South Dakota/Wyoming Advice

Hi everyone! I would love some advice on my trip itinerary! We are leaving on June 18 and will not be returning until June 29. We are 2 families of 4(My sister and her kids). The kids ages are 13-17. I%26#39;ve done some research, but I still feel like I need advice from TripAdvisor. First of all, what is the weather like out there at this time? We are from FL and all we hear about is the bad weather you guys are having(Actually the whole country seems to be in an uproar). Our trip schedule is as follows:

June 18-Arrive in Denver-attend Colorado Rockies game that night-stay 1 nt

June 19-Travel from Denver to Custer, SD-Tour Mt. Rushmore-Lighting Ceremony-Stay in Custer 2 nts

***Should we take the Needles Hwy thru Custer on our way to see Mt. Rushmore? I couldn%26#39;t quite figure this one out.

June 20-Tour Custer St. Park/Jewel or Wind Cave/Crazy Horse(if time)

June 21-Drive to Badlands/Wounded Knee-Tour Badlands in A.M.-Drive to Deadwood in P.M.-spend 1 nt in Deadwood-see attractions(whatever is still open)

June 22-Drive to Cody, Wy-visit Devil%26#39;s Tower along way-Drive thru Big Horn Mountains-Arrive in Cody

***Which route thru Big Horn would be the most scenic? Sheridan or Buffalo?

June 23-Cody WY-Tour museum complex, trolley tour, Irma Hotel, etc.-Attend rodeo at night

June 24-Drive into NE Yellowstone via the Beartooth

Hwy-Tour 1 loop-Drive to West Yellowstone for 2 nts.

June 25- Tour Yellowstone

June 26-Drive to Jackson Hole, WY thru Grand Tetons

***Has anyone done the Bar J Chuckwagon Supper??

June 27-Whitewater rafting in Jackson Hole

June 28-Drive back to Denver

June 29-Leave Denver

If anyone has any suggestions for scenic travel routes or weather alerts(for traveling) feel free to comment! Does this schedule sound too crazy?? We traveled to Las Vegas 3 yrs ago and did the Grand Circle in 14 days. Lots of driving!!

I%26#39;ll post after our trip and let everyone know how it was!!Thanks!!/

South Dakota/Wyoming Advice

You got a real good trip planned.

The weather should be in the 70%26#39;s, make sure to take a blanket or jacket to the Lighting Ceremony it can be cool and watch out for wildlife when driving back from the Ceremony.

when coming from Custer and going to Mt Rushmore take 16a (Iron Mountain Road) you get a great view of Mt Rushmore when coming out of the tunnels.Great to take a picture here.Iron Mountain Rd incredible drive.It will also be very slow so no hurry here.

After visiting Crazy Horse I would take The Needles highway (Rt87) back to Custer.These 2 highways are a must.

Needles highway going back to Custer

Iron Mountain Rd when going to Mt Rushmore.

When we leave the Black Hills we always go up to Sheridan and cross the Big Horn Mountains driving Rt 14 into Cody.This is a very beautiful drive.

We will also be doing this right after Labor Day.

Have a great trip....

South Dakota/Wyoming Advice

You can take the Needles Highway on the way from Custer to Mount Rushmore. You%26#39;d take 89 from Custer to Sylvan Lake, the Needles Highway east and then Iron Mountain Road to Mount Rushmore. (Taking the Playhouse Road as a shortcut between the Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road is an option--the best scenery will still be seen and you save time.)

But this route will take a couple hours. Whether you have time to do this on the same day you%26#39;re both driving from Denver and visiting Mount Rushmore depends on what time you get out of Denver.

By the time you get to Custer and get checked in to your hotel, you might go straight to Mount Rushmore--do a quick out-and-back drive of Iron Mountain Road if it%26#39;s before 6 p.m. or so--and start touring Mount Rushmore at around 6 p.m. I believe--correct me if I%26#39;m wrong--the lighting ceremony begins at 9 p.m.

Then I%26#39;d drive the Needles Highway the next day as part of your Custer State Park day.

Both the Buffalo and Sheridan routes through the Bighorns are scenic. If you go the Sheridan route, stop at Shell Falls on 14. You could also take 14A through Lovell--another scenic route.

Thank you so much for the advice!! I love TripAdvisor!

Valerie

Sounds like a great trip. Be sure to do Custer State Park, Needles Hwy and Iron Mtn. Road. You%26#39;ll be so glad you did. If you have time to go into Crazy Horse you%26#39;ll like it, but if you run short of time, you can see the mountain being worked on from the hwy. This is a fairly hefty fee-related attraction that folks either really enjoy or really don%26#39;t.

Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Deadwood is an interesting place. If the trial of Jack McCall takes place while you are there, my 14 year-old niece loved that.

I always enjoy going to Devil%26#39;s Tower; don%26#39;t ever get tired of going there.

dermatologist