Cities West and East of Mt Rushmore

We are trying to avoid paying the tourist town Hotel {Prices by staying about 100 miles east of Mt Rushmore and at the end of the day 100 miles or so West of Mt. Rushmore. We plan to see Mt Rushmore on our trip from NY to LA allowing 1 full day to see that area.

Can anyone reccommend cities to sleep in about 100 miles West of Mt Rushmore off of I90 and the same thing 100 miles East of Mt rushmore heading into WY.

Also besides Mt Rushmore what should we see that can be seen in a few hours time.

We are a family of 6 - 2 adults 2 9 year olds and 2 Seniors (Grandparents)

Cities West and East of Mt Rushmore

Kadoka is about 100 miles east of Rapid City, Wall is 60. My sister had a terrible experience (spiders, oil-stained carpet) at Steve%26#39;s in New Underwood (about 20 miles east), so can%26#39;t recommend that.

Spearfish, SD is 50 east of Rapid City, Sundance WY is 100 miles from Keystone/Mt. Rushmore.

If you take hwy 385 back to the interstate from Mt. Rushmore, you will drive through Hill City %26amp; Deadwood.

Cities West and East of Mt Rushmore

Depends on when you are traveling through that area. Sundance, Wyoming is not too far, but far enough to maybe be cheaper). The Black Hills Rally is the first full week in August and (depending on how much gas prices keep folks from attending)you could be lucky to find a reasonable room within 100 miles in any direction from Sturgis. Any other time you could actually stay in Spearfish at any one of many hotels (and still be close to Mt. Rushmore) for a reasonable price. A drive through Spearfish Canyon, (then left at Cheyenne Crossing on Hwy. 85 to just before you enter Deadwood at which point go right on Hwy 385. Go through Hill City to Hwy 244 to Mount Rushmore. It%26#39;s a beautiful drive and, depending on where you stay and if you make any stops, will only take 2-3 hours. Again, if you come before or after the Rally, you don%26#39;t have to stay far from Rapid City to get a reasonable room.

Good luck and have a great trip.

Sorry, I wasn%26#39;t paying attention and gave you directions from West to East; just try it in reverse. From the Monuments, take Hwy 244 to Hwy 385 (go right), 385 to 85 (go left). Take a right on 14A at Cheyenne Crossing which will take you into Spearfish Canyon then to Spearfish. If you%26#39;re there on the right day and are so inclined you could stay in Spearfish and take in the Passion Play or go on to Sundance, Wyoming (a nice town).

Hotels are expensive throughout Wyoming right now due to the energy boom. Oil workers, etc., are filling up rooms. For example, Gillette, WY, is about 100 miles west of Mount Rushmore and you%26#39;ll find cheaper rooms in Rapid City than you will in Gillette.

Keep in mind that the Sturgis Rally occurs during early August and causes a large spike in hotel prices in the Black Hills during that time. When are you planning on making your trip?

Generally, hotels along I-90 in the summer are not cheap. East of the Black Hills, I%26#39;ve stayed at Hutch%26#39;s Motel in Presho--old, out of date, cheap but clean and friendly. This is about a three hour drive from Mount Rushmore--more if you go through the Badlands.

For an activity that will take a few hours in addition to Mount Rushmore, my first choice would be to drive a portion of the Norbeck Scenic Byway which includes the Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road. You can cut it down to a couple hours if you go from Mt. Rushmore west on SD244 to Sylvan Lake on SD87, east on the Needles Highway (SD87), north on Playhouse Road and back northwest to Mount Rushmore on Iron Mountain Road (US16A).

http://peternorbeck.americasbyways.net/

You can also make a loop through Badlands National Park. Driven quickly, this will take an extra hour or two compared to driving by on I-90.

Also...If you are actually looking for cities not small towns... there aren%26#39;t too many in northern WY.

Look at Billings MT westbound after Mt Rushmore, but this is much further than 100 miles...350 miles.

I would just stay in the Mt Rushmore area, possibly in Rapid City then drive on west toward Bozeman MT on I90 or further the next day.