Devils Tower vs Badlands

My family of 4 (children ages 7 and 12) will be traveling through the Black Hills on our way to Yellowstone. We will spend two nights in Keystone. We won%26#39;t have enough time to see both Devils Tower and the Badlands. Which would be best?

Devils Tower vs Badlands

Devils Tower is on your way to Yellowstone. Badlands are the opposite direction and will incur waste of time backtracking if going there from Keystone. If Badlands were on the way east, such as if you came up through central Kansas, Nebraska an South Dakota to hit it on the way then it might make sense. Otherwise my vote would be for DT.

Also, DT will take some time so a lot too depends on if you are planning an intermediate stop on the way to Yellowstone. It IS possible to make it to Yellowstone via DT in a day (leaving fairly early) but most people check up in Cody for a night.

Devils Tower vs Badlands

That should have read ';Badlands on the way FROM the east.';

My original plan was to leave Keystone (after our sencond night) in the morning and drive through Deadwood and then on to Devil%26#39;s Tower and then to Cody for the night. But then I was looking and the Badlands seems like a neat plan that I was considering changing of the plans.

Thanks for the information it is helpful. Since we are traveling from OK, I may consider looking at the map to see if it is possible to incorporate both. Of course, Mt. Rushmore is on the list for the must see.

If both were on my route and I only could pick one, the Badlands would easily win. I%26#39;m glad I%26#39;ve seen Devil%26#39;s Tower (twice) but we%26#39;re skipping it this trip, while we%26#39;ll be visiting the Badlands for our 4th time.

Same as Librarychick. But try to see Badlands NP first on your way to BH from Oklahoma. Not much of a detour.

GoogleMaps suggests route to North Platte, NE then US-83 to Murdo, SD and I-90 to Wall (Badlands area). North Platte would be a bit over the half way mark from Oklahoma City so a place to stop. But this would route you to be able to take in both Badlands before Keystone and Devils Tower after. North Platte to Keystone is 6-1/2 hours so plenty of time for Badlands on the way. If you were figuring two day drive to Keystone this would fit without adding much time.

Sequim, did you know us83 is known as ';The road to nowhere';? A classic route but biggest problem is to stay awake.....I already read about it in an old Moon Handbook and am familiar with some stretches of it.

Tet

No. I had not heard that description. I%26#39;ve never driven it but can well imagine how the name fits. Pierre and Bismark are the biggest towns along it.

I find the description ';most aesthetically challenged landscapes in the country'; on the following page ammusing.

roadtripusa.com/routes/鈥oadtonowhere.html

Actually some of the best ';insights'; into America are found far from freeways. Besides, personally I like wide open stretches of road...one reason for a fascination with Wyoming....but at least it has mountains to look at.

That%26#39;s right. We did the Tx stretch and at Knife River Indian Village (not much to see though). If you like long ';nothing'; stretches drive up and down Nullarbor Plain in Australia. 2000 miles of nothingness and next paved road is 1500 miles away.

Sorry for hijacking your thread 4nfam. Love those empty roads.

Tet