TAW

Anyone stayed here or have any info on this place? Tripadvisor gives it a #2 rating for Custer...and the price is right (for me)! My criteria are clean, clean, clean, and comfortable beds and good water pressure for showers and a microwave, fridge and in-room coffee and not noisy.
Thanks in advance for your replies.

RedRock

We have been to Custer SD dozens of times. The main strip is lined with motels, none are expensive. Last year we stayed at the Dokota Cowboy Inn on the west side of town Jct 16/385, that one was less than a $100. The one across the street is also a good one, forget the name but it sets back off the highway (US16). Some have the frig and M/W. All the motels we have ever stayed in there have been clean, clean, clean. We also require that, you could do as we do... Before checking in ask to see the room, look and smell for yourself, we have never been told no..... We have never made prior arrangements for a motel room and have never found all the towns motels full.

TAW

Thank you. That's what my husband wants to do...just go and then find a place. Our time frame is right after Memorial Day and we want to spend about 3-4 nights in that area. I, on the other hand, am always more comfortable with reservations - less stressful for me since I do all of the planning, etc. Thanks for your reply.

jtrandolph

For Custer, SD, I agree with the previous post. We have driven across the US and back twice, and in smaller towns I trust my look-see rather than Tripadvisor. It is perfectly OK to stop at a couple or more motels, ask to see a room, and then decide.

RedRock

That early in the season you will have your pick of anywhere in town. Things don't get started in the Black Hills until the last of June to the 4th of July. You may even see bargan prices posted out front of some of the motels.

We like to live on the wild side, we have never made reservations in all our travels across this great land of ours.

Never have had any problems finding a room either. We do this by sticking to the older US highways and the small towns.

TAW

OK, I can go for that...Now here's another question along the same lines...After we leave South Dakota we plan to head to Cody to see the Buffalo Bill Hist. Center (we missed it last time) and drive the Beartooth and Chief Joseph scenic highways then on to Montana and Glacier NP. Do yo think at that early in June we can forego reservations also? Even in Glacier? I had planned on looking for something in Whitefish or Kalispell.
Then we go into Canada and I KNOW I need reservations there as that's what other Fodorites on the Canada board told me.
I look for ward to your replies. Thanks in advance. BTW, we're not on any schedule...can stay at any place as long as we want...to see whatever we want to see and do. (Retired and lovin' it)

RedRock

That early you will be well ahead of the crowds. You should have little problems with places to stay. If you do not plan on going into Yellowstone you can get an early start out of Cody and make Red Lodge or further with no problems for the next nights stay. The quickest way would WY-120 north out of Cody to WY-296 and across Dead Indian Pass to US-212 and the BearTooth. That early there should be a lot of snow on top, several years we went across the second day after the BT was open. Here is the MT DoT site http://www.mdt.mt.gov/travinfo/beartooth/ The pictures of the BT may be of some interest.

Glacier/Kalispell area has been no problem for us with motel rooms. One suggestion, if you are a member of the AAA get the maps and Tour Books, they work wonders for locating local motel areas, for ever AAA motel listed in the Tour Book there are normally two or three other motels (not AAA) in the same area, this gives you a good idea as to the availibility of places to stay. Do the look and smell test and you are in business... We are also retired and yes it is nice!!