monpetit

Hie!
we are french and usualy we are in southwest during our summer's vacation.
Next year, as we plan to be in SW in 2006 with our 2 daughters, we have idea to change and go to South Dakota.
itinerary project is :
arrival on a saturday :nights 1&2 in Rapid City(to visit on sunday and be quiet sunday night).
Then,nights 3&4 in Scenic(I've found some ranch B&B) : Badlands, Wall, Buffalo gap nat'l grassland.
Then,nights 5&6 in Hot springs(Scenic/Hot springs via Wounded knee, Pine ridge).
and then nights 7&8 in Deadwood.
We'll finish with one week in a dude ranch near Keystone(Sunday afternoon till next saturday) and back to Europe.
We plan to visit Badlands, mammoth site, Wind cave, Custer state park, Devil's tower,
Mount Rushmore and Crazy horse memorial.
We prefer limit our visits because what we like is hiking...so when we arrive in a park we try to hike for the full day...
Which is the best period during summer : 2nd and 3rd week of July or 3rd and 4th. ??
End of August??
Is the itinerary good or have I to change-the only thing wed cannot change is the arrival in Rapid City and the 2nd week in the ranch.
Erik.

arjay

As to the timing of your visit, my own preference would be the end of August, just because things are likely to be much less crowded. Many US students are back in school before our Labor Day weekend (first Monday of September)and towards the end of August families seem to be done spending and travelling and more focusing on school, etc. We found the Badlands to be very interesting - also the Black Hills (misnamed in our opinion - they're mountains!) Bienvenue! Hope you enjoy your visit!

Chatters

monpetit--- you are in for a treat! The sites you have scheduled to visit are indeed fascinating! I am w/Arjay on this one; the latest option is better, can you go in early June? That would be even better. Needless to say, read as much as you can on safety precautions when hiking in areas with active wildlife.

In Rapid City, I recommend staying at the Country Inn Suites by Carlson, great place to rest. Highly recommend you do the Bear Country USA, great fun! go early in the AM when the animals were up and active.

mlm59

Since you are planing to stay in Hot Springs, I recommend touring the Wild Horse Sanctuary a few miles south of town. We were there earlier this year and really enjoyed our visit.

Tess

I would stay away from the end of July. The Sturgis motorcycle rally is the first part of August and bikers start arriving about a week ahead of time and attractions and roads are crowded all over the hills.

The Radisson and Holiday Inn (both downtown) are nice. So is the Ramada Inn. As another poster said, so is the Country Inn and Suites. Steer clear of the Holiday Inn Express by the hospital (south side of town--the one on the north side is fine). Have fun!

Patrick

What a wonderful trip. I would agree that early June would be even better, but if that's not an option, I'd go for the very end of August (carrying into September if possible) or the first part of July. I always feel the worst time for that type of trip in the US is from the 4th of July to the end of August -- that's when so many families take those trips.

John

I would also suggest the end of August as July can be EXTRMELY HOT. First week of September may be even better.

kodi

I agree, stay away during the motorcycle rally in Sturgis.
I also agree with going on a tour of the Wild Mustang Tour when you are in HOt Springs.
YOur itinerary looks good, but I'd recommend driving Needles Parkway. It's a beautiful drive and from one of the lookouts, you get a beautiful view of Mount Rushmore.
If you are going up to Deadwood for a couple of days, do think about driving to Spearfish. The drive through Spearfish canyon is really beautiful.
Have a wonderful trip. WE loved it there. Oh, and Bear Country was really enjoyable, especially the nursery with all the baby beafs and wolves.

kodi

Opps.. that should be baby bears, not beafs.

monpetit

Thank al of you for the responses.
As we have to "challenge" with school's holidays and my "associate's " holidays, we've planed finaly from 23rd of July to 6th. of august...
Strurgis rally is planed in 2005 from 8
to 15th. of August and so the week before, we'll be in the ranch and so
the crowd on the roads are not so a
problem...
Erik.

wanderluster

One way to avoid the Sturgis crowds would be to focus on South Dakota the first week but forgo the week at the dude ranch. Instead travel west to take in Devil's Tower and on to Yellowstone, the jewel of the west. Almost seems a shame to be that close (less than one day's drive) to Yellowstone and not see it. Or perhaps you've been or planning for another trip?

Just another idea you might want to consider. Have a good trip.

sven

The rally has now spread from one week to a two week event. We will have thousands (200,000) bikers here the week before the actual start. I would just make sure you get your reservations as soon as possible. I would also go up to Sturgis on your last night in the hills, it is quite a site.