drive for me were the tunnels you had to drive through. Being from Florida, any time I get to road trip through the mountains and their tunnels it’s pretty cool since they are so exotic to me.

It was right after this tunnel that we ran into Lauren’s favorite critters on the whole trip. We pulled into the parking area right after the tunnel and met these little guys.

We loved the chipmunks so much we even made a video about them!

After our run in with the chipmunks, we arrived at the main entrance to Custer State Park.  We were hoping to catch a glimpse of some of the 1,300 hundred or so bison that freely roam the area.

After a short drive we found exactly what we were looking for! BISON!

And apparently Bison have no sense of privacy at all :-)

As we continued driving through the Custer Park wildlife loop, we were surprised to find some other critters. They’re not as rare or majestic as the Bison we saw, but they WERE rather friendly. Beware of eating in the car with the windows down… they WILL steal your food!

After we finished our loop through Custer, we made our way back on the highway. Following the planner we had to head back towards Rapid City and then take the road through the Buffalo Gap Grasslands. This would eventually lead us to the back entrance of the Badlands National Park. Along the way we found two unexpected things. The first was that there is this quaint miniature town called Longhorn, which is all but deserted, along the route.

The second is the fact that apparently, prairie dogs have: THE PLAGUE!!!

Thankfully we managed to avoid contracting THE PLAGUE!!! and made it to the Badlands safely :-)

Badlands National Park  has a little bit of everything for everyone. There are lots of gorgeous panoramas to be seen along the winding road trip through the park.

The rock formations, formed through years of erosion, are absolutely stunning.

Unlike many parks, the roads are great to drive on.

The Badlands also has some great opportunities to spot wildlife if you arrive when the animals are active. We were lucky to catch this coyote as he went along his business.

We also came across some big horn sheep, which were a pleasant surprise.

The lay of the land changes often as you drive through the Badlands as well.  In between all the rock formations and canyons, there are lovely grasslands to enjoy.

Sadly though, like all good days they eventually have to come to an end.

Road Trip Resources

For more information on your visit to South Dakota take a look at these helpful sites.

Travel South Dakota

Custer State Park

Mount Rushmore

You can also check out our recently updated Ramblin’ Guide to Rapid City with even more things to do and road trips to take!

It’s also worth noting that Badlands National Park IS pet friendly. Please check here for all their guidelines.

Where to Stay in Rapid City

Hotel Alex Johnson 523 6th Street Rapid City, SD 57701

• Located right in the heart of downtown Rapid City, SD this historic hotel is fantastic for a romantic weekend getaway or just a bit of pampering while on vacation.

Holiday-Inn Express 645 East Disk Drive Rapid City, SD 57701

• Easy Interstate access from I-90, Free Breakfast, Wi-Fi, Free Indoor Pool with Slide & Hot Tub, Business Center.

La Quinta Inn & Suites 1416 North Elk Vale Road Rapid City, SD 57701

• Right off the interstate the property is Pet Friendly , Free Breakfast/Wi-Fi, and is attached to an indoor water park

 If you enjoyed this Road Trip Planner for Mount Rushmore and the Rapid City area, you may also enjoy these posts.

The essential road trip packing list, how to plan a road trip rambler style, road trip planner for the grand canyon south rim, we’d be honored if you would subscribe to our newsletter or connect with us via social media on facebook , twitter , +kenin , tumblr , pinterest , and youtube , share this:, 42 thoughts on “ road trip planner for mount rushmore, badlands and custer park, sd ”.

This is a great resource for exploring Mount Rushmore, The Badlands and Custer State Park. I’ve bookmarked it for future use. Great job.

Thanks Donna! It was a lot of fun. Hope it comes in handy for you.

Thanks for sharing! The Badlands and Mount Rushmore remains one of our family’s most favorite trips to date. So much to do, and a great destination for families on a budget. Hoping to get back there again soon.

Forgot to mention – there’s so many different things to do too! Our trip, though to the same area, was the same, yet quite different! Did you see the Bedrock City just outside the park? We also panned for gold, took a horseback ride and a hayride, and got trapped in our car by a wandering bison! Thankfully he lost interest and moved on. lol

We didn’t hit Bedrock City in SD we visited the other on e in AZ instead. There was a whole lot of fun to be had in the area, we were there for a very short time though. We will definitely be going back!

I am so exited, we are driving to mount Rushmore and Yellowstone this December. thank you for your post I can’t wait to be there.

This post gave me chills and butterflies in my stomach. I visited all these places as a child, on a marathon family road trip with my family. I will never forget it as long as I live. LOVE LOVE that all the wildlife (bison, mules, adorable burrowing mammals) is still as I remember it. :)

Glad I could bring back the Warm and Fuzzies for you. :-) It’s such a great area, and we left so much unexplored.

Don’t forget that there are TONS of great hiking opportunities in all those places. Cathedral Spires trail and Mt. Harney in Custer, the Badlands has some gorgeous hiking opportunities. You’ll miss out on so much if you just stay in your car.

There are tone of hikes in the area. we only had one day which is why we put together this route. You could easily spend a whole day in the Badlands or Custer.

It’s been 15 years since I did a portion of that trip. Totally worth doing, and look at all the things in your roadtrip planner I missed!

We really had a great time there. It should be on everyones list of they are anywhere near the area.

I haven’t been to South Dakota and honestly it’s been low on my list of experiences in the American West to consider. But this really shows what’s available. Thanks for the post.

Lance, we were in the same boat until a friend changed my mind. We were planning our Florida to Alaska road trip with a friend and mentioned that we were going to do a drive by of Mount Rushmore on our way to Glacier National Park in Montana. He showed us some pictures and we quickly changed our minds. Needless to say we are very happy that we did.

Thanks, this is so helpful. I’m bookmarking this so that I can refer to it when I do this road trip! Really want to see Mt. Rushmore sooon :)

Awesome! Let us know when you do. I would love to see it from someone else’s perspective.

My husband and I love to hike and so we are looking forward to our summer road trip to the Badlands and Mount Rushmore. I also love deserted old towns, so thanks for the info. on Longhorn. We just got back from a road trip to Florida and I have a lot of good info on my site http://www.myhearttravels.com

There isa lot of great hiking in the Rushmore/custer/blackhills area. You’ll absolutely love it. The Badlands had some short trails along the scenic loop that we walked, but we didn’t have time to explore too deeply. If you are going to hike the badlands in the Summer, you want to be really careful with dehydration. It gets very hot and arid there. What part of Florida did you visit?

Great photos – I have always thought that it would be cool to see Mt. Rushmore but didn’t realize that there were other things to do nearby! We visited Grand Canyon National Park during spring break and there were signs there warning that squirrels carried the plague – who knew?!?

I didn’t either! Our original plan was to cut through the Dakota’s on the way to Canada, then a friend told us to check out the badlands. A little research later… viola!

Just came back from South Dakota. Visited Mt. Rushmore, Custer, Windcave and Badlands. It was an awesome experience. I feel like an American!

What are your thoughts on doing this trip March 29-April 3rd with young teens?

The trip would be great with teens, I think they would enjoy it quite a bit. it may be busy as it may be spring break for your area, but no where near as busy as the summer.

THANKS!!! I have 1 day free on a business trip next week to Rapid City. I’m going to skip Mt Rushmore and visit Crazy Horse then quickly get to those gorgeous bandlands. This is an excellent travel planning post. I’m printing and packing it with me. Cheers!!

Kenin, Wish you would include the Mammouth Museum in Hot Springs., SD. If you have’t been, it is amazing. It is an actual excavation site hidden by a museum. They also have time in summer that you can volunteer to find mammouth bones. Love you site. Getting lots of ideas.

I couldn’t find any mention of how many days does it take to make this RT? We are flying into Minneapolis, MN and get a rental car and head west. We will start on Friday and have two weeks to bum around. Any ideas on what we could take in during that time limit? No hurry, please, we’re 70! Thanks for any suggestions (other than backpacking or climbing! :)

Hi Mary Sue,

We have a second post about the Rapid City area that has a lot more “things to do” here: https://www.theconstantrambler.com/ramblin-guide-to-rapid-city-sd-from-the-badlands-rushmore-sturgis-custer/

While you’re in Minneapolis make sure to check out the Weisman Art Museum (just the building is incredible) as well as Hell’s Kitchen for some fun & tasty food.

What a thoughtful and insightful article! We are flying out to Denver next week and driving up to Cheyenne, then heading over to the Badlands and the Black Hills for a one-week vacation. We’re spending four nights in a cabin in Custer State Park and I am so excited about doing lots of hiking and relaxing. You have inspired me to create a trip blog. Thanks so much and hope you continue to have wonderful travels!

Thank you. We are planning a trip to Mt. Rushmore and surrounding area in September. This is perfect for us.We will be coming from Kansas City so we might do the route in reverse.

Have a great time Rusty! Let us know if you have any other questions :-)

Thank you, thank you!!! This was awesome!! We followed everything you said plus we even added a stop at Bear USA. It was a fabulous day!!

So glad to hear that you enjoyed it!

This is a really helpful post! The black hills are such a cool area to explore.

We are planning our family camping road trip this June! Can’t wait to see these places! Thanks for the great information and pics!

My husband and I are planning a trip the end of August of this year. We have always wanted to go out west for years. I have a terminal illness, so we bought a new van so I can lay down and rest when I need to on our trip. We are coming from WV,so I am trying to find things to do in each state for here to SD, that doesn’t require a lot of walking or climbing. I can’t wait to see buffalo in the wild and someone mentioned something about panning for gold I would love that. It can’t get here quick enough. Thanks for the pictures and information!

do you recommend a guided tour of the area ? Coming from Florida and staying 1 night in Sioux Falls .What would you recommend to Rapid City ? I90 or Backroads

Quite frankly that all depends on which you prefer. Personally I normally favor backroads, but you’ll make the trip faster on the interstate.

Thanks so much for your import on South Dakota, I am planning to do this, this summer for our 50th wedding anniversary. We are from West Michigan and these are going to be our first stops. Then we want to venture to Bryce, Zion and sequoia. Then doing route 66. What are your thoughts on all of this?

I am planning to fly in on 5th march and have a whole day 6 march and plan to rent a car. Is it easy and safe to drive in early march. How would you plan the drive to cover Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse and Sylvan Lake Custer State Park , Mt Coolidge, Needles Highway and Iron Mtn Road .

It’s really hard to answer that question, as the weather can be quite unpredictable that time of year. I’d say you’d want to plan for the worst and then be pleasantly surprised if the weather holds up.

Great post! My husband and I are heading out there next week. Quite different views than Wisconsin where we live. Great blog too. We write a blog too called, “Adventures in Travel”.

We are planing our Wedding Honeymoon through South Dakota on the Harley. Can not wait to see this amazing state. What is the average weather during late July early August?

Comments are closed.

• Skip to global NPS navigation
• Skip to this park navigation
• Skip to the main content
• Skip to this park information section
• Skip to the footer section

Exiting nps.gov

Alerts in effect, nearby attractions.

Last updated: December 6, 2022

Park footer

Contact info, mailing address:.

13000 Highway 244 Building 31, Suite 1 Keystone, SD 57751

605 574-2523 Park information. Phones are answered from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Stay Connected

Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore National Park Road Trip

By: Author Robyn Robledo

Posted on Last updated: March 23, 2024

This road trip from Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore was never on my bucket list and yet, last summer, I think I drove it 4 times because I loved it so much. You may want to combine this road trip with our Grand Teton to Yellowstone to Glacier National Park road trip like we did.

Last May, we needed to get to South Dakota to establish residency , as many full-time RVers do. I thought we’d be in and out of South Dakota in less than a week. After all, I imagined South Dakota to be a vast wasteland with not much to do, but I was so wrong!

Much to my surprise, I discovered that I love South Dakota, especially the Black Hills, Custer SP, and Spearfish Canyon. The green rolling hills and deep forest reminded me of our travels through Germany.

In our 6 years of full-time travel and RV living, Wyoming hadn’t been on our list of destinations. Last summer, when we were searching for wide open spaces in nature, we decided to take our wanderlust to Wyoming and we fell in love!

In our 6 years of full-time travel and RV living, Wyoming hadn’t been on our list of destinations. But last summer, after setting up our residency and exploring South Dakota, we were looking for rock climbing destinations in states that were open. We knew that Lander and Ten Sleep had some of the best limestone in the world so we decided to take our wanderlust to Wyoming.

This blog will cover the highlights of what to do on a road trip from Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore To help you plan the details of your Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore road trip, you might want to read these related blogs:

• Yellowstone In 1 Day
• Grand Teton to Yellowstone to Glacier National Parks Road Trip
• How to Hike Middle Teton
• Best Hikes Wyoming
• Things To Do In The Black Hills
• Best Hikes Black Hills
• Things To Do In Custer State Park
• Best Campgrounds Black Hills
• Best Hikes Tetons

Why Take A Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore Road Trip

Before I outline all the beta on how to plan your Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore road trip, I have to #defythenorm and say that the typical itinerary that I see for this on the internet can be boring and stressful.

I’ve seen some very ambitious itineraries out there and while I am all for squeezing in as much adventure as possible to my day, it’s not fun to burn yourself out on vacation.

After traveling to both Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone numerous times, I figure it’s worth giving my two cents on how I’d design this itinerary.

Yes, you have to see Yellowstone but you don’t need to spend very many days there. I think One Day in Yellowstone is enough. A majority of Yellowstone involves pulling into a parking lot and walking a crowded boardwalk to see water in different forms & colors. It’s beautiful but exhausting.

If you have kids, they aren’t going to care about seeing much more than Old Faithful. I mean, a bear would be cool too but not always likely. You do have a good chance though of seeing bison while you are driving through the park.

The Badlands and Devils Tower are not much better either. If you have time and really like driving, then add them in.

But if you:

• like to be active
• Search out epic hikes
• don’t love crowds
• and your kids aren’t into staring at rocks they can’t climb or pools of colored water

Then the Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore itineraries for adventurers might be better for you.

Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore Itineraries For Adventurers

These itineraries are geared for summer and fall when all the roads are open in Yellowstone.

From Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore 3-Day Itinerary:

• Day 1 Yellowstone : Grand Prismatic, Old Faithful, Hike Mount Washburn ; stay in Cody for the night
• Day 2 Ten Sleep Canyon & Spearfish : Take in the views of Ten Sleep Canyon, have dinner in Spearfish at Sawyer Brewing, stay at Spearfish Canyon Lodge
• Day 3 Black Hills, Mount Rushmore, & Custer: Crazy Horse, Sylvan Lake, Needles Highway, Mount Rushmore, and drive the Wildlife Loop in Custer

Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore 7-Day Itinerary:

• Day 2 Ten Sleep Canyon & Spearfish: Hike Lost Twin Lakes in Ten Sleep Canyon, dinner in Spearfish at Sawyer Brewing, stay at Spearfish Canyon Lodge
• Day 3 Rent a razor at Spearfish Canyon Lodge and explore; hike Devil’s Bathtub ; stay one more night at the Lodge
• Day 4 Black Hills : see Crazy Horse, go to Sylvan Lake and hike Black Elk Peak , drive Wildlife Loop in Custer SP, stay in Custer & have dinner at the Custer Wolf
• Day 5 Black Hills : Hike Sunday Gulch at Sylvan Lake, drive Needles Highway, see Mount Rushmore, hike to Hippie Hole, stay in Keystone
• Day 6 Badlands : check out Wall, take in scenic overlooks in Badlands & hike Notch Trail
• Day 7 Devil’s Tower

Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore 10-Day Itinerary:

• Day 1 Yellowstone : Lamar Valley, Madison Hot Springs, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone & Yellowstone Falls, Norris Basin, stay in West Yellowstone
• Day 2 Add in Grand Tetons : Grand Prismatic, Old Faithful, head to the Tetons, take the boat across Jenny Lake and hike Cascade Canyon or hike to Delta Lake, stay in Jackson
• Day 3 Yellowstone : Hike Mount Washburn ; stay in Cody for the night
• Day 4 Ten Sleep Canyon & Spearfish: Hike Lost Twin Lakes in Ten Sleep Canyon, dinner in Spearfish at Sawyer Brewing, stay at Spearfish Canyon Lodge
• Day 5 Rent a razor at Spearfish Canyon Lodge and explore; hike Devil’s Bathtub ; stay one more night at the Lodge
• Day 6 Black Hills : see Crazy Horse, go to Sylvan Lake and hike Black Elk Peak , drive Wildlife Loop in Custer SP, stay in Custer & have dinner at the Custer Wolf
• Day 7 Black Hills : visit Wind Cave, Hike Sunday Gulch at Sylvan Lake, and stay in Custer again
• Day 8 Black Hills : drive Needles Highway, see Mount Rushmore, hike to Hippie Hole, stay in Deadwood & have dinner at Jacobs
• Day 9 Badlands : check out Wall, take in scenic overlooks in Badlands & hike Notch Trail
• Day 10 Devil’s Tower

Get detailed itineraries and all the beta on the must-dos in this Black Hills Travel Guide .

There are 3 main routes to get in and out of Yellowstone and 3 main routes to get in and out of Mount Rushmore.

Most Direct Way to Drive From Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore

Assuming you are starting from the southeast side of Yellowstone, which is close to Old Faithful and the West Thumb part of Yellowstone Lake, the most direct route to Mt Rushmore is Highway 14 from West Yellowstone towards Cody and then Highway 20 to Worland. Once you get to Worland you’ll drive Highway 16 through Ten Sleep which I cover later in this blog.

Note, in my One Day Yellowstone blog , I cover the perfect way to start in West Yellowstone and end near Yellowstone Lake, the starting point for this road trip.

Honestly, I’ve never driven this section because I am almost always hiking in the Tetons or wanting to drive the Beartooth Highway so I always take the other two routes.

The Southern Route: Yellowstone to Grand Teton to Mt Rushmore

This route takes you out of Yellowstone and through the Colter Bay part of Grand Teton NP. This is one of my favorite campgrounds in Wyoming so you may want to read this blog and reserve a campsite at Colter Bay if you can.

You’ll head east from Moran on Highway 26 . It’s a very scenic drive through the mountains. If you’re comfortable towing a big rig you’ll have no problem. And even if it’s your first time driving a class C RV, you should be fine. The grades aren’t too steep, the roads are wide, and there is very little traffic.

Pro Tip: We often find free camping along this highway when we drive it.

The Northern Route: Beartooth Highway Scenic Route

If you want the best views , leave Yellowstone from the northeast and drive the Beartooth Highway. This road is extremely windy with numerous switchbacks so you don’t want to drive this with a big rig . Check here for road conditions before driving it.

This isn’t the fastest way by any means but the Beartooth Highway is one of America’s most famous and scenic drives.

