Bighorn or the Badlands?
#1
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Bighorn or the Badlands?
I'm researching tours of Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, the Grand Tetons.
Most of them are pretty similar and hit the places I want to see but they give short shrift to South Dakota and eastern Wyoming. I did find one tour that includes the Badlands and Custer State Park but it skips Little Bighorn. (It also includes Spearfish Canyon.)
On the one hand, I feel like I'd be more interested in the Badlands and Custer, just for a chance to see some bison and some really different terrain than I'm used to on the East Coast. And I'm not a military history buff.
On the other hand, seeing Bighorn would give me a chance to set foot in Montana, crossing off another state. Some tours even go into Idaho a little bit. I know it sounds a little shallow and I wouldn't be seeing very much of these states but it means something to me and I'm not likely to get back to the area.
I considered planning my own trip so I could set my itinerary but I'm in my 50s, I'd be doing it alone, and I just want to have someone else do the driving.
So which is more of a must-see - the Badlands and Custer State Park or Little Bighorn?
Thanks.
Most of them are pretty similar and hit the places I want to see but they give short shrift to South Dakota and eastern Wyoming. I did find one tour that includes the Badlands and Custer State Park but it skips Little Bighorn. (It also includes Spearfish Canyon.)
On the one hand, I feel like I'd be more interested in the Badlands and Custer, just for a chance to see some bison and some really different terrain than I'm used to on the East Coast. And I'm not a military history buff.
On the other hand, seeing Bighorn would give me a chance to set foot in Montana, crossing off another state. Some tours even go into Idaho a little bit. I know it sounds a little shallow and I wouldn't be seeing very much of these states but it means something to me and I'm not likely to get back to the area.
I considered planning my own trip so I could set my itinerary but I'm in my 50s, I'd be doing it alone, and I just want to have someone else do the driving.
So which is more of a must-see - the Badlands and Custer State Park or Little Bighorn?
Thanks.
#2
Since you think you won't be back out I definitely would choose Badlands. The scenery is unique like nowhere else in the country. You will see plenty of Bison in Yellowstone so that need not be a considertion.
#3
Although I've visited the badlands and Mt Rushmore and enjoyed them, I really don't think there's enough major interest to make them the goal of a lengthy trip. (That's just me, others probably think differently.)
Yellowstone and Grand Tetons have many different areas of interest - enough to justify a week or more, and can easily be done together on one trip, either by self-driving, public transport, or tours.
In Yellowstone you are very likely to see all sorts of critters: Bison, Elk, Black and Grizzly Bears, 2 legged cameras, and dozens of others.
Although most of Yellowstone & Grand Tetons are in Wyoming, they overlap into, and some of their major gateways and lodging areas are in, MT and ID
Yellowstone and Grand Tetons have many different areas of interest - enough to justify a week or more, and can easily be done together on one trip, either by self-driving, public transport, or tours.
In Yellowstone you are very likely to see all sorts of critters: Bison, Elk, Black and Grizzly Bears, 2 legged cameras, and dozens of others.
Although most of Yellowstone & Grand Tetons are in Wyoming, they overlap into, and some of their major gateways and lodging areas are in, MT and ID
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Thanks for the replies.
I really do want to see both South Dakota and Wyoming. I've never been to that part of the country. I'm not very outdoorsy so I'm fine with getting a brief look at them.
I thought about flying into Billings, renting a car for Yellowstone, then taking a bus to Rapid City and renting another car to see the South Dakota sites, or even driving between the two cities.
But I'm just at the point in life where I wouldn't enjoy driving long distances on unfamiliar roads, not knowing where the twists and turns are located. It would be more stressful than relaxing and I wouldn't be able to enjoy the scenery!
You're right, I could easily spend a week in the Yellowstone-Grand Tetons area, and I do understand that. But I think I'll be happy with a 10- or 11-day tour that just gives me an overview of the region.
And I really do appreciate hearing everyone's perspective. There's so much great information these forums!
I really do want to see both South Dakota and Wyoming. I've never been to that part of the country. I'm not very outdoorsy so I'm fine with getting a brief look at them.
I thought about flying into Billings, renting a car for Yellowstone, then taking a bus to Rapid City and renting another car to see the South Dakota sites, or even driving between the two cities.
But I'm just at the point in life where I wouldn't enjoy driving long distances on unfamiliar roads, not knowing where the twists and turns are located. It would be more stressful than relaxing and I wouldn't be able to enjoy the scenery!
You're right, I could easily spend a week in the Yellowstone-Grand Tetons area, and I do understand that. But I think I'll be happy with a 10- or 11-day tour that just gives me an overview of the region.
And I really do appreciate hearing everyone's perspective. There's so much great information these forums!
#5
It would be ideal if you could find a tour that stopped at the Whitney Museum of Western Art and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, WY https://centerofthewest.org/explore/western-art/
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