houston05

Trip Planning Help: I have 3 days to see all I can in the Rapid City/Custer/Mt. Rushmore area. 1st night staying in Rapid City (arrive very late) and 2nd and 3rd nights in Custer State Park. If someone has been before, please let me know if the below itinerary is doable and I would appreciate feedback! No kids and we won't do major hikes, just sight-seeing and look-out points. Where is the Crazy Horse Monument? Where is Devil's Tower in relation to these places and where is Deadwood?

Day 1 - Badlands National Park, Prarie Dog Town, Wall Drug, Spearfish Canyon - drive to Custer for overnight stay

Day 2 - Mt. Rushmore in the early morning light, Wind Cave, Mammoth Site, some of the Custer State Park activities (needles highway, pigtail bridges, wildlife loop), then back to Mt. Rushmore for evening ceremony - overnight Custer State Park

Day 3 - More Custer activities (Sylvan lake, Iron Mountain Rd), Jewel Cave and drive back to Rapid City for evening flight.

Thanks for any help!

Houston

Souette

First of all, when are you going? If you are going the 1st/2nd week of August...get ready for tens of thousands of motorcycles. It's the Sturgis Rally & Races and close to half-million motorcycles are in the Black Hills.
You need to do a Search for the historical sites and Parks in order to get your bearings.
I would start my first day in the Badlands at sunrise...makes all the difference of the colors you'll see. You should be through with Badland & Wall Drugs by noon. If you head to Spearfish Canyon, I would stay in Deadwood the first night. Neat little town w/trolly. Cheap eats & little casinos. And weather is cooler than Rapid City.
Devils' Tower is West across the Wyoming border. A couple of hours from Deadwood with not many sites to see on the way.
I've done all the sites you've mentioned and they are all worth your time. Just don't kill yourself trying to do it all in 3 days. It'll give you a good excuse to come back & stay longer.
I'm heading there in month on my motorcycle from TN. I love the Black Hills.

Lallie

I agree with Souette, if you go during the Strugis Rally, you will see thousands of bikers. You will also see higher motel costs. We know someone with a motel out there, and they really hike the price at that time. They have no problem filling up. I would also do the Badlands during the early morning. We have done all the things you are looking at. It is a beautiful area, enjoy, have fun. We have been there three times over the years.

houston05

We'll be there the first week of September. Hoping to miss the rally!

Houston

Cyonara

Your agenda seems way too ambitious for three days, but then I'm kinda old.

Are you staying at the State Game Lodge in Custer? The restaurant there is very good, especially if you like game (I don't). The main building was Calvin Coolidge's summer home.

You can see buffalo from your car, but the jeep tour in the park is ten tons of fun. One of the best drinks I ever had was on the porch of the lodge after that hot, sweaty, dusty, bumpy but exhilarating tour.

I did not expect to be awed by Mt. Rushmore, but I was.