If you choose this route, it’s faster to just continue north and hop on the I-90 to South Dakota. Or, take the long detour south and explore Ten Sleep and the Big Horn Mountain range, which I highlight next.

The Middle Route From Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore: The Big Horn Mountains

This is such an underrated part of the USA. If I hadn’t been searching for new rock climbing I never would’ve discovered how amazing the Big Horn mountain range is.

There are 2 ways to go through the Big Horn mountain range- the north route across the US-14 or the south route across the US-16. The 14 is steep and windy and I don’t recommend it for RV’s. While the 16 has a mountain to get over, it’s more like a ramp and much more doable for RVs.

You’ll first want to stop in Ten Sleep to see the famous Dirty Sally’s General Store to get ice cream, a Ten Sleep rock climbing book, or pick up some unique souvenirs. I love hanging out at the Ten Sleep Brewery and their honey beer mixed with lemonade is so delicious after a hard day of climbing! They often have live music and they offer camping for small RVs or tent campers. Plus, you can pay for a shower here!

Consider taking US-16 through the Big Horn mountain range for a more RV-friendly route compared to the steeper and windier US-14.

The drive from Ten Sleep to Buffalo goes over the Big Horn mountains. The drive itself is one of the most beautiful drives especially when the leaves begin changing colors in the fall. Heading east, the grade up isn’t too bad but it is a little steep on the descent down to Buffalo. However, I see people double-tow over this all the time so most big rigs will do fine with it.

There are a lot of campgrounds along the way and many hikes to choose from if you want to stretch your legs or explore. You could easily spend weeks exploring this area and just enjoying the quiet forest and fresh air here.

RADICAL INSPIRATION FROM THE NOMAD + HEALTH EXPERTS

Join our email list to get a ton of helpful tips & beta on everything from hiking, camping, RVing, and road-tripping to health, fitness, and mindfulness.

We’ll share with you some crazy stories from road, exclusive outdoor deals, awesome quotes + motivation, and our latest content.

Plus, get free access to our Adventure Resource Bundle with pack lists, trail guides, and gear reviews.

Live Stoked with Us!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

Related Blog: Best Hikes Wyoming

Tip: Restock your supplies in Buffalo, Wyoming . Once you drop into Buffalo the drive to South Dakota is pretty boring. If you are heading straight to Mt Rushmore and need food or supplies, I suggest stocking up here since Buffalo is a pretty big city.

Direct Route From Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore Via Custer State Park

Your fastest way, granted only by a few minutes, is by splitting off the I-90 at Moorift and taking Highway 16 towards Custer. The nice thing about taking this route is that you can visit Custer SP along the way, which is better than Mt Rushmore in my opinion. If you can get a campsite here, it would be a great home base for exploring Mt Rushmore and the Black Hills.

Related Blog: 8 Things to do in Custer SP

Slightly Slower Route Through Spearfish and Rapid City

If you choose to stay on the I-90 to Rapid City, you can stop at one of our favorite towns, Spearfish, and explore Spearfish Canyon. Spearfish Canyon KOA is a great campground to stay at and a good jumping-off point for exploring the Spearfish Canyon.

If you aren’t in an RV, I highly recommend spending a night or two at the Spearfish Canyon Lodge . The location is very scenic and it’s fun to rent a Polaris and go off-roading.

As far as towing a big RV to Mount Rushmore, either way through Custer SP, Spearfish Canyon, or Rapid City is fairly easy with wide enough roads and not too many grades or sharp turns, as long as you don’t drive Highway 244 .

Recommended Detour To Devil’s Tower: It only adds 25 miles to your trip to detour off the I-90 and check out Devil’s Tower. You don’t need much time here, but if you do have the time, there are a few options for hiking around Devil’s Tower that are nice. There are also campgrounds nearby if you want to make this a resting spot on your road trip.

Most Scenic Route To Mount Rushmore Through the Black Hills

Your last option for routes into Mount Rushmore would be to drive through the Black Hills and enter Mount Rushmore from the west.

To take this route, when you get to the town of Custer, go north towards Hill City. You might want to stop at Crazy Horse on the way or get dinner in Hill City. Hill City also has some nice wineries to visit.

Then, for a nice scenic drive, take Highway 244. If you turn off Highway 244 there are numerous tunnels with height restrictions, but as long as you stay on the 244, it’s a 2-lane road with some turns and hills but nothing too crazy (unless you are towing a large trailer). If in doubt, stick with the other 2 routes. Otherwise, be sure to drive the Needles Highway , it’s absolutely a MUST DO ! You may also want to detour and visit Deadwood on the way.

Costs of Visiting Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore National Parks

If you will be visiting both parks, you’ll probably want to spend the $80 for the America The Beautiful Pass, which you can purchase online and covers entrance fees at ALL national parks. If you plan on visiting Custer State Park, which is a must if you are visiting Mount Rushmore, then you’ll need to buy a Custer State Park pass for $30, and is easier to just purchase when you arrive. It’s good for an entire year.

Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore National Parks Road Trip Itinerary

Since there is so much to do in Yellowstone and in the Black Hills, I think you can do this section from Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore in 3 days . I’d leave Yellowstone by 9 am and drive straight to Ten Sleep, arriving in time to eat lunch and grab a drink at the Ten Sleep brewery, then head up the mountain to set up camp at one of the campgrounds near Meadowlark Lake with enough time to enjoy the campground.

Then, I’d pack up early and drive to the Lost Twin Lakes trailhead . This hike will take about 7 hours to complete so you may want to just enjoy your trip and book 2 nights at the campground so you aren’t rushed. The hike is almost 12 miles but it isn’t too strenuous and the views at the lake are worth the effort.

From Meadowlark Lake area to the town of Custer, it’s only about 4 hours but don’t forget time to restock in Buffalo. If you make it to Custer at dinnertime, we think the Custer Wolf restaurant is amazing!

And of course, you could skip the camping and hiking in the Big Horn Mountains and just hightail it across in 8 hours if you are crunched for time.

If you choose the northern route through the Beartooth Highway and Spearfish, you could still do it in 1 day. I’d leave Red Lodge early and drive the Beartooth Highway at sunrise for the best photos then book a night at the Spearfish Lodge.

So many options…so little time!

Best Things To Do In Yellowstone National Park

You could spend weeks here but since you are researching Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore, you probably are trying to squeeze in as much as possible. These are the top 3 things that I think you can’t miss in Yellowstone.

• Watching Old Faithful Erupt
• Grand Prismatic (preferably at sunrise or sunset
• Walk Norris Geyser Basin
• Bonus: Mammoth Hot Springs and Drive Lamar Valley

Best Things To Do Near Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore itself doesn’t need more than a few hours (if that). However, the area around it, the Black Hills, could easily entertain you for weeks. Again, if you are short on time, these are the 3 must-do’s on your first visit to Mt Rushmore.

• Visit Deadwood
• Hike Sunday Gulch at Sylvan Lake (add in Black Elk Peak if you have time)
• Drive Wildlife Loop in Custer
• Bonus: Drive and check out the waterfalls in Spearfish Canyon

Pin This To Your National Parks and Road Trips Boards:

Hey! We're glad you found us! You may want to also join us on Instagram and follow our travels. .

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Margaret Dudley

Saturday 30th of December 2023

Our family is renting a class C in early July and we’re worried about crowds. We plan to see Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, and the Badlands. Will we be able to find camp sites or do we need to book everything ahead of time? Thanks for these great suggestions!

Robyn Robledo

Tuesday 2nd of January 2024

If you want to camp inside the National Parks, you'll want to book ahead of time. However, if you don't want to be stuck to an itinerary, you could plan to do the National Parks during the day and then camp outside the parks at night. Having a class C will make this easy! I use Campendium, Allstays, and Harvest Host to find free camping or first come first serve campgrounds. If you aren't a "planner", I can create your itinerary and find campsites for you https://www.nomadswithapurpose.com/product/travel-planning/

Chris Johnson

Saturday 28th of January 2023

Looking for ways to drive from Rapid City to Yellowstone

Friday 3rd of February 2023

So you've got a couple options and it really depends which entrance you're wanting to get to. Leaving Rapid City you'll take the I-90 to Buffalo. From there, To get to the East entrance you have to cross a mountain pass on either the US-14 through Shell or the US-16 through Tensleep. Both are pretty steep but the 14 is not as bad. If you want to get to the North or Northeast entrance (by Cooke City) it's an easy drive because you just take the I-90 all the way to Laurel (almost no grades). Don't know if you're asking about these routes in context to winter or summer travel, but the US-212 and the US-14 I believe are closed in the winter and the US-16 is probably not in great condition in the winter. Hope this helps!

Sunday 27th of February 2022

I would love to see the national parks

Wednesday 9th of February 2022

also inquiring about a better idea of how to enter from Billings to Yellowstone. Planning to drive not camp, Billings to Yellowstone then Rushmore and back to Bozeman. I have been told enter in the North and Exit in the South but if exiting from the South, does that make sense to go to SD/Mt. Rushmore from there? Any details will help!

Monday 21st of February 2022

Personally I'd go north to south through yellowstone. Go in through Beartooth Highway and try to hit lamar valley, yellowstone falls, mammoth hot springs, norris basin, grand prismatic, and of course, old faithful. Then down to the Tetons (maybe squeeze in Cascade Canyon or Delta Lake). Then go across Wyoming. It looks like it's only an hour longer to go from Moran to Rushmore via Ten Sleep and the Bighorn Mountains. I love this area and if you have an extra day it's worth exploring (we have a separate blog on this). Hope that helps! Also, make time in South Dakota for Custer & Spearfish Canyon.

Steve Kelly

Monday 4th of October 2021

We’re renting RV in Billings Montana and planning to go to Yellowstone then to Grand Tetons and then to Mount Rushmore and Sturgess. Then return RV to Billings I’m planning to do this Oct 18-25 this year with my wife. We would love any advise where to stay along the way. We’re renting a standard class C. We like campgrounds for showers and restrooms but also can boondock it for a nite if it’s a cool place to go. Is this enough time? Yellowstone is my major highlight and want to drive around as much as I can before driving to South Dakota and back. Steve

It will be a busy trip for sure but I think doable since you can cover a lot of ground in a Class C. You kind of have to do a figure 8 in Yellowstone so I'd get a campground inside Yellowstone for the first night maybe at Madison or Canyon and the next at Grant. If you want a night in the Tetons, Colter Bay is nice. There are plenty of dirt roads and pull-offs to camp at on the way east through Wyoming.

If you drive through Ten Sleep to get to Sturgis, I love Boulder Park campground in the Big Horns. No hookups there but there is a well for drinking water (not to fill your RV). As you go over the pass from here to Buffalo, there is a dump station. There is a ton of paid and free camping all along the Big Horn mountains here too.

There are a lot of great campgrounds in the Black Hills. I have an entire blog on my favorite Black Hills Campgrounds. Pactola is my favorite but again, no hookups here. Custer SP is the best deal for camping with showers and then the Spearfish city campground has showers and hookups.

Ultimate South Dakota Road Trip Planner and Itinerary

By: Author Wandermust Mummy

Are you looking for the ULTIMATE South Dakota Road Trip Planner?  With our South Dakota road trip itinerary we cover all of the main South Dakota attractions, tell you where to stay and what to see with 7 days in South Dakota. 

Important Note : This post may contain affiliate links which means if you click through and make a purchase I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you!

Table of Contents

South Dakota Road Trip Planner Tips and Tricks

South Dakota has to be one of our ultimate US Bucket List experiences and one of the best US road trips that you can do. 

And South Dakota really has something on offer for everyone from amazing national monuments and national parks, great hikes and wildlife experiences as well as some great quirky in town attractions. 

In this South Dakota road trip itinerary we will cover all of the main sights but before we get onto our South Dakota road trip itinerary we thought it would be good to answer some of your frequently asked questions to help you plan your trip. 

How Long do you need for Your South Dakota Road Trip?

Tips for Visiting Mount Rushmore with Kids or Without

When you are looking to put together the first thing you will want to know is how long do you need for your South Dakota road trip itinerary? 

With all that there is to see in South Dakota, and also the likely distance you are traveling to get to South Dakota we recommend having a good amount of time for your Black Hills vacation. 

When we went to South Dakota we had 7 days in this amazing state and I think this is the perfect amount of time to tour this state. For this reason we have outlined out prefect 7 day itinerary. However if you don’t have as long as this feel free to cut out the days that appeal least to you so you have the right amount of days. 

We recommend a minimum of 4 days in South Dakota to ensure you see a good amount of this state’s amazing scenery and attractions. 

Should I drive or Fly to South Dakota?

When you are traveling to South Dakota you really have two options of how to get there 

• flying and 
• driving. 

If you have a shorter amount of time for your South Dakota road your best option is to fly into the state. Most people who decide to fly into the state fo to either Rapid City or Sioux Falls and then rent a vehicle. 

Out of these two options we recommend Rapid City as this is more centrally located to the main attractions.

However if you have more time we recommend driving into South Dakota as this will reduce costs of having to hire a car on arrival.  South Dakota as a state really doesn’t have any public transport to speak of so you will need to have a car with you to fully experience this amazing state.

When we visited South Dakota as part of a large road trip to Yellowstone and Utah, we flew into Denver which is only a 6 hour drive from South Dakota.

If you plan to road trip from other states we recommend trying out some of our other road trip guides:

• Denver to Mount Rushmore Road Trip. 
• Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone Road Trip

Best Time to Visit South Dakota

There are definitely better time to visit South Dakota than others. 

Although not the official state motto, South Dakota is colloquially called the Blizzard State. Therefore it should come as no surprise that we don’t recommend taking your South Dakota family vacation in Winter or winter adjacent months. 

The best time to visit your South Dakota vacation for weather has to summer, however you should also expect crowds to be high during this period (But no where need as crowded as other Northern national parks such as Yellowstone). 

And if you are visiting South Dakota in summer you need to plan for walking in heat – so be sure to check out our South Dakota Summer packing list. 

Peak season in South Dakota technically runs from1st May and ends around 30th September which is when we recommend ed most people, particularly families with small children travel to South Dakota.

It is also worth noting that if you visit South Dakota in Fall (September or October depending on the year) you will see some amazing fall colors especially in the Spearfish Canyon area. 

Where to Base Yourself for your South Dakota Road Trip

Where to stay for this South Dakota Road Trip itinerary

The first questions when you plan a trip to South Dakota has to be about where to base yourself or whether to travel.

South Dakota is a large state with lots to see. However for 7 days in South Dakota we recommend basing yourself out of the West of the state in the Rapid City, Custer State Park and Black Hills area. 

If you only want to stay in one location for this road trip, which is especially helpful if you are doing a South Dakota road trip with family or with toddlers and kids, then we recommend Rapid City.

Rapid City is within easy driving of all the major South Dakota attractions so is very convenient. 

If you are looking for convenient places to stay in Rapid City with good family friendly amenities then the following are in prime positions:

• La Quinta  
•  Fairfield Inn & Suites

Alternatively you could based your self out of Rapid City for some of the itinerary before moving on to some lodges or more nature focussed accommodation near Badlands or Mount Rushmore. 

Some great places to stay with older children include:

• Mount Rushmore Under Canvas or 
• Custer State Park Lodges. 

The Perfect South Dakota Road Trip Itinerary

Note about this South Dakota Road Trip Planner and itinerary : The days here are put together to make the most of your time in South Dakota however the days are designed so they can be done in any order.

Day 1 of the perfect South Dakota Itinerary 

Today is all about the outdoors and the thing that was top of my SD Road trip bucket list was  The Badlands National Park.

Badlands National Park

Badlands with Kids – A must for your South Dakota Road Trip Itinerary

Badlands National Park is one of the lesser visited parks but it is still worth getting to the Badlands National Park for sunrise. Watching the sun rise over the majestic geological formations of the Badlands is simply breathtaking and well worth the early start. You will also be rewarded with having the park entirely to yourselves. We visited over labour day weekend and we didn’t see people for at least an hour after our arrival.

Depending on which direction you are arriving from, will depend on which entrance you arrive through. We came in via the Pinnacles Entrance as this is the closest (less than an hours drive) from Rapid City.

The Badlands is name because historically this unique landscape was impassable to man. The local Lakota Tribe called the area mako sica traditionally which literally translates to land bad hence why we call it the Badlands today. 

It is worth stopping at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center at the Badlands as a great place to learn more about the park. Also if you are visiting this national park with kids you will want to pick a Junior Ranger pack. The Centre is open daily (Christmas and Thanksgiving exceptions). 

There are lots of great Badlands Hikes, including some easy Badland hikes that are suitable for novice hikers and people traveling to the national park with toddlers . 

Another must do in the Badlands, whatever type of traveler you are is to drive the Badlands scenic loop road, officially known as Highway 240. The views from this scenic byway are beautiful and take in many of the parks biggest highlights. 

The scenic highway is over 40 miles long and without stopping would take an hour to drive. However this would be missing out on so much. 

Our South Dakota Road Trip Planner featured the Badlands on Day 1

To be able to avail of some of the fantastic Badlands hikes as well as photo opportunities we recommend spending at least half a day of your South Dakota itinerary for this park. 

Also although there is plenty of things to do on the Scenic byway we also  recommend taking a slight detour at the start of your day to see Roberts Prairie Dog Town. These creatures are great to watch but if travelling with children please make sure they do not get too close.

The Praire Dog Town should be on your South Dakota Road Trip Planner

Once you have visited the Prairie Dog Town you can continue down the road. This is optional but we were glad we did as we saw the most spectacular herd of bison running here. It was a better bison experience than we had even in Yellowstone.

South Dakota Trip Itinerary – Visiting Badlands

Once you have detoured enough, head back towards the loop road. 

Some of our favourite hikes that we did on our trip with kids in Badlands were: 

• The Notch Trail (1.5 miles)
• Cliff Shelf Nature Trail (0.5 miles)
• Fossil Exhibit Trail (0.25) – this was my toddler’s favourite hike and is sure to be a favourite amongst any kids with the bronze wast fossil replicas and is a very easy boardwalk hike.

There are a few more strenuous hikes for those feeling more adventurous.

For more information on the best and easiest hikes in Badlands National Park click here. 

For those that are in a RV or who enjoy camping there are campgrounds within this national park that you can stay at. The most popular place to camp in the park is at Cedar Pass Campground followed by Sage Creek Campground.

Permits are not required in the campgrounds but it is always prudent to inform rangers of camping plans in more primitive campsites.

But if you prefer a lodge accommodation over camping and want to stay in the park then there is just one option which is Cedar Pass Lodge. 

Cedar Pass Lodge is made of wooden lodge cabins and have beautiful views of the national park. However it is worth noting that as this is the only lodge in the park, that is gets booked up very quickly. Therefore we recommend booking Cedar Pass Lodge well in advance to avoid disappointment. 

