We are planning a vacation to the area for late May or early June. We have never been to the area and will only have a few days to spend there so we would like opions on; things to see, things to do,restaurants, best town to stay in, motels,etc., etc. Does it cost to get into this national park? If so, how much? Any advise will be apperciated. Thank you!
Need advise/Badlands National Park %26amp; areaWe were there in June 2008. We stayed at K Bar S Lodge in Keystone. We did Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park and Badlands. We did not spend much time in Badlands or in Custer because we knew we would see wildlife in Yellowstone. I know that you are going on the YNP because I saw your post under YNP. The State Game Lodge buffet lunch in Custer State Park is great. They have the best bison stew and delicious homemade desserts. After the Black Hills we went on to Deadwood and Devil%26#39;s Tower and Cody before going on the YNP again. We did part of YNP in 2007.
Need advise/Badlands National Park %26amp; areaHi Tennessee,
How many days will you be spending in the area? What are some of your interests? Hiking? Museums? wildlife? If you can be a little more specific, we can help you so much better. In the meantime, I will help as much as I can.
Badlands National Park has a $15 entrance fee that is good for one week. This park is more of a ';drive-thru'; park that doesn%26#39;t require a lot of hiking to see. There are numerous overlooks and some great photo ops.
Here%26#39;s my short list of my personal ';must sees'; in the area:
Mt Rushmore
Custer State Park
Crazy Horse
Badlands
Devil%26#39;s Tower
Wind Cave
Jewel Cave
There are many other things of interest that you might be able to work in, depending on your time frame.
Ok..lodging..As I tell everyone, visitors typically stay in Keystone, Hill City or Custer, as they are most centrally located. I have personal experience with the Roosevelt Inn in Keystone and really liked it. K Bar S Lodge gets very good feedback on this site and really looks nice from the website. Hill City has a nice looking Holiday Inn Express that usually gets pretty good reviews on here.
Restaurants....We absolutely loved the Alpine Inn in Hill City. They only serve filet for dinner, so if that%26#39;s not for you, try the lunch menu. The desserts are to die for anytime! We also really enjoyed Big Time Pizza, which is located right at the Roosevelt Inn in Keystone. Very good gourmet pizza!
I see CeCe mentioned you are headed to Yellowstone after the Hills. Be sure to stop at Devil%26#39;s Tower on the way there. You could also include a drive on the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Highway to see a couple nice waterfalls.
travelsd is a great website to visit to get a feel for the area.
Hope this helps to get you started. From what I read here, you might get some cooler weather that early in the season.
Please stop back with any more questions.
We are hoping to stay 2 or 3 days at each place. (Badlands %26amp; Yellowstone) We would like to see some waterfalls if they are not a long hike (we will have the 3 year old granddaughter with us) Mt. Rushmore we will be seeing for sure. Crossing into Wyoming we would like to see Devils Tower if its not that far off interstate. I have read a lot of great reviews about it too. Right now we are just trying to get some ideas of where others have been and found interesting and like very much and then go from there. Theres not much we don%26#39;t like but I don%26#39;t think we will have the time for long, long hikes. (plus I don%26#39;t want to have to be the one to carry a 3 yr. old) We are going to try to get this trip ';mapped-out'; before going on it so it don%26#39;t end up like the trip we took several years ago to the Grand Canyon. (we had nothing reserved, spent half a day finding a motel then went to the park and didn%26#39;t know what to do or where to go...LOL) Thanks for everyones help!
Tennessee,
Your description of yourselves helps greatly. First of all, I would probably nix the caves with a 3 year old. You have no idea how she will react underground, and there%26#39;s no point in upsetting her unnecessarily. If she were a bit older, I%26#39;d say go for it, but there are other things you could do she would enjoy.
Mt. Rushmore is great for all ages. Definitely include a trip to Devil%26#39;s Tower if you can. You and she will love seeing the prairie dog town there. I would also include a drive on the wildlife loop in Custer SP. She will love seeing the animals, especially the wild burros. Watch out..they will put their entire head in your car looking for food. I remember my husband hollering a few unmentionables, followed by ';it%26#39;s a rental!'; They are VERY tame, but neat to see.
The Badlands would also be a good choice for you, as it doesn%26#39;t require long hikes.
Given the age of your granddaughter, I%26#39;d also recommend a visit to Bear Country and/or Reptile Gardens in Rt. 16 in Rapid City. Bear Country is a drive through animal park with a small zoo at the end. There%26#39;s a nice gift shop on site. Reptile Gardens has some fun shows on birds, alligators, and snakes,along with many reptile exhibits. We loved seeing the giant toroise. There%26#39;s one area that children can put their head into a glass dome and feel up close and personal with the prairie dogs. Our daughter was 7 when we visited, and she loved this.
One of the waterfalls on the Spearfish Canyon Scenic drive is right along side of the road. The other requires a hike of a little less than a mile. When you go to Yellowstone, you will see the waterfalls at the canyon, which are much more impressive than any of the ones you will see in the Black Hills.
Speaking of Yellowstone, I am defintely going to go off topic here and say one thing about a 3 year old there. I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ve already considered this, but be very watchful of her around the thermal areas. The colors can be brilliant...very enticing for youngsters. There are boardwalks, but it%26#39;s very easy for someone to walk right off the side into a hot spot.
You will see some wonderful wildlife in Yellowstone that will amaze your entire family! It%26#39;s such an amazing park to experience!
Back to SD, definitely visit the website I mentioned...travelsd.com. It will really help you. There%26#39;s a good map in the center of the booklet if you have them mail one to you.
You are wise to have a plan and everything mapped out. It%26#39;s no fun trying to get a plan once you get there. With only 2-3 days in each place, you just won%26#39;t have time.
If you have any additional questions, just ask. Have fun planning.
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