Mt. Rushmore & the Black Hills Trip

The point of driving is twofold: First. we WANT to see the country and the countryside. The best way to do that is to drive through our great land and see it. Second, I want to explore and see every state, not fly over them at 30,000 feet. I know where the airports are, I just don't want to fly into an area and miss the trip there. I wanted to drive through a part of Nebraska on this trip so there was a purpose to the full day of drividng. We did the same thin in Colorado so we could drive through the Rocky Mountains. It's called TRAVEL!!

Dear travel adviser-I live in the Black Hills and have to say on some area's you nailed it but if you didn't come into our pictuesce town of Rapid City you missed a great deal.

It's sad that you weren't able to find the Rapid City Regional Airport. You could have gotten a flight from Denver to Rapid City and been only 32 miles from Mount Rushmore. The flight only takes about an hour instead of a full day of driving. Then you tell people that there are no airports there in Rapid City.

What an incredible journey. Thank you so much for the detailed information. I enjoyed reading every word of it. I have a personal goal to set foot in all 50 states because of how much I love our land. Sooo much to see and do! One just has to do their homework and research, that's all. Thanks again and happy exploring to you sir! :)

By the way Debbie,did you read my Journal? Lot's of good information there and pictures.....hope you didn't miss that under the tabs at the top.

Hi Debbie, since there's not a whole lot in Nebraska (I went through there because I had never been in Nebraska and want to be in all 50 states)I would definately go through Wyoming and if you can find your way to Devil's Tower, it's only a one hour drive back east into the Black Hills area. You go through Sundance and into Spearfish, very near Deadwood. That would be awesome if you have the time.

Otherwise, you could just follow our route and keep to our daily schedule because it was very easy, relaxing and left plenty of time to see what each place had to offer before moving on to the next place. We stopped each night at good spots (maybe Custer was an exception because there really isn't much in the way of nice hotels there) but there are other places very nearby once you get that close to Rushmore. Have a good trip and I hope this was of some help!

Me and my husband are taking the same trip! we are flying into Denver from Texas. gonna spend a night at Black Hawk for a little casino action and then head up to Mt rushmore and then back down ro Estes park and surrounding areas for 3 days! My question is should we go through Wyoming or Nebraska. I don't see a really good spot to stop. its a 6!/2 hr trip from Black Hawk. Cheyanne is only 2 hrs into the drive . Its not Frontier days there then so I don't know if there is anything to do!!! Any suggestions? glad to know about Hot Springs because i thought about that!

Sure if you don't mind cold weather and a bit of snow. We loved it in October and the snow was very cool at Crazy Horse and Devils Tower. Walking around Devils Tower in the snow was one of the coolest things we've ever done!!

IS nov a good time to go to den & sd & wym ?