Yellowstone, Custer SP, N & S Dakota

[Chuckanut]

I am considering a trip next year to Yellowstone, Custer SP and then other parts of North and South Dakota. We will be staying at hotels.

I am thinking of three days in Yellowstone, mostly near the Eastern part of the two big driving loops. Then Custer SP for a day ( or maybe two?), then to other places in the two Dakotas.

Where would be a good place to book a room near Custer SP?

What other sites in the Dakotas are worth a stop? I have seen Badlands NP and therefore don't need to hit that again.

Thanks.

 

[Gumby]

The Black Hills of South Dakota are incredibly beautiful. We drove there from Yellowstone, stopping in Billings, Montana and Sheridan, Wyoming on the way. We stayed in Deadwood one night and in Rapid City one night.

On the drive from Yellowstone, try to use the Beartooth Highway (US 212) from Cooke City to Red Lodge Montana. It's the highest highway in the US (10,947 ft. at the summit of the pass), with remarkable switchbacks and stunning views.

We stopped to see Devils Tower in Wyoming, which was really great. Then we drove down Spearfish Canyon (US 14A), 22 miles of a river and a road and nearly vertical canyon walls. Incredibly beautiful. We stopped in Lead to see the mining museum and then stayed in Deadwood.

The Needles Highway going south in Custer State Park is probably the most scenic road I have ever been on - 14 miles of incredible rock formations, beautiful views, hairpin turns and really narrow tunnels through the granite. We drove back north on Iron Mountain Road (US 16A). Pigtail bridges, hairpin turns and great views of Mt. Rushmore framed by every tunnel.

 

[foxcreek9]

Wind Cave and Jewel Cave, along with Devil's tower.

 

[pjm-7]

At Custer State Park I have stayed in the Historic Game Lodge. This historic lodge is where Calvin Coolidge would spend his summers. In Deadwood I stayed at the Franklin Hotel built in 1903. I'm kind of into old historic hotels.

 

[street]

North Dakota has Theadore Roosevelt National Park and Medora. The musical and many interesting things from history and events to a take in. The park is a beautiful place to see if you are that close.

 

[skyking1]

If Rapid City is on the itinerary, we always enjoy staying at the Hotel Alex Johnson.
It is filled with all sorts of interesting artifacts and artworks that were commissions for the hotel, which open in 1928.

 

[Montecfo]

The Mammoth Site, Crazy Horse Rushmore. Badlands is a good skip as there are many examples elsewhere.

Lots to do in the area. Gumby outlined some great ideas in terms of driving sites.

When we went many years ago we stayed right near Rushmore. I think we could see part of it from hotel but was a moderately priced place in Keystone. Idea was to be convenient to the various sites rather than to have posh digs.

It is a great trip. Give yourself plenty of time.

 

[Gumby]

If Rapid City is on the itinerary, we always enjoy staying at the Hotel Alex Johnson.
It is filled with all sorts of interesting artifacts and artworks that were commissions for the hotel, which open in 1928.

I second the Hotel Alex Johnson. That's where we stayed in Rapid City, and we really enjoyed it. We stayed in the Bullock Hotel in Deadwood. We also went to the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs and quite enjoyed it. Also, there is a very nice air museum adjacent to the Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City.

 

[audreyh1]

I am considering a trip next year to Yellowstone, Custer SP and then other parts of North and South Dakota. We will be staying at hotels.

I am thinking of three days in Yellowstone, mostly near the Eastern part of the two big driving loops. Then Custer SP for a day ( or maybe two?), then to other places in the two Dakotas.

Where would be a good place to book a room near Custer SP?

What other sites in the Dakotas are worth a stop? I have seen Badlands NP and therefore don't need to hit that again.

Thanks.

Custer SP you are very close to Mount Rushmore with a delightful drive in between including a couple of spiral loops. I think this must have been Iron Mountain Road. Yep, definitely worth driving it all the way to Mount Rushmore.

It’s been a long time but we fondly remember fine dining featuring wild game at the Custer SP Lodge. We stayed in one of the state park cabins nearby. It was not a rustic cabin, fully equipped. Definitely enough to do for 2 days especially if you include Mount Rushmore. Lots of sightseeing driving.

 

[DrRoy]

In the Dakotas we visited almost everything mentioned above. For the Black Hills we stayed in Keystone.

 

[Venturer]

We stayed for a week in Spearfish as our base in SD and saw all the sites around there. We even went to Sturges to see what all the motorcycle hoopla was about,but was less than impressed with that town! But we loved all the other sites around there,even Wall SD!