If you are not staying the park though we recommend heading to

There is no way you can miss Wall Drug. Whatever direction you are driving towards Badlands from you will see constant billboards for Wall Drug and really can not be missed.

It is one of those great American roadside attractions and an absolute must see in South Dakota. It is a wild west themed souvenir superstore. But alongside the gift shops there are also restaurants, a museum, a dinosaur and more. Families will really love it. 

It is a great place to get souvenirs from, stop for refreshments and use have a wander. You simply must try the donuts when you stop.

No South Dakota itinerary is complete without stopping at Wall Drug

If you want to stay close to Badlands, and you can’t get into the Cedar Pass lodge then your next closest place is the hotels in Wall. Again these hotels fill up quickly especially in peak season so again it is imperative that you make reservations early. 

We recommend spending one day of your South Dakota itinerary at the Badlands but if you want to do lots of hiking you could extend your time in the park. 

And as an added bonus, if you have extra time in your Badlands itinerary you could also stop at the Minuteman Missile Site. From the Ben Reifel Visitor Centre, it is only a 16 minute drive to get to the missile site. 

The Minuteman Missiles are a part of the Cold War history and were located in the great plains ready to be fired if need arose. At the site you can see the Missile launch areas as well as learn about the Cold War history. 

Day Two of the perfect South Dakota Road Trip Itinerary 

Today is another day of bigger hitter tourist attractions, indeed one of the biggest in the whole of the US and features the iconic Mount Rushmore alongside some other big South Dakota attractions. 

Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore Instagram Captions and Quotes

For me no South Dakota Road Trip Itinerary is complete without visiting Mount Rushmore. Mount Rushmore is one of the most famous and iconic tourist attractions in the US and a must for any USA Bucket list and certainly at the top of most people’s South Dakota bucket list. 

AS this is one of America’s most famous and revered attractions it should come as no surprise that Mount Rushmore gets very busy. For this reason we advise you to get to Mount Rushmore very early. 

When we visited on the  Labour Day Weekend we arrived at 5am and literally had the place to ourselves. Therefore my top piece of advice for creating your road trip to Mount Rushmore vacation itinerary is to get to Rushmore early – very early.

For those that don’t know Mount Rushmore is a a huge sculptural craiving in the granite of the Black Hills featuring four of America’s famous presidents – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

The monument was completed in 1941, and was carved by sculptor Gutzon Borglum with his son and took just under 15 years to complete (1927-1941). 

I have been asked a few times since we went to Rushmore what was the experience like and how long we actually spent there. I will be honest, I didn’t time our visit but we spent well over an hour at the monument and we could have spent longer if we had done hikes while we were there.

Some of the attractions and things to include when visiting Mount Rushmore include: 

• Strolling the Avenue of Flags
• The Sculptors Studio 
• Lincoln Borglum Museum
• The  Presidents Trail – a hike which will take on an uphill trail to get a closer look at the sculptures.
• Eat the Famous Memorial Team Ice Cream

toddler at Mount Rushmore – Mount Rushmore with kids

The Avenue of Flags is a great place for those looking for great instagram photos and captions for Mount Rushmore as this avenue contains all the state and territories flags alongside the dates when they were admitted into the Union. 

In the Lincoln Borglum Museum has many interactive exhibits and is a great place to learn about the sculpting process. 

But perhaps the best thing to do at Rushmore is the President Trail. The trail is only 0.5 mile however don’t let the shortness of the trail fool you. It is more intensive than you think. There are well over 400 steps on this trail that takes you to get a closer look at the presidents heads. 

It is also a great place to spot wildlife though obviously not the best place in South Dakota for wildlife encounters

Also, although we recommend going to Mount Rushmore in the morning, if you can make your way back to Mount Rushmore in the evening, we recommend it. There is the Evening Sculpture Lighting Ceremony that is held nightly at the monument and is a beautiful way to see the sculpture all lit up. 

Now I wouldn’t plan a Mount Rushmore road trip itinerary as the only activity to do in one day but you could certainly plan to spend half a day there. 

For a complete guide to visiting Mount Rushmore including all of our top tips and for a full Mount Rushmore itinerary  check out this post.

Crazy Horse Monument

Why you Should include Crazy horse on your South dakota Road Trip itinerary

Once you have finished at Mount Rushmore we recommend taking a short 25 minute drive from Rushmore to the Crazy Horse Monument.

The Crazy Horse Monument is not as well known as Mount Rushmore but just as impressive. Here instead of the presidents being sculpted into the Granite, Crazy horse, Lakota warrior is depicted instead.

The Monument has been under construction since the 1940s and is no where near completion however it is still worth a visit. As once this monument is completed it will be the largest sculpture in the world. 

There is also a visitor center here when you can learn more about the battles between the Lakota Tribe and Government as well as more on the life and heritage of the Lakota.

The final stop of the day will be your second national park of your South Dakota road trip as you are heading to 

Wind Cave National Park 

Wind Cave is actually one of the oldest National Parks in the country and one of the largest cave systems in the world too! 

It is a great place to view wildlife but on your national park bucket list should be one of the guided tours of the caves. Be sure to check tour timings online here and plan your day accordingly.

Alternatively you could spend the afternoon at 

Keystone 

Keystone is known as the gateway to Mount Rushmore and is a town full of activities. If you are short on time for South Dakota vacation and you are most interested in Mount Rushmore then Keystone is a great place to base yourself out of. 

A popular place to stay out of Keystone is Mount Rushmore Under Canvas. However this is really for those traveling as a couple or with older instead of those traveling with younger children or toddlers. 

If you are traveling to Mount Rushmore with kids then they may enjoy the gold panning activity. 

However one of the most popular activities from Keystone is the 1880 Train from Keystone to Hill City, South Dakota. The train is a two hour round trip and is something my train loving son would adore. 

Day 3 and 4 of Your South Dakota Itinerary 

While on our South Dakota road trip itinerary so far we have hit two national parks, today is all about one of South Dakota’s most famous and beautiful State Parks, Custer State Park. 

Custer State Park

Custer State Park is renowned for having some amazing scenic drives as well as some of South DAkota’s best wildlife opportunities. 

Custer State Park, in my opinion,  in any other part of the country is likely to be national park due to the wildlife and drives. And in fact this is the largest state park in the whole of the US. 

There are 3 main parts of the scenic drive known as the Peter Norbeck Byway. These are:

• the Wildlife Loop
• Needles Highway, and
• the Iron Mountain Road. 

On top of these roads are favorite things to do in Custer State Park are:

Driving the Wildlife Loop

The wildlife loop is actually an 18 mile stretch of road that forms part o the Peter Norbeck Byway. We recommend heading to this part of the drive first thing in the morning if you can. Otherwise head there for dusk.

It is well known that animals are more active at sunrise and sundown so if you want to see wildlife this is the best time to go. 

Wildlife that you can see on this drive and that we did see include:

• Prairie Dogs
• Whitetail and Mule Deer
• Birds including eagles and hawks for instance. 

We actually found that we had better bison experiences in South Dakota over Yellowstone. And this is no surprise when you find out that there is a herd of 1000+ bison in Custer! In fact this herd is bigger than any other in the country.

This is definitely a highlight for any wildlife lover in South Dakota. 

Driving the Iron Mountain Road 

The Iron MOuntain Road is also known as 16A. There are lots of switch backs on this road and some amazing tunnels through the tunnels of the mountain. 

This road connects Mount Rushmore and Custer STate Park. 

Although they road is not all that long you will need at least an hour and a half to complete this road as the recommended speed limit on this is 20mph due to the bend and pigtail curves. 

Needles Highway

Perhaps the most famous of all the scenic roads in South Dakota is the Needles Highway. 

The Needles Highway, or Highway 87 (SD 87) as it is otherwise known, is a 14 mile long drive that goes through forests and amazing rock formations made of granite that shoot up from the ground like needles, hence the name. 

This is something you can definitely only do in South Dakota in Summer as this road shuts during the Winter. The reason for this is because it is quite a challenging drive and there are many tight tight tunnels to go through. 

In particular the most notorious tunnel is the Needles Eye tunnel. Please note that only small cars can actually fit through this very small tunnel. RVs and Trailers and larger vehicles definitely can not pass through. 

As only one vehicle can get through this tunnel at one time we advise doing this drive very early in the morning. The reason for this is that later in the day there can become a real logjam as you wait for cars to come through from both sides. 

Also it is worth noting that this drive is very popular with motorcyclists, especially around the Sturgis Rally weekend. 

If you plan to drive both the Iron Mountain Road and the Needles Highway you can expect it to take 2-3 hours. But if you are traveling at peak season and later in the day then it can take longer. 

Other great things to do in Custer State Park include:

• having a picnic on Sylvan Lake. 
• Black Elk Peak Hike if you are a more accomplished hiker. 

And on top of these natural attractions there are a few other activities that appeal to travelers but particularly for families. 

Some activities that you could do in Custer State Park include horse riding, restaurants, safari jeeps and more. We also recommend booking dinner in the park at the 

Chuck Wagon Dinner 

This is a traditional dinner from the Bluebell Lodge in the park. You take a 45 minute hayride through the park to go to a chuck wagon feast complete with food and singing. Just be sure to book this experience in advance as it does get filled up early. 

You can stay in the park at the Lodges, the most popular being the Bluebell Lodge, but be sure to make reservations early as this does get filled up very early. 

For more information on the perfect way to spend time in Custer check out our  two day Custer State Park Itinerary. 

Day 5 of your South Dakota vacation itinerary 

On Day 4 of our South Dakota vacation itinerary we recommend heading away from Rushmore and Rapid City towards the Black Hills and Deadwood. 

The first activity of the day is to drive the 

Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway

You may think after driving The Needles Highway and the Iron Mountain Road that south Dakota wouldn’t have many more scenic drives left to offer. However then you drive the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. 

This road is 22 miles long and will take you roughly two hours to drive if you want to stop at some of the amazing overlooks. 

Some of the most popular stops are at the many waterfalls along the road including but not limited to:

• Bridalveil Falls,
• Roughlock Falls, and
• Spearfish Falls

There is also a huge hydro power plan on the route that is worth stopping to see and film buffs will recognise much of the terrain as filming locations for the award winning film Dancing With Wolves. 

Once you have completed your drive we recommend the next stop on your trip as the town of Deadwood. 

Deadwood Cemetry

Deadwood is renowned because of its connections with many of the Wild West Era heroes and because of its popularity on film and screen such as in the TV show Deadwood with Timothy Oliphant and Ian McShane and also in films such as the classic musical Calamity Jane. 

In case you haven’t watched the TV show which tells the story of the towns foundation, Deadwood was founded in 1876 during the Gold Rush. 

It attracted many of Wild West America’s most famous people such as Wild Bill Hicock and Calamity Jane, both of whom have graves in the Deadwood cemetery. 

Deadwood was a dangerous place and largely abandoned at the close of the Gold Rush but now it is a popular tourist attraction in South Dakota. 

Some highlights on a trip to Deadwood are strolling down main street, finding famous graves in the graveyard or watching a recreation shootout. 

Black Hills National Forest

For those looking for some more outdoor pursuits I recommend visiting the Black Hills National Forest and enjoy some more hikes. 

Or alternatively you could go to Sturgis the town famous for its Motorbike rally but also for having a great Motorcycle Museum. 

Day 6 of your South Dakota Road Trip 

Ok, I know that this is your South Dakota Road Trip planner, however we recommend nipping just over the South Dakota border into Wyoming to visit 

Devil’s Tower National Monument

DEvils Tower National Monument

It would be a travesty to close to a national monument and not visit which is why we recommend heading to the Devil’s Tower. 

Devils Tower is a stroking geological feature and was famously the filming location for the culmination of the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It truly is a great place to spend a morning. 

Once you are finished we recommend heading into Rapid City to spend your last afternoon. 

Rapid City is a great city that has a lot to offer no matter what kind of traveller you are. We have a whole guide on visiting Rapid city with kids here but for your afternoon we recommend heading to one or two of the below attractions, depending on which appeals to you most. 

Dinosaur Park

A visit to Dinosaur Park for your south dakota vacation itinerary

A visit to Dinosaur Park is a must for your South Dakota vacation itinerary.  The Dinosaur Park was created to capitalised on the tourists visiting the area to see Mount Rushmore and to help spark economic growth in the region. 

The Dinosaur Park in Rapid City contains seven dinosaur statues on a hill overlooking the city and is now on the National Historic Register of Places.

At the park you can see the five original dinosaurs ( an apatosaurus, a T Rex, a Triceratops, a Stegosaurus and a Trachodon) as well as two other statues added at a later date. 

Admission to see the dinosaur park is free so it is a great thing to do if you are on a budget.

While there it is worth completing the Skyline Drive as it offers unrivalled views of the city.

Storybook island

Things to do In Rapid City with kids / Best Things to do in Rapid city with toddlers

If you are visiting Rapid City with toddlers or younger kids this quirky free attraction is a must. It is a small park created by the Rotary club of Rapid City and contains statutes of all the main storybook and fairytale characters

President Walk

Things to do in Rapid City

Another must in the centre of Rapid City is to walk the avenue of Presidents. The bronze life size sculptures are a really quirky way to end your visit to south Dakota.

All around the city you will find bronze statues of the presidents of the United States in famous poses. 

What else to add to your 7 day South Dakota Road Trip Planner

For your last day in South Dakota we recommend selecting the option that most appeals to you form the below, or covering something you missed off the above.

Some options for your final day include:

Bear Country

A drive through park that will guarantee bear spotting. This is a great addition to a road trip to South Dakota for people who want to see a bear but haven’t had any luck at seeing them in the wild. We tried during our trip but we didn’t see a bear unfortunately and this is a must do for us on our next visit to the area. 

The Reptile Gardens

The Reptile Gardens is a  guiness world record holding collection of reptiles. This was a huge hit with our toddler and I would say is one of the best things to do in Rapid City with toddlers. 

FAQS about planning a trip to South Dakota

How far out do you need to start planning a trip to south dakota.

We didn’t have much lead in time when we were planning a trip to South Dakota. We started planning about two weeks prior to our trip and we were travelling at peak season.

However we did find that some of the accommodation we initially considered such as places to stay near Mount Rushmore, Badlands and accommodation in Custer State Park were actually already fully booked.

If you want one of these accommodations, which I think really will enhance your experience then I would recommend that you start planning a trip to South Dakota about a year out however we are proof that you can plan last minute road trip to South Dakota. 

Should you buy an America the Beautiful Pass for this trip?

America the Beautiful Pass is an 80USD pass that grants you access to all the National Parks and some national monuments. However it does not grant access to the State Parks such as Custer. 

In this guide we recommend visiting Badlands (20USD Admission), Devils Tower (25 USD), Mount Rushmore (free)  and Wind Cave (free admission but tour is an additional fee). Custer State Park is outside of the America the Beautiful remit. 

Therefore if these are the only parks you plan to do in the year, it will not be a cost saving. However if you plan to visit more national parks and national monuments then the America the Beautiful Pass may be worth it for you. 

How far is Badlands National Park to Mount Rushmore – can you do it in a one day?

If you only have one day in South Dakota then it is possible to do Badlands and Mount Rushmore in the same day.

The time between Badlands National Park to Mount Rushmore is  about an hour and a half depending on traffic and which Badlands entrance you are at.

If you want to travel from Wall south Dakota to Mount Rushmore the driving time is around 1 hour 20 minutes. 

If possible however I would visit the Badlands and Wall on a different day to Rushmore to maximise time in your itinerary. 

Have you done a South Dakota Road Trip? What would you add to this itinerary? 

Saturday 15th of June 2019

Iron Mountain Road outside of Keystone is a must do. With the pigtail bridges, spectacular overlooks, and tunnels framing Mt. Rushmore I would put it on par with needles highway.

Angharad Paull

Monday 20th of May 2019

I've been to the Badlands - but a long time ago, I remember loving the name! This looks fab, what a great itinerary and I didnt know where Mount Rushmore was either! #fearlessfamtrav

Catherine’s Cultural Wednesdays

Sunday 19th of May 2019

South Dakota is now on my list, ashamed to admit that if asked I would not have been able to tell you where Mount Rushmore was before! #FearlessFamilyTravel

MomOfTwoLittleGirls

Saturday 18th of May 2019

That looks like an awesome family trip. It's definitely one I'm pinning for our future US trip. To see running bison is a must!! #fearlessfamtrav

Nicky@Go Live Young

Friday 17th of May 2019

What a fantastic destination for a family road trip. The scenery looks amazing. The US is somewhere we need to explore a lot more of #fearlessfamtrav

10 Days Mount Rushmore To Yellowstone Road Trip Itinerary

by Mark and Kristen Morgan

Published: June 21, 2021

Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone National Park is an attraction-heavy road trip route from South Dakota’s Black Hills to northwest Wyoming. You should plan for 4 days in the Black Hills, one day for the long drive and 5 days split between Yellowstone and Grand Teton. If you follow our 10 day itinerary exactly, you’ll cover 1,283 miles which will require 31 hours and 25 minutes of driving time.

In this guide we’ll help you plan every step of your Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone National Park road trip itinerary, based entirely on our own personal experiences.

Our Road Trip Experience

We’ve driven from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone twice , and we’ve spent a lot of time exploring South Dakota’s Black Hills, Yellowstone and Grand Teton. We think 10 days is the perfect amount of time to see the best of each region, keep costs down and not feel too rushed. Read more about us .

Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone are both US bucket list juggernauts. We’ll show you where to visit in the Black Hills, your route options to Wyoming and how to make the most of your time in Yellowstone and Grand Teton. This is one of the best road trips in the US and we hope it will surpass your expectations.

Route Options

Yellowstone is around 450-500 miles drive from Mount Rushmore depending on the route, and it takes about 8 hours to drive without stopping. There are several routes you can take from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone, including Cloud Peak Skyway (US-16), Bighorn Scenic Byway (US-14) and I-90.

Cloud Peak Skyway and Bighorn Scenic Byway are more picturesque and cross the Bighorn Mountains. Both lead to Cody and Yellowstone’s east entrance. Whereas I-90 is a longer and less scenic route, but it leads to Cooke City and Yellowstone’s northeast entrance, or Gardiner and Yellowstone’s north entrance.

Our preference is to drive Cloud Peak Skyway to Cody . The route has beautiful scenery and it means beginning Yellowstone at east entrance, which is more efficient for this particular itinerary. You’ll see how to make this route work later in our itinerary walkthrough.

Helpful resources:

• How to plan a road trip
• Road trip packing essentials

Places You’ll Visit

If you follow our 10 day Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone itinerary, your road trip will consist of 5 major areas:

• Mount Rushmore
• South Dakota’s Black Hills
• Drive from the Black Hills to Cody
• Yellowstone National Park
• Grand Teton National Park

Let’s take quick look at what you can expect from each area.

