Trip to Montana, Wyoming, Dakotas
 

Planning a trip this summer to Wyoming, Montana and the Dakotas. Need Ideas on sites not to miss. Leaving KC and making it a driving tour

What time of year? For how long? What are your interest? Etc. etc.

Rough route you can add to it easily:
KC to Mitchell SD (6.5 hours) See the Corn Palace.
Mitchell to Rapid City. See Badlands and Mt. Rushmore at a minimum.
Rapid City to Fryburg ND (US 85 mostly). See south unit of Teddy Roosevelt NP.
Fryburg to Gardiner MT or somewhere in Yellowstone if you are lucky to get lodging in the park.
See as much of the park as you can before spending a night in Idaho Falls ID (via West Yellowstone MT).
Idaho Falls to Rock Springs, WY.
Rock Springs to Ogallala Nebraska. There is a nice lake there.
Ogallala back to KC.
Total of about 2760 miles (41 hours) plus what you drive in tours of the various parks.

I'd also recommend the Badlands and Mt Rushmore along with Custer State Park and the Needles Highway (actually a 2 lane road). Wind Cave National Park is nearby, but I've never been there.

You don't have to stay in Yellowstone or Grand Teton Parks to visit. Dubois, WY is a small nearby town to the Tetons - very nice to visit away from the crowds. The Idaho side of the Tetons can be cheaper for lodging. Signal Mountain is a great location to stay (if you can get in) or just to have a good dinner and watch the sunset. Also, stop into Jackson Lake Lodge for lunch at their Pioneer Grill (old time diner) or get reservations in the Mural Room for dinner. Take the hike to Hidden Falls and beyond if you enjoy hiking. Head to the top of Signal Mountain Rd to watch the sunset. If you have 4 wheel drive, head off on the dirt roads to catch wildlife at dawn and dusk and be away from the crowds.

Jackson, WY is definitely a tourist town but can be quiet fun to visit, restaurants, shops, rodeo. Cody, WY also has summer rodeos.

West Yellowstone is a good location for a base to make day visits into Yellowstone. Take the walk down the steps to get into and see the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Ten Sleep, WY is a beautiful valley even if your merely driving through.

Flaming Gorge at the CO/WY border is beautiful and remote.

Don't forget your binoculars for wildlife viewing.

We were thinking of going late June or July after the 4th. Maybe 10 days. My husband cant hike, Walking is with a cane. We are interested in the natural beauty, Historic sites. Wild life viewing. Know there is a road everyone says to take but lost the info on it, for the scenic views Have never been.

Great drives in the Western SD: Badlands, Custer state park wildlife loop (animals), needles highway (views), iron mountain highway (views, tunnels that frame mt Rushmore also known as hwy 16a), Spearfish Canyon.
Avoid the Hills the first weekend in August (sturgis bike rally).

Leaving KC, there isn't a lot to see along the way until you reach the SD Badlands near Wall, SD. You could enter there & do the driving loop in a 1/2 day minimum, or leisurely explore for the day & stay in Rapid City/Black Hills area (1 hour West) that evening. Explore Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse monument (Cliffside carving on scale of Mt. Rushmore/Native American Museum on grounds), Mammoth Dig Site (Enclosed building/museum with sinkhole filled with Mammoth prehistoric creatures as they fell/easy walking/also self-guided option with headphones)at Hot Springs - drive thru Custer State Park to see bison, antelope, etc. - Iron Mt. Road or Needles Hwy (hairpin turns, tunnels, slower driving). We've stayed at Hill City or Custer, SD within the Hills for easy, close-by, comfortable day-drives; can even return to room for a nap if you choose before sampling at the local winery! We've also taken a day trip from there to Devil's Tower, WY - left at 8:00 AM; were easily back for evening dinner by 6:00 PM. (Devil's Tower has a walking path around it, but some of it is on an uphill grade).
From Black Hills you could either go to Devils Tower & head towards Yellowstone, or head North to ND Badlands & cowboy town of Medora. SD Badlands are chalk-colored; ND Badlands are more the color of the Grand Canyon. Easy day-driving; the small town of Medora has a lot of shops, museums, etc. as well as the famous Medora Musical - an outdoor ampitheatre set in the Hills (also handicap-accessible). As an option, they have a Steak Pitchfork Fondue/Buffet each evening that's quite popular. You could spend a day or two there; no need for more. From there you could continue on to Yellowstone. SE of Billings, MT (Near Hardin) is Custer Battlefield/Little Bighorn, if you like historical sites. They have an interesting museum/battleground drive.
Think of a "loop" - from Black Hills, you could go to ND, on to Yellowstone, on to see Devils tower, back to Black Hills, or reverse the order if you please. Have Fun!

