Hello-we are planning on going to Mt. Rushmore and would love tips on places we should not miss during this road trip. We will be gone for 8 days. Hope it is enough time. We are traveling with two boys, 10 and 12. THanks for any tips/advice!
Traveling from So Cal to Mt. Rushmore
Eight days, round-trip, driving from anywhere in CA is not going to leave a lot of time for anything but driving. In theory, from the Bay area you can make it to the Black Hills in two days of solid driving via Salt Lake City...735 miles and 695 miles respectively. Figure 10-11 driving hours plus time for gas, restroom and meals. from L.A. figure at least three days each way...leaving only a couple days in the Black Hills.
With a little more time I would recommend a slower route beyond Salt Lake City such as US 40/34 via Dinosaur Nat. Mon. and Rocky Mt. Nat. Park to Denver. Or better yet US 40 to 230 then north toward Saratoga WY and take the Snowy Range Scenic Byway to Laramie. Spectacular mountain scenery. From there to the Black Hills via Lusk is real cowboy country and national grass lands. Just watch out for all the speed goats (Antelope).
Four days (after 2 there and 2 back) would be OK for seeing Rushmore, Custer Park (buffalo, etc...), Crazy Horse, etc... and maybe a loop up to Devils Tower (if so be sure to see the Vore Buffalo Jump at exit 199 on I-90).
But, honestly, unless you have help with the driving and can really roll the miles it would be a grueling trip with two mostly bored boys that age.
Traveling from So Cal to Mt. Rushmore
Ooops...did not read the title line close enough. from So. Cal....it would really not be practical in 8 days. Now...flying to Denver or Salke Lake City and renting a car might be a much better option. The miles you skip can be very scenic but they are really mostly empty and take a lot of time to drive across.
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