ttt

you are looking at the rapid city area. i was there for 5 days in august. there are several hotels in the center of town that are all good. (it is almost impossible to go there and not rent a car...i wouldn't recommend it at all!!) custer state park is absolutely gorgeous and well worth the trip (45 mins from rapid city..tops). mount rushmore is what it is, basically you spend about an hour to two there and you are done. they are making progress on the crazy horse memorial as well that i would suggest you visit. i really enjoyed the badlands(south east of the city) but that is about a 1.5-2 hour drive. all in all i think it is a fabulous vacation. i am from ny so the open spaces were thoroughly enjoyed. you will want to spend lots of time in the national parks (they are tremendous).

oldorch

Would you recommend splitting your time, hotel-wise by staying in Rapid City, Custer State Park and badlands?

Take the Buffalo Safari which originates from Custer State Park Game Lodge (http://www.custerstatepark.info/custersp.htm)

We've been to the area twice on vacation.

The first time we made Custer State Park our home base and went to Wind Caves, Mt. Rushmore and the Badlands. We really enjoyed Custer but our trip to the Badlands on a day trip was to short.

The next time we went we split our time between Custer and Badlands and it was a lot better.

I can't recommend places to stay because we camped in our RV.

Utahtea

i would personally split time between custer state park and rapid city. badlands is a day trip from rapid city..don't plan on staying there.(.it's not worth it) when are you thinking of going? winter.summer??

We will be going in June! Right after school lets out.

I guess Rapid City would be a good location for sightseeing. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Badlands, Passion Play, Devil's Tower, maze, etc. Then go to Custer State Park and more or less relax in the area (no outside sightseeing) just do the safari, chuckwagon dinner, hike, swim for a day or 2 then head out

xxx
you will love it!!!
i am looking forward my next visit. the black hills and national parks there are outstanding.

Can anyone give a report on how and what you did and saw, the timeframe and places you stayed. I guess it is hard for me and possibly others to put a trip together without being familiar with the area and distances

I am not sure how far south this is from Mt Rushmore, because we were heading in that direction but...

This was is one of the coolest place I have ever been to:
The Mammoth Site
P.O. Box 692
1800 Highway 18 Truck Route
Hot Springs, SD 57747
605-745-6017
800-325-6991

The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs contains the largest concentration of Columbian and woolly mammoth bones discovered in their primary context in the world! More than 50 Columbian and woolly mammoths have been unearthed in this ancient, slippery-sided sinkhole. This National Natural Landmark is the only in-situ (bones left as found) display of fossil mammoths in America.