Buckle your seatbelts- the Badlands are calling! I was so pleasantly surprised by how much I fell in love with this stretch of the country (especially the Black Hills of South Dakota). The wide open road, big blue sky, and some of the most spectacular views. The Dakotas absolutely need a spot on your bucket list. This is the ultimate 4-Day Dakotas Road Trip Itinerary!
Day 1: Black Hills, SD
Start your day bright (well, dark) and early! Sunrise at Mount Rushmore is truly indescribable. Watching the colors change on the mountain every few minutes as the sun slowly rises over the horizon is an experience I’d recommend time and time again. Try to plan your arrival for about 20 minutes before the official sunrise time. Even though it hasn’t peaked over the horizon, you’ll still get a soft orange glow over their faces (the famed “golden hour”).
After your morning at Mount Rushmore, make your way about 20 miles west to Crazy Horse Memorial. You’ll pay a $12 entrance fee per person, but this covers parking, access to the museum, and terrace with views of the carving. Crazy Horse has been a work in progress for over 70 years (and will be for quite some time), and it’s so fascinating to see it incomplete. When I visited in September 2020, the face was finished and they were working on the arm. Once it’s complete, it will be a Native American man with long wavy hair riding his horse (see here). Hope I can see it complete in my lifetime!
Parks, parks, parks!
After back-to-back activities, take some time to refuel in the nearby town of Custer. Custer has plenty of restaurants to choose from and plenty of side streets to make for easy parking. Just a couple miles outside of town, you’ll meet the entrance to Custer State Park. This state park is spectacular, and frankly better than some National Parks I’ve been to. You’ll truly feel like you’re in the Rocky Mountains, rather than in South Dakota. Take the time do drive the Wildlife Loop Road. Here you’ll see plenty of elk, deer, prairie dogs, and even buffalo!
Finally after a long drive, you’ll want to stretch your legs. Make your way down to Wind Cave National Park to wrap up your day! The park is located right next to Custer State Park and is an easy (and beautiful) drive down. Visit the cave, do some hiking, or even see some more wildlife.
Day 2: Theodore Roosevelt NP, ND
Gas up the car because today you’re road tripping up to North Dakota! While the drive from Rapid City to Theodore Roosevelt National Park is around 4 hours, I recommend staying the night North of Rapid City to give you a leg up on your drive. I stayed in the town of Spearfish, SD and thought it was perfect (and cut about 45 mins off my morning drive). There are not that many highlights along the drive (this is the definition of “rural”), but there are a few to help break it up! If you’re willing to go a sliiightly our of your way, make a quick stop at the Geographic Center of the Nation in Belle Fourche, snap a picture on the ND/SD state line, and enjoy the views at Painted Canyon.
After a long drive you’ll arrive in the town of Medora, which is the gateway to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. I’d recommend going straight to the park when you arrive to beat as much of the crowds as you can – there will be time to explore the town later. After paying your $30 park entrance fee, make a quick stop at the Visitor’s Center to grab a map, hit the bathroom, and plan your day.
The park itself is very easy to navigate. One road, Scenic Loop Drive, circles the entire park and makes it virtually impossible to get lost. Take your time along the drive, stopping at all the scenic viewpoints that your heart can handle. My favorite was Wind Canyon Trail that has incredible canyon views and overlook the Little Missouri River. I also really loved the Badlands Overlook and the Skyline Vista. Keep an eye out for the herds of Buffalo, prairie dogs, and wild horses throughout the park. The wildlife is the best part!
Medora
After a long day in the car, make your way back to the town of Medora for a little dose of civilization. The town is small (112 permanent residents, to be exact), but bursts alive in the summer months. I had more people in my graduating high school class! Stroll the few blocks of the town that will transport you right back into the Wild, Wild West. The wooden buildings and dusty roads will make you feel like you’re right in the middle of a movie set. You’ll even see horses walking the streets! Grab some ice cream at one of the many options, and enjoy the small town. Medora is also home to the ND Cowboy Hall of Fame, if that piques your interest.
