Mt Rushmore Trip Questions

[belle22]

Which is better .. lightshow at Crazy hours or Mt Rushmore?

Estimated time allowed at the following:
Custer Park Loop
Mt Rushmore
Crazy Horse
President Statues in Rapid City
Badlands
Corn Palace in Mitchell SD
Devils Tower

 

[sbenemerito]

It would help if you could tell us the time of year you are planning your trip and the approximate ages of those going.

Also, I was wondering if you were planning a leisurely trip or if you had a limited time to see all the wonderful sites you listed.

I have great memories of many of the places you want to see. You will have a fabulous vacation!

 

[ejcraft]

I wouldn't want to miss any of the places you listed, I't been a number of years since we took our trip, but saw all of them, so depending on how much time you have, just arrange to see them all.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

The Mt Rushmore/Iron Mtn/Custer/Needles loop I would allow an entire day. The lodge at the state park had a awesome lunch buffet when we were there in July.

Badlands are a couple hours.
Wall Drug an hour.
I've never managed to be at Devils Tower in daylight, so not sure there.
Corn Palace an hour
Bear Country USA (if you do that), 2 hours

 

[arthur06]

We did a lot of the things that you have listed above. Not sure who is going on your trip, but we traveled with small children.

We really enjoyed Bear Country.

We also did the 1880's train in Keystone and panned for gold in an old mine.

 

[belle22]

Were going in July with 9 and 11 year Olds. 8 days including driving plus going to see Yellowstone.

 

[nene0182]

If you want to cut anything out, you could definitely cut out the corn palace. We weren't impressed but I know some like it. We really liked Bear Country too when we went.

 

[MouseTrip07]

We did this trip last summer & it definitely ranks as one of our favorite vacations ever. Corn Palace & Wall Drug... I agree with others that those are 1 hour stops (max).

I would strongly suggest Ingalls Homestead in DeSmet, which is about 30 mins north of Mitchell, SD (where Corn Palace is). We camped at the Homestead overnight, but you can stay in a wagon or cabin, or visit just for the day. My kids (then 11 &8) had read the Little House Books and the Homestead made the details from those books absolutely come alive.

We spend probably a half day in the Badlands. We did some hiking & got some great pictures.

Once we got to the Black Hills/Mt. Rushmore area, we spent several days in Custer State Park, driving the different loops & we did the Chuckwagon Dinner at the Blue Bell Lodge (it was great).

We spent a half day and then one evening of our trip at Mt. Rushmore. At all of the National Park Sites (and there are many in that area), we did the Jr. Ranger Programs & my kids earned badges- free souvenirs!

I didn't see this on your list, but check into Wind Cave & Jewel Cave National Parks. We did cave tours at both places...our favorite was the lantern tour at Jewel Cave.

We planned this trip last year with the intention of spending 2-3 days at Mt. Rushmore, then 7-8 days at Yellowstone. We found so much to do in the Black Hills area that we decided to save Yellowstone for another trip.

Feel free to ask any questions...I had a hard time finding info last year when we were planning the trip, so I am glad to help.

Jennifer

 

[buzz2400]

you asked what was better the light at crazy horse or mt rushmore. went to mt rushmore. It was very impressive at night. they do a ceremony honoring all the military (lowering of the flag). It was a little long since a lot of people got up and they go down the line saying their names. I think little ones would get a little bored but it is always nice to honor the military. Anyway we just drove by crazy horse. So if you do want to see it from a distance, you can. We did the the needles loop and that was impressive. We drove almost all the way to devils tower and looked from a distance. Would have liked to go all the way and be there but mom has dementia and we were trying to get as many sights in as possible. We were able to do custard park relatively fast. I was not impressed by wall drug. We were there about an hour just to take a break. Never did get my free water.

 

[Narnia_girl]

I agree with a day at Custer, and wouldn't bother with Wall Drug or the Corn Palace again.

 

[MagicalMawMaw]

We did a combination Mt Rushmore & Yellowstone trip several years back.

The Badlands didn't take us very long.

At Mt Rushmore we saw it by day & went back at night. I loved it! The nightshow just makes you feel proud to be an American! Worth your time for sure.

Custer Park & needles were awesome. Loved them!

Bear park was fun & we enjoyed that. Would do it again.

I liked wall drug. Didn't take real long to your but was neat.

Eat at Alpine Inn in Hill City if you get a chance. Was excellent & we ate there 2 nights straight!

We walked completely around Devils Tower. I don't remember how long it took though. Not a bad walk at all though.

Is a beautiful area to visit!

 

[belle22]

If you go to either Mt Rushmore or Crazt Horse night shows.. do you have to pay again if you go earlier in the day and come back?

 

[fluffykalie]

hello that is a very good question. I googled it and only found that bus's parking permits are good for 24 hours. I dont know about cars. We are going to be over there june 28- july 6. I'm not sure which day we are doing those monuments but can ask and post after we go to them. that is if your vacation dosent start before ours.

