mat54

In the early stages of planning a road trip. Our starting and ending point is Canada - southern Ontario - but will head to Chicago for a few days first then on to Badlands National Park. Any thoughts on some sights/destinations in between? Timing: early to mid June. Would if possible prefer every leg of this trip to have something interesting worth travelling to, even if a little out of the way, would like more than just a roadside hotel with a bed for the night, and don't want marathon drives every day. After Badlands will head up to Theodore Roosevelt in ND and then possibly to Grasslands National Park in Saskatchewan, Canada before heading gradually home (although we may save the last for another trip in which case I'll be looking for another interesting route home). So any other insights to that general section of North America would be welcomed. We are active mid-aged, no kids, love nature, scenery, birdwatching, light to moderate hiking, interesting small towns and good food.

qwovadis

roadtripusa.com

did that route a few years ago mu favs

Wall Drugs

Deadwood

Crazy Horse Monument

Devils Tower WYO truly amazing to climb

Cody Yellowstone.com if time

Mt Rushmore sort of underwhelming for me.

gorp.com good hiking info.

Ozarksbill

Are you going west via I-90? Not alot to see. Corn fields and wheat fields. qwovadis has named a few sites in SD area but mostly beyond Badlands in the Black Hills which has scenery, caves, lakes, etc. Badlands seems a strange destination in and of itself. Usually it is a stop off to more beautiful scenery.

Bill in Boston

emalloy

Grant's home in Galena and Effigy Mounds are on the way.

mat54

OK, Ozarksbill comment is making me think. I have had friends who visited Badlands and described it as a spectacular area of unusual scenery, interesting wildlife and geology, all of which interest me. I have thought about including the Black Hills, although I've read things that give the impression that area is more commerically developed for tourism. In general I tend to prefer a little more off the beaten track destinations, not necessarily "remote", but minimum traffic jams or kitsch. But that's why I'm posting here first - looking for some directions to do my research in (I'm looking at a large area with lots of options, hoping to have a bit more focus before hitting the bookstores etc.).

Gardyloo

I'd recommend a loop. One direction I'd head south to Omaha and then cross Nebraska via the Sand Hills - use SR 2 from Grand Island toward Chadron; very interesting and remote-feeling country. You'll pass some of the pioneer landmark rocks en route also.

In the other direction, stop at Mitchell and visit the Corn Palace - real Americana. http://www.cornpalace.org/

WhereAreWe

Most direct route takes you through Madison, Wisconsin and then west along I-90 to the Badlands. Plenty of stuff to do in/around Madison. Devils Lake State Park near Baraboo is supposed to be pretty, and the International Crane Foundation is nearby which might interest you. Spring Green is close by with Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin. New Glarus is an interesting little town. Between Madison/LaCrosse you'll pass through the Coulee region with some pretty scenery if you get off the interstate.

You'll cross the Mississippi River with several state parks up and down the river and probably some good bird watching/hiking opportunities. Some great views from the bluffs looking down onto the river.

Minneapolis/St. Paul isn't that far out of your way on that route, only about 1.5 hours at the closest point.

Red Wing, MN is sort of an interesting small town. Austin, MN has the Spam museum which is right on the way and a good waste of an hour. Lanesboro, MN has a great bike trail, nice town.

Pretty sure there are some Laura Ingalls Wilder/Little House on the Prairie tourist stops on the way as well.

Blue Mounds State Park and Pipestone National Monument are in SW Minnesota and nice places to visit. I've wanted to go to Palisades State Park in South Dakota as well.

Ozarksbill

Exactly, as WhereAreWe says, there are indeed interesting places right along I-90 if you wish to take the time. Living in Illinois we driven with kids out west and found stop offs...like Pipestone, Little House (at De Smet a bit north of I-90) etc. Want to tour Mayos Clinic at Rochester, MN? We've camped at Devils Lake St Pk and enjoyed Baraboo with a circus museum there. And New Glarus etc. Oh yes, for sight seeing you can't beat Wisconsin Dells and a boat ride. Yes, also we've seen New Glarus, Taliesin (a bit off I-90), and with a son in grad school many times have enjoyed Madison. Of course all this depends on how much time.

As for my Badlands comments, we did enjoy camping there and climbing the rocks. Had quite a wind storm come up at night.
But as said this is not really a destination but en route to Cutler State Park with much to see and do in the Badlands.
Bill in Boston

Dyer

Go to www.visitmitchell.com
and to www.cityofmitchell.org

Mitchell, S.D. is one hr. west of Sioux Falls on I-90. The prehistoric Indian Village is on the north side of Mitchell and is very interesting. Mitchell is about 3 hrs. from the first exit to the Badlands Nat'l. Park off of I-90 (before Wall, SD). One hour west of Mitchell is Chamberlain on the Missouri River. Al's Oasis restaraunt is the first exit west of the river and has alittle shopping, good food and some western art throughout the cafe. It is well marked.

musicfan

We visited DeSmet several years ago (I am a longtime Laura fan) and found it to be quite charming. If you drive through Huron you will see the world's largest pheasant!

If you find yourselves in NW Nebraska, visit Fort Robinson State Park...very historic site, several museums, activities (horseback riding, Jeep rides through the nearby buttes, fishing) and a restaurant. Have been many times and always enjoy it.

Reediejr

We enjoyed these side trips (pretty much same route as you, we are from Cincy):

Devils Tower
Scott's Bluff (probably my favorite)
Buffalo Gap National Grassland
Oglala National Grassland
Ft Laramie
Custer State Park/Needles Highway (lots of wildlife)
Black Hills/Mt Rushmore (part of it very touristy but surrounding area gorgeous)
Mammoth Site (probably a close second favorite)

mat54

Thanks all. I'm going to have to read more about the Black Hills - as mentioned, I had the impression the area was "touristy" but some of you are saying there is still lots of beauty. Any more insights or suggestions for accommodations would be great.

Ozarksbill

Definitely Ft. Robinson which we discovered en route to Black Hills and enjoyed even more than than the BH...but it is some distance south.