1. Mount Rushmore

Mount Rushmore National Memorial is one of the most iconic and recognizable landmarks in the world. And it’s simply unmissable on your visit to South Dakota. We’ve seen the famous granite sculpture at sunrise in October and covered in snow in April, and it’s an impressive spectacle.

What you need to know:

• You don’t pay to enter but you do pay $10 to park (pass is valid for one year)
• Pick up a ticket as you enter and pay at a machine before leaving
• Your America the Beautiful Pass does not cover entry
• The sculpture is southeast facing so the light is best at sunrise
• We recommend walking the Presidential Trail boardwalk
• You can watch an evening lighting ceremony May-September
• You only need 2-3 hours at the most to see Mt Rushmore

Further Reading: How to visit Mount Rushmore

2. South Dakota’s Black Hills

South Dakota’s Black Hills are beautiful and shouldn’t be missed when you plan your road trip. There’s lots of fun things to do near Mount Rushmore and after two extended trips of our own, we’d go as far as saying the Black Hills region is one of the most underrated places we’ve visited in the US so far.

Here’s just some of the things you can do:

• Custer State Park
• Needles Highway
• Iron Mountain Road
• Sylvan Lake
• Black Elk Peak Trail
• Wind Cave National Park
• Jewel Cave National Monument
• Spearfish Canyon
• Badlands National Park

Further Reading: South Dakota’s Black Hills road trip itinerary

3. Drive From The Black Hills To Cody

Your drive from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone is actually going to be a drive from Spearfish, SD to Cody, WY via Cloud Peak Skyway (US-16) if you follow our itinerary. It’s a 332-mile drive and it would take around 5 hours 30 minutes without stops, but you will stop a few times on the way.

Here’s the route:

• Devils Tower National Monument
• Buffalo, Wyoming
• Cloud Peak Skyway
• Cody, Wyoming

4. Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park is one of the most unique and extraordinary landscapes in the world. We’ve spent a total of 8 days in Yellowstone across visits in April and October. Both were amazing experiences but each came with its own set of challenges, including weather and logistics.

Here’s a few top tips for visiting Yellowstone:

• May and September are the two best months on balance
• Yellowstone is very expensive and overcrowded in summer
• Hotel rooms book up a long way in advance
• You can see the park in 3-4 days
• It’s more efficient to stay in different areas each night
• The park is bigger than you might imagine
• Weather is unpredictable in spring and fall
• Animals are most active at dawn and dusk

Further Reading: The best things to do in Yellowstone

5. Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton is one of our favorite US national parks because it’s small, easy to visit and incredibly photogenic. Even if Yellowstone is your top priority, we recommend you plan for at least one full day in Grand Teton. Trust us, you won’t regret it!

Here’s what you need to know:

• Grand Teton is less crowded than Yellowstone
• Mormon Row and Schwabacher Landing are top photo spots
• You can stay in Jackson, Teton Village or Moran
• It’s a very easy going park to visit
• You can see the highlights in 1-2 days

Further Reading: How to spend 2 days in Grand Teton

Important Itinerary Information

The three most important things you need to consider when planning your road trip from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone are your start and end points, hotels and weather.

1. Start/end – Our itinerary below assumes you begin in Rapid City, SD and end in Jackson, WY with 10 full days available. You might need to add on another day if Jackson doesn’t work for you as an end point, so you can drive to Salt Lake City or back to Rapid City to catch a flight.

2. Hotels – You shouldn’t have any problems booking hotels around the Black Hills or in Jackson, but Yellowstone is a different beast. We recommend you book your Yellowstone hotels as far in advance as possible. We’ll cover the best hotels for each night in the itinerary below, and we’ll give you tips on alternatives for each night after the itinerary.

3. Weather – If you plan this road trip for summer you shouldn’t have any issues with weather. But if you want to avoid the crowds and keep costs down by visiting in late spring or early fall, you might run into some problems with snow and road closures. It’s important to stay on top of live conditions throughout your trip. We’ll cover the best time of year to plan this road trip near the end of the guide.

• Yellowstone – Live conditions
• Grand Teton – Live conditions

Need help planning your road trip? Our popular travel guidebooks are filled with expert advice, tips and information to help you make the most of your time and money. * Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone road trip itinerary (45+ pages) * Yellowstone National Park (60+ pages)

Day 1 – Badlands + Keystone

After arriving into Rapid City the evening before, either stay in Rapid City or drive to Wall which is the nearest town to Badlands with food and hotels (here’s our guide to the best hotels near Badlands ). On the morning of day 1, enter Badlands via west entrance below Wall and drive the loop road heading east.

Our favorite viewpoints in Badlands include Yellow Mounds, Panorama Point, White River Valley Overlook and Big Badlands Overlook. Door and Notch are the two best hikes in Badlands for you to consider. The Door Trail is easy and picturesque, whereas Notch Trail has a few adventurous elements.

Leave Badlands via east entrance and stop at Minuteman Missile Visitor Center to learn about the Cold War. Honestly, we didn’t expect much but it was a fantastic museum. Once you’re done, drive to Keystone and check into a hotel. Consider going to see the Mount Rushmore evening lighting ceremony if you’ll be visiting between May and September. And keep your parking pass safe so you can use it the next morning.

Top rated Keystone hotels:

• Budget – Comfort Inn + Suites
• Mid range – K Bar S Lodge
• Luxury – Under Canvas

Further Reading: The best places to stay in Keystone SD

Day 2 – Mount Rushmore + Custer State Park

Get an early start from your Keystone hotel and drive 2.5 miles to Mount Rushmore (use the same parking pass as the night before). We recommend arriving for sunrise to beat the crowds and to see the sculpture glow pink and orange, but we know getting up early isn’t for everyone! Walk the Presidential Trail and visit the Sculptor’s Studio .

Head back towards Keystone but turn right onto US-16A, which is better known as Iron Mountain Road . It’s a fun and scenic drive with curves, tunnels, hairpins and even pigtail bends. Turn right at the end to arrive at Custer State Park visitor center and watch the welcome video narrated by Kevin Costner.

You’ll pay $20 to enter Custer State Park and your pass is valid for 7 days . Keep your pass because you’ll need it for Sylvan Lake and Needles Highway later in the week. Next, drive the 18 mile one-way Custer Wildlife Loop to see animals like bison, burros, coyotes and eagles roaming freely in the wilderness. Turn left at the end heading for dinner and your hotel in Custer.

Top rated Custer hotels:

• Budget – Rocket Motel
• Mid range – Bavarian Inn
• Luxury – EO Bungalows

Further Reading: The best places to stay in Custer SD

Day 3 – Custer State Park + Wind Cave

Get another early start and drive back through Custer Wildlife Loop because animals are more active in the morning. But instead of completing the loop, you’ll turn left onto SD-87 for 7.5 miles to Rankin Ridge Trail within Wind Cave National Park boundaries.

Hike the 1 mile roundtrip loop trail for far reaching valley views from an old fire tower. After the hike continue to Wind Cave visitor center. Cave tours can be booked in advance or bought on the day first come first served. We strongly recommend you book any cave tours in advance at this official recreation.gov page . If you can’t get on a tour, try nearby Jewel Cave instead.

After your cave tour, drive back to Custer for a late lunch. Head up SD-89, turn right onto the incredibly picturesque Needles Highway and hike the awesome Cathedral Spires Trail (using your Custer State Park pass for entry). Cathedral Spires Trail a short hike through ponderosa pine forest ending at granite needle-like rocks. Spend a second night in Custer.

Day 4 – Black Elk Peak + Spearfish Canyon

After breakfast, drive up to Sylvan Lake and hike the amazing Black Elk Peak Trail , which we’ve included in our guide to the 50 best US hikes (again, your pass will get you into Sylvan Lake). Black Elk Peak is a moderately difficult 7 mile roundtrip hike with magnificent summit views that should take you around 4-5 hours. We recommend you go up trail #9 and go down trail #4. Add a spur hike to Little Devils Tower near the end. Strong hikers might also want to hike Sunday Gulch Trail on the west side of Sylvan Lake.

Drive west on Needles Highway heading for Hill City and stop at Crazy Horse Memorial . Next, drive north through the Black Hills to Deadwood and spend an hour walking the historic main street to learn about famous wild west gunslingers and cowboys.

At this point you can either take 14-ALT through Lead to Cheyenne Crossing and Spearfish Canyon or you can stay in Deadwood and begin with Spearfish Canyon the next morning. Deadwood is a lively and vibrant casino town, whereas Spearfish is very quiet. You can stop at Roughlock Falls, Eleven Hour Gulch, Devils Bathtub Trail and Bridal Veil Falls on your way down through Spearfish Canyon.

Top rated Spearfish hotels:

• Budget – Best Western Black Hills
• Mid range – Fairfield Inn + Suites
• Luxury – Spearfish Canyon Lodge

Further Reading: The best places to stay in Deadwood SD

Day 5 – Devils Tower + Cloud Peak Skyway

You’ll drive from the northern Black Hills to Yellowstone on day 5. By leaving from Deadwood or Spearfish, you’re already close to Devils Tower and I-90 for the journey west. We recommend taking US-85, SD-34 and WY-24 to Devils Tower because it’s quieter and more scenic than I-90. It should take just over an hour.

Walk the flat paved path leading around the base of Devils Tower, then drive to Joyner Ridge Trailhead for the best views looking back over America’s first national monument. Get on I-90 and stop for lunch in Buffalo, Wyoming. You now have a choice between driving Cloud Peak Skyway or Bighorn Scenic Byway to reach Cody.

Do you want to visit Little Bighorn Battlefield ? It’s an hour north of the turn for Bighorn Scenic Byway on I-90, so you can add in a side trip. Otherwise, drive Cloud Peak Skyway from Buffalo to Ten Sleep. It climbs the southern Bighorn Mountains then drops into a dramatic narrow canyon. We’ve driven it twice and it’s a lot of fun, we even got our drone up for a few photos the second time. Arrive into Cody for dinner and check into your hotel.

Top rated Cody hotels:

• Budget – Cody Cowboy Village
• Mid range – The Cody
• Luxury – Chamberlin Inn

Further Reading: The 8 best hotels in Cody Wyoming

Day 6 – East Yellowstone

Grab an early breakfast in Cody and head west to Yellowstone Lake via east entrance. A little known secret is that east entrance has a lot of active wildlife, so keep your eyes peeled. If you’re a very strong hiker, you might want to take on Avalanche Peak on the way in. Otherwise, walk the easy trail to Storm Point for views over Yellowstone Lake.

Turn right onto Grand Loop Road to begin your Yellowstone adventure. Your first stop is Mud Volcano and Dragon’s Mouth Spring . Next, you’ll drive through Hayden Valley , one of the best wildlife spotting areas in the park.

Continue north towards Canyon, but turn right onto S Rim Drive so you can see the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone . Stop at Upper Falls View and Artist Point at the end of the road. Next, you’ll take N Rim Drive on the other side of the river for more views but from different perspectives. Stop at Canyon Village for lunch.

If you’re into hiking, you should definitely hike Dunraven Pass to Mount Washburn . Afterwards, take a short walk to see Tower Fall and Yellowstone River Overlook . If it’s getting close to dusk, you should definitely head into Lamar Valley for the best chance of seeing wildlife. Drive to Gardiner for dinner and your hotel.

Top rated Gardiner hotels:

• Budget – Yellowstone Big Rock Inn
• Mid range – Yellowstone Riverside Cottages
• Luxury – Yellowstone Gateway Inn

Further Reading: The 8 best hotels in Gardiner MT

Day 7 – North + West Yellowstone

If you didn’t have time for Lamar Valley the evening before or seeing wildlife is your top priority in Yellowstone, you should wake up early and drive into the valley for sunrise or as early as you can. It’s widely accepted as the best place to see wildlife in the park and animals are most active at dawn.

Head back to Mammoth Hot Springs to walk around the lower and upper terraces, potentially stopping to hike Lava Creek to Undine Falls . It’s not ideal driving back on yourself, but it’s part of visiting Yellowstone. Mammoth usually has lots of bison roaming around the roads, and we got stuck in a bison jam nearby.

Next, you’ll head south until reaching Norris Geyser Basin which is split into two distinct sections. Walk around both, and don’t miss Steamboat Geyser and Echinus Geyser . Pass by the beautiful Gibbon Meadows but don’t miss Artists Paintpots Trail , which lead to bubbling mud pots and colorful pools. Stop at Gibbon Falls before leaving the park via west entrance to spend your evening in West Yellowstone.

Top rated West Yellowstone hotels:

• Budget – Elkhorn Cabins
• Mid range – Crosswinds Inn
• Luxury – Explorer Cabins

Further Reading: The 8 best hotels in West Yellowstone

Day 8 – Southwest Yellowstone

Your eighth day is dedicated to enjoying what makes Yellowstone so famous; unique geysers and vibrant hot springs. Start with Lower Geyser Basin and Fountain Paint Pot Trail . Next, make your way down to Midway Geyser Basin to see Excelsior Geyser, Opal Pool, Turquoise Pool and Grand Prismatic Spring .

Drive to Fairy Falls Trail parking lot and hike the first 0.7 miles to reach Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook so you can take the most iconic Yellowstone photo. If you’re into hiking, continue the trail until you reach the stunning Fairy Falls waterfall. Next up is Biscuit Basin (with a potential hike to Mystic Falls ) and Black Sand Basin .

Finally, you’ll reach Upper Geyser Basin , which is where you can watch the world famous Old Faithful Geyser blow almost exactly on schedule throughout the day. Don’t miss the short hike to Old Faithful viewing area and make sure you walk around all of Upper Geyser Basin, as far as Morning Glory Pool . Head back to West Yellowstone, but stop on Firehole Lake Drive for a stunning sunset reflecting in Great Fountain Geyser.

Day 9 – South Yellowstone + Grand Teton

After breakfast in West Yellowstone, you’ll drive back through Lower, Midway and Upper Geyser Basins, and you’ll pass over the Continental Divide , before reaching West Thumb Geyser Basin . Spend an hour exploring the colorful pools and geysers around West Thumb, then drive one hour down John D Rockefeller Jr Memorial Parkway to northern Grand Teton.

Turn right onto Teton Park Road and take a sharp left onto Signal Mountain Road . Climb the winding road for 4 miles until you reach Jackson Lake Overlook . Walk a few hundred feet down the trail and soak up special views over the Teton Range.

Back on the loop road, stop at the turnouts and take a right turn after Mountain View Turnout onto Jenny Lake Road. Pull into String Lake for quick walk, then carry on to Jenny Lake Overlook for stunning views. Continue to Chapel of the Transfiguration to see the famous “mountains through the church window” view, then drive 12 miles to Jackson for dinner and your hotel.

Top rated Jackson hotels:

• Budget – Cowboy Village Resort
• Mid range – Inn on the Creek
• Luxury – Huff House Inn

Further Reading: The 8 best hotels in Jackson Wyoming

Day 10 – Grand Teton

If you’re into photography like we are, you simply can’t miss John Moulton and TA Moulton barns on Mormon Row at sunrise (see photo above). It’s one of our favorite photo spots in the US. The problem is that nearby Schwabacher Landing has an equally special sunrise scene with pristine mountain reflections and we saw a moose there at dawn, so you have a decision to make!

Whichever you choose, visit the other one straight after. Next, you can stop at Snake River Overlook and Oxbow Bend before returning to Jenny Lake . You could relax on the shores, take a swim, float on an inflatable or paddle. But we recommend hiking Cascade Canyon Trail instead.

Either walk around Jenny Lake or take a ferry service to west shore boat dock to cut a few miles from the hike. From there it’s a short trail up to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point . Stronger hikers should continue into Cascade Canyon for stunning views and wildlife spotting. Finish the trip with a celebratory beer back in Jackson!

Hotel Alternatives

When planning your Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone road trip, you’re going to run into issues with hotels. Don’t worry, this is natural. You shouldn’t have any problems getting a good hotel at a reasonable rate anywhere in South Dakota, but that all changes when you start booking in Yellowstone.

We recommend you find and book your Yellowstone hotels first , then book the rest of your trip.

In our 10 day itinerary above, we have you staying at hotels in towns around Yellowstone. But you absolutely don’t have to follow those recommendations. You can instead stay in national park lodges within the park boundaries. They book up fast, they’re expensive and they have limited dining options, but they are more convenient and you’d get a more authentic experience.

Here are alternative places you can stay inside park boundaries if you follow our itinerary:

• Night 5 – Lake Yellowstone (instead of Cody)
• Night 6 – Mammoth (instead of Gardiner)
• Nights 7 + 8 – Old Faithful Inn or Old Faithful Lodge Cabins (instead of West Yellowstone)
• Night 9 – A park lodge (instead of Jackson)

When To Drive This Road Trip

Yellowstone’s roads are fully open between early May and the end of October . If you plan to follow our road trip itinerary from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone in shoulder seasons, you must make sure the east entrance road and the roads leading to Old Faithful and Grand Teton in the south are open. Here’s the opening and closing dates for the various roads around Yellowstone.

In May, June, September and October you’d benefit from less overcrowding and traffic, more hotel availability and cheaper prices, and higher animal activity. But the weather can be unpredictable, especially earlier and later in the season.

In July and August you’d benefit from warmer temperatures and a better chance of clear weather. But the park is heavily overcrowded and traffic is a problem, hotels are booked up and expensive, and animals are less active.

How Much Will It Cost?

It’s not easy to give an exact figure on how much a road trip like this will cost you because we don’t know if you’ll book cheap or luxury hotels, if you prefer to eat sit down meals three times a day or how many attractions you want to visit in the Black Hills. But from our experiences, we’ll try to give you a ballpark figure based on what we think the average couple will spend.

Hotels will be your biggest expense, especially once you reach Yellowstone and Grand Teton. You should book hotels in advance to get better rooms at cheaper prices, particularly if you plan to stay in park run lodges. We think you should aim for somewhere around $200-250 USD per night on average (depending on seasonality).

Food is harder to break down because it’s so subjective. Let’s say you’ll be eating three meals a day but lunch won’t be a sit down restaurant meal. We think a couple should aim for around $80 per day total . Then you have to factor in attractions (entry prices total $210 without national parks pass) and gas (1,283 miles at an average of $2.90/gallon and 25mpg).

All in, a couple is likely to spend something along the lines of $3,000 – $3,500 total for 10 days , excluding flights and hire cars. That’s for mid range hotels, eating out twice a day and entry to national parks, state parks and monuments. You could book cheaper hotels, eat at fewer restaurants or skip certain attractions to bring that number down.

