llinois to South Dakota trip

[Soupermom]

Regarding the wildlife, I wanted to add that we saw a few critters in the Black Hills. In YNP we saw bears several times, coyotes, bison, owls, elk, and various birds. If we had had an extra day I would have gotten up early one day to go see the wolf pack; those are the only animals we really didn't see. In GTNP we saw moose and Eagles; the latter were on our rafting trip. I would have liked more time to scope out more moose! Be sure to take several pair of binoculars and a good camera. Also, in Custer State Park, there is a pack/herd of wild donkeys who are actually tame. They will wander up to cars and you can feed them. We gave them apples and carrots.

The two books I have can tell where in each park you can view each specific type of animal as well as the time of day that is best for viewing. Those books were SOOO helpful!

 

[mdrob214]

WOW! So many good suggestions! SO much to do! I might be more overwhelmed now than I was 2 days ago before I really started planning!

So far, we've worked to break up the driving into reasonable chunks. Starting out in the western suburbs of Chicago here is our plan so far (VERY likely to change as I continue to plan...)

Please suggest campgrounds, alternate stopping points that are close by if better than the ones we have chosen, roadside attractions, etc. We definitely want to have fun along the way and take this at a leisurely pace.

Day 1: Drive to Des Moines IA (5 hours not including stops)
Camp and rest

Day 2: Drive to Kearney NE (5 hours not including stops)
Camp and rest

Day 3: Drive to Rawlins WY (6 1/2 hour drive not including stops)
Camp and rest

Day 4: Drive to Yellowstone (6 1/2 hour drive not including stops)
Set up camp before dark


Now where should we camp at Yellowstone? There are a few choices for motorhomes. Being able to use our generator (during designated hours) is a must for us.

What do we NEED to see here and how long will it take?

I'm thinking just 2 or 3 days here because it looks like there is so much to do in the Mt Rushmore area. I know we want to see Old Faithful, at least one cool waterfall, and probably do the dinner where you ride horses or a wagon to get there. Not knowing exactly where these things are or what else we need to see, I don't know how to plan the camping.

Day 7ish: Drive to Bighorn National Forest (6 hrs not incl. stops)


Day 8ish: Drive to Deadwood/Rapid City/Mt Rushmore area (5-6+ hours not incl stops depending on where we camp)

Day 12: Drive to Sioux Falls S.D. (5 1/2 hrs not incl. stops)
Plan to stop at roadside attractions

Day 13: Drive to Warrens WI (5 1/2 hours not incl. stops)
Camp at Jellystone Park for 2 nights (to wind down and play at the water park)

Day 15: Drive home (4 hours not incl. stops)


Feel like we're getting somewhere, but still so much to plan! Thanks for the help!

If you can make it 7 hrs on your first day, I would recommend a stop in Omaha and a day at the Henry Doorly Zoo. It's been ranked as the top zoo in the country recently, according to TripAdvisor. http://www.omaha.com/article/20120530/NEWS01/120539957

 

[Soupermom]

OP...Have you considered condensing your first three days into two? That would give you an extra day in one of the parks where you could do/see a whole lot more than you will at your campsite in Iowa or Nebraska. Just a suggestion.

 

[Deb & Bill]

It's very dangerous to feed the wild animals. They are not tame and they can hurt you. Especially the bigger ones. Plus it makes them dependent on humans for food and they lose their fear of humans.

Don't feed the wild animals and keep a safe distance from them.

 

[jodifla]

Between Sioux Falls and Wisconsin are Pipestone National Monument and Walnut Grove (Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum, and the actual Plum Creek):

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

http://www.walnutgrove.org/

 

[Bete]

Thanks for all this info.

We been thinking about this kind of trip, too.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Here is our updated plans:

Day 1:
Drive to Omaha NE

Day 2:
Omaha Zoo
Drive to Cheyenne WY
(arrive late and probably camp at rest stop or Walmart)

Day 3:
Drive to Jackson Hole

Day 4:
Downtown Jackson Hole
Jackson Hole Rodeo or Bar J Chuckwagon
(Also laundry and grocery shopping)

Day 5:
Grand Teton NP
Old Faithful
Camp at Madison campground in Yellowstone

Day 6:
Full day in Yellowstone
Camp at Fishing Bridge

Day 7:
Drive North out of Yellowstone (if roads are open)
Stop at Buffalo Bill Historical Center
Drive as far as we can toward Rapid City SD and camp

Day 8:
Drive
Stop at Devils Tower
Deadwood
Camp near Custer SD

Day 9/ 10/ 11:
Mount Rushmore (incl. light show)
Crazy Horse
Custer State Park
lots of other stuff

Day 12:
Drive to Sioux City

Day 13/14:
Drive to Warrens WI
Camp at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park

Day 15:
Drive home

 

[Soupermom]

It's very dangerous to feed the wild animals. They are not tame and they can hurt you. Especially the bigger ones. Plus it makes them dependent on humans for food and they lose their fear of humans.

Don't feed the wild animals and keep a safe distance from them.

FYI: The donkeys/burros were tame and park officials told us to feed them. They expected it and walked right up to our van. We did not even consider feeding any other animal.

