Need help planning itinerary. DH and I fly into Denver Friday, May 21. We fly out Sunday, May 30. DH especially wants to see Mount Rushmore. We are renting an SVU. We want to see great scenery and take easy, short hikes. Would it be best to drive to Mount Rushmore at the beginning or end of our trip? All suggestions appreciated. It’s our first trip since we both retired.

I won't say which end to do it on but if you go to Mt. Rushmore I would not miss touring the Badlands at the same time. On our trip west with our kids I found this one of the most interesting parts of the great American West.

Don’t miss Crazy Horse (take the bus ride which offers a ranger talk and a closer view. Listen to a ranger talk at Mount Rushmore. Both Rushmore and Crazy Horse offer night time light shows. Don’t miss Needles Hwy (Custer State Park) Stop in Bear Country if you enjoy watching bears. If time permits Devil Tower National Monument in Wyoming is definitely worth a few hours too. I also agree to not miss the Badlands.