South Dakota Trip

**HandSanitizer** · 02-21-2010, 03:36 PM

Hey all,
In the interest of being lazy and saving time. I wanted to ask anyone who has recently been to the Black Hills in South Dakota advice. We are spending a couple days there and wanted to know the main things to do and how much time is required to see them. We are in the process of picking a motel. We are thinking the Keystone, Hill City or the Custer area.

As of right now here are a few things on my list for options. Not sure how long they take though.

Flinestone bedrock city- Custer
Black hills forest-Custer
Jewell Cave -Custer
Crazy Horse - North of Custer by 20 mins
Big Thunder Gold Mine - Keystone, SD
Mount rushmore - Keystone, SD
Bear Country USA - Custer
1880 Train - Hill City/Keystone

Thanks!

**Iastfan112** · 02-21-2010, 03:41 PM

Either on the way out or back Badlands National Park is fun to spend a half a day or a day in.

**drmwevr08** · 02-21-2010, 04:21 PM

Not time right now to tell you all I could but PM me if you like. I am from the Hills and can probably answer a few questions for you. Its a great place!

**cycopath25** · 02-21-2010, 04:33 PM

DEADWOOD!!!!!!

**aauummm** · 02-21-2010, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by cycopath25

DEADWOOD!!!!!!

I was going to mention that also. There is so much to see and do in the Black Hills that we extended our stay there from 3-4 days to 10 days. Went over to see Devil's Tower also. Too much to list here.

**Wesley** · 02-21-2010, 05:05 PM

Corn Palace and Wall Drug were hot spots at one time.

**CarolinaCy** · 02-21-2010, 05:18 PM

Needles highway has some great views. Bear Country was pretty cool, though a little more expensive than I thought it would be. Flintstone Bedrock City was a bit disappointing to me, though our 2 year old daughter loved it.

Don't miss Custer State Park, just watch out for the "buffalo jams".

**iccyfan** · 02-21-2010, 05:19 PM

We've taken our kids (15, 14 & 13) on a number of nice expensive family vacations (Disney - Orlando, Washington D.C., Grand Canyon / Arizona, San Diego) and yet the vacation they still talk about most was the closest, cheapest and simplest, the Black Hills.

I'd suggest staying at one of the Custer Park resorts; we stayed in the Sylvan Lake Lodge. It's not to be confused with luxury accomodations, but it's very convenient location-wise to many of the things you want to see.

You've got a pretty decent list of things to visit; I'd definitely add Wind Cave and possibly a side-trip to Sturgis. We spent our first couple days at a hotel in Rapid City and did a day trip that included Sturgis (there's a cool Custer-era military installation outside of town), out to Devil's Tower in Wyoming and late afternoon / dinner in Deadwood. Have fun!

**HandSanitizer** · 02-21-2010, 05:25 PM

Thanks to all the replys so far.
Just thought I would add that I will have the wife and a 9, 5 and 3 year old also.
So that takes out a couple events :(

**siouxcyty** · 02-21-2010, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by HandSanitizer

Hey all,
In the interest of being lazy and saving time. I wanted to ask anyone who has recently been to the Black Hills in South Dakota advice. We are spending a couple days there and wanted to know the main things to do and how much time is required to see them. We are in the process of picking a motel. We are thinking the Keystone, Hill City or the Custer area.

As of right now here are a few things on my list for options. Not sure how long they take though.

Flinestone bedrock city- Custer
Black hills forest-Custer
Jewell Cave -Custer
Crazy Horse - North of Custer by 20 mins
Big Thunder Gold Mine - Keystone, SD
Mount rushmore - Keystone, SD
Bear Country USA - Custer
1880 Train - Hill City/Keystone

Thanks!

Been there several times in the past 8 years. Definitely drive through the Badlands on your way there. When you get to Wall just head south. I like to stay in Keystone right by Mount Rushmore. Cool town with couple of caves nearby. Definitely take in the lighting of Rushmore. Crazy Horse is ok, but used to cost about $20 carload to just get in. Deadwood is pretty commercial these days but the Trial of Wild Bill Hickok is worth it.

If you had time I would say head over to Devils Tower in NE WY, but that would be more for the summer when you can walk around it.

**cycloneML** · 02-21-2010, 07:10 PM

been a long time, but I recall Rapid City being cool and a little town by the name of Hot Springs or something like that that had hot spring pools, etc. No, I'm not talking about Arkansas.

**loki8838** · 02-21-2010, 07:20 PM

There is an old Minuteman Missle Silo site that is open to the public. It is just east of Wall Drug on I-90 at exit 116. There are no buildings, just an old armored pickup, and a glass viewing area that looks down the silo. As a child of the Cold War, I thought it was really cool, and it won't take much time to see.

**Cyclonepride** · 02-21-2010, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by HandSanitizer

Hey all,
In the interest of being lazy and saving time. I wanted to ask anyone who has recently been to the Black Hills in South Dakota advice. We are spending a couple days there and wanted to know the main things to do and how much time is required to see them. We are in the process of picking a motel. We are thinking the Keystone, Hill City or the Custer area.

As of right now here are a few things on my list for options. Not sure how long they take though.

Flinestone bedrock city- Custer
Black hills forest-Custer
Jewell Cave -Custer
Crazy Horse - North of Custer by 20 mins
Big Thunder Gold Mine - Keystone, SD
Mount rushmore - Keystone, SD
Bear Country USA - Custer
1880 Train - Hill City/Keystone

Thanks!

There is a maze place on the way out to Mount Rushmore from Rapid City that might be fun for the kids. Bear country is certainly cool too. Perhaps Reptile Gardens too? There are a thousand things to see around Rapid City. My wife and I wore ourselves out trying to see all of it, so I would recommend hitting the ones that you really want to see, and take your time at it.

**woodie** · 02-21-2010, 10:31 PM

you have to hit wall and deadwood.march is a good time to go thru custer state park because it is a good time to see the wild animals in the park since all of the trees do not have their foliage yet.