Samsaf

My husband is going on a business trip to South Dakota in June. I'm thinking about flying up to meet him in Rapid City on a Thursday afternoon/evening. On Friday he won't have to work, so we were thinking about driving through Custer State Park, seeing Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse. We'd like to some hiking (not too strenuous) at these places, too, and I've been looking up info on good hikes. We're thinking about going to the laser show at Crazy Horse, too, on Friday evening.

Can we do all this on one day? If we're able to do it in one day, on Saturday we'd drive up to the Badlands. We'll leave for home on Sunday. Or we could do something different on Saturday.

If we can't do all of that on Friday, we'd probably save Custer State Park for Saturday.

We're thinking about staying either 2 nights in Keystone, or 1 night in Keystone and 1 night in Deadwood (f we go to the Badlands.)

Or are there better places to stay? I think we'd prefer not to stay in Rapid City; would like to stay somewhere like a Western-type town or somehwere like a cabin with beautiful views.

We'll also have Sunday morning to do something fun before we head to the airport in Rapid City.

Any other things we should consider doing? We're interested in history, and hopefully I will be able to do some hiking, if my Achilles' tendon continues to heal.

Thanks for your suggestions!

Hudson2

Hi there, I am a native South Dakotan and I reside in the Black Hills, so I should be able to help you out some : ) If you want to see all of Custer State Park and all it has to offer that will take you almost all of one day! Crazy Horse and Mt. Rushmore are both near Custer State Park so you could easily take both of them in while touring Custer State Park and Wind Cave National Park which all run together but have beautiful scenery and wildlife! The Badlands is about 2 1/2 to 3 hours away in the opposite direction you will literally have to go back to Rapid City and hit the Interstate going the opposite direction from the Black Hills. Deadwood is about 60 miles from Custer State Park, not much there except Gambling but there is a lot of History! There is so much hiking in Custer and Wind cave national Park both but because of your Achilles Tendon if you want the scenery and the views but an easier grade I would stop at any of the many Mickelson Trail routes located all throughout Custer State Park, and follow it or the Centennial Trail Heads as far as you would like to go. Both of those trails can be picked up on at many locations throughout the Black Hills. While in Rapid City you should definately take in the Journey Museum its great and lots of History! Eating, definately go to the Alpine Inn in Hill City (near Custer State Park) for the best lunch you can imagine and if your in Custer the town try out the Sagecreek Inn for lunch or dinner its wonderful and in Rapid City, you should check out the Delmonico Grill for Dinner! Let me know if you want to know anything specific. You will have a wonderful relaxing time, I hope you enjoy!

Samsaf

Hudson2, thanks so much for that information! I really appreciate it. I'm off to do some research now. I'll probably have lots more questions for you.

Samsaf

After looking at lots of options, we just booked 2 nights at the K Bar S Lodge. We're so excited!

rainboth

Hudson2 is right on. It's easy to spend a whole day or more in Custer State Park alone just viewing the wildlife and the natural scenery. For both Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse, plan for about an hour and a half at each. Time flies when you're having fun. At Rushmore - if you're able, I'd highly recommend walking the President's Trail. It's a developed boardwalk trail that takes you down below the faces at the base of the sculpture. Great views from it! For tons of other useful info, you might check out the Black Hills Travel Blog (http://blackhillstravelblog.com/). Or, if you're on Facebook, snoop around the Black Hills Facebook page - there are tons of great photos and insider info that might help in trip planning (http://www.facebook.com/blackhills). Enjoy your trip and let me know if I can be of any other help!

rainboth

Sorry, looks like my links didn't work quite right. We'll try again: http://blackhillstravelblog.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/blackhills

CaribbeanChick

We just came back from Rapid City on Sunday, we saw Mt. Rushmore.. it was about a 2 hour trip there...

Have fun!!

carolyn

We spent a night in Deadwood last fall and really enjoyed it (and we don't gamble). A Wild Bill Hickok look-alike rode down Main Street on his horse totin' his old 44 or whatever, and there is a play where he routinely gets shot and killed at a poker game. We also drove up to Boot Hill Cemetery where Wild Bill and Calamity Jane are buried. It's a very large and pretty cemetery with a good view over the town. If you can, drive the Scenic Highway 14A between Deadwood and Spearfish. It's lovely.


We saw the Devil's Tower, Wall Drugstore, Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, the Black Hills, and the Badlands driving east on the way home from Seattle to Kentucky and enjoyed it all. I hadn't realized there is so much to do in SD.

Samsaf

Thanks so much for all the information! It's fun to do the research for a new place.

padams421

Samsaf, will you please do a trip report when you return? I am thinking about going to the Dakotas later this summer. Thanks.

Samsaf

padams, I will definitely be doing a trip report!

DejaDeb

I simply LOVE these forums! We're doing a Badlands/Black Hills/Yellowstone trip next month ... now we know which restaurants to haunt!!

Samsaf

Our trip is next week, and we're really getting excited about seeing the sites.