Mount Rushmore

Hello, We%26#39;re (3 of us) travelling to Custer and our time in South Dakota is limited (2 days / 2 nights). Is it possible to do Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Wounded Knee in 2 days plus squeeze in a bit of hot air ballooning? We%26#39;re Australians and have no idea of the area and what is achieveable in 2 days. We will have a hire car and driving distances doesn%26#39;t phase us and would love to fit in as much as we can. Unfortunately our schedule can%26#39;t be altered. We%26#39;re planning on staying at Custer the first night and though perhaps Deadwood the second.

Thanks for your assistance,

Charlie

Mount Rushmore

Crazy Horse and Mt. Rushmore are definitely doable in one day. You could even fit in a cave the same day, or drive through Custer State Park. The Wounded Knee site itself doesn%26#39;t have much to offer... We enjoyed going there because I was really into Native American history at the time. We enjoyed seeing the museum in Wall ABOUT Wounded Knee more... although Wounded Knee kind of goes along with the Badlands... That would make another day.

Is there a reason why you want to spend the second night in Deadwood? Most of the things you mention are in the southern Hills area, and Deadwood is in the northern Hills. Maybe you%26#39;re looking forward to the drive through Spearfish Canyon or have another reason to head north?

Mount Rushmore

Which way are you coming from? Flying into Rapid City? Bus tour? I ask because it will likely be most efficient to go to the Wounded Knee site on your way to the Black Hills.

How much time will your balloon ride take?

I, too, would not stay in Deadwood unless you plan to do some activities in the northern hills like Devil%26#39;s Tower or Spearfish Canyon. The attractions in the Black Hills area are all within about a 2 hour radius, thus making this a very convenient area to tour.

I have not been to Wounded Knee, and I have never done hot air ballooning, but I can say that Mt Rusmhore can easily be done in a morning, as is Crazy Horse. Be sure to check out Mt Rushmore%26#39;s evening ceremony as well. It%26#39;s a moving ceremony that honors America%26#39;s veterans.

For more information on the area, check out travelsd.com. Have fun!

Hello and thank you everyone.

We%26#39;re driving to Custer starting at Winnipeg, down through North Dakota (probably staying at Bismarck 1 night) then head onto Custer. The reason for Deadwood was that it is on the way. We%26#39;re going to Cody, Wyoming on our way to Yellowstone so we picked Deadwood as a place to see and stay at overnight on the way to Yellowstone plus my husband wants to see Deadwood (thanks to the many movies about the place).

The hot air ballooning that we are looking at goes over the Black Hills and goes from Custer, is of 3 hours duration, starts at sunrise. So we thought we would do the ballooning, first, then Crazy Horse and Mt Rushmore with a night stay at Custer.

I wanted to see Wounded Knee having read books and seen films about the area.

Thank you all again for your assistance. It is very much appreciated.

Charlie

Wounded Knee can be a tragic experience especially if you have any Native American heritage in your blood line. It is so sad to see what we left these noble people with.

I don%26#39;t want to try to rearrange your trip too much and I%26#39;m not sure what you have in mind to see in ND, but consider this. Try to make it further than Bismarck the first day. Where you would stay depends on your route. Then visit Wounded Knee and the Badlands on your second day and make it into Custer that evening.

I recommend this because three hours of ballooning, Crazy Horse, Mount Rushmore AND Wounded Knee with a drive back to Deadwood are going to be too much for one day. Ballooning, Crazy Horse, Mount Rushmore and a drive of the Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road would be about right for one day.

Get to Deadwood that night and head out to Yellowstone the next morning exiting the Black Hills with a drive through Spearfish Canyon. You%26#39;ll have to decide whether you want to stop at Devils Tower.

Thank you all again, we%26#39;re not really planning on doing much at all in North Dakota, it is a drive through (we have 2 days to do it) with an overnight stop somewhere, we picked Bismarck as it is central(ish) between Winnipeg and Custer but I see where you are coming from Accommodator. Thank you and we will definitely have a rethink and look at your suggestion.

I don%26#39;t have any Native American heritage (true blue Aussie) but have always been interested in their culture.

Again, thank you and I will try and reschedule, that part of our trip (Winnipeg to Cody) can be played with as I was at a loss what to do and where to go apart from knowing we want to see Mt Rushmore and Yellowstone.

Cheers all and here%26#39;s to a great holiday (less than 4 months and counting!!)

Charlie

Depending on which way you go, an overnight stop in Chamberlain or Pierre might suit your Wounded Knee/Badlands day. That would give you about a nine hour drive the day you leave Winnipeg.

If you opt for Pierre, it is the state capitol and has a WWII memorial near a lake by the capitol that is a worth a walk around--even in the dark if you get there late.

If you opt for Chamberlain, also try searching for hotels in neaby Oacoma. The Cedar Shore Resort is a nice place with a great setting by the river.

From either Pierre or Chamberlain, it%26#39;s about two hours to the Badlands. Take the loop through the Badlands, make your way down to Wounded Knee (probably take the Sage Creek gravel road west out of the Badlands). Consider a stop first at the Wounded Knee Museum in Wall. Then you can go to Custer through Pine Ridge and Hot Springs.

I meant to add to take the Sage Creek gravel road west out of the Badlands to Scenic and then go south to Wounded Knee.

Hello Accommodator

I%26#39;ve done a Google map search for directions to Pierre and Chamberlain then the Badlands and Custer and it%26#39;s looking good. I had looked at getting to Bismarck via the back routes and to get there that way takes about 9 hours. Thank you so much for your help, I do appreciate it and for the heads up for where to stay also.

Just one more question, what is the weather usually like in late June through ND, SD, Wyoming and Montana? I know it%26#39;s summer but does it rain generally at that time of year. Where I live our summers are very wet, we have 2 seasons, wet and dry and this year, it%26#39;s been very wet and I%26#39;d love to see some long sunny days.

Cheers

Charlie