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Rochester Local

Bison, Mount Rushmore, and Badlands. . . Oh, My! Road Trip Guide to the Black Hills

Where do you go when you want to get away with the family for just a few days but don’t want to go too far ? For my family its the Black Hills in South Dakota.

Recently, my spouse, daughter and I embarked on our first road trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota. My spouse and I have never been and why not visit the Wild West and great outdoors with our daughter? Here is a quick guide of what to see out in the Black Hills area:

Great Stops to Streeeeeeetch those legs

Sitting for a long time (7 hours) can be hard even for adults let alone a child (my 4 year old was itching to get out after the first Disney movie was over). Here are some epic stops:

  • The Sioux Falls Waterfall Park-Sioux Falls, SD. The waterfall park is a great area for everyone to get out, run around, take some pictures, and get a great cup of coffee at the local farmer’s market (on Saturday’s during summer) or up the street at the local coffee shop The Source .
  • The Corn Palace-Mitchell, SD. The one and only palace that is completely made out of CORN! Yes, corn. There are tractors for kids to climb, quirky items made out of corn, and did I mention, the entire palace is made out of corn? On top of all the corn this attraction is free.
  • Wall Drug-Wall, SD. Every five miles or so, you will see signs for everything Wall Drug. This is kind of a staple for going out to the Black Hills. They have a cafe, ice cream store, homemade donuts, 5 cent coffee, free ice water, bookstore, souvenir store, leather store, area for kids to play, and a giant T-Rex that moves. This attraction is another one with my ideal admission price- free.
  • The Bandlands National Park-Interior, SD. The Badlands are a sight to be seen. In the middle of Midwest country are mountains. Stop by the Ben Reifel Visitor Center before starting the hikes or the scenic trail. Kids can pick up a packet to be a junior ranger. There are also guided hikes and a night sky program during the summer. The fee is $25 per vehicle but the pass is good for 7 days.

Rapid City and the Black Hills Area

Once you reach Rapid City, SD you have reached the Black Hills area. There is an abudance of things to do for young ones and families. Here is a sample of some great things to do:

  • Bear Country USA-Rapid City, SD. Who doesn’t enjoy having bears come right up to their cars?! Kids and adults will love watching the wildlife roam super close to your car! There are wolves, goats, badgers, buffalo, big horned sheep (these are extremely common), bears and more! The admission is $18/adult, $12 for kids 5-12, and FREE for  children under 4.
  • Custer State Park-Custer, SD. This state park is in the mountains and Black Hills of South Dakota. With lodges and campgrounds to stay at, it is a great place to bring the family and relax. There are numerous hiking trails and Sylvan Lake is an easy, flat surface for the family to hike around. The wildlife loop has a large Bison herd and wild mules! The scenic drives have overlooks for everyone to stop out and get a great look at the mountains and even Mount Rushmore in some areas (caution: if you or someone has motion/car sickness, be wary of Mount Iron Pass scenic drive. It is extremely curvy). The admission is $20 per vehicle and the pass is good for 7 days.
  • Mount Rushmore National Memorial-Keystone, SD. When you think of the Black Hills, a lot of people think of the four presidential heads etched into a side of a mountain. Mount Rushmore. This is a sight to be seen. The walkway down to the memorial is beautiful with all the state flags flying high. There is a hike that you can take to get really up and close to the memorial. It is 250 steps with multiple landings and benches for breaks. The ice cream at the gift shop is pretty amazing as well (as my 4 year old said after knocking out all 250 steps). Admission is $10 per vehicle.

Road Trip Tips

  • Pack plenty of snaaacks. Honestly. Who doesn’t love road trip snacks (trail mix, popcorn, goldfish, cheeseballs). Make a fun tradition about bringing certain mixes soley for road trips and make the mix together ahead of time.
  • Napkins, wipes, papertowels, and trashbags are a must on any road trip. You never know when you are going to need all four at one time or all together 🙂
  • Games. Lots of Games. There are only so many times that my family will want to hear me karokee to every 90’s song. I stopped by the Tangerine to find fun question games to ask one another while trying to drum up some conversation at hour 5. The alphabet game is fun and silly. Simply pick a topic and then try to find something that starts with each letter of the alphabet.
  • Don’t plan too much. I had glorious ideas of doing a ton of activities but in the end only got around to a few. Don’t over do it. Relish in the moment with your family and beautiful surroundings.
  • Take tons of pictures. You can only remember so much when you’re all having so much fun!
  • Beware of wildlife in the road. This includes stray herds of cattle. It happened. In the middle of a mountain pass.

So next time you are thinking of a fun place for you and the family to go to, remember the Black Hills!

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