More Yellowstone + Grand Teton

• Where to stay in Yellowstone
• What to do in Yellowstone
• Best airports near Yellowstone
• Visiting Yellowstone in April
• Mormon Row at sunrise and sunset
• Salt Lake City to Yellowstone road trip
• 2 days Grand Teton itinerary
• 4 days Yellowstone itinerary
• Schwabacher Landing at sunrise
• Visiting Yellowstone in October

More From South Dakota

• What to do in Badlands
• Best hikes in Badlands
• Guide to visiting Mount Rushmore
• Things to do in Custer State Park
• How to hike Black Elk Peak
• Where to stay near Mt Rushmore

Want more Wyoming content? Head over to our Wyoming Travel Guides to explore Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and beyond. 

We hope this Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone and Grand Teton road trip guide helps with planning your itinerary!

Please let us know if you have any questions or need help planning your road trip in the comments below.

Happy Travels ,

Mark and Kristen

Enjoy This Road Trip Guide? Pin It For Later!

Note : This article contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

All Rights Reserved © Where Are Those Morgans, LLC. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, maps, graphics, etc.) in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.

Mark and Kristen Morgan are travel, hiking and photography experts. Over the last 6 years traveling full time, they have explored more than 40 countries and 30 US states.

Where Are Those Morgans has been featured in USA Today, Gestalten, Get Your Guide, CityPASS and Condé Nast Traveler along with various other publications. Read more about us .

63 thoughts on “10 Days Mount Rushmore To Yellowstone Road Trip Itinerary”

We are planning this trip the week of 4th of July. Where would you suggest the best place to stay on the 4th of July for celebrations?

Hi Tonya, Mt Rushmore would be a good place to spend 4th July evening for a fireworks display, so you could stay in Keystone (or Custer/Hill City). Devils Tower also puts on a fireworks display if you’ll be at the end of your SD part of the road trip by the 4th. Cody, Jackson Hole and West Yellowstone also do put on a show, so you can really be staying in lots of the places within our itinerary. Have a great time!

Hi Guys, The guide looks great and I am planning to go in May of 2024. I find that it is very difficult to get one way rental car from rapid City to Jackson compared to Jackson to rapid city. So my question is if I plan my trim from Jackson to Rapid city, will it be exactly the opposite of your plan or do I need to modify the route. Appreciate any help you can provide. Thank you.

Hi Sam, glad to hear you’ll be taking this road trip in a few months. We just checked and Rental Cars have one-way hire cars from Rapid City to Jackson available in May. Hopefully you can find a good option for your dates with them. In truth, the route we created was designed to be most efficient going from Rushmore to Yellowstone (ie. being in the right place at the right time of day). You could reverse the route and it wouldn’t be too different, but it would need some slight modifications for things like Wind/Jewel Cave tours or switching the attractions around so you don’t set off on a hike too late in the day. But it’s definitely doable. Let us know how you get on and have a fantastic time!

This guide looks great, and I am just wondering if you have a price range for the trip, not including things like food. I want to do this as a couple’s trip or Honeymoon trip, so just two people. I would like to have a goal for saving up for this trip. Thanks for any help you can give.

Hi Kyle, glad to hear you’ll be driving this road trip and congrats if it’s for a honeymoon. Honestly, the cost will depend mostly on hotels. Without knowing the time of year you’ll do it or your preference for hotels (cheap and cheerful or luxury, especially if honeymooning), you should probably aim for around $150 per night on average. Hotels are cheaper in the Black Hills, more expensive around Yellowstone. Book your hotels in advance (now for this summer or fall would be ideal) to save because there’ll be more availability at park run lodges and in towns near the parks. Add in gas, food and attractions – you’re looking at something in the $2,500 – $3,000 range total for 10 days, excluding flights and hire cars. That would be for mid range hotels and eating out 3 times a day, plus entry to national parks, monuments, state parks etc. You can always go for cheaper hotels, eat at fewer restaurants or skip certain attractions to bring that number down. Hope that helps and remember it’s just a ballpark figure. Have a great trip!

@Mark and Kristen Morgan, Thank you so much; this definitely helps. Your itinerary looks like the vacation of a lifetime for us.

This is am amazing itinerary! Thank you so much. If we have more time, say, closer ti 14 or 15 days, where and how would you recommend spending that time? We love hiking, but are casual, so no summiting mountains for us.

Thanks Katie! To be honest we’ve included the major attractions in both regions, so it could just be a case of slowing things down so it’s not as action packed. Maybe add one extra day in each of the Black Hills, Yellowstone and Grand Teton. There’s loads more you can do in Yellowstone and Teton, we’ve just covered the most unmissable spots for a first visit. You could also potentially include a stop at Little Big Horn Battlefield if that’s of any interest. If you don’t mind the full-on days, maybe consider driving up to Glacier National Park after Yellowstone and Teton to spend 2 or 3 days there. Or there’s always a drive down to Salt Lake City where you can see the Great Salt Lake, Bonneville Salt Flats, Park City or hike loads of amazing trails on S Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Hope that helps and have a fantastic trip!

We are driving up from Kansas City the end of April to first week of May. What do you recommend as the best way to add the Little Big Horn battlefield into this itinerary? Thank you for your amazing itinerary. It looks to be so helpful with the trip we are planning.

Hi Steve, we’re glad to hear you’ll be driving this road trip next year. The easiest way to include Little Big Horn Battlefield is to drive I-90 directly from Devils Tower and then you can loop around to Cody from Billings. You’d be replacing the drive from Buffalo to Ten Sleep on the Cloud Peak Skyway. One thing to note is your exact dates. The east entrance into Yellowstone from Cody is projected to open May 5 2024 but any adverse weather could push that date back. You might be better off continuing on I-90 from Billings and entering Yellowstone to the north at Gardiner because that entrance is open year round. Have a fantastic trip!

We just returned yesterday from our 11 day trip which we followed as the Morgans suggested and it was truly amazing. I cannot thank you enough for your well-thought-out and easy-to-follow itinerary. I was travelling with my 13 year old twins and my 80 year old parents and we all had such an incredible time. We even stayed in the recommended hotels. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Thank you very much!

Hi Dineen, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this nice comment. We are happy to hear our itinerary helped you during your amazing road trip! It’s such a beautiful part of the country and your family will always have those wonderful memories! Take care, Mark and Kristen

Your 10 day itinerary from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone is amazing! We are traveling September 7th. We so appreciate you mapping out our vacation!! What days do you recommend we pack our lunch?

Thank you, Brenda! We are happy to hear you will be following this amazing road trip route and you are doing it at a fantastic time of year. Lunch is a great question (we will update our guide soon to include potential lunch stops because it is helpful). We would suggest packing lunches on days 1 and 2 in South Dakota, as well as days 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 in Yellowstone and Grand Teton. You can find food in Yellowstone at Canyon Village, Mammoth or Old Faithful if you really don’t want to keep eating packed lunches but they will save you a lot of time, effort and money. Eat big breakfasts and dinners if possible, and take snacks into the parks. Hope that helps and have a fantastic trip!

@Mark and Kristen Morgan,

Thank you for sharing your ideas! Do you have any Restaurant recommendations for dinner? We have made our accommodation reservations using your recommendations. We are looking so forward to our trip and you have made planning easy! Thank you again!

You are more than welcome, Brenda. Dinner is a tough one without knowing what your group likes to eat, but what we usually do is look at Google Maps and see which places have high ratings near our hotel then narrow it down to our cuisine preference. There are great places to eat in most of the places you will visit so we are sure you find the right spots each evening!

Hello, I am trying to plan this trip for my family of 4 (2 adults 2 kids (ages 9 & 7)). This has become almost a full time job but your site has been so helpful! We are coming from MN and hoping to drive the loop up through ND – MT – WY – Yellowstone – WY – SD then back home. I have all the places and things we want to see and do but I just can’t get them straight for what to do on what days…any suggestions would be so helpful! Yellowstone is very intimidating to plan!

Hi Kristi, sounds like an amazing road trip route you have planned! We understand how you feel about planning and wanting to make the most of every day. Without knowing your priorities or how many days you have, we would suggest choosing maybe 5-10 of your top attraction priorities and making sure you allow enough time to properly visit those places. You can easily do Yellowstone in 3 full days if you move around at a reasonable pace (staying at different hotels each night helps with efficiency but it isn’t vital). Grand Teton is amazing and you can see it in one day, especially as you won’t be hiking the longer trails with young kids. The Black Hills in SD you can do quickly enough depending on exactly what you want to see. Mt Rushmore only takes a few hours and with the kids you likely won’t lose a day hiking Black Elk Peak. Judging by how much effort you are putting in to planning, we know you will have it all figured out. Have a great time with your family!

Hello! I love this itinerary as it can be so daunting planning a trip like this. Are any of the “hikes” handicap accessible? We would potentially be traveling with our older parents, some of which use motorized scooters for longer walks. Thanks

Hi Melissa, glad to hear you are planning to see the Black Hills and Yellowstone with your family. Accessibility is a great question – some of the half day adventure hikes such as Black Elk Peak in SD, Avalanche Peak in Yellowstone and Cascade Canyon in Grand Teton are of course not accessible for motorized scooters, but many of the popular stops in this itinerary are accessible via wooden boardwalks or flat paved paths. For instance, you will be able to see behind the Badlands Wall from the Windows Trail in Badlands (and so much more right from the car), you can access the amphitheater in Mt Rushmore (but not the Presidents Trail which has steps), you can circle around the base of Devils Tower WY on a paved trail, almost all of Yellowstone’s most iconic attractions like Old Faithful, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Grand Prismatic Spring, Morning Glory Pool, Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley are all accessible via wooden boardwalks or right from the car. Hope that helps but please let us know if you have any more questions and we can do some more digging. If not, have a fantastic trip!

Thank you so much for this itinerary! I was planning a trip Yellowstone on 5/18/23 and I was overwhelmed but your guide is helping a LOT.

One note – I noticed that the road section between canyon and tower fall doesn’t open until May 26 (weather pending), and that the Norris Geyser Basin is closed in 2023 until further notice.

I’m still learning about the layout of Yellowstone, but would I be fine following your itinerary if I am visiting on 5/18, or would I need to make adjustments due to road closures? If adjustments are needed, do you have any recommendations?

Thank you!!

Hi Samuel, we’re happy to hear you are planning a trip to Yellowstone in a few weeks. Yes, Norris Geyser Basin is closed until further notice (these things always happen in Yellowstone!) and the road between Canyon – Tower (Dunraven Pass) does not open until May 26th. Note these dates are “projected” and weather dependent. If you follow our itinerary and decide to visit before Dunraven Pass opens, you can combine days 6 and 7 into one day. So you would enter from Cody, see Lake Yellowstone, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Hayden Valley in the morning, then drive up to Mammoth, before heading into Lamar Valley around 1-2 hours before sunset at which point wildlife is most active. You can then pick up the remainder of the itinerary. Hope that helps and have a fantastic time!

Can not thank you both enough! My sons and I will be doing this journey and using your suggestions as a guide was incredibly helpful! We are so excited.

You’re very welcome, Audrey. We hope you and your sons have a fantastic time!

This trip sounds fantastic. We are planning this trip now for late August early Sept. Is there anyway we could squeeze in Glacier if we add a couple of days? We want to do it all! We are thinking we can fly into Grand Rapids and out of Bozeman. Any thoughts? Thanks for your help, .

Hi Tammy-Jo, great to hear you are planning this trip and yes of course you can definitely squeeze in Glacier! Instead of driving from Devils Tower to Cody (and Yellowstone east entrance), you can drive from Devils Tower to Glacier. It is a heck of a drive (maybe 10 hours) and it might be worth spending a night around 1 or 2 hours before reaching Glacier to reduce the long driving day and get a cheap room before waking up early to have a full day in Glacier. After you are done at Glacier, drive down through Bozeman and into Yellowstone north entrance near Mammoth Hot Springs. You can then drive down through one side of Yellowstone (west first for example) and down into Grand Teton, before looping back through Teton and up the other side of Yellowstone before exiting back in the north and flying from Bozeman. Hope that helps but let us know if you have any more questions. If not, we hope you have the best trip!

@Mark and Kristen Morgan, Thanks! I will take a look at that route!

We are in San Diego, CA. What airport should we flight in and approximately how far from Mt Rushmore or the town? Also if we rent the car to start the adventure that would be arranged separately from your planed trip? Thank you

Hi Nancy, to begin in South Dakota you will fly into Rapid City. After visiting Badlands, Mt Rushmore etc in the Black Hills, you will drive across to Yellowstone and Grand Teton. It would make more sense to drop off your hire car at either Jackson Hole airport Salt Lake City airport before flying back to San Diego. Our guide is an example itinerary for your to use, but we do not arrange hire cars for this trip. Have a great time!

Thank you for taking to answer my question. I appreciated very much.

You are very welcome Nancy and have a wonderful trip!

Hi! I’m looking into this for April this year (in a month, eek). Do you think this would be good for a fam with an 11 and 13 yr old?

Hi Shan, yes absolutely this road trip is great for families with kids in the low teens. There’s plenty to keep them occupied in the form of Mt Rushmore, Devils Tower, geysers, hot springs and wildlife in Yellowstone, and towering mountain peaks in Grand Teton. However, we only recommend driving this route from May 1 through the end of October. In April, Grand Teton Loop Road is closed, Yellowstone doesn’t begin to open certain roads until half way through the month and there’s a strong chance you will get caught in snow. If we were planning a road trip at the beginning or middle of April with kids, we would do the Utah and Arizona loop instead. Start in Las Vegas, drive to Valley of Fire, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands, Monument Valley, Horseshoe Bend, Grand Canyon South Rim, back to Vegas. Or a variation of that depending on your timeframe. Hope that helps but let us know if you have any more questions!

Thanks Mark and Kristen for your itinerary ideas. We are looking to plan a similar trip and would follow your itinerary and maybe expand it a day or 2. This would be our first and most likely only trip out west(traveling with teenagers can be a daunting task). We would be traveling late June/early July from Cincy Ohio. We normally just wing it but I hear Yellowstone area isn’t a wing it kind of place and you would want to make reservations. We’ve thought about getting a roof top tent for our truck and winging it hoping to find camping near your itinerary stops. Or the other option would be to fly into Sioux City and out of Jackson hole and renting a Minivan and finding budget friendly hotels on a whim without reservations near your itinerary stops. What are your thoughts?? This reminds me of planning for Disney and trying to use all the fast passes 😂 Thanks again John and family

Hi John, thanks for getting in touch and we’re glad to hear you have a family trip planned from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone, it’s a great option and you will definitely enjoy the stops. Honestly, in late June / early July we probably wouldn’t wing it. We hear you though – we normally wing it on road trips because we like the flexibility, but we normally travel in April, May, September and October so that is actually possible! If you do go the flights and minivan it will cost a lot more than the rooftop tent option. You might be able to find camping but we would definitely book some campsites asap. If there are no campgrounds inside Yellowstone, look for campgrounds near Gardiner and better yet West Yellowstone. From there you can day trip into the park. Grand Teton is amazing and you will have a better chance finding camping near Moran maybe. The obvious downside to driving with the tent is the long days you would lose driving from Cincy to the Black Hills and back from Jackson to Cincy. If we had your options, we would probably try to plan out the trip both ways, add up the costs, driving time, convenience factor and availability to come up with a best case scenario. Hope that helps but let us know if you have any other questions. If not, have a great family trip!

What would you recommend if we are coming from Ohio wanting to do Rushmore ,Badlands out to Yellowstone. We will be driving and basically just sightseeing due to my husband health. Would you say Badlands and Rushmore in one day and keep moving west? We are going to travel to first point in one long haul from Ohio so we can try and see all the major places. Do you have information to help us with hitting all the spots starting in Ohio to Yellowstone trying to do the whole trip in a week. Wish it could be longer though. Thanks for any help you can advise. Plus if just sightseeing how long would you stay in each spot?

Hi Nikki, sounds like this going to be an incredibly action packed week. Here’s what we would do: DAY 1 – Drive 17 hours from Ohio to Wall SD on I-90, spend the night in Wall. DAY 2 – Wake up and do Badlands first, then Mt Rushmore, drive Spearfish Canyon and see Devils Tower before sunset. You can do all 4 in one day if you are quick and you won’t miss out on anything. Stay somewhere near Devils Tower or even drive to Buffalo WY. DAY 3 – Drive Cloud Peak Skyway to Ten Sleep and continue to Cody WY, before entering Yellowstone east entrance. Look around Lake, turn right onto loop road, spot wildlife in Hayden Valley and drive both rims at Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone to see the waterfalls. Stay in Canyon. DAY 4 – Drive up past Mt Washburn to Tower and head into Lamar Valley for more wildlife, drive across to Mammoth Hot Springs to see the unique springs there, continue down to Norris Geyser Basin and stay in West Yellowstone. DAY 5 – Head back into the park and explore all of Upper, Midway and Lower Geyser Basins which includes Grand Prismatic Spring and Old Faithful. Continue to West Thumb and drive all the way down through Grand Teton including Jenny Lake and Signal Mountain. DAY 6 – If you are interested, watch sunrise at either Mormon Row or Schwabacher Landing in Grand Teton, before exploring any more of the Tetons and southeast Yellowstone before beginning the long drive back to Ohio. We would leave the area via Cody so you will have completed the full loop in Yellowstone and seen Grand Teton. DAY 7 – Continue the drive back, it is around 22 hours from Cody to Ohio. Hope that helps and enjoy your trip!

@Mark and Kristen Morgan, Thank you for responding. This is very helpful, we may need to add a couple of days. Thanks again for your help!

What would you estimate cost per person for trip if u can breakdown some items. Car/gas/night hotel stays

Hi Helen, tough question and it will have to be a real rough guess here, but you’ll be looking at something like $900 – $1000 for a 10 day hire car pick up in Rapid City airport drop off in SLC airport. Hotels are going to cost anywhere between $80 – $200 per night depending on how much of a budget you are on. You can of course stay in more expensive hotels each night if your budget allows but we’re using an average travel budget for reference. Not sure how much gas is going to be in SD and WY when you travel, but the only long distance drive is from Devils Tower to Cody. Both SD and WY have cheaper than average gas. Maybe plan for around $200 – $250 per person per day for hotel, food, car, gas and misc expenses. Hope that helps and have a great trip!

We used your itinerary for our upcoming trip September 8-19, 2022. With the flood that happened in June just curious what changes you would recommend?

Hi Kimberly, thanks for getting in touch and we’re glad to hear you have this trip planned for next month. You should still be fine to follow the itinerary as normal with entrance to Yellowstone via Cody (east entrance). The northeast entrance Cooke City to Tower road is not currently open to vehicles (nor is North entrance via Gardiner but you won’t need that one anyway). So enter via Cody as per our itinerary and follow day 6 but either stay in Mammoth Hot Springs or Canyon. If there is no availability at either, you will have to stay in West Yellowstone before picking up the itinerary on Day 7. Lamar Valley is not accessible via car at the moment which is a shame, but Hayden Valley is a great alternative for wildlife spotting. In fact, east entrance on your way into the park is another excellent wildlife spotting area. So one option would be to take day 6 more slowly and save Mt Washburn / Tower area for day 7 instead. Then you can pick up day 8 without any more disruptions. Hope that helps but let us know if you need any more help. Have a great trip!

