Minneapolis>ND>SD>Denver
 

I don't usually ask this question, but after a trip to major bookstore and trying to find info on line, I'm having a difficult time trying to quickly map out a plan for this trip. Want to get plane and room reservations, but have to roughly plan out days first. Need to have a big paper map, which I don't at the moment, to figure out the plan. Hoping someone has suggestions.

First day, after a long plane trip don't like to drive too far, so thinking of something near St Cloud MN. After that, we like to stay at least 2 nights in a place. So does anyone have suggestions of interesting areas to stop. Somewhere else in MN near Rt 94 or head to Bismarck via Rt 94?

Want to explore Roosevelt Park, so will probably look for a place near there for a few nights.

Imagine longest stay, up to 4 nights (?) will be in Mt Rushmore/Custer area. Would love to stay in Custer State Park, but doubt we'll find a room, especially for 4 nights. Is it feasible to stay in a central location to visit Mt Rushmore/Custer/Wind Cave?

Then will head to Denver maybe (?) via Cheyenne, WY

This is a 2 week trip so can do side trips off of main route. This is just a general route now starting in Minneapolis and ending in Denver. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Looking more for natural beauty/culture/walking than tourist attractions. Yes, I know Mt Rushmore is man made and a tourist spot, but not the strictly for tourist spots.

You might want to stay one night in Badlands National Park or Rapid City--then three nights in Custer State Park or The town of Custer.

Buy a National Park Pass at your first visit.

You could include Rocky Mountain National Park too.

I use Google Maps a lot when planning a trip

I still say look at flying into Rapid City. Yes, it is probably more, but you are probably looking at a very heft drop fee for your rental car, and your time, gas, and extra lodging nights are worth a lot.

Just rechecked Rapid City and it may be possible. Forgot about drop off charges, etc.

Again, a question I rarely ask because we always find so much to do, but would you recommend western SD and ND for 2 weeks. W always hiked, but due to DH back surgeries, won't be able to do much of that on this trip. Perhaps do a detour into WY one way???

Yes, if we returned to Denver, we'd probably go west of the Rockies so we could go through Rocky Mt Nat Park on way to Denver.

Since you are flying into Minneapolis and mention a long plane ride, I assume you don't live near Mpls. Have you spent any time in the Mpls. Area? If not, I would spend some time there and then head out from there. I would skip staying in St Cloud, as I think there is much more to see in the Mpls. Area.

If you keep the Minnesota leg of your trip, I would suggest taking an alternate route than I-94. There will be major road work on 94 on a stretch outside of the Twin Cites, from Clearwater to St. Cloud, from now through the end of July, and 94 will be down to one lane in both directions. Besides, there are prettier routes.

Highway 55 runs in that same direction and is much more scenic. It meets up with 94 again in Ferguson Falls, MN, if you need to be on 94. A second option is Highway 12, which runs through the Wilmar Lakes area and goes to Fargo-Moorehead, where it connects to 94 also. Both 55 and 12 go through the Glacier Ridge area, with lakes and scenic byways. There are several state parks and resort areas along the way.

I agree that Minneapolis is a good place to explore, as well as the area west of it, if that fits in with your plans.

I hope this helps!

"but would you recommend western SD and ND for 2 weeks. W always hiked, but due to DH back surgeries, won't be able to do much of that on this trip"

No, not for someone that is going to be limited on hiking.

You have 2 weeks but so far you've only mentioned about a week's worth of stops.

I'd expand the road trip a bit and go from Minneapolis up to Duluth, then drive up the North Shore of Lake Superior. Spend a few days doing that and driving west through northern Minnesota before continuing on to North Dakota. The North Shore and northern Minnesota have a lot of great state parks - you could also visit Voyageurs National Park if you make it that far. It would be well worth the extra driving rather than scrounging for things to do in western ND and SD for 2 weeks. The views along the North Shore alone are worth it, then add in some parks in the interior of the state and you can't go wrong.

Lodging around Theodore Roosevelt is tight because of the oil boom, make sure you have reservations well in advance. 3 nights for Theo Roosevelt for non-hikers is probably too much.

Badlands is well worth a day in South Dakota. Devils Tower is about an hour out of the way if you want to drive over there, maybe do that on your way from Theo Roosevelt to the Black Hills.

It's really up to you and how much you want to spend on the one-way drop off, you could just make a big loop and go back to Minneapolis. It would add a day to your drive vs. driving to Denver. If you do go to Denver then absolutely make the trip to Rocky Mountain NP.

Thanks for the replies and info on this area. After trying to book flights and find lodging at the wonderful looking park lodges, we have decided to postpone this trip until next spring. It does look like an area we want to take some time to enjoy. Will keep all your info until I "spring" into planning mode a bit earlier next year.

Another vote for teh Badlands when you do make the trip. I'd not spend too much time in eastern wyoming and head more toward Denver AND another vote for RMNP.

When in spring? There can be winter weather in April in any of those areas. Late May/early June would probably be ideal.

Yes, probably looking at late May or June for 2014.

We were in RMNP way back in 1976 so could certainly pay another visit there too, but guess the mountains haven't changed too much. Had my first bout of altitude sickness there, which was a surprise because it really wasn't that high and we had driven from the east so were gradually getting higher. On other trips, we've flown into a high altitude area and not had a problem. Go figure...

Just FYI - some of the Custer State Park lodges are booking already. We booked for June 2014 to get the dates/places we wanted.

Thanks for the heads up, lindsyb.

I've booked for June 2014 myself in Custer

For a two week trip I would for sure return the car wherever you rented it first. My style of travel is to go to a city and rent a car and make a big loop.
You could take the Amtrak Empire Builder from MSP to Minot ND and rent a car there to make your big loop.
Is there something you really want to see in Denver or is it just to fly home?