What to see between Denver & Rapid City?

My husband and I are taking a tour at the end of August - leaves from Rapid City SD, includes Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons; ends in Salt Lake City. We%26#39;re flying into Denver and have a day and a half to make our way to Rapid City. Probably want to go into Rocky Mtn. NP; also interested in Devil%26#39;s Tower. Need advice on what%26#39;s worth seeing. Should we go through RMNP to Grand Lake