Thank you for this itinerary it was spot on! We stayed at the J Bar and S Lodge, the Chamberlin Inn and the Parkway Inn on your recommendations and they were wonderful! I look forward to copying more itineraries by you!

Hi Sandy, we’re so glad you found the itinerary and hotel recommendations helpful! This is one of our favorite routes in the US and we’re happy to hear you had a great time. Now it’s time to start planning your next road trip…!

Hi! Awesome post, I’m looking to possibly book a trip for 6 days to see Mt Rushmore and end in Yellowstone. My boyfriend is a huge history buff and has always wanted to explore here. How would you condense this? We’re also looking to rent an RV to make overnights easier. I’d appreciate any and all thoughts. Thank you!

Thanks Cara! Great to hear you’re thinking about this trip and you can easily condense the best of both areas into 6 days with an emphasis on history. Renting an RV would make sense if you wanted to travel between places at night and be closer to each attraction by first light the next day. We would suggest cutting all hikes in our guide, don’t do Wind Cave NP or even the Custer wildlife loop. You’ll want to do Mt Rushmore and Crazy Horse. If you do Badlands we highly recommend you visit the Minuteman Missile Museum about the cold war – it’s really interesting. Then on the way over to Yellowstone you could potentially spur off to stop at Little Bighorn Battlefield. Then try to squeeze in as much of Yellowstone as you can. Hope that helps but let us know if you have any more questions!

I love this….. I love that you included Buffalo and Ten Sleep!! Several years ago I moved from central Illinois to Cody, WY. I’ve made the drive between the two places many times and this is the route I take. I actually lived (past tense – I’ve now moved back to Illinois) along the Chief Joseph Highway, not too far from Cooke City. I HIGHLY recommend driving the Chief Joseph from Cody up to the NE entrance of the park! The scenery is just amazing. The view from Dead Indian Pass is not to be missed – especially if you’re coming to it from the East side (from Cody). The drive from the pass to the end of the Chief Joseph, where it meets 212, the Beartooth Highway, is gorgeous! The closer you get to 212, the better your view of Pilot and Index Peaks…. It’s just awe-inspiring!!

Hi Michelle, thanks for getting in touch! We couldn’t miss the Buffalo to Ten Sleep drive, we’ve done it twice and loved it both times. You’re absolutely right, the Chief Joseph Highway is amazing, we drove it in October 2019 when it was covered in fresh snow and it was stunning. Anyone following this itinerary could definitely drive the scenic highway and enter Yellowstone to the NE, starting with Lamar Valley instead of Lake Yellowstone via Cody and East entrance. There are so many options for Yellowstone! Best of luck back in Illinois!

I took this trip last year! It was amazing! We used your blog as a guide and followed it pretty closely. I was amazed at the wildlife we saw and the beauty of the landscape. I would take this trip again and again. I cannot thank you enough for sharing your ideas. I’ve had both my knees replaced, so I wasn’t able to do all of the long rugged hikes and I appreciate that you took the time to score them. I have sent this article on to 2 of my cousins that are interested in this trip also. I almost forgot…we drove my soft top Jeep which also made the trip even more fantastic!

Hi Kim, thank you for getting in touch and letting us know about your trip 🙂 we’re glad to hear you found the itinerary helpful! The soft top Jeep sounds amazing – we might have to give that a go next time. Hope your cousins can also make the trip and have as much fun as you did!

Mark and Kristen, I love your itinerary; we are going to do it in reverse the first week and a half in October this fall. On October 4th, we’ll be going from Cody to Gillette and would like to travel on the Cloud Peak Skyway you mentioned and visit Little Big Horn Battlefield before we get to Gillette. Can you recommend the highways we should take to do this? Any idea if we could run into bad road conditions on our route?

Hi Tim, thanks for getting in touch and it’s great to hear you’ll be visiting Yellowstone / Grand Teton and the Black Hills. You’ll be doing the Wyoming parks at a great time without the crowds and the Black Hills are spectacular the first few weeks of October. You can easily do Ten Sleep to Buffalo on Cloud Peak Skyway from Cody to Gillette. If you want to do Little Bighorn Monument, your best bet is to take I-90 W once you reach Buffalo. It’s quite a way up (100 miles), and then you’ll be going back on yourself to get into Gillette. We did Cloud Peak later in October and the road was plowed so there should be no issues on your trip. Let us know if you have any other questions and have a great trip!

@Mark and Kristen Morgan, thanks for your response. Have you ever been on Highway 212 over to Broadus or Highway 14 to Spotted Horse, dropping down to Gillette from the north?

Hi Tim, no we haven’t done either of those two routes. We would have preferred to stay off I-90 the entire time between Black Hills and Yellowstone but we didn’t have enough time. Enjoy the trip!

It seems one-way rental car options from Mount Rushmore to Yellow Stone to Sale Lake City are pretty limited or unavailable for the May-June period. If you are flying in from the east coast (Washington DC) and want to take this trip (or reverse) what other options (coach, public transport, flights) are there if one-way car rentals are not available.

Hi Roger, yes right car rentals have been limited, unavailable or even unaffordable for quite some time now. The only way to guarantee a car at a reasonable price is to book a long way in advance. There are tour options available if you google Mt Rushmore Yellowstone bus tours, but ideally you would have your own car to drive between attractions within each region. Maybe leave it until next year but book it all up as far in advance as you can? Good luck!

We did a very similar 10 Day Itinerary, but in reverse order. We started with Grand Teton, Jackson and Yellowstone. Then traveled to Little Bighorn via the Beartooth Path/Highway. Next we visited Devils Tower and Spearfish. Followed by a drive through Blackhills to Deadwood, Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore. Last, a visited Badlands National Park. It was a dream road trip. I highly recommend this.

Sounds awesome, David. This exact route (or in reverse as you did it) is about as good as it gets for visiting both Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone regions.

This is the exact trip my husband and myself along with son and daughter in law want to take but they cannot take a 10 day vacation, both still working , we would be flying in from Florida and want to see alot of things around Rapid City but also Yellowstone a couple of days and fly home, probably 5 or 6 days, is that possible and still see alot, just happened on to your information about travel and really love it.

Hi Linda, glad to hear your plans of doing both Rapid City and Yellowstone! You can do both places in a short period, you’ll just have to drive a lot and we would suggest flying into Rapid City – then out of Bozeman back to Florida. You could try this: Day 1 – Morning explore Badlands, afternoon see Mt Rushmore; Day 2 – Drive Iron Mountain and Needles Highway, do Custer Wildlife Loop or hike Black Elk Peak; Day 3 – Drive Spearfish Canyon to Devils Tower and across to Cody; Day 4 – Enter Yellowstone east entrance, turn left and do West Thumb Basin morning, Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic etc afternoon stay in West Yellowstone; Day 5 – Norris Basin, Yellowstone Falls and Hayden Valley morning, Mammoth Hot Springs and Lamar Valley afternoon. Either stay in Gardiner then fly out of Bozeman or fly out on the fifth day. It will be action packed but it hits all the major highlights. Have a great trip!

I love the itinerary you have planned, but know the group I am going with can’t hike (only walks that are not too steep or uneven). What adjustments to the trip would you recommend. Also we will be driving in from Kirksville, MO, so starting at the Mount Rushmore side and will make it roundtrip.There is so much information, I’m finding it difficult to adjust. Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Susan, thanks for getting in touch and we’re glad to hear you’re planning this amazing route. If your group isn’t big into hiking, we’d suggest taking things more slowly in each area. Our itinerary is very action packed and won’t suit every group doing this trip. Spend more time driving in the Black Hills, visit more local coffee shops, restaurants and bars in towns along the way. Grand Teton is beautiful so maybe include an extra day staying in Jackson in place of a long hike that we mention in the itinerary. Feel free to email us with any specific questions if you need a hand getting plans finalized but if not, enjoy your road trip!

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest in travel straight to your inbox

Click here to subscribe

Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone Road Trip

Plan your ultimate road trip from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone with our guide. Explore national parks, historic sites, and breathtaking landscapes across SD, WY, and MT.

A road trip between Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park will take you through some of the best sights in the west, through states such as South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming. You even have the option of exploring Idaho.

This road trip will take you through Americas west, which includes some of the greatest nature in the U.S.A and introduce you to a vast amount of American history. From epic national parks, to historic monuments and even landmarks related to Native American tribes.

Map of Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone:

Dive into our Map below!

User Guide: Use the +/- arrows to zoom in an out of the states.

Many users choose to share the post on facebook and access the map that way.

Turn your phone sideways for easier use. Click the directions button top right to be routed to attraction.

Web Masters: If you have your own website feel free to embed our map in it by clicking the button in the top right hand corner. Just be sure to credit us at: Town&Touris t: Road Trip Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone

How long is the drive between Mount Rushmore & Yellowstone National Park?

The drive between Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park takes approximately 8 hours, 40 mins and covers a whopping 463 miles! With no stops along the way this would be difficult and would mean you would miss out on some of the best landmarks in the U.S.A!

Road Trip Itinerary Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone National Park:

Day 1: rapid city, south dakota.

Day 2:  Mount Rushmore (Custer State Park)

Day 3:  Badlands National Park

Day 4: Buffalo, Wyoming

Day 5: billings, montana (optional).

Day 6 & 7:  Yellowstone National Park

Day 8:  Grand Teton National Park

Rapid city, South Dakota is known as the " Gateway to Mount Rushmore " and the " Gateway to Black Hills National Forest " so it's the ideal place to start your great western road trip!

How to get to Rapid City?

Rapid city offers great flight connections to Rapid City Regional Airport (Code: RAP). Once there Rent a car using our Ultimate Car Rental Travel Hacks! To get the best deal.

[caption id="attachment_10873" align="alignnone" width="720"]

Main Street Square in Downtown Rapid City. Source: Getty Images[/caption]

Things to do in Rapid City, SD:

• Journey Museum:

Journey Museum is a great place to start your Road trip as it will take you back in time through the 2.5 billion year history of the area, which really puts things in perspective! Subject covere include geology, history, art and archaeology. Be sure to check out the Native American artifacts & traditions.

• Reptile Gardens:

Reptile Gardens takes you into the exciting world of Reptiles! At the gardens you can see some of the rarest reptiles in the U.S.A, including a number of Mammals, and exotic birds in there colorful orchids and jungle areas.

• Chapel In the Hills:

Chapel in the Hills is a scenic area which is open to the public and offers FREE Entry from May to September.  Here you will discover Scandinavia style picturesque scenery, with a quiant church. It's no wonder the area is really popular with weddings!

• Wall Drug Store :

Wall Drug is the worlds largest drug store which offers over massive 76,000 square feet and is an ideal place to stop for Souvenirs. You will find Wall Drug, east of Rapid City off I-90.

• Wa Tiki Waterpark:

If your taking this Road Trip during the summer months then you will definitely want to dive into WaTiki Waterpark . A great place for family fun!

• Black Hills National Forest

Just 55 mins (35 miles) south of Rapid city is Black Hills National Forest.  With over 1.2 million acres of forested land there is plenty to explore at Black Hills National Forest. Called the "Island in the Plains,” the Forest offers a diverse range of wildlife and plants from the eastern forests to the western plains.

[caption id="attachment_10875" align="alignnone" width="738"]

Black Hills National Forest. Source: Wiki[/caption]

The landscape offers everything from rugged rock formations to canyons, tumbling streams and deep blue lakes. This is a great place for hiking, camping, mountain biking, horseback riding, rock climbing and wildlife viewing!

Day 2: Mount Rushmore (Custer State Park)

From Rapid City Take the 25 mile (40 minute) drive via US 16 and SD 244 to Mount Rushmore National Memorial the Iconic 60ft granite faces depict the great U.S presidents of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

On site you will also find museum with interactive exhibits, a gift shop, walking trials and a 2,500 seat amphitheater!

Over 4 million visitors come to Mount Rushmore to learn about the structure, the presidents and how over 400 men carved the monument on a average salary of just $1 per hour.

[caption id="attachment_10876" align="alignnone" width="640"]

mount-rushmore-artistic[/caption]

Fun Fact: The structure was began by Danish-American sculptor Gutzon Borglum who started it in 1927 at the age of 60 years old, by 1941 he had died and the it was still not complete!

Fun Fact:  The presidents’ noses are 20-feet long and their mouths are 18-feet wide!

Which movies is Mount Rushmore in?

Mount Rushmore has showcased as a backdrop in a variety of movies here is a short list below:

• National Treasure: Book of Secrets - Nicholas Cage (2007)
• Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest (1959)
• American Dresser (2018)
• Austin Powers (Mount Rushmore Parody) and many more!

Insider Tip:

Head to see Mount Rushmore during the lighting Ceremony during May to September, it is a captivating sight.

Crazy Horse Memorial

If you continue southwest from Mount Rushmore for another 25 minutes (17 miles) via SD 244, US 16 and US 385 you will another awe inspiring sculpture.

The Crazy Horse Memorial began its construction in 1948 upon request of Lakota elders who wished for the white man to learn about Native American legends. The Native Chief (Henry Standing Bear)  chose Crazy Horse as he symbolised Native America Spirit, pride and courage.

[caption id="attachment_10877" align="alignnone" width="390"]

Crazy Horse Memorial[/caption]

Will the Crazy Horse Memorial be bigger than Mount Rushmore?

YES!! The construction is still not complete but when finished it will stand 563-feet high and 641-feet long! To put things into perspective Mount Rushmores heads are just 60 feet tall each, so together the 4 mount Rushmore presidents will fit in just crazy horses head!

Despite the subject not been fully complete the site still attracts over 1 million visitors each year! The Crazy Horse Memorial also includes a Native American Museum, Education and cultural centre. You can also visit the sculptures studio and check out the presentations and native american cultural shows.

[caption id="attachment_10878" align="alignnone" width="727"]

Crazy Horse Memorial head: source: Photograph by Charles Bennett / AP/ Getty Images[/caption]

Fun Fact : Some construction works have been working on the site for over 35 years!

Fun Fact: The structure was began by Korczak Ziolkowski, who also worked  on Mount Rushmore.

Where to eat?

If your hungry from all this History head to Laughing Water Restaurant, on site.

Custer State Park

Custer State park is a 71,000 acre area where herds of majestic bison road free. This is the ideal place to stay overnight and many resorts offer cabins, cottages and lodges. To get the best deal check out: How to find the Best Hotel Deals??

Day 3: Badlands National Park & Hot Springs!

Wind cave national park.

From Crazy Horse, the Hot Springs region lies just 35 miles (1 hour) southeast on Route US 385. Enroute be sure to check out Wind Cave National Park . This is one of the longest cave systems in the world!

A maze of underground tunnels forged from ancient limestone, here you can check out the crystal formations and hear the famous "wind" sound which the caves are named after.

There are many different levels of tours depending upon how deep you want to go!  Above land is 28,000 acres of land which is home to native wildlife such as elks, mule deer and bison.

Hot Springs Region:

After getting down & dirty in the caves, head to Mammoth Site to see an ongoing archaeological dig which regularly uncovers bones of 26,000 year old woolly mammoths.

Take the half hour guided tour and then spend a couple of hours exploring independently. Afterwards head to Evan’s Plunge for a relaxing soak & some family fun in the healing waters of its natural mineral pools.

[caption id="attachment_10880" align="alignnone" width="550"]

Evan’s plunge[/caption], badlands national park:.

Badlands National Park may be a little out the way but you should definitely consider it as an option! Located approximately 1.5 hours, 80 miles southeast of Rapid City via I-90, SD 240 and SD 44.

Badlands National Park offers 244,000 acres and its named stems from 19th century fur traders who called it "Bad lands to cross".  Here you will find geological formations which captivate visitors.

[caption id="attachment_10881" align="alignnone" width="560"]

Badlands National Park-[/caption]

Can I bring my Dog to Badlands National Park?

Dogs are allowed everywhere in Badlands National Park except for Sage Creek Wilderness. They must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet or remain otherwise physically restrained. See: 9 Dog Friendly U.S Road trips

Do you love Hiking?

If you love Hiking then your in luck, Badlands National Park offers eight hiking trails which range from a quarter mile to 10 miles long! Where you can see a vast array of wildflowers, fossils and steep canyons!

Where to get great Hiking Gear?

Losing your footing while hiking can mean a best a twisted ankle and at worse a broken ankle which could ruin your entire vacation and potentially leave you stranded! I am an avid hiker and have hiking all over the world over the past decade. I recently reviewed the best hiking boots for a variety of budgets, check out the reviews here:

Recommended Hiking Gear

As you head to Yellowstone National Park along the fastest route you will cross Buffalo, Wymoing, which is located 269 miles (3 hr 50 mins) from Badlands National Park, via I-90 west.

Buffalo and Johnson County are nestled between the rolling plains of the Old West and the towering peaks of the Bighorn Mountains! Here you can discover  breath taking scenery, a variety of attractions and of course some of that western hospitality.

[caption id="attachment_10882" align="alignnone" width="900"]

Buffalo Wyoming. [/caption]

Things to do in buffalo:.

• The Historic Occidental Hotel Museum

Wild Wild West?? If you wish to delve back in time to the 1880s old west, with cowboy shootouts and rustic saloons galore then you have to check out Historic Occidental Hotel Museum . As you walk round you can see bullet holes still in the walls from where they had shootouts!

Fun Fact: Many famous legends stayed here including Teddy Roosevelt , Herbert Hoover, Butch Cassidy Calamity Jane, and of course the Sundance Kid!

Address: 10 N Main St, Buffalo, WY 82834, United States

Tel:  +1 307-684-0451

• Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum

The Jim Gatchell Memorial Museum is a regional history museum which give you an intriguing insight into Native American, Natural history, the wild Frontier abd early life in Buffalo.

Here you will find a carriage house with multiple wagons including a 1916 homestead cabin and museum store which offers high quality hand made items.

Address: 100 Fort St, Buffalo, WY 82834-1801

Tel: +1 307-684-9331

• Dry Creek Petrified Forest

At Dry Creek Petrified Forest, you will discover majestic wild horses and some nice hiking routes. The scenery is peaceful and the wildlife is spectacular.

Many people get lost using the stated address for Dry Creek Petrified Forest! But don't despair one of our Town and Tourist community found it and wrote down the exact coordinates to help you guys out!

Here you go :  44.35147, -106.53048 (Just plug these into you GPS or use our Map at the beginning of this article with all the attractions on!)

• Cowboy Ranches!

Taking a Ranch vacation is a bucket list experience and ideal way to immerse yourself in the "Cowboy" lifestyle, yeehawww!