 

[HarveyS]

I think a visit to the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site (Philip, SD 57567. Phone: 605 433-5552. ) is a must do when in South Dakota.
I am not a fan of Wall Drug or the Corn Palace.

 

[Chuckanut]

I think a visit to the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site (Philip, SD 57567. Phone: 605 433-5552. ) is a must do when in South Dakota.
I am not a fan of Wall Drug or the Corn Palace.

I’ve been to Badlands NP and Wall Drug. I liked Badlands NP but there is no big reason to see it again. Wall Drug? Better not to say anything about it.

Are three full days enough to visit Mt. Rushmore, Custer SP and the Wind Caves?

When visiting Custer SP if lodging in the park is not available or too expensive, is there another good choice other than Rapid City?

 

[Spock]

Sylvan Lake Lodge was a real gem... built in 1937. The lake is in the Nicolas Cage movie National Treasure: Book of Secrets.
There was a big fire at the lodge that destroyed 1 wing. The dining room, main lodge, and the cabins were ok and the lodge rooms have been rebuilt with the grand re-opening earlier this spring (May of 2023). It was a memorable stay back in the day... I have no idea what the rooms are like now.
https://www.custerresorts.com/plan-your-trip

 

[Northforker]

The museum of the West in Cody, WY is a must see and takes the better part of a day. Wall Drug is a waste of time, Devils Tower is amazing in every sense of the word. The badlands are uniquely beautiful.

 

[Birdie Num Nums]

Don't make the same mistake I made when I went on a road trip through many of those areas many years ago. I didn't realize when I headed out, and only then started to see motorcycles everywhere, that it was during the couple of weeks of the Sturgis Rally; you couldn't find a vacant bed anywhere, so I slept in my car.

 

[braumeister]

On the drive from Yellowstone, try to use the Beartooth Highway (US 212) from Cooke City to Red Lodge Montana. It's the highest highway in the US (10,947 ft. at the summit of the pass), with remarkable switchbacks and stunning views.

I'm pretty sure that honor goes to Colorado highway 82.

 

[Gumby]

I'm pretty sure that honor goes to Colorado highway 82.

I should have specified US Highway.

 

[audreyh1]

I'm pretty sure that honor goes to Colorado highway 82.

Highest US Highway is US 34 through Rocky Mountain NP. Around 12,100 ft.

I see it’s even higher than that. From Wikipedia:

Trail Ridge Road is the name for the 48-mile (77 km) stretch of U.S. Highway 34 that traverses Rocky Mountain National Park from Estes Park, Colorado in the east to Grand Lake, Colorado in the west. Together with the connecting 6.9-mile (11 km) Beaver Meadow Road (U.S. Highway 36), Trail Ridge Road forms the 55-mile (89 km) Trail Ridge Road/Beaver Meadow National Scenic Byway, an All-American Road. With a high point at 12,183 feet (3,713 m) elevation, Trail Ridge Road is the highest continuous paved road in North America.

 

[Gumby]

Highest US Highway is US 34 through Rocky Mountain NP. Around 12,100 ft.

I see it’s even higher than that. From Wikipedia:

Learn something new every day. Thanks.

 

[audreyh1]

Learn something new every day. Thanks.

It’s hard to beat Colorado for high US mountain passes. US50 also exceeds at 11,312 ft Monarch Pass.

 

[Rocky mtn high]

We were lucky enough to stay at the historic game lodge. I would second that, save a lot of driving if you can stay in the park.

 

[Chuckanut]

So, back to SD.

It looks like I will miss the biker rally in Sturgis. Thanks for the warning. What a shame. No biker mama for me this year.

How many days should I allocate to Custer SP, and Mount Rushmore?

I am thinking of skipping Wind Cave NP. I’ve been to Mammoth Cave NP and others similar to it. So unless we can ride or pet the Bison, I’m not sure I want to go there.

I did add one full day at Grand Teton NP. I would have liked a few more but hotel rates are absolutely stratospheric, both in and out of the Park.

 

[Montecfo]

We went the week after Sturgis. That was a good time. Still a lot of local color.

But you probably want to avoid Sturgis week. Nobody goes then. It's too crowded!

 

[Montecfo]

Mount Rushmore is quick. If you stay close can see many times.

We actually did Yellowstone and Grand Teton as a separate vacation from Custer, Rushmore, Mammoth Site, Crazy Horse etc.

Lots to see and do both areas.