So just want to report on our amazing trip to South Dakota and Wyoming. We went the 8th of July 2017. If we go again would go in June or August. It was over 90 degrees and some of the animals wanted to see were high up where could not see. Left from KC around 8 am and took I 29 To Sioux City, Then I 90 across to Mitchell, SD. We had lunch at a Texas Roadhouse and it was good and seemed slightly different from the ones in Missouri some how. Stayed at Days Inn, It was ok, but construction made it slightly out of the way and it was not anything special. I had played on eating at the Depot, but wasn't hungry after the big lunch. Saw the Corn Palace, Interesting for a few minute stop. THe murals are interesting, hard to believe they use the corn to make.
Day 2 Mitchell SD to Rapid City. Saw signs all morning to Stop at Wall, SD and Wall Drug. Tourist trap, lots of little stores and the food was over priced and not very good. Interesting story of how it began though. There was a rest stop by the Missouri river that had a great view. Went thru the Badlands in the afternoon. It was 116 on our truck thermometer. It is amazing rock formations though. Got to Rapid city by late afternoon. We stayed at Big Sky Lodge. IT was reasonable, but an old motel. Had a hot tub but had to take the lid off and on and put rocks on it--too much hassle so did not use. Has a reasonable breakfast included. I went in and got a few things and we ate on our way to next stop. Great view of Rapid City in pm. Staff very nice and helpful. Had a bed, shower, and AC. It worked best for my Husband as we were parked right in front of our door. Was easy to get to. Ate at a great place (I had on my list and they recommended it too.) Colonial House, wide variety, specials, reasonable prices, nice staff.
Day 3-out by 9am and headed on 16 South to see mount Rushmore. Stopped at Bear Country USA Its a wild life reserve. Enjoyed the Bears. Took 16a from there(Iron Mountain HWY) interesting drive and beautiful views of Mount Rushmore. We then travelled thru Custer State Park and saw a big herd of buffalo, circled around and ate at Legion Lake and Had a good burger. Came back up on Needles Hwy (HWY 87) beautiful and several tunnels that were interesting. Stopped at Mount Rushmore and saw the area. Back to Big Sky late afternoon and tired so ordered Pizza delivery. I had lots planned but Had to choose battles with husband what we got to do. There was a Mammoth Site at Hot Springs that would have been cool and would have liked to at least drive past Crazy Horse but did not get to.
Day 4 Back on I90 and stopped at Sturgis and looked around nice town. Stopped at Knucklehead Bar and got a tee shirt. Thru Deadwood but did not stop. Continued west to Wyoming. The Visitor Center leading into South Dakota and Wyoming are great places to get info and Ideas for stops. Husband Nixed the stop at Devils Tower. Went thru Big Horn State park, but did not go to Little big Horn. We took HWY 16 thru Ten Sleep to Worland then north and at 14 go west to Cody. 14 is another way there but curvy and more mountainous. We stayed in Worland as it was late but wish we would have gone on at it was a pit. Don't Stay at TownHouse Motel. Bad.
Day 5 ON to Cody. Had Breakfast at Granny's--very good. Went on to Yellow Stone via HWY 16. Stopped at the cabin we were staying. Trails Inn Shop. It is a rustic cabin with nice bed coverings and nice bathroom with fluffy towels. I am sure the cabin is perfect in cooler weather but in 9o+ weather it was not comfortable. No AC and the box fan did not have a long enough cord to put in the window. Had to go to Cody and buy an extension cord and a surge protector for extra outlets. Continental breakfast was a basket in the fridge with a muffin, oatmeal, orange, trail bar, and apple juice. There is a restaurant open 4p-10p but not open on Wednesday. Great view. 20 miles to Cody and 20 miles to east entrance to Yellowstone. Did the lower loop of Yellowstone--0ld faithful included.
Day 6 Back to Cody, went to some shops, Ate at Irma's and went to the Bill Cody Museum and the Rodeo. Nice day.
Day 7 Back to Yellowstone and did the upper loop and left out the north entrance into Montana and took Chief Joseph Hwy (206, I think) back to Cody. Beautiful drive. Ate at Trails Inn Shop. Pricey for us but a really nice meal, Steak tender, grilled asparagus, Cheese cake for dessert.
Day 8--left thru the east entrance of Yellowstone, lower loop to entrance of Tetons. They were gorgeous. Went thru Jackson and travelled down HWY 191 to Rock Springs to I80 and headed east. Had plans to stop and see Jackson but kept going and were going to stop in Western history towns like Medicine Bow and Laramie, but had a long drive home so kept going. It was a long day we finally stayed in Cheyenne WY for the night at Comfort inn, Nice and Ate at a Rib Chop House which was great.
Day 9 on to Council Bluffs IA and spent night at Hampton Inn next to the Ameristar. Gambled a little and slept
Day 10 On home
Tidbits. Bought our National Parks entry at Badlands and we got in to the Yellowstone as well for that card. Made it affordable Herd they raised the price to 80 now, we paid 20 one time and the card got us in after that. Get gas when you see a station as it can be a long time between. Get gas outside of Parks it is expensive inside. Bring a cooler and fill it up out side of the parks with drinks and ice. Also suggest get picnic stuff --bread, meat, fruit, chips, etc so can eat when and where you want for lunch. It was hot when we were there and so some animal were in the high country. Did not see moose, big horn or elk. But we saw lots of buffalo and antelope and 3 bears. If it has been cooler would have seen the others. Really cool road trip. 3440 miles for us round trip. We are still married after that too. HAHA. Want to go back in cooler month and see Tetons and Yellowstone and might go north to Glacier park in Montana. Not enough time. Thanks for everyone's help on the planning

Thanks for reporting back. Glad you had a good trip, you covered a lot of territory!