We kicked off our trip at about 10am MT, the drive from Denver took us 6 hours with one gas/snack stop. We set up camp at Wind Cave National Park and explored a bit. We then drove over to the iconic Mount Rushmore. We timed our arrival perfectly to catch the evening lighting ceremony, a truly unforgettable experience. The next day, we explored Crazy Horse Memorial, taking the bus tour for a closer look. Then, it was back to Mount Rushmore to soak in the daytime views before indulging in some delicious ice cream.
A highlight of the trip was undoubtedly Bear Country USA. This open-range zoo was a thrill for everyone, with animals roaming freely and getting incredibly close to our car. Even the bears!
We spent the late afternoon exploring Custer State Park, hoping to spot wildlife. The park is stunning, and we almost booked the steak dinner wagon ride, but exhaustion won out. A rainy evening meant hotdogs and cozying up in the car instead of making s'mores.
On our final day, we chose between Jewel Cave and swimming. The kids unanimously voted for Evans Plunge in Hot Springs, a refreshing end to our camping adventure. Our journey continued to the Badlands, with a mandatory stop at Wall Drug. Despite the wind and heat, the Badlands were impressive. Our trip wrapped up with a late-night drive back to Denver, exhausted but filled with memories.
We can't wait to return and explore more, including Devil's Tower, Deadwood, and Jewel Cave.
Accommodations: A Camping Conundrum
We opted for camping and chose Wind Cave National Park as our base. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a less-than-ideal location. While the park itself is beautiful, it's about an hour south of Mount Rushmore, which added significant travel time to our itinerary. To make matters worse, the caves were closed for renovations during our visit.
We highly recommend staying at the Mount Rushmore KOA for campers or opting for a hotel in the vicinity if you prefer more amenities. This will save you time and allow you to maximize your enjoyment of the Black Hills area.
Food: Camping Cuisine and Custer Charm
To save money and maintain flexibility, we stocked up on groceries at Costco before our trip. Our plan was to primarily cook our own meals at the campsite. However, the scorching 107-degree heat on our first evening forced us to seek refuge in the charming town of Custer. It was the perfect opportunity to experience local cuisine and enjoy a much-needed break from the campsite.
Tips:
Use “My Maps” on google maps to make your own little itinerary. It helps to group different locations together when planning.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/?hl=en
Have an awesome way to track your adventures – like the adorable water bottle from track your adventures or this scratch off poster -
https://trackyouradventures.com/collections/water-bottles
https://trackyouradventures.com/collections/scratch-off-posters
Traveling with kids? Print out an activity booklet including a 50-license plate game to keep them entertained. We also downloaded a 50 states song and learned it on the way!