Lodging Help for Badlands,Mt.Rushmore, etc

Just starting to plan our trip from Missouri with 2 kids ages 11 %26amp; 14. Our first stop will be the Badlands. Then we will head towards Mt. Rushmore, Deadwood Area. If we have time might try and do Custer and maybe some caves. Not really interested in shopping, casinos, etc. We will have 4-5 days of sightseeing. Would appreciate any suggestions for lodging. We would be open to moving around a little if that would make the most of our time. We prefer to stay in cabins type lodging instead of motels--nothing fancy just need 2 beds and a bathroom.

Thanks.

Lodging Help for Badlands,Mt.Rushmore, etc

We are going the last of May. I%26#39;ve been doing a lot of research and speaking with the locals. You probably want to stay for the first part of your trip in the area around Custer, Keystone, etc. You might check Custer State park for cabins. We are staying at the K Bar S Lodge. You may want to spend one day going to Badlands and Wall Drug, etc. You can spend one day going to Mt. Rushmore, Custer State Park, Crazy Horse. One night go back to Mt. Rushmore for their night show. There are a lot of other activities like the 1880 train and panning for gold in the area. I ordered for free one of the Black Hills and South Dakota vacation guides. They have great info. There is also a Presidential wax museum and water parks for the kids. We were not interested in any of the water activities because we have a pool and usually bein to use it around the middle of May.

You may want to move to either Deadwood or Lead for the second phase of your trip. There you can take in Deadwood, Spearfish Canyon and Devil%26#39;s Tower monument.

With kids it is easier to stay in one place than move around every day. I know that it is with my kids.

Good luck with your plans. If you are going this summer then I would start my planning now and make reservations.

Lodging Help for Badlands,Mt.Rushmore, etc

With your interests, I%26#39;d suggest possibly staying in Custer State Park. I have not stayed there, but they have the cabin style lodging you are looking for. (custeresorts.com) Maybe others can offers suggestions on cabin style lodging other than at Custer SP.

Do you enjoy wild west history? If not, I don%26#39;t know if I%26#39;d spend much time in Deadwood, as they are mainly known for history and casinos.

You can spllt your time between the northern and central Black Hills areas. Rushmore, Custer SP, etc is in the central region, and Deadwood is the northern region. I%26#39;d only recommend spending a night in the northern region if you want to see Devil%26#39;s Tower in Wyoming. It%26#39;s very worthwhile,and there%26#39;s a nice trail around the base. There%26#39;s also a neat prairie dog town there. On the way back to SD, you can drive through Spearfish Canyon, a lovely drive with nice waterfalls.

If you choose to split your time between 2 areas, and with your time frame of 4-5 days, I%26#39;d only spend one night in the north and the remainder in the central hills. There%26#39;s more to see and do. Here are the basic must sees of the area:

Badlands

Mt Rushmore

Crazy Horse

Custer SP

Wind Cave

Jewel Cave

Devil%26#39;s Tower

There%26#39;s lots of other attractions you can tour if time permits. Take a look at the South Dakota guidebook (travelsd.com) to get some addtional ideas. Be sure to stop back with additional questions.

Have a great trip.

If Custer State Park does%26#39;nt work out then you might try Rock Crest Lodge and Cabins or Holy Smoke Lodge. Both of these places offer cabin type accomodations. I found them in my South Dakota Black Hills Vacation guide.

If staying for a nite or two near badlands this is the place for your family: Circle View Guest Ranch, Scenic SD. www.circleviewranch.com We stayed there 6/07 due to high rating on TA and it was the highlight of our trip. It has amazing views, great breakfast, and is affordable. Your kids will love the place, they have friendly dog and burros!

The other good one we found this trip was Comfort Inn, Hill City. Newer, and non-smoking, and on the hike/bike trail on the edge of town. We walked at twilight and saw a dozen deer. Room was clean and the pool/hot tub did the trick! Morning continental breakfast had some warm items.

We stopped our first night in Winner, SD. They have a drive-in theatre which our son enjoyed for the first time. They do have HI Exp but it was booked so we stayed Buffalo Trail Motel, which was the worst stay of the trip.

When I was growing up we went to South Dakota every year. We have been there three times with our family. Hope you have a good trip!