At these luxury ranches you can take horse treks & horse riding lessons during the day, before heading to the Spa & pool to relax after. During the evening, slip on your cowboy boots for some authentic square dancing and local cuisine.

[caption id="attachment_7918" align="alignnone" width="1181"]

A ranch vacation should be on everyones bucket list![/caption]

For more info checkout: 10 Epic Ranch Holidays in the U.S.A

Best Driving Road: U.S highway 16!

As you head west from Buffalo you MUST DRIVE over U.S highway 16, its is one of our 25 Most Epic Driving Roads in the U.S.A and takes you over the scenic Big Horn Mountains. This road will take you by Ten Sleep canyon and some spectacular peaks and overhangs.

As you drive east towards Yellowstone entrance at Cody, you will drive past Buffalo Bill Center of the West and Buffalo Bill State Park , great places for a cowboy adventure.

From Buffalo, Wyoming or Badlands you can take an optional detour through Billings, Montana. This will take you through the Crow Indian Reservation and give you the opportunity to explore some interesting sights at Montanas Little Big Horn. These include:

• Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument ,

This is the site of General Custer’s Last Stand, where his troops were crushed by Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho warriors! There is a museum, memorial and guided tours by Native Americans & Park rangers, which focus on the Military history.

• Pictograph Cave State Park

Pictograph Cave State Park is a 23 acre park which takes you back in time to Native American culture! Taking the walking trail you will see ancient pictographs and some breath taking scenery. There is also a visitors centre, picnic grounds & museum displays.

Location: 3401 Coburn Rd, Billings, MT 59101-6420

• Moss Mansion Museum

The Moss Mansion Historic House Museum is located  on 914 Division St. It is a red-stoned mansion built in 1903 by Preston Boyd Moss and his wife, Martha Ursula Woodson Moss.

How much does it cost?

Admission to the Moss Mansion Museum is $12 for Adults, $10 for Senior Citizens and Military, and $8 for children ages 6 to 17. Guided tours are available.

Day 6 & 7: Yellowstone National Park

From Montana’s Little Big Horn, its around 130 miles (2 ½ hours) to   Yellowstone National Park . You can enter through the North, Northeast or eastern entrances.

The North Entrance at Gardiner is the only one open all year round. During the winter, the west, south and east entrances are open only to tracked over-snow vehicles such as snowcoaches and snowmobiles.

Yellowstone National Park has to be one of the greatest National Parks in the USA .

Here you will discover over 2 million acres of vast wilderness, from forested areas to hot springs! Check out these 5 reasons to visit Yellowstone in September .

[caption id="attachment_10884" align="alignnone" width="640"]

yellowstone national park sunset[/caption]

The wildlife is curious and abundant, making it a great place for wildlife spotting.

Activities here include hiking, horseback riding and during the winter months Snow shoeing and cross country skiing!

See 23 Awesome Cross Country Skiing Resorts|U.S.A

[caption id="attachment_8864" align="alignnone" width="900"]

Yellowstone-winter-camping[/caption]

Yellowstone National Park Regions:

Yellowstone National Park has 5 regions, these include:

• Mammoth Country, North West Region: Site of the Mammoth Hot Springs and home to many elk & bison.
• Geyser Country, South West Region:  Home to " Old Faithful " and many geothermal features such as fumaroles, mud pots and hotpools!
• Lake Country, South East Region:   Bird watching heaven, where osprey and bald eagles roam. There is also blue Yellowstone Lake located at an altitude of 7,735 feet!
• Roosevelt Country, North Eastern Region:  An area which reminds me of the old west,  with many deer, bison and wolves. These roam through a landscape of sagebrush, fir, aspen trees and a petrified forest.
• Canyon Country, East Central Region:  Home to the “ Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone ,” the Hidden Valley and Lower Falls, which is twice as high as Niagara Falls !  Elk, bison and deer roam this area.

[caption id="attachment_1196" align="alignnone" width="1024"]

Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park, WY | By Brocken Inaglory, via Wikimedia Commons.[/caption]

Where to Stay at Yellow Stone National Park?

There are a few authentic lodges I recommended, we stayed at Lake Yellowstone Hotel and Cabins , but the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel is also good.

Tours/Excursions:

Many sightseeing tours are on offer, for more info see: Unique Experiences

Yellow Stone National Park is also a great place to try a Dog Sled Ride: 16 Awesome Dog Sledding Tours/Trips: U.S.A

[caption id="attachment_8596" align="alignnone" width="900"]

Yellowstone-Dog-Sledding-Tour-Christmas[/caption]

Day 8: Grand Teton National Park

Just 7 miles south via route 89/191 you will find Grand Teton National Park . which offers a pleathora of wildlife and theatrical scenery.

The Mountain range stands, 12,000 feet above sea level and makes the ideal habitat for the famous Trumpeter Swan!

• Fun Fact: The Trumpeter swan is heaviest living bird native to North America!
• Fun Fact: The Trumpeter Swan is also the largest species of waterfowl with a wingspan that may exceed 10 ft!

Head to National Elk Refuge where you can hike to a mountain lake, waterfall and even take a Packraft down Snake River.

Where to Stay?

We stayed at Jackson Lake Lodge a full service resort, but Jenny Lake Lodge is also epic! It was actually named one of our top 500 hotels in the world!

If you would rather be in the a more built up area, then staying in Jackson is a great option. I recommend Spring Creek Ranch for ultimate luxury surrounded by scenic wilderness.

Want to discover some savvy Hotel Hacks?

Check out: How to find the Best Hotel Deals??

Do you want secret car rental deals?

Check out: Ultimate Car Rental Travel Hacks!

[caption id="attachment_10522" align="alignnone" width="900"]

car rental travel hacks[/caption]

Want to capture instagrammable RoadTrip photos?

Travel Photography Gear Reviews!

Got everything you need?

Check out our   Travel Essentials .   (Things You can’t travel without!)

• Recommended Backpacks
• Recommended Camping Gear
• Recommended Hiking Boots.

73 Basic Dutch Phrases for Your Next Trip to Netherlands 🇳🇱

Learn essential Dutch phrases for a smooth trip to the Netherlands. Perfect for travelers looking to connect with locals and enrich their experience.

Win a $500 Flight!

Embark on the adventure of a lifetime! Enter our Dream Journey Sweepstakes for a chance to win a $500 travel voucher, redeemable with any major US airline. Whether it's sandy beaches, bustling cities, or tranquil mountains, your dream destination is just an email away!*

Is Sun Country Airlines Safe? Discover How They Prioritize Your Safety

When you're planning your next getaway, the safety of your chosen airline is probably at the top of your list. You've likely heard of Sun Country Airlines, a budget-friendly option that's been gaining popularity. But the big question on your mind is, "Is Sun Country Airlines safe?"

Is Delta Air Lines Safe? Unveiling the Truth for Nervous Flyers

When you're planning your next trip, safety is likely at the top of your list. And if Delta Air Lines is on your radar, you're probably wondering just how safe it is to fly with them. Let's face it, in today's world, the safety of an airline can make or break your travel plans.

Is American Airlines Safe? Uncovering the Truth for Nervous Flyers

When you're planning your next trip, safety is probably at the top of your mind. And if you're considering flying with American Airlines, you're likely wondering just how safe it really is. It's a valid concern—after all, you're cruising at 35,000 feet!

Is Biman Bangladesh Airlines Safe? Unveiling the Truth for Anxious Flyers

When you're planning a trip, especially one that takes you across borders, the safety of your chosen airline is a top priority. You've probably come across Biman Bangladesh Airlines in your search for flights, and it's natural to wonder about its safety record. After all, you're entrusting them with your most precious cargo: you and your loved ones.

Is Arkia Israeli Airlines Safe? Unveiling the Truth That Every Traveler Must Know

When planning a trip, you're likely to ponder over which airline to choose, especially when it comes to safety. If you've got your eyes set on Israel, Arkia Israeli Airlines might have popped up in your search. It's Israel's second-largest airline, but how does it stack up in terms of safety?

Is Air Albania Safe? Unveiling the Truth About Your Next Flight's Security

When planning your next trip, you might wonder about the safety of your chosen airline. It's a valid concern, especially if you're considering flying with a relatively new player like Air Albania. Founded in 2018, it's the flag carrier of Albania, but how does it stack up in terms of safety?

Is Jeju Air Safe? Unveiling the Truth Behind Your Flight Fears

When planning a trip, especially by air, safety is always at the top of your mind. You've probably come across Jeju Air, a popular low-cost carrier in South Korea, and wondered, "Is Jeju Air safe?" It's a valid question, considering the budget-friendly tickets and the airline's growing network across Asia.

Is Air Tahiti Nui Safe? Unveiling What Every Traveler Needs to Know

When planning a trip to the enchanting islands of Tahiti, you're likely considering Air Tahiti Nui for your journey. It's the flagship carrier that promises an exotic travel experience, whisking you away to paradise. But amidst the excitement, a crucial question pops up: Is Air Tahiti Nui safe?

Is Avelo Airlines Safe? Unveiling the Truth for Anxious Flyers

When you're planning your next trip, safety is always at the top of your mind, right? You're probably wondering if Avelo Airlines, the new kid on the block in the aviation world, ticks all the boxes for a safe journey. It's a valid question, especially with so many options out there.

Is PenAir Safe? Unveiling the Truth for Nervous and Aspiring Travelers

When you're planning your next flight, safety is probably at the top of your list. You've likely come across PenAir in your search for regional flights, but you're wondering: is PenAir safe? It's a valid question, especially when flying to some of the more remote locations PenAir serves.

Is Ravn Alaska Safe? Unveiling Truths Behind Your Flight's Reliability

When planning a trip to the Last Frontier, you might wonder about the best way to hop between its vast landscapes. Ravn Alaska pops up as a popular option, but there's a big question on your mind: Is Ravn Alaska safe? Let's dive into what makes an airline tick in terms of safety and see how Ravn stacks up.

Is Breeze Airways Safe? Unveiling the Truth for Anxious & Aspiring Travelers

When you're eyeing those tempting deals from Breeze Airways for your next trip, it's only natural to wonder about their safety record. After all, who doesn't want a smooth and secure journey to their dream destination? Breeze Airways, a newcomer in the sky, has sparked curiosity among travelers seeking both value and peace of mind.

Is Cape Air Safe? Unveiling the Truth Behind Pilot Training and Fleet Safety

When planning your next adventure or business trip, you're likely to ponder over the safety of your chosen airline. If Cape Air's on your radar, you're probably asking, "Is Cape Air safe?" It's a valid question that deserves a closer look, especially when your comfort and peace of mind are at stake.

Is Silver Airways Safe? Unveiling the Truth for Anxious Flyers

When planning your next trip, you're likely juggling a lot of decisions. Where to stay, what to pack, and, crucially, which airline to trust with your safety in the skies. If you're considering Silver Airways for your journey, you might be wondering just how safe it is. After all, flying can be nerve-wracking enough without worrying about the reliability of your chosen airline.

Is GoJet Airlines Safe? The Truth Behind Passenger Reviews and Safety Concerns

When you're planning your next trip and considering flying with GoJet Airlines, one question might pop into your mind: "Is GoJet Airlines safe?" It's a valid concern, especially in today's world where safety is paramount. Let's dive into what makes an airline safe and see how GoJet stacks up.

Is Endeavor Air Safe? Unveiling the Truth Behind Your Secure Journey

When you're planning your next trip and considering flying with Endeavor Air, it's natural to wonder about safety. After all, you want your journey to be as smooth and worry-free as possible. Safety is a top priority for any airline, but how does Endeavor Air stack up?

Is Trans States Airlines Safe? Unveiling the Truth Behind Pilot Training & Safety

When you're planning your next trip and considering flying with Trans States Airlines, it's natural to wonder about their safety record. After all, ensuring a safe journey is at the top of everyone's list. You're not alone in your curiosity, and the good news is, we've got the scoop for you.

Is Air Wisconsin Safe? Unveiling the Truth Behind Your Flight's Safety

When you're planning your next trip and considering flying with Air Wisconsin, safety is likely one of your top concerns. It's a big deal choosing an airline, especially with the myriad of options and opinions floating around.

Is Envoy Air Safe? Unveiling the Truth Behind Your Next Flight

When you're planning your next trip and considering flying with Envoy Air, it's natural to wonder about the airline's safety record. After all, your safety is paramount, and you want to ensure you're making the best choice for your travel.

Is Mesa Airlines Safe? Discover What Passengers Aren't Telling You

When you're planning your next trip and considering flying with Mesa Airlines, safety is likely at the top of your mind. It's a big world out there, and knowing you're in good hands while jetting off to your next adventure can make all the difference.

Is Compass Airlines Safe? Uncovering What Every Traveler Must Know

When you're planning your next trip and considering flying with Compass Airlines, it's natural to wonder about their safety record. After all, ensuring a safe journey is at the top of everyone's list. But diving into the world of airline safety can feel like navigating through a maze. Don't worry; we've got you covered.

Is Republic Airways Safe? Insights That Every Nervous Flyer Must Read

When you're planning your next trip and considering flying with Republic Airways, it's natural to wonder about their safety record. After all, ensuring you're in good hands while thousands of feet up in the air is pretty crucial. You're not alone in your concerns; it's a question on the minds of many travelers.

Is SkyWest Airlines Safe? Unveiling the Truth That Every Traveler Must Know

When planning your next trip, you might be wondering about the best airline options out there. Safety, no doubt, tops your list of concerns. You've probably heard of SkyWest Airlines, a major player in the regional airline sector. But the burning question remains: Is SkyWest Airlines safe?

Is Icelandair Safe? Discover Why Flyers Trust Their Journey With Us

When you're planning a trip that involves flying, safety naturally tops your list of concerns. And if Iceland's stunning landscapes are calling your name, you're probably considering Icelandair for your journey. But how safe is this airline, really?

Is Luxair Safe? Unveiling What Really Matters to Nervous Flyers

When planning your next trip, you're likely scrolling through countless options, wondering which airline will get you there safely and comfortably. Luxair, Luxembourg's flag carrier, often pops up as a top choice for European destinations. But in the sea of airlines, you might ask yourself, "Is Luxair safe?"

Is SpiceJet Safe? Uncovering the Truth Behind Passenger Reviews

When you're planning your next trip, safety is always at the top of your mind. And if you're considering flying with SpiceJet, you might be wondering just how safe it is. After all, flying can be daunting, and choosing the right airline is crucial for a worry-free journey.

Is El Al Safe? Debunking Myths & Unveiling the Truth for Nervous Flyers

When you're planning a trip, especially an international one, safety is likely at the top of your list. And if your travels are taking you to or from Israel, you've probably heard of El Al. It's Israel's national airline and has a reputation that precedes it. But what's behind the buzz? Is El Al really as safe as they say?

Is China Eastern Safe? Unveiling the Truth Behind Your Flight Fears

When you're planning a trip, especially one that spans continents, safety is likely at the top of your list. You've probably come across China Eastern Airlines in your search for flights, and it's natural to wonder about their safety record. After all, you're entrusting them with your most precious cargo - yourself and your loved ones.

Is China Southern Safe? Unveiling the Truth Behind Your Flight Concerns

When it comes to air travel, safety is always at the forefront of everyone's mind. You might be planning your next trip and wondering, "Is China Southern safe?" It's a valid question, especially when venturing far from home.

Is Malaysia Airlines Safe? Unveiling the Truth for Anxious Travelers

When you're planning your next adventure or business trip, the airline you choose is a big deal. You want comfort, good service, and most importantly, safety. Malaysia Airlines often pops up as a tempting option with its attractive routes and competitive prices. But there's that nagging question in the back of your mind: Is Malaysia Airlines safe?

Is Japan Airlines Safe? Unveiling the Truth for Anxious Flyers

When planning your next trip, safety is likely at the top of your list, especially when it comes to choosing an airline. You might be wondering, "Is Japan Airlines safe?" Well, you're in the right place to find out. Japan Airlines, known for its impeccable service, also prides itself on its safety record.

Is ANA Safe? Discover How They Ensure Your Peace of Mind in the Skies

When you're planning a trip, especially one that involves flying, safety is likely at the top of your mind. You might be wondering about All Nippon Airways, commonly known as ANA, and its safety record. Is it a reliable choice for your next journey?

Is Singapore Airlines Safe? Unveiling the Secrets Behind Their Flawless Safety Record

When you're jetting off to exotic locales or crucial business meetings, the last thing you want to worry about is your safety in the sky. That's where Singapore Airlines comes into play. Known for its impeccable service, it's natural to wonder about its safety record too.

Is Emirates Safe? Unveiling What Happy Travelers Really Think

When you're planning your next journey, safety is likely at the top of your list. You've probably heard a lot about Emirates, known for its luxurious experience, but how does it stack up in terms of safety? Let's dive into what makes an airline safe and see where Emirates lands.

Is LOT Safe? Unveiling the Truth Behind Your Flight's Safety

When you're planning a trip, the safety of the airline you choose is a top priority. You might've heard about LOT Polish Airlines and wondered, "Is LOT safe?" Well, you're not alone in asking. Safety concerns are valid, especially when it's about flying thousands of feet above the ground.

Is Aeromexico Safe? Unveiling What Every Traveler Needs to Know

When you're planning your next trip and considering flying with Aeromexico, safety might be at the top of your mind. It's natural to wonder about the safety records of airlines these days, especially with the amount of travel we all do. Aeromexico, as one of the leading carriers in Latin America, often comes under scrutiny.

Is Norwegian Safe? Discover Why Travelers Trust Its Skies

When you're planning your next adventure, safety is always at the top of your list. And if Norway's on your radar, you're probably wondering, "Is Norwegian safe?" Let's dive into what makes this Nordic country a destination worth considering from a safety perspective.

Is Allegiant Air Safe? Unveiling the Truth About Your Flight's Safety

When you're planning a trip, the safety of the airline you choose is a top priority. You've probably heard mixed reviews about budget airlines, and Allegiant Air often comes up in those conversations. It's natural to wonder, "Is Allegiant Air safe?"

Is Hawaiian Airlines Safe? Discover Why Flyers Trust This Paradise Airline

When you're planning a tropical getaway, the last thing you want to stress over is whether your flight will be a smooth sail or a turbulent ride. Enter Hawaiian Airlines, a name that's almost synonymous with the aloha spirit and island hopping. But beyond the lei greetings and in-flight POG juice, you're probably wondering, "Is Hawaiian Airlines safe?"

Is Frontier Airlines Safe? Unveiling the Truth Behind Your Flight Fears

When you're planning your next adventure or business trip, the airline you choose can make all the difference. You've probably heard about Frontier Airlines, known for its budget-friendly fares, but you might be wondering, "Is Frontier Airlines safe?" It's a valid question that deserves a closer look, especially in today's travel climate.

