Yellowstone to Mt. Rushmore
 

Thingking of trying to take in Mt. Rushmore while visiting Yellowstone, Grand Tetons and Jackson. How long of a drive is it from Old Faithful to Mt. Rushmore? Best route to take and what to see on the way. Is there an alternate route to return?

Don't try it. It's a whole day drive between Yellowstone and the Black Hills, so you'll spend two days just to see one thing. Better to wait for another trip when you can see all of the Black Hills (you could spend a week there, easy) without spending hours on the road.

As best I can figure it, the distance is about 500 - 520 miles. The route is relatively slow because you must drive to Cody, Wyoming through the park.<BR>Then the route takes you over the Big Horn Mountains. If you ascend via Ten Sleep Canyon east of Worland, Wy, you will see something more spectacular than that defaced mountain we call Rushmore.<BR>(Sorry, but I think someone took a jackhammer and defaced a perfectly good mountain.) There is more than one way to deviate between Greybull and Rapid City, although I 90 is your quickest route. Driving over the Bighorns is fun, but go slow on the descent to the west because it is precipitous to the extent that your ears can hurt.<BR>But you can easily make a 1,200 mile round trip out of it. Should be doable in two days if you get with it and go.<BR>Not much time for stopping if you take only 2 days, so 3 days would be better.<BR><BR>Why not drive the Beartooth and Chief Joseph Highway's instead and see some better scenery??<BR>

It is too far for a day trip to and from Yellowstone but if you are doing it as part of a whole trip, it could work. <BR><BR>If you want a closer side trip, go out the northeast entrance down the Bear Tooth Highway over to Red Lodge then back track to the Chief Joseph's Hwy down to Cody, WY and then back in through the east entrance. It will definitely be a special day.

Bob Brown, too bad for you that you feel Mt Rushmore was defaced when the rest of us find it spectacularly amazing.

Amen

Thanks for your helpful responses. We'll make Mt. Rushmore and S. Dakota another trip.<BR>Having never seen Mt. Rushmore I'll have to reserve judgement until I have.

Just read through everyone's replies.<BR><BR>I will be coming the other way - from Ontario Canada, past Chicago, to Mount Rushmore / Badlands (& whatever else to see in North/South Dakotas, & Colorado and Wyoming.<BR><BR>Sounds like a long way between Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone. Still gonna' do it though. Will have no more than<BR>1-1/2 weeks actually in this area. Rest of time will be the long drive to & from home.<BR><BR><BR>Any suggestions on best way to plan my loop route? Don't want to cover same road on way back.<BR><BR>I will want to see EVERY National Park in those states.<BR><BR>Also other posts have mentioned Beartooth Highway, a jeep old mines tour (where's that?), Snake River float trip (where's Snake River?), Deadwood, etc.<BR><BR>p.s. - are there any ways to "flag" these messages so we can find our own topics / replies easily? (like in About.com travel forums)

Hi Sylvia,<BR><BR>I see you made it to this board. The only way I know of to find my messages is to search by my user name because I always sign my post that way. <BR><BR>Utahtea<BR><BR>

To Sharon: If you do have the time to go to Mt. Rushmore try to make it to Devil's Tower National Monument.<BR><BR><BR>http://www.nps.gov/deto/index.htm<BR><BR>I have heard that Mt. Rushmore was going to be very popular this summer because it's a patriotic symbol. <BR><BR>Utahtea

If you go to Rushmore, be sure to also visit the Crazy House Monument which is under construction/has been under construction for decades/will continue to be under construction for decades, but a worthwhile stop. And go to Custer State Park (stay at the Lodge if you can, or camp in the park if that is how you are traveling). Hook up with the Buffalo Safari that departs from the Lodge. We were just there and those vehicles drive right into the bison herds. Incredible experience. The guide went above and beyond the call of duty attempting to find other wildlife we easterners call 'exotic.' We saw moose, antelope, hyena's (sp) and heard wonderful stories. A most entertaining part of our trip.

Hyenas??

Connie, Is Chief Joseph's Highway into Cody also WY route 296?

Yes. You go through a beautiful valley called something like Sunshine Valley because of the way the sun shines into it.

Thankyou Connie. We are spending four days in YSNP in mid September. I had then planned to drive the Bear Tooth and double back and on to Cody as you suggested. That is unless there is more to see at the end of Bear Tooth. Then on to Mt Rushmore and home to VA.