Yellowstone to Rapid City
 

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to plan a road trip from Yellowstone to Rapid City in the next few weeks. Anyone know how long it takes to drive from Yellowstone, Wyoming, to Rapid City, South Dakota? Yahoo! Maps lists the drive (via US-14 and I-90) as 7 1/2 hours.

Is it possible to make side trips to Little Big Horn and Devil's Tower all in one day, or should we stop somewhere overnight (suggestions??) before driving into Rapid City the next day?

We have a 9-day trip planned, starting out at Grand Tetons and Yellowstone, Wyoming, then heading towards Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, Badlands, South Dakota.

Tentatively, we're planning one day's travel from Wyoming to South Dakota, but it may be a bit ambitious if we want to visit Little Big Horn and Devil's Tower. Thanks.

We stayed our last night at Roosevelt Cabins Yellowstone. Then drove out early a.m. on BEARTOOTH HIGHWAY to LITTLE BIG HORN, CODY, DEVIL'S TOWER, then saw MT RUSHMORE & CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL BOTH that evening, before arriving late at our reserved camping.

so YES it can be done. Some might say it is too much. Note the closing times of Mt Rushmore & Crazy Horse & you can view them in the evening.

On your vacation, be sure to go through CUSTER STATE PARK and also go to MAMMOTH SITE. These are both really neat places.

We also went to the DEADWOOD "street shootout" and the cemetery where Calamity Jane & Wild Bill are buried.

& of course, are you going to the BADLANDS?

I'm taking a similar trip in September. I've done the drive from rapid city to yellowstone in one day before with a stop at devils tower. It was just my husband and I and we were in our late 20's. All I remember is getting to Yellowstone in the dark.

My parents will be with us on the trip this year so the pace may be slower. I looked for somewhere to stay between the two areas but there isn't much. I guess we will just get an early start and you do the same.

Have a great trip!

I wouldn't want to be that rushed but I guess it can be done.

A few things to keep in mind. The Beartooth Highway is closed this year because of mudslides. Hwy 14 from Yellowstone Lake to Cody has road construction starting at Sulivan Pass to the east entrance. The road is closed nightly between 8 P.M. and 8 A.M. During the week there can be 1/2 hour delays.

http://www.nps.gov/yell/planvisit/or...l/roadclos.htm

Utahtea

thanks for the info Utahtea!! We'll be heading out there the last week of Augustand learning the roads that are closed will be helpful/
.

Rather than start a new thread I thought I'd add to this one as my question is similar.

I'm considering this itinerary\sights but doing this at the end of OCT 2006.

Will the routes be snow bound or will weather be a problem either driving or sightseeing?

Thanks