We are headed to Mt. Rushmore this year, probably flying into Denver, then on to Cheyene, Carzy Horse, and Mount Rushmore. We want to visit some of North Dakota but must fit all of this trip into a week. Anything in the southwestern part to see?

Would we be better to start at an airport in SD or ND and hit Colorado another trip?

A week? Is that 5, 7 or 9 days?

Denver to Rapid City is 400 and about 7 1/2 hours of driving time. If you have to do that coming and going you will waste two days of your one weeks time. Could you possible fly right into Rapid City?

Theodore Roosevelt National Park in N. Dakota is worth seeing but it's 250 miles and 5 hours of driving time (one way) from Rapid City, SD.

If you only have 5 - 7 days, I would say fly into Rapid City and spend tour time at Mt. Rushmore, Badlands National Park, Custer State Park, Wind Cave National Park and Deadwood City and possibly a side trip to Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming.

If you have the 9 days then add N. Dakota OR fly into Denver and do the driving.

Utahtea

The exact duration of my "week" is flexible so I may go for the 9 day "week". Thanks for the suggestions.

It is a LONG drive between Denver and Rapid City. Not much of anything but rolling hills and that can get tedious for hours on end. We drove it in the rain as well. The wind can be very strong along these hiways so watch out.
Fly into Rapid City. Then you have more travel around time. As listed above I also recommend Needles Scenic Byway in the Rapid City area. We stayed at the Mountainview Lodge in Hill City SD. Very nice family atmosphere more centrally located than Rapid City and you can get a cabin for more privacy.
If you are going all the way to Devil's Tower go on another 100 miles or so to Little Big Horn Battlefield. Just into Montana. Home of Custer's Last Stand. I got the same kind of "AWE" reading the odds the Cavalry were up against that day as I did in front of the Vietnam Memorial. This was a place I had always wanted to visit and very glas I have.

That would be Glad I have. At Mt. Rushmore treat yourself to a stuffed pretzel. They were wonderful and haven't found them anywhere else.