South Dakota Ideas

[Sunshineminnie]

Hi there,

My family of four have decide to head to South Dakota in three weeks. It will be myself, my husband, DD20 and DS 17. Because I am booking so late, I am having a hard time finding a cabin that meets our budget and space needs. We will be staying for 4 or 5 nights. We don't mind driving 20 - 30 minutes or so to see the sites and we would rather not stay in a hotel. We plan on doing one or two activities a day and then just "chilling out".

Does anyone have any recommendations as to what towns we should look at? What are the must sees and dos for our age family?

Thanks so much!

 

[Diasmom]

Not sure if you have already made plans but we have a membership at the Hart Ranch in Rapid City. I think they will rent a cabin to nonmembers but will give you a sales pitch. Close to the Black Hills and very close to Reptile Gardens and do rent pet cabins for those traveling with pets
Not luxurious but small, clean cabin with a small kitchen. Also, a pool- a must in my family!

 

[kathy884]

We were considering a South Dakota trip this year, but ended up going to Colorado instead (great freebie house offer we couldn't refuse in Keystone, CO and we love it there). Here though is the place that I had by eye on for our South Dakota trip -- great central location for so many of the popular attractions in the area. The place has a restaurant and pool and quite a few different cabin configurations. It's called the Powder House Lodge. http://www.powderhouselodge.com/

It's four miles (8 minutes) from Mt. Rushmore, 20 mile (28 minutes) from Crazy Horse, less than a 1/2 hour from Bear Country and the Reptile Gardens in Rapid City // Looks like a good location for doing the Wildlife loop and or hiking in Custer State Park -- the scenic highway 16A and 87 that Needles highway, Jewell Cave's not far. There is another Cave too. All those look like they are less than an hour away. It's about an hour it looks like to Spearfish, another scenic area.

I love the Badlands too (a favorite -- like being in another planet) -- That would be about an hour to get there and then the drive / loop from there is some distance also. We on arrival night in Rapid City, were actually going to stay one night in a cabin in the Badlands to get early morning Minuteman Missile tour tickets, and do the Badlands loop before staying at the Powder House Lodge in a cabin for the rest of our stay.

We still have this trip on our list and will do it one of these summers.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

You'll want to stay in Custer rather than Rapid City. Look into campgrounds as many of them also have cabins for rent. There's plenty to occupy you for several days, especially with your plan of just a couple activities per day. BTW, she we were there 3 years ago, the lodge in Custer State Park had a terrific lunch buffet.

 

[aprilgail]

We stayed in South Dakota 3 days during our summer long roadtrip around the US- it was one of our favorite places. LOVED Badlands. We went to the Corn Palace which was odd, Wall which was like a classier version of south of the border. We took a Bus Tour that was an all day thing which we really liked, it was Mount Rushmore Tours- went in the morning and had breakfast there, then boarded the bus and we went to Mt. Rushmore, Iron Mountain Road, Custer State Park, State Game Lodge for lunch, Needles Highway, Sylvan Lake, Crazy Horse and then a Chuckwagon Supper and Show. It was a great day and I didn't have to drive which was great! We went to rapid city which was no big deal- we really liked Okaton though- its a virtually abandoned town and was great for photography buffs.
Can't help you with lodging because we are not cabin type people- we staying in one in Yellowstone and that was enough for us LOL- give us a Marriott anyday!

 

[3boymthr]

Consider renting an RV and staying at Custer State Park. The location is amazing. We could hear coyotes howling at night and the mule population is a riot.

 

[Vickmeys]

Not sure if you have already made plans but we have a membership at the Hart Ranch in Rapid City. I think they will rent a cabin to nonmembers but will give you a sales pitch. Close to the Black Hills and very close to Reptile Gardens and do rent pet cabins for those traveling with pets
Not luxurious but small, clean cabin with a small kitchen. Also, a pool- a must in my family!

Custer State Park!!!

 

[sdjen]

Make sure to check out the Palmer Gulch resort close to Hill City. It isn't cheap but nice and in the middle of a lot. I would also suggest looking a little further north by Deadwood/Spearfish too. Spearfish hotel rates seem to be cheaper than a lot of other places.

 

[whiporee]

Be careful you're not scheduling at the same time as the Sturgis Rally.

Lots of bikers and not real family friendly environment.

 

[Riles_and_Gabe]

Make sure to check out the Palmer Gulch resort close to Hill City. It isn't cheap but nice and in the middle of a lot. I would also suggest looking a little further north by Deadwood/Spearfish too. Spearfish hotel rates seem to be cheaper than a lot of other places.

I used to work at this resort during the summers while I was at college. They are with the Mount Rushmore KOA and I can't recommend them enough. They are in the middle of everything in the Black Hills (only about a 5 minute drive to Mount Rushmore). They have everything from super basic Kamping Kabins to super deluxe cabins. They are in Hill City although it is about a 5 minute drive to the heart of the city. There is so much to do and see there. Have a great trip!