Drive from Yellowstone to Rushmore
 

Need some help with this part of our trip. We are checking out of Canyon Lodge on a Friday and heading to Rushmore. I've read that Beartooth is a must drive. We do not need to arrive in Rushmore until Sunday. Recommendations on how to get to Rushmore, where to stay and what to see? Ideally I'd like a little more time at YNP so perhaps spend the morning in the park and leave early afternoon? Any thoughts and assistance are appreciated.

What time of year are you going? What direction are you entering the park from? The Beartooth drive is long, winding, high up in the mountains with great views, but it does take time, especially if you encounter weather. Assuming you're traveling in summer months, you'll want to leave early AM to avoid park traffic. One route you can take is drive the route until you come out near Red Lodge, MT & continue on to I-90. Near Hardin, MT (SE of Billings) is Custer Battlefield/Little Bighorn. You could visit the museum/battlefield drives, and continue on I-90 when finished, eventually ending up in the Black Hills (proper name for area containing Mt. Rushmore). I would suggest staying in Hill City or Custer, SD, as they are small towns centrally located to most attractions with numerous lodging/eateries.
As for what to do in Black Hills - what's your allocated time? I would visit Mt. Rushmore of course, but there's a lot to do there as well. Jewel Cave (near Custer, SD) is a great underground attraction to see with guided tours, as well as Wind Cave. Mammoth Dig Site (sinkhole with prehistoric Mammoths still being excavated; enclosed in museum-type building) near Hot Springs very interesting. Custer State Park; drive thru Iron Mountain Road/Needles Hwy for scenic views/lakes/wildlife (you may get your fill of seeing bison in Yellowstone). Crazy Horse Monument/Native American museum (Hillside carving of Crazy Horse in process; very interesting). I would allocate minimum of two-three full days to enjoy the area, at least. But if your only interest is Mt. Rushmore, it CAN be enjoyed in 1/2 day.

Awesome - thanks. We are going in July, and have four days allotted for the Black Hills area. I will definitely look at the route you have suggested!

If you are a state collector as I am, continue east on I-94 to Miles City MT and go east on US 12 into North Dakota.
Take US 85 south from Bowman ND to get to Rapid City SD.
There is a small museum in Bowman if you are there when it is open. I remember finding a geocache on the back side of the museum when it was closed.

Lol - we are state collectors but must stay overnight for it to "count".

Several nice hotels in Bowman. http://bowmaninn.com/

If you did decide to "count" North Dakota, you could drive on I-94 to the small cowboy town of Medora. It's the entrance to the ND Badlands/Theodore Roosevelt National Park. There's a driving route where you'll see wild horses, prairie dogs & bison. The town offers Cowboy Hall of Fame Museum, Chateau De Mores house, numerous tourist shops. The other main attraction is the Medora Musical, which is held nightly in an outdoor ampitheatre set in the hills. They also offer the option of a Pitchfork Fondue steak buffet; both attractions are quite popular. You would need to book ahead for rooms in Medora; nearby Dickinson is more accessible for rooms datewise. You could leave directly South of Dickinson or take the above-mentioned route, and still be in Black Hills by Sunday evening, if you planned time wisely.

I actually was hoping to check off Montana somehow on this leg of the trip! We will already be staying in ID, WY and SD...any suggestions for a Montana overnight with things to see/do?

West Yellowstone and Gardiner are in Montana.

West Yellowstone is a good place to stay; West entrance to park is there. You could also leave Yellowstone on Friday as planned - by leaving the way of Beartooth Pass, you could leisurely close out your visit by seeing the spectacular views along that drive. You would eventually come out on I-94 near Billings, MT where you could stay for the night. Next morning, continue on route suggested above to I-90, where you could still visit Custer Battlefield on your way to SD.

Thank you - Billings would make sense with our current plan!