 

[fluffykalie]

hello i did a little more research and found mt rushmores parking phone number: call Presidential Parking, Inc. at (605) 574-2643.
Also for crazy horse A Re-admit Pass is Available at the Welcome Center for Laser Light Show.
I found my info on websites http://www.nps.gov/moru/planyourvisit/feesandreservations.htm
http://crazyhorsememorial.org/visit-crazy-horse-memorial/

 

[msmama]

When I did this (years ago while moving cross country) you had to pay for Devil's Tower, and I think (maybe) certain parts of the Badlands (they are national parks). If that is the case then you'd want to probably spend more time there to get your moneys worth. We stopped at a gas station or something right outside the entrance to Devil's tower to take pictures, but never actually went into the park.

We drove around the block of the corn palace and that was enough for us.

I think some of it depends on how much hiking/exploring you want to do, too!

Have fun!

 

[descovy]

If you go to either Mt Rushmore or Crazt Horse night shows.. do you have to pay again if you go earlier in the day and come back?

We were just at Mt Rushmore last week. No fee to get into the national park, but $11 fee to park your vehicle in the parking lot.

Parking pass is good for 1 year!

 

[pednurse]

If you're doing multiple national parks, get the annual pass to save money on entrance fees. 2 years ago we did the Badlands, Mt Rushmore, Yellowstone, Devil's Tower, & Craters of the Moon all up in that area (plus Sequoia, Grand Canyon, & Petrified Forest/painted desert as we finished a big loop). Spent 2 days at the Badlands (we'd done a couple of hours several years before & boy did we miss a lot by not staying longer!)---some amazing views & features to see along the hikes (kids were 14 & 10 at the time). Spent a couple of hours at Mt Rushmore--did the hike up closer, but had to rush back as a huge storm rolled in, involving golf ball sized hail (unfortunately received a fair amount of hail damage to the RV that needed immediate repair so we didn't make it back for the evening show). Yellowstone we spent 4 days at & plan to go back in the near future as we saw only a little of what we wanted to--place is massive & impressive (& filled with wildlife---close encounters with bison, elk, grizzly bear, black bear, & wolf). Devils Tower we spent about 2 hours at---watched a guy free climb part of it. Craters of the Moon we spent about an hour at---very cool unusual landscape---did a short hike through there. For your kids, they'd likely enjoy the Junior Ranger program at the National Parks---do activities in a booklet/visit with a park Ranger (varies amongst the parks as to what's required) & kids can then collect badges. My daughter is now up to 12 she's earned over the past couple of years.

 

[Magnetic]

We did an RV road trip across the country and spent three days in South Dakota - we did the Badlands loop, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Rushmore Cave - then continued on to Wyoming for Devil's Tower.

The loop around Devils Tower is about 1.3 miles. If you walk and don't stop, you could do it in about a half hour. We hiked with children and took a little over an hour, as we stopped along the way to read signs and look at various things.

I write a blog about frugal living, and the South Dakota portion of the trip begins here. You can continue through the following pages for Mt. Rushmore, etc. - Devil's Tower was on the last day.

 

[sdjen]

I live in Rapid City so I can help with the presidents statues in RC. There are statues at each corner in about a 6 block by two block wide area - all throughout downtown on Main and St Joseph streets. There are lots of shops and restaurants throughout that area so it may be a good mid day for lunch or late afternoon for dinner activity. If you would like a recommendation to eat at, just let me know.

One thing you should know about downtown is that every Thursday most of that area is shut down to street traffic for something called Summer Nights. There are food booths, live music and lots of fun activities for the kids. It can get pretty crowded but might be fun for you. Main Street square is at the corner of 6th and Main street and is the hub of that area.

I would also second the recommendation of Bear Country - it is one of our favorite places to take out of town visitors. Another highly rated local attraction is called Reptile Gardens. This is located on the same road as Bear Country which is the highway you would take from Rapid City to get to Mt Rushmore. They have really neat shows - alligator wrestling, a bird show, snake show. Beautiful gardens and a dome that has one of the largest snake collections in the world. Easy to spend several hours there and your kids would enjoy it.

If you have any specific questions, please let me know. I will do what I can to help!

 

[crazycatstacy]

I live in Rapid City so I can help with the presidents statues in RC. There are statues at each corner in about a 6 block by two block wide area - all throughout downtown on Main and St Joseph streets. There are lots of shops and restaurants throughout that area so it may be a good mid day for lunch or late afternoon for dinner activity. If you would like a recommendation to eat at, just let me know.

One thing you should know about downtown is that every Thursday most of that area is shut down to street traffic for something called Summer Nights. There are food booths, live music and lots of fun activities for the kids. It can get pretty crowded but might be fun for you. Main Street square is at the corner of 6th and Main street and is the hub of that area.

I would also second the recommendation of Bear Country - it is one of our favorite places to take out of town visitors. Another highly rated local attraction is called Reptile Gardens. This is located on the same road as Bear Country which is the highway you would take from Rapid City to get to Mt Rushmore. They have really neat shows - alligator wrestling, a bird show, snake show. Beautiful gardens and a dome that has one of the largest snake collections in the world. Easy to spend several hours there and your kids would enjoy it.

If you have any specific questions, please let me know. I will do what I can to help!

I live in Rapid City too!