 

[DenMig]

Here is our updated plans:

Day 1:
Drive to Omaha NE

Day 2:
Omaha Zoo
Drive to Cheyenne WY
(arrive late and probably camp at rest stop or Walmart)

Day 3:
Drive to Jackson Hole

Day 4:
Downtown Jackson Hole
Jackson Hole Rodeo or Bar J Chuckwagon
(Also laundry and grocery shopping)

Day 5:
Grand Teton NP
Old Faithful
Camp at Madison campground in Yellowstone

Day 6:
Full day in Yellowstone
Camp at Fishing Bridge

Day 7:
Drive North out of Yellowstone (if roads are open)
Stop at Buffalo Bill Historical Center
Drive as far as we can toward Rapid City SD and camp

Day 8:
Drive
Stop at Devils Tower
Deadwood
Camp near Custer SD

Day 9/ 10/ 11:
Mount Rushmore (incl. light show)
Crazy Horse
Custer State Park
lots of other stuff

Day 12:
Drive to Sioux City

Day 13/14:
Drive to Warrens WI
Camp at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park

Day 15:
Drive home

We have stayed at the KOA near Mt. Rushmore. There was a lot for kids to do. pool, mini golf, water slide (not attached to the pool), jumping pillow, horseback riding, chuckwagon dinner, cheap yummy pancake breakfast , etc.

http://koa.com/campgrounds/mount-rushmore/

http://www.palmergulch.com/

It comes down to "to each their own", but things we enjoyed in the Black Hills were Keystone, 1880 train, Bear Country, and Wind Cave. That is in addition to Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, and Crazy Horse.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

We have stayed at the KOA near Mt. Rushmore. There was a lot for kids to do. pool, mini golf, water slide (not attached to the pool), jumping pillow, horseback riding, chuckwagon dinner, cheap yummy pancake breakfast , etc.

http://koa.com/campgrounds/mount-rushmore/

http://www.palmergulch.com/

It comes down to "to each their own", but things we enjoyed in the Black Hills were Keystone, 1880 train, Bear Country, and Wind Cave. That is in addition to Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, and Crazy Horse.

Thank you! We were considering the Mt Rushmore KOA. We won't be towing a car. Can you drive through Bear Country in a motorhome? Do you know if there is a charge for the nightly shuttle from KOA to Mt Rushmore light show?

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I seem to recall seeing RVs at Bear Country when we were there, but just can't say for certain. It's pretty wide open and I don't remember any low clearances.

 

[Soupermom]

I thought I would clarify why we didn't like Bear Country. Most of the animals we saw on the drive we later saw in the parks for FREE in their natural habitat and they looked much happier than the animals at Bear Country. It just wasn't worth the money to us and it didn't last very long.

 

[DenMig]

Thank you! We were considering the Mt Rushmore KOA. We won't be towing a car. Can you drive through Bear Country in a motorhome? Do you know if there is a charge for the nightly shuttle from KOA to Mt Rushmore light show?

I don't remember if they charge or not for the shuttle. I want to say No, but I"m not positive on that. It was a fun campground. Bear Country winds around a bit, but also not sure if they allow RV's or not. If you stay at the Mt. Rushmore KOA they do rent cars for the day on site (It was around $45/day in 2010 when we stayed there). You can do Needles highway then and if you have the car for the day might as well take that to places like Custer State Park, Bear Country, Keystone, etc.

 

[DenMig]

I thought I would clarify why we didn't like Bear Country. Most of the animals we saw on the drive we later saw in the parks for FREE in their natural habitat and they looked much happier than the animals at Bear Country. It just wasn't worth the money to us and it didn't last very long.

Understandable. We just did the Black Hills area ( + Deadwood and Devil's Tower) so outside of a lot of buffalo in Custer State Park we didn't see wildlife like you did. The bears didn't look malnourished or sad as far as I can tell, but who knows. It was pretty cool to see them up close like that for us.

Also Soupermom, we are practically neighbors !!!!! Stay warm !!!!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

I don't remember if they charge or not for the shuttle. I want to say No, but I"m not positive on that. It was a fun campground. Bear Country winds around a bit, but also not sure if they allow RV's or not. If you stay at the Mt. Rushmore KOA they do rent cars for the day on site (It was around $45/day in 2010 when we stayed there). You can do Needles highway then and if you have the car for the day might as well take that to places like Custer State Park, Bear Country, Keystone, etc.

Thanks! I'll have to look into that. With 7 of us including 3 in car seats, we would need to rent a van if they have one. It would be nice to not break camp if they have a reasonable rate. We will have to consider towing our van. We've never done it before and I can see pros and cons to doing that.

 

[malibuconlee]

Thanks! I'll have to look into that. With 7 of us including 3 in car seats, we would need to rent a van if they have one. It would be nice to not break camp if they have a reasonable rate. We will have to consider towing our van. We've never done it before and I can see pros and cons to doing that.

Nice to see you mention a tow vehicle. We have a 5th wheel camper so we have the truck to drive around when taking trips. I couldn't imagine having to drive around an RV for the whole trip. I like to set up at a full hook-up campsite and be free to go off to explore!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Nice to see you mention a tow vehicle. We have a 5th wheel camper so we have the truck to drive around when taking trips. I couldn't imagine having to drive around an RV for the whole trip. I like to set up at a full hook-up campsite and be free to go off to explore!

I know. The problem is we don't plan to spend more than one night anywhere except the Rapid City area (and the end of the trip in Warrens WI, but don't plan the leave the campground there anyway.) So we would have to buy a hitch (is that what it's called?) and we may sell this motorhome after this trip. Plus it seems like it will slow us down and be more difficult for the rest of the drive. We bought a motorhome on the smaller side (29 feet) so that we could get around pretty easily without having to tow a van.
Still think this over!

Oops, I guess that wasn't quite true... if we make it all the way to Jackson Hole on Day 3 we will be there 2 nights. Still working this all out!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

The investment in the towing setup will likely be way more expensive than renting a van for the day - not to mention you'll burn a lot more fuel in your RV towing the van.

Also, as much as I loved Needles Highway, we've only done it once in 4 trips to Mt Rushmore. This trip you're taking is very much like a Disney trip. With limited time, there is simply no way to see it all. So, you just have to make sure to go back again one day