Denver trip to SD?

My son (6) has off from school Oct 6-Oct. 20.

We were thinking maybe we%26#39;d do some kind of road-trip type thing, since we are trying to save some money. We live just south of Denver. It%26#39;s just my wife, son and Me.

How is SD this time of year? Is the weather kind of bad for a road trip?

What types of things are there to see there or on the way.? Any suggestions on how long to stay?

My wife was thinking that it might be cool to stay at hotel near Watiki water park in Rapid City for my son.

Denver trip to SD?

I was thinking maybe Oct. 9- Oct.13. It would probably take a day of travel. So we would have 3 days there. Too little? Too much?

Denver trip to SD?

Realisticaly there is more to see and do in a relatively small area (less driving around) by conentrating on the Black Hills. Evans Plunge pool %26amp; indoor water park in Hot Springs could be good for a day (note ';Hot Springs'; is a misnomer...the hotest they get is about 87 degrees). Being the ofi-season there may be some deals at hotels in that area. It is close enough to the rest of the Black Hills attractions for decent day trips yet not as far of a drive from Denver (via US 18 from I-25 at Orin, WY).

Weather can be a gamble but probably too early for snow to be an issue. Chilly nights and frost are likely. Fall foliage could be decent then. Animal viewing in Custer State Park might be better with many of the seasonal tourist gone and animals more active before Winter (drive slow...it may be mating season for many).

Search the major attractions for off-season hours.

It will be jacket weather but otherwise it will likely be OK. Watch the weather before you leave to make sure no early winter storms are on the horizon.

Three days makes for an OK stay...four would be better.

I%26#39;d try to do the following in whichever order works for you:

Day 1: Mount Rushmore, Jewell or Wind Cave, Crazy Horse (either a full visit or a drive-by depending on your interest).

Day 2: Custer State Park. Sylvan Lake, Needles Highway, Wildlife Loop, drive to top of Mt. Coolidge, hiking if desired. There are varying hike lengths. The lodges will be closed.

Day 3: Badlands National Park. Wall Drug if you think your son would like it. Dinosaur Park/Skyline Drive in Rapid City. Maybe a couple other Rapid City stops like Downtown and the Chapel in the Hills.

Day 4: Devils Tower, Spearfish Canyon and a stop in Deadwood.

Also consider Bear Country USA and Reptile Gardens which are between Rapid City and Mount Rushmore.

Watiki is certainly the place to stay if you%26#39;re looking for a waterpark. You might find that two nights in Hill City and two nights in Rapid City would make for less driving but sometimes it%26#39;s easier to drive more than re-pack.

You%26#39;ll be too late for most fall foliage. There may be still be some color at lower elevations but not in the popular foliage areas like Spearfish Canyon. Most of the forest in the Black Hills is evergreen anyway so it%26#39;s not like you%26#39;re missing too much.

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