Is Spirit Airlines Safe? Unveiling the Truth Behind Your Flight Fears

When you're planning a trip and looking for budget-friendly options, Spirit Airlines often pops up as a tempting choice. But amidst the excitement of snagging a great deal, you might pause and wonder, "Is Spirit Airlines safe?" It's a valid question, especially when you're about to trust them with your most precious cargo—yourself!

Is JetBlue Safe? Uncovering the Truth Behind Their Safety Measures

When you're planning your next trip, the airline you choose is as crucial as your destination. You've probably heard a lot about JetBlue, known for its comfy seats and ample legroom, but how does it stack up in terms of safety? It's a question worth asking, especially in today's travel climate.

Is Alaska Airlines Safe? Discover Why Flyers Trust Their Journey With Them

When you're planning your next trip, safety is likely at the top of your list. You're not just looking for a smooth flight; you want peace of mind from takeoff to touchdown. That's where Alaska Airlines comes into play. It's a name you've probably heard tossed around when talking about reliable air travel, but how safe is it really?

Is Southwest Airlines Safe? Uncovering What Every Traveler Needs to Know

When you're planning your next trip, safety is always at the top of your mind. And if you're considering flying with Southwest Airlines, you might be wondering just how safe your journey will be. It's a valid concern, especially in today's world where travel safety has become more important than ever.

Is United Airlines Safe? Real Passengers Share Their Experiences

When you're planning your next trip, safety is probably at the top of your list, especially when it comes to choosing an airline. You've likely come across United Airlines, a major player in the aviation industry, and wondered, "Is United Airlines safe?" It's a valid question that deserves a closer look.

Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Live in Hawaii for Every Lifestyle

Dreaming of living in paradise? Hawaii's got you covered, with its stunning beaches, lush landscapes, and Aloha spirit. But with so many amazing spots, deciding where to plant your roots can be tough.

Ultimate Guide: Top Places to Live in Florida for Everyone - Beaches, Festivals & More

Thinking about moving to Florida? You're not alone! The Sunshine State is famous for its gorgeous beaches, vibrant cities, and laid-back lifestyle. But with so many great places to choose from, deciding where to plant your roots can be tough.

Ultimate Guide: Top Family-Friendly Spots in NC - From Asheville to Outer Banks

Looking for the perfect spot in North Carolina to plant your family roots? You're in luck! This state's got a little something for everyone, from bustling cities to quiet, leafy suburbs.

Top Places to Thrive in Your 20s: A Guide to Affordability, Adventure, & Opportunities

Ah, your 20s! A time to explore, grow, and maybe even settle down in a new spot that feels just right. It's all about finding that perfect blend of fun, opportunity, and affordability.

Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Live in Houston for Everyone - From Retirees to Families

Houston's a big city, with even bigger opportunities for finding the perfect spot to call home. Whether you're all about the hustle and bustle of city life or looking for a quiet corner to settle down, there's something here for everyone.

Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Live in Missouri for Everyone - From Retirees to Young Adults

Thinking about moving to Missouri or just curious about the best spots to call home in the Show-Me State? You're in luck. Missouri's got a little something for everyone, from bustling city vibes to quiet, leafy suburbs.

Ultimate Guide: Top Places to Live in Connecticut for Every Lifestyle

Thinking about making a move to Connecticut? You're in for a treat! This state's got a little bit of everything – from cozy small towns to bustling cities. It's all about finding the spot that feels just right for you.

Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Live in Indiana for Everyone - Schools, Costs & Lifestyle

Thinking about calling Indiana home? You're in for a treat! The Hoosier State is packed with charming towns, bustling cities, and everything in between. Whether you're after the quiet of the countryside or the buzz of city life, Indiana's got you covered.

Ultimate Guide: Top Places to Live in Illinois for Everyone - Families to Retirees

Thinking about making a move to Illinois? You're in for a treat! The Prairie State is not just about deep-dish pizza and the Windy City. There's a lot more to discover, from cozy small towns to bustling suburbs that offer the best of both worlds.

Ultimate Guide: Top East Coast Havens for Every Lifestyle & Age

Dreaming of waking up to the sound of waves or perhaps craving the vibrant city vibes only the East Coast can offer? You're in luck because we're diving into the best spots that just might make you want to pack your bags today. From quaint towns with rich history to bustling cities with endless opportunities, the East Coast has something for everyone.

Ultimate Guide: Top Places to Live Near Nashville for Every Lifestyle

Thinking about moving close to the heart of country music? Nashville's got more than just tunes to offer. It's surrounded by some pretty sweet spots that give you the best of both worlds: serene living and easy access to the city vibes.

Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Live in New Mexico for Every Lifestyle

Thinking about making a move to New Mexico? You're in for a treat! With its rich culture, stunning landscapes, and sunny weather, it's no wonder you're considering it. But with so many awesome places to choose from, where should you start?

Ultimate Guide: Top Places to Live in New Hampshire for Every Lifestyle

Thinking about making a move to New Hampshire? You're in for a treat! From the stunning White Mountains to the serene lakes, there's a spot for everyone in this charming New England state. Whether you're after the hustle and bustle of city life or the peacefulness of the countryside, New Hampshire offers a unique blend of both.

Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Live in Delaware for Everyone [2024]

Thinking about making Delaware your new home? You're in luck! This little gem of a state might be small, but it's packed with some of the best places to live on the East Coast. From cozy beach towns to bustling city life, Delaware's got a spot for everyone.

Ultimate Guide: Top Places to Live in Massachusetts for Everyone

Thinking about making a move to Massachusetts? You're in for a treat. This state's got a little bit of everything, from bustling cities to quiet, quaint towns. Whether you're after top-notch schools, vibrant cultural scenes, or just some stunning nature, Massachusetts delivers.

Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Live in Minnesota for All Lifestyles

Thinking about making a move to Minnesota, or just curious about the best spots to call home in the Land of 10,000 Lakes? Well, you're in luck. Minnesota's not just about the cold and snow; it's packed with cities that boast great jobs, vibrant communities, and plenty of outdoor fun.

Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Live in Alaska for Everyone - From Retirees to Families

Thinking about making the big move to Alaska? You're in for a treat! It's not just about snow and sled dogs; Alaska's got some of the most stunning landscapes and tight-knit communities you'll find anywhere.

Ultimate Guide: Top Places to Live in West Virginia for Every Lifestyle

Thinking about calling West Virginia home? You're in for a treat. This place isn't just about stunning mountains and rivers; it's got some hidden gems where life feels just right. Whether you're after that small-town charm, vibrant city vibes, or a quiet spot surrounded by nature, West Virginia's got a spot for you.

Ultimate Guide: Best Places in Florida for Families - Live Happily Ever After

Thinking about moving your family to Florida? You're not alone! The Sunshine State is famous for its warm weather, beautiful beaches, and family-friendly communities. But with so many options, deciding where to plant your roots can be a bit overwhelming.

Ultimate Guide: Top Places in North Carolina for Retirees & More

North Carolina's got a charm that's hard to beat, especially if you're looking to enjoy your retirement to the fullest. From the cozy mountains to the sunny beaches, there's a spot for every retiree to call home.

Ultimate Guide: Best Affordable NJ Spots Near NYC for Every Lifestyle

Living close to NYC is a dream for many, but let's be real, it can get pricey. Good news, though! New Jersey offers some gems that won't break the bank and still keep you close to the Big Apple. Whether you're after the bustling streets or a quiet corner, there's a spot for you.

Ultimate Guide: Top Vermont Havens for Everyone - From Retirees to Young Families

Thinking about making a move to Vermont? You're not alone. This charming state, known for its stunning landscapes and cozy small towns, is a magnet for those seeking a quieter, more scenic life. With its mix of vibrant communities and peaceful countryside, Vermont offers the best of both worlds.

Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Live in Arkansas for Everyone (2024)

Thinking about making a move to the Natural State? You're in for a treat! Arkansas is known for its stunning natural beauty, friendly folks, and a cost of living that's hard to beat. Whether you're drawn to the hustle and bustle of city life or the peace and quiet of the countryside, Arkansas has got something for everyone.

Idaho's Top Living Spots: The Ultimate Guide for Everyone - From Retirees to Families

Thinking about moving to Idaho? You're not alone. With its stunning landscapes and friendly communities, it's no wonder more and more people are calling it home. But with so many great spots, it can be tough to decide where to plant your roots.

Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Live in Wyoming for Everyone

Thinking about making a move to Wyoming? You're in for a treat! This state's known for its wide-open spaces, stunning scenery, and a lifestyle that's both laid-back and adventurous. Whether you're drawn by the call of the wild or the promise of a peaceful, community-focused life, Wyoming's got a spot for you.

Ultimate Guide: Top Spots in South Carolina for Young Adults - Live, Work & Play

South Carolina's charm isn't just in its sweet tea and beaches. For young adults looking for a fresh start or a new scene, it's got some hidden gems that might just be your next home sweet home. From bustling cities to cozy coastal towns, there's a spot for every vibe and ambition.

Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Live in Washington State for Everyone

Thinking about making a move to the Evergreen State? You're in for a treat! Washington's got a bit of everything, from bustling city life to quiet, cozy towns. Whether you're after the techy vibes of Seattle or the serene landscapes of the Olympic Peninsula, there's a spot just for you.

Ultimate Guide: Top Places to Live in Montana for Everyone – From Retirees to Families

Thinking about calling Montana home? You're not alone. With its breathtaking landscapes and wide-open spaces, it's a place that calls to the heart of adventurers and peace-seekers alike. But with so many amazing spots, picking the best place to plant roots can feel overwhelming.

Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Live in Virginia for Every Lifestyle

Thinking about making a move to Virginia? You're in for a treat! This state's got everything from bustling cities to quiet, cozy towns. Whether you're after top-notch schools, job opportunities, or just a beautiful place to call home, Virginia's got you covered.

Ultimate Guide: Top Places to Live in North Carolina for Happiness, Weather & More

Thinking about making a move to North Carolina? You're in for a treat! From the bustling streets of Charlotte to the serene beaches of the Outer Banks, North Carolina's got a little something for everyone. Whether you're after the hustle and bustle of city life or the quiet charm of small-town living, you'll find your perfect spot here.

Ultimate Guide: The Best Places to Live in Georgia for Everyone—from Retirees to Families

Thinking about making a move to Georgia? You're not alone. With its warm climate, rich culture, and booming job market, it's no wonder people are flocking to the Peach State. But with so many great places to choose from, where do you even start?

Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Live in Florida for Every Lifestyle

Thinking about moving to Florida? You're not alone! The Sunshine State is a magnet for folks seeking sunshine, beaches, and that laid-back lifestyle. But with so many awesome spots, picking the best place to plant your roots can feel overwhelming.

Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Live in Indianapolis for Everyone

Thinking about moving to Indianapolis? Great choice! Indy's got a lot to offer, from vibrant neighborhoods to bustling city life. But with so many spots to choose from, finding the perfect place to call home can feel like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Live in Orlando for Families & More

Orlando's not just about theme parks and tourist spots; it's a fantastic place to plant roots, especially if you've got a family in tow. With its sunny weather, great schools, and endless activities, it's no wonder families flock here. But with so many neighborhoods, choosing where to live can feel like finding a needle in a haystack.

Ultimate Guide: Top Places in Oregon for Young Adults - Live, Play, Thrive

Oregon's got a vibe that's hard to beat, especially if you're a young adult looking for the perfect spot to plant your roots. With its mix of bustling cities, laid-back towns, and everything in between, there's a place for every taste and lifestyle.

Ultimate Guide: Top Places to Live in Columbus Ohio for Every Lifestyle

Looking for the perfect spot to call home in Columbus, Ohio? You're in luck! Columbus is a city brimming with charm, diverse communities, and endless opportunities. Whether you're all about the nightlife, a fan of quiet suburbs, or somewhere in between, there's a place just for you.

Ultimate Guide: Top Affordable Places in North Carolina for Everyone

Thinking about moving to North Carolina but worried about the cost? You're in luck! North Carolina's got some hidden gems where you can enjoy the good life without breaking the bank. From cozy mountain towns to vibrant cities, there's a spot for everyone.

Ultimate Guide: Top East Coast Havens for Everyone - From Retirees to Partygoers

Thinking about making a move to the East Coast? You're in for a treat! From bustling cities to quiet seaside towns, there's a spot for everyone. Whether you're dreaming of fresh seafood by the ocean or a fast-paced city vibe, we've got you covered.

Ultimate Guide: Top Places to Live in Brooklyn for Every Demographic

Brooklyn's got a vibe like nowhere else. It's where the cool kids hang and the artists create. But with so many neighborhoods, picking where to call home can feel like finding a needle in a haystack.

Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Live in San Antonio for All Lifestyles

San Antonio's got a vibe that's hard to beat, with its rich history, vibrant culture, and killer food scene. If you're thinking about making the move or just curious, you're in the right spot. Finding the perfect neighborhood in this sprawling city can be a bit like searching for a needle in a haystack—but a whole lot more fun.

Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Live in Kentucky for Everyone

Thinking about calling Kentucky home? You're onto something special. Known for its rolling hills, horse farms, and friendly communities, the Bluegrass State offers a unique blend of natural beauty and welcoming neighborhoods.

Ultimate Guide: Top Places to Live in Maryland for Everyone's Wish List

Thinking about moving to Maryland? You're in for a treat! This state's got a mix of everything - from bustling city vibes in Baltimore to the laid-back, scenic beauty of its coastal towns.

Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Live in Portland for Every Lifestyle

Thinking about making Portland your new home? You're in for a treat! This city's got a vibe like no other, with its quirky culture, amazing food, and stunning nature spots. But with so many cool neighborhoods, picking the perfect spot can be a bit of a head-scratcher.

Ultimate Guide: Top Austin Neighborhoods for Every Lifestyle & Budget

Thinking about making a move to Austin? You're not alone. This vibrant city has been pulling folks in with its unique charm, incredible music scene, and mouth-watering BBQ. But with so many cool neighborhoods, picking the right spot can feel like finding a needle in a haystack.

Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Live on East Coast for Everyone – From Retirees to Families

Dreaming about moving to the East Coast? You're not alone. With its charming towns, bustling cities, and stunning beaches, the East Coast offers a little something for everyone. Whether you're after the vibrant city life or a quiet seaside retreat, you'll find your perfect spot here.

Ultimate Guide: Top Places to Live in Washington DC for Every Lifestyle

So, you're thinking about moving to Washington, DC? Great choice! The city's not just about politics and monuments. It's got neighborhoods that'll make you wanna stay forever. From trendy spots buzzing with cafes and galleries to quiet, leafy streets perfect for Sunday strolls, DC's got a bit of everything.

Ultimate Guide: Best Affordable Places to Live in North Carolina for Every Lifestyle

Looking for a spot in North Carolina that's easy on your wallet but still ticks all the boxes for a great place to live? You're in luck. North Carolina's got a bunch of hidden gems that offer a fantastic quality of life without breaking the bank.

Ultimate Guide: Top Family-Friendly California Locales for Every Lifestyle

California's got it all for families looking for their next home sweet home. From the sunny beaches to the scenic mountains and bustling cities, there's a spot for every family's taste and budget.

Ultimate Guide: Top Places to Live in the Midwest for Every Lifestyle

Thinking about calling the Midwest home? You're in for a treat! This heartland is chock-full of hidden gems, each offering its unique blend of charm, community, and comfort. From bustling cities with all the modern amenities to quiet towns where everyone knows your name, there's a perfect spot for everyone.

Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Live in Georgia for Every Lifestyle

Looking for the perfect spot in Georgia to call home? You're in luck! Georgia's got a little bit of everything, from bustling city vibes in Atlanta to the laid-back coastal charm of Savannah. It's a place where you can find your niche, whether you're after top-notch schools, thriving job markets, or just a great community feel.

Ultimate Guide: Top Places to Live Near Orlando for Every Lifestyle

Looking to move close to Orlando but not sure where to start? You're in luck! Orlando's surrounding areas offer a mix of vibrant communities, each with its own unique charm. Whether you're after the buzz of city life or the tranquility of suburbia, there's a spot near Orlando that's perfect for you.

Ultimate Long Island Living Guide: Top Spots for Everyone's Lifestyle

Dreaming of a spot with sandy beaches, cozy neighborhoods, and endless bagels? Long Island's got you covered. It's not just about the stunning coastline; this place is a melting pot of cultures, cuisines, and communities. Whether you're a city escapee, a nature lover, or somewhere in between, there's a perfect corner here for you.

Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Live in Arizona for Young Adults - Explore, Thrive, & Enjoy

Thinking about making a move to Arizona? You're not alone. With its stunning landscapes, booming job market, and vibrant culture, it's no wonder young adults are flocking to the Grand Canyon State. But with so many cool spots to choose from, where should you set up camp?

Ultimate Guide: Best Affordable Places in Washington State for Everyone

Looking for a spot in Washington State that won't break the bank? You're in luck! We've got the scoop on the best affordable places that still offer that amazing Pacific Northwest vibe. Whether you're dreaming of cozy mountain towns or vibrant city life, Washington's got a little something for everyone.

Ultimate Guide to Arizona: Top Spots for Young Adults – Live, Play, Thrive

Looking for the perfect spot in Arizona to plant your roots as a young adult? You're in luck! The Grand Canyon State isn't just about breathtaking landscapes and sunsets that'll blow your mind. It's also home to some pretty awesome places that cater specifically to the younger crowd.

You may also like...

RV Inspection Checklist: Do THIS Before Your Next Trip!

Ensure a smooth trip with our RV Inspection Checklist. From exterior checks to system tests, this guide is essential for all RV travelers.

Western National Parks Road Trip: U.S.A

Embark on an epic Western National Parks Road Trip across the USA! Visit iconic parks like Yosemite, Grand Canyon & more for breathtaking views & adventures.

Ultimate Foodie Road Trip: East Coast Maps!

Hit the road with our Ultimate Foodie Road Trip: East Coast Maps! Explore the best eats from Maine to Georgia, including seafood, burgers, and local favorites. Perfect for travelers craving delicious adventures.

Boston to New York City: New England Road Trip!

Explore the ultimate New England road trip from Boston to NYC! Tips on scenic stops, best seasons, and essential eats for travelers. Ideal for a weekend escape.

New York City to Chicago Road Trip: Itinerary/Map

Embark on an epic road trip from New York City to Chicago with our detailed itinerary and map, covering all must-visit cities and attractions. Perfect for travelers eager to experience the best of the USA.

Yosemite to Death Valley Road Trip

Explore the ultimate Yosemite to Death Valley road trip guide! Covering scenic routes, must-see landmarks, and tips for the best travel experience. Ideal for eager travelers!

The travel site  inspired by travelers and locals alike. Find amazing destinations, unique trip ideas, the best hotels, and most comfortable resorts.