However, your visit to Medora or North Dakota is not complete without seeing the famous Medora Musical. This seasonal outdoor musical is known as “the rootin’-tootinest, boot-scootinest show in all the Midwest.” It’s tacky, kitschy, but a lot of fun. It’s a tribute to Theodore Roosevelt (who claims he never could have been President if it wasn’t for his time in North Dakota), and America as a whole. It’ll fill you with patriotism and pride, which is something we could all use a little bit of.
After the show, you’re going to welcome a bed and pillow with open arms. Accommodations in Medora are limited, so I’d recommend making the 30-minute drive back East to the city of Dickinson, ND. I stayed at the Roosevelt Grand Dakota and thought it was great. Unbeatable prices and large clean rooms!
Day 3: Badlands NP, SD
Another big day- it’s time to road trip back to South Dakota and hit another National Park! From Dickinson, ND, the drive down to the Badlands is about 4.5 hours. Get up early, grab a coffee and a quick breakfast, download a true crime podcast, and hit the road. While you’ll be along a different route than on the way up, the drive is about the same. Expect many long, straight roads and passing through towns with a population of a few hundred people. Doesn’t get more rural than this!
On this route, you’ll enter the park on the farthest East end (the “Northeast Entrance”), and work your way West through the magnificent pinnacles and canyons. The great thing about this park is that there is one road, making it virtually impossible to get lost or take a wrong turn. Before you make your way too far into the park, take a quick stop at the Visitor’s Center to grab a snack and bathroom break- you won’t see any more of these until you get to the other entrance on the West end of the park. From there, make your way along Badlands Loop Road (technically Route 240).
Views for Days
There are countless overlooks and pull outs for photo ops and exploration, but some of my favorites included Panorama Point, the Yellow Mounds Overlook, and Pinnacles Overlook. Spectacular views, and plenty of space for social distancing (and shameless photo ops). Wherever you choose to stop, the views won’t disappoint.
Shortly after the Pinnacles Overlook, you’ll arrive at the Pinnacles Entrance, which is another main road into the park. You’ll have the choice to continue left and stay in the park or veering right to exit. Make sure you stay left- there’s more to explore (and even fewer crowds). Only a couple of miles down the road, you’ll come across the spectacular Hay Butte and Badlands Wilderness overlooks. Spend some time at each to take in the views, and then continue a short distance further to Roberts Prairie Dog Town. These little animals are so cute and fun to watch- just make sure you watch out for them on the road!
After that, there isn’t much more to see along that road so it would be wise to turn back to the Pinnacles Entrance to avoid driving on very rural and rough roads- trust me!
Day 4: Rapid City, SD
After a busy few days in the Dakotas, a chill day will be just what the doctor ordered. Start your day with breakfast at Tally’s Silver Spoon and get the chocolate chip pancakes (trust me). If you’re visiting on a weekend or holiday, expect a wait for a table (especially in Coronavirus times, as there were 50% fewer tables). However, if you’re traveling solo and get lucky, you can walk right in and snag a seat at the bar. Another win for solo travel!
Afterward, stroll along the downtown streets of Rapid City. Across the street from Tally’s is Art Alley, a public art display that is constantly changing. It’s a short alley that spans between 6th and 7th streets, but plenty to look at! Then, take some time to walk the city streets and do the Presidents Walking Tour. Rapid City is known as the City of Presidents, and they are very proud of that title! About a 12-block self-walking tour through downtown will bring you by bronze statues of every single US President (as of September 2020, Donald Trump was not yet included). The statues are life-size and showcase a snapshot of their life and presidency. You’ll be amazed how short some of them were (@John Adams what’s good).
After a stroll downtown, make a visit up to the Chapel in the Hills. This is an exact replica of a 12th Century Norwegian Church – quite a bizarre thing to see in South Dakota. There isn’t much to do here other than walk the grounds and look at the church, but it’s beautiful and definitely worth the stop and photo ops.
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