Going to South Dakota... don't know where to start!

[JodiR]

Will be leaving Iowa and taking I-90. Probably stay in Wall SD the first night. Then head to Rapid City, Keystone and Custer. Is there a central location to stay?

We want to see Wall Drug, Mt. Rushmore, Bear Country, President Wax Museum, Custer State Park, Reptile Gardens, Badlands, Black Hills and Dinosaur Park. (I am not sure where the Badlands and Black Hills are located)

Any advice on where to stay or even good places to eat?

 

[wdwiala]

(This most likely wont help but....)

My mother and I took a trip to Avon, SD a number of years ago to look up the ancestors. Avon is home to 600. They had a small hotel. $33. a night! We couldn't believe it. Only problem is that there are no restraunts in a town of 600. By the end of the second day, we drove the 45 miles to Mitchell. Found a Perkins. The meal was glorious because frankly we were starving! Therfore, Perkins is our favorite SD place to eat!

 

[overlyspoiled4sure]

Sorry, OP, I don't have any suggestions for you other than if you're a Laura Ingalls Wilder fan, she lived in SD for a number of years. De Smet SD & I understand there's a museum there. If you go there while driving through, would you post about it when you return home? I'd love to hear about it.

Have a wonderful time! You've chosen great places!

 

[ksjayhawks]

Where are you coming from in Iowa? How long are you going to be gone??

You may want to plan for another night before staying at Wall Drug. The Corn Palace is in Mitchell and there is also a neat toy/doll museum there.

Badlands and Black Hills are in the western part on the state. Badlands exit is by Wall and is really neat to drive through. There is also an information center. Black Hills is beyond that. South of the Black Hills is Custer State Park and if you go to Hot Springs they have a mammoth dig exhibit and an indoor natural spring swimming pool. You could hit this on your way home and come back on I-80 through Nebraska. Depending on how much time you have, you could do some stops on the way home as well--Grand Island, Lincoln, Omaha.

Don't forget Deadwood--several places to see and tour there. Devils Tower is not too far away and there is a Passion Play as well. A horseback ride in the area is really neat, too, if you enjoy doing that type of thing. Dinosaur Park is nothing special (in my opinion) and there are too many other fun, educational things to do instead.

Here are some links:

http://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/
info on black hills, badlands, devils tower, deadwood, rapid city, etc

http://www.nps.gov/badl/index.htm

http://www.walldrug.com/

http://www.deadwood.org/

http://www.theblackhillspassionplay.com/

http://www.sdgfp.info/Parks/Regions/Custer/custersp.htm

Hope these help.

 

[dementia412]

Consider going to the Wounded Knee Museum in Wall. I know one of the creators of the museum and I always put in a good word for the place when I get a chance. You can check out their website online, just google Wounded Knee Museum.

ps. here is the link
http://www.woundedkneemuseum.org/index.htm

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Not too far from Mt. Rushmore/Crazy Horse is a Mammoth Dig Site that is amazing! It's an active dig site which makes it even neater. Here is the web site.

http://www.mammothsite.com/

I really enjoyed SD. It's a nice place!

 

[ksjayhawks]

Not too far from Mt. Rushmore/Crazy Horse is a Mammoth Dig Site that is amazing! It's an active dig site which makes it even neater. Here is the web site.

http://www.mammothsite.com/

I really enjoyed SD. It's a nice place!

This is the place in Hot Springs that I mentioned. When we were there it was in its early stages==hear it is really nice now!

 

[dispor]

OP, sorry to hijack your thread, but maybe YOU can help ME! LOL! We are driving from Ohio to Mt. Rushmore. We plan to stop halfway at Field of Dreams. Anything to do around there besides the movie set? Any suggestions on where to spend the night, about an hour or two Northwest of Dyersville?

We haven't been to SD yet, but I have been doing a lot of research. The Powderhouse Lodge gets a lot of good reviews - for both their lodging and their restaurant.