Mt. Rushmore and Black Hills Area

[clausjo]

Hi everyone, we're planning a trip up to Mt. Rushmore this summer, most likely a long weekend. Does anyone have any recommendations for hotels/lodges in the area? Also, any suggestions on "must sees" or anything else would be great. We're traveling from CO. Thanks everyone!

[Auntie B]

Hi Jodi! Next to Disney, the Black Hills are one of my favorite places to go!! There is so much to see and do – you are going to have a great time! We like to stay in Keystone – it is really in the middle of everything and only a couple of miles to Mt. Rushmore. We have stayed at the Roosevelt Inn a couple of times and just last summer we stayed at the Holy Smoke Resort. There are LOTS of places to stay. Keystone also has an old fashioned boardwalk with LOTS of shopping and eateries. One thing I would not miss is the lighting show at Mt. Rushmore. It is held every evening around dusk (9:00 pm or so). Take the Needles Highway drive – lots of gorgeous scenery and opportunities to take a hike. Sylvan Lake is beautiful as well. You can rent paddle boats and canoes or just take a swim. There are several hiking trails here – short ones around the lake or a 7 mile hike from Sylvan Lake to Harney Peak. We have ridden the steam train from Keystone to Hill City a couple of times. Hill City has lots of shops. If you do get there, have lunch at the Alpine Inn. There is also a winery in Hill City and you can sample before you buy. Rapid City has a water park, go cart track, the “famous” Dinosaur Park, Reptile Gardens, Bear Country – and many more touristy things.

Belinda ºoº

[NJGIRL]

I am interested in hearing the replies to your questions also. I started to plan a Mount Rushmore / Badlands trip a couple of years ago but gave up because I couldn't get a clear picture of the lodgings available in the area and also couldn't get a plan to come together with the air flight.

I would still like to make it there one day.

[Briansmom]

I can't help you with your planning as we only drove through the area BUT I just wanted to say that you will LOVE it there....there is some of the most gorgeous scenery there that I've ever seen. My jaw was constantly dropping. It was surreal seeing Mt Rushmore ....I never thought I would have the opportunity.

Have an amazing trip!

[Altair]

Possible list from CO;
I-25 to US26
Oregon Trail wagon ruts at Guernsey
Fort Laramie

US26 to US85 to Moorcroft or Sundance
Devil's Tower

I-90 to Deadwood
Wild Bill Hickok gravesite

Black Hills area
Mt. Rushmore
Needle's Highway
Custer State Park
Crazy Horse Memorial
Wind Cave National Park

I-90 East to Wall, SD
Wall Drug
Badlands National Park

Keystone or Custer are good places to stay in the Black Hills area.

If you have a National Park Pass be aware Mt. Rushmore is a separate fee.

[Auntie B]

If you are going to Deadwood, I would suggest you go from there to Spearfish and drive through Spearfish Canyon. Gorgeous area with a few waterfalls and short hiking trails.

[IloveDisney71]

We were in that area a few years ago and loved it. We went to the Badlands on our way to Mt. Rushmore. The Badlands were beautiful. Unlike anything I've ever seen. We also went to Custer National Park and saw hundreds of buffalo everywhere. They were so close to the car I could have reached out and touched them. Amazing! We also enjoyed seeing the Crazy Horse Memorial. I give a second vote for the Alpine Inn (in Hill City) - we had a fabulous lunch there. I don't remember where we stayed...it was just a hotel in the area. There is a lot to see and do there.

[Scott C]

We went there in '09, found some excellent cabins near Hill City - The Newton Fork Ranch. Found them by accident and could not have been happier. We took our Miata on that trip and spent most of the week just driving around. Custer State Park was great for the wildlife. Needles Highway was cool. You really need to slow down and relax on this trip -- it was so unlike being at WDW -- totally the opposite. Really enjoyed the Badlands also -- stayed in a cabin there for one night -- very primitive but clean. Wall drug a must do. I am an airplane nut so a visit to the museum at Ellsworth AFB was in order. I wish that I would have made ressies at Minuteman National park to take the tour of the missile launch complex, but I was unaware of the procedure -- they are very limited. The auto museum in Murdo was qurirky -- had some neat old cars even an Olds vista Cruiser similar to one that I own.

Would be glad to discuss further

Check out Newton Fork Ranch - they have a website.

Thanks
Scott C

[The Hitchhiking Ghost]

Do you camp? We camped in Custer State Park last summer at Stockade Lake campground, 2 A much more inexpensive way to see the area.

Otherwise I pretty much 2nd what everyone else has listed, except for Crazy Horse, I was more than satisfied to see it from the roadside and avoid the exorbitant fees.

[thrillme]

Love Mt Rushmore...lots to do in the summer. Hiking and horseback riding, Bear Country.

I don't know if you're looking at mostly adult or "kids" but Deadwood is pretty nice too. I haven't looked at it from a kids eye but they have nice casinos...very old westerny.

Devils Tower is not too far away either. We drove there on the motorcycle. Which brings the other thought if you go in the summer and your are NOT a motorcycle enthusiast you might want to choose a different time other than the first two weeks of August (I don't know the dates off the top of my head)...if you don't have reservations now...it may be hard to get them because that's when the Sturgis Motorcycle ralley is. Before or after you're fine. We did the rally last year. Had lots of fun. We didn't hit Buffalo Chip or Full Throttle but South Dakota on a motorcycle is incredible. Alas..if you do not like sharing the road with motorcycles...for those two weeks you are out of luck.

I honestly don't "stay" there because we have relatives IN Rapid City...but "Keystone" is pretty much where the "heart" of all the touristy stuff is. I want to say that IN Rapid City I think they just built a new Comfort Inn a couple of years ago which seems pretty nice. But then I like Comfort Inns...they're nice and the price is usually reasonable.

[Auntie B]

Motorcycle rally is August 6-12 this year. I wanted add the Peter Norbeck scenic highway is a really nice drive too. The "pig tail bridges" are pretty neat and there are several places to stop and just take in the beauty. I think you have made me decide a trip to the Hills is a necessity for us this summer!! Happy travels!

[Janmac]

We also merely looked at Crazy Horse from the parking lot.

I think you pay for parking at Mt Rushmore - they have a parking garage. Bison burgers were big when we were there. Everyone had to try one. I think I saw Abe Lincoln walking around. Characters at the National Parks.

Custer State Park and the pig tail bridges are must do and see.

The Badlands are about 90 miles from Mt Rushmore, so we see them on the way to or from the Black HIlls. The interstate can be quite windy.

We have camped in the Black Hills twice - our favorite campground is a Forest Service one west of Custer, but there are no hook-ups, just HUGE campsites.

We did enjoy our campground at Custer State Park, too. We were at Game Lodge.

Jan

[Mammabruski]

This thread really came in handy! We're planning on meeting my inlaws in SD this summer and we were trying to decide where to stay - we'll be camping. We decided on Custer State Park, and there were a bunch of choices in terms of campsites. We decided on the Sylvan Lake campsite based on the images of it (and the lake) and the raves about it here on Intercot.

I'm so excited and lucky! Not only do I get to go to WDW with MY family (but no DH, he can't make it this trip), I also get to have a second vacation to SD with DH and HIS family!!!