Headed to Mount Rushmore

dej(Jed) · Apr 9, 2012

"God willing and if the creeks don't rise!", like we say here in Pa, I am headed west the first weekend in May.Plans are to see Mt Rushmore and whatever else is out there. Any of you guys in that next of the woods?

Anonymous-0 · Apr 9, 2012

Enjoy.... Can't remember how far out of the way it is, but when I wat at Ft Lewis and went back home to OH, went one way on I80 and the other on I90. Beautiful country both ways. Went to Mt Rushmore but was more fastenated by the size of the rattlesnakes on display in a couple of shops.
Had a great time tho. Definately not a time/place to have tunnel vision ("we're goin to Mt Rushmore") because there is so much history and scenery on the trip itself.

WarrenBult · Apr 9, 2012

From Mitchell, SD area. If you plan on taking the intersection through SD. Mitchell is on it. Worlds only corn palace. Murals made of diffrent colors of corn and other grains. Ag related. Local guy, through years of growing, came up with a lot of the colors on his own.

cole in mo. · Apr 9, 2012

Its a nice place to see, not far out of rapid city, might as well go on over to cody wy, vistit the cody muszium, tons of guns and other stuff.

Case Nutty 1660 · Apr 9, 2012

I am in Gillette Wy 145 miles or so west on I-90 from Rapid City, in between me and Rapid is Devils Tower National Mounument, also is Deadwood SD they have gambeling and is a historic old west town in the edge of the Blackhills of SD, Sturgis SD is where they hold the Sturgis Bike Ralley every year small towns with good people, not sure if they are open yet but their are a lot of caves to explore in SD also, Rapid has Reptile Gardens but again not sure if it is open yet for the season, lots to do out here and see have a safe trip cnt tom

kj(seil) · Apr 9, 2012

if you get to cody you might as well go another 100 miles and see yellowstone

Errin OH · Apr 9, 2012

Guess it depends on how long you're going to be there and where you're staying. We stayed in Rapid City and spent 12 days out that way.

Wall Drug in Wall SD is about an hour east of RC.

Devils tower is about an hour and a half - or so - north east of RC.

Bad Lands is about half an hour SE of RC.

All kinds of places in the Black Hills area to do. Several gold mining museums and such.

Head little south and there are several fossil places (couple I recall are the mammoth pit and a petrified forest).

Scott-SD · Apr 9, 2012

South dakota tractor museum in Kimball, SD.
South Dakota tractor museum

rustyfarmall · Apr 9, 2012

Wall Drug and the Corn Palace are both not much more than big tourist traps, but if you're close anyhow, you've got to see them. We have been to both, and if the opportunity arises, we'll do it again.

Drop down South just a bit and you can visit the Archway Monument on I80 in Nebraska. It is a GREAT place to buy a refrigerator magnet souvenir.

ss55 · Apr 9, 2012

The Pioneer Auto Museum in Murdo, SD is worth a stop, Exit 192 on I-90.

Chris(WA) · Apr 9, 2012

Crazy Horse monument is just down the road and worth seeing as a work in progress (if they EVER get it done...)

samn40 · Apr 9, 2012

Make sure you drive through Badlands park it was more spectacular for me than seeing Mt Rushmore. Visit Crazy Horse from a distance is still OK, you will get the picture! I really enjoyed my drive back across SD to Minnesota. Real different scenery for me!
Enjoy your trip.....Sam

flying belgian · Apr 9, 2012

Well I am 2 blks off U.S. 14 by Mankato, Mn. About the only thing to stare at around here is this crazy Belgian trying to eek out a living from the dirt. Seriously, If you are going via Hy. 14 you may as well stop and we can go for a cup of coffee.

old popper · Apr 9, 2012

Whenever I get out that way I always enjoy a nice lesurely drive through Custer State Park. Have a great trip.

crotchity · Apr 9, 2012

What a real scam..........it's been the same for 25 years.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 9, 2012

Dang, we are branding our calves the last Saturday in April, and we are only about an hour north of I-90! Believe it or not, we are about 2 hours away from Mt. Rushmore and I haven't seen it for probably 30+ years. Have never seen the Crazy Horse sculpture either. Guess when you are that close, it's pretty easy to not go and think maybe next year. A good musuem at Ellsworth Air Force Base just east of Rapid City if you like airplanes. Pretty nice museum in Rapid City also if you like car related stuff. Motion Unlimited it's called.

jm. · Apr 9, 2012

Well all the post below just about got you going. Stopped by wall Drug at the insintence of my younger daughter. Spent about 2 hrs.. I thought Crazy horse was interesting. All that part of this old county is nice. Always wondred what the settler and his horse and wagon said when he drove up on the badlands.. ?

MSD · Apr 9, 2012

Needles Hwy is a great drive. Badlands are a must. Wall Drug is a tourist trap as is the Corn Palace in Mitchell. Crazy Horse is expensive to visit up close. Wind Cave is neat as is Custer State Park. Spearfish Canyon is a nice drive also. Stop in at Murdo at the museum there and also Elsworth Air Force Base. If your going there on I-90, the best way when you get this far west, Sioux Falls, SD is a good stopping point for the evening. Lots of restaurants and motels and a big shopping center. 360 miles to Rapid City from here. I'm only a mile off I-90 so give a wave as you go by.

JerryS · Apr 9, 2012

Keep an eye out for surveyor stakes. I'm sure they're already marking off a spot to add our current president.

Robert ND · Apr 9, 2012

since you will be so close just come north about 4 hours and check out North Dakota praires and a town call medora where teddy roosevelt ranched in the badlands

John SD · Apr 10, 2012

If you are in Sturgis, there is a good museum at Ft Meade just east of town with old pioneer and military items from homestead days. Modest admission charge, not a tourist trap.

IMO, Wall Drug is worthwhile, as is Al's Oasis at Ocoma/Chamberlain. Good places to take a break at meal time.

Pair-a-dice farm · Apr 10, 2012

I haven't been out there in about 10 years. We enjoyed the Crazy Horse work in progress but it was pretty commercialized. At the time it was 100% private funded. Custer State park was a nice beautiful drive. Devils tower was interesting but the best view is about 3 miles away.
If you have time Yellowstone is a must see as well as the Grand Tetons. Cody, Wy has the Buffalo Bill Museum that is very interesting and they have the Cody night rodeo that is entertaining. Jackson Hole, Wy has several points of interest but expensive.

Headed to Mount Rushmore

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