Mount Rushmore

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scott_l

Member
My wife wants to drive out to Mount Rushmore sometime this summer, so we are thinking of taking a little trip (4-6 days). We would be driving from the Minneapolis area and don’t mind getting off the beaten path (don’t have to drive highway all the way) along the way.

What else is to see and do in-between Minneapolis and Mount Rushmore? MapQuest says about a 10 hr drive, so a night stop along the way might not be a bad idea.
Any bad times of the year to stay away?
Other than the national park what else is to do around Mount Rushmore?

Thanks
 
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bigvin

New member
Scott: On your way out there,...
Ya have to visit the SPAM Museum, Mitchell Corn Palace, Wall Drug, Take the route
THROUGH the Badlands National Park, Visit Deadwood, take a tour on Needles Highway,
While you're out there, Visit Custer National Park, Crazy Horse Monument,....
TONS to See. BUT,... get set for a electric transmission line / Windmill farm view between
You and your destination. (flat lands).
Destination is well worth it though.
Enjoy!
 
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polarisrider1

New member
As far as time to stay away would be during The Sturgis Bike Rally. Tough to get around by car with 500,000 bikes in the area. You must do needles highway it is very close to Mount Rushmore. Custer National Park has buffalo roaming all over. Chief Crazy Horse monument is still under construction but worth the visit. Spearfish canyon, Deadwood is pretty cool! And Bigvins list of things all are worth doing.
 
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ezra

Well-known member
get a tune up on the Griswold family truckster bring the radar and jamb more like 8.5 most are doing 90 + .not allot to see from about 30 min past the border till you hit the badlands.last time we went out left after work got a motel room in kadoka (was under 55 bucks] just before the badlands and had a fresh day when the view is worth paying attention.
 
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peppermill

New member
Bear Country isn't too bad also. There is also the Mammoth Site I believe it is in Hot Springs which is south of Rapid City. Even a drive through the Black Hills. If you really want to appreciate what you have at home drive through the Indian Reservations. I know that it is their choice to live like that but WOW! If you do go through the Reservations don't stop if you don't have to. My sister lives right on the edge of the Badlands and Reservations and says that they aren't always too nice. She said there a few that are super but most aren't. If you are into camping there are alot of campgrounds out there. Have fun.
 
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dcsnomo

Moderator
Many people say there is nothing to do on the drive out there. Actually, there is a lot to do and it all begins with "pick"

You can:
Pick your nose
Pick your butt
Pick the wax outta your ears
Pick a fight with your wife for making you do this drive
 
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mnguy

New member
Head west on 212 to Watertown and see the Terry Redlin museum. Down I-29 Sioux Falls has the Falls park. There is a cold war era missle site near Wall Drug and the air base has an outdoor museum with several planes.

Took the family out to Rushmore last year. Badlands, Custer Park, Needles highway all well worth the time. There are all sorts of activities and destinations in the area......reminds me of the WI Dells before all the commercialization.

I travel SD frequently for work. Stay away during Sturgis weeks (mid July to mid Aug). Every hotel room in the state gets jacked when the bikes come. Off season in Rapid though, I've stayed at a Country Inn for $60 a night.

The weather is crazy too. Was in Rapid City in April last year....snowdrifts in the ditches (I-90 was closed a week earlier) but had to run the car AC because temp was in the 80's.
 
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zimmer1310

Member
We took the family out there the summer of 08 with a 3 and 5 year old and loved it. Stayed in Hill City, spent half the time in Custer State Park but also hit Bear Country, Reptile Gardens, Wind Cave, 1880 Train, Rushmore etc., If you have kids, grab the DVD and drive during the nights. It is 8 hours from Mankato, stopped in Chamberlain for breakfast and to Rapid by noon. Stay out of Rapid City otherwise you are driving 20-30 minutes every day to a destination? Beautiful drive though. My .02
 
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racerx_96

New member
I'll second what Polarisrider1 said but add a little. Stay away the week prior and the week after the actual motorcycle rally. The rally has become so popular that some (like myself) won't deal with the situation during the actual rally week. This year is the 70th anniversary and even with the way the economy is, I would expect it to be very busy.
 
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dmsrx

Member
Don't forget to take your hiking shoes. All the Badlands are open for hiking and go to Devils Tower and do that hike. Also in Mitchell there is an Indian Mound Village just outside of town. Pretty neat.
 
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Pizza Man

New member
We did a 9 day trip out west last August on our Goldwing Trike.
We went to Sioux Falls the first night and then to Spearfish the second night.
It was the end of the Sturgis Rally weekend and had no trouble finding a room at the Super 8 in Sioux Falls or Spearfish.
We then stayed over on Sunday to tour around the area.
Then on the Cody, Jackson Hole, up to Yellowstone, Cooke City, over the Beartooth Pass,
Red Lodge, Billings, back to Spearfish and then headed home.
We saw a lot in those 9 days.
If you are going for 4-5 days, pick what you would like to see the most and leave the rest to another trip out there.
You will not have enough time to see everything in the My Rushmore area.
 
harski

harski

Member
Ditto everything that has been suggested here. It is quite awesome to see! Deadwood is the coolest town and my favorite road to ride were Spearfish Canyon and Needles highway! Have fun!

Harski
 
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Firecatguy

New member
harski said:
Ditto everything that has been suggested here. It is quite awesome to see! Deadwood is the coolest town and my favorite road to ride were Spearfish Canyon and Needles highway! Have fun!

Harski
Click to expand...

This is one my favorits tooo......

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mebearman

New member
mount rushmore

If you were going to trailer out a motorcycle to that area where would you stay as a hub to do the places that are talked about here?
 
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Firecatguy

New member
mebearman said:
If you were going to trailer out a motorcycle to that area where would you stay as a hub to do the places that are talked about here?
Click to expand...

I would call a few motels!!if you stay a night or two they will let you leave truck and trailer in parking lot.......stay with them first night then leave truck and trailer!!

thanks Sabercat
 
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Firecatguy

New member
mebearman said:
Sabercat any sugestions which town or motel?
Click to expand...

where you going???what is the places you plane too see? Rapid city would be the best to leave your truck, if you head to Yellowstone,mt Rushmore etc you would have to come back thru Rapid to get home....
 
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Pizza Man

New member
I would pick Spearfish, Sturgis or Rapid City in that order.
Try the Super 8 in Spearfish. A nice motel and close to eating places, gas and right across the street from Lehman Trike Factory where they make trike kits for Honda and Harleys.
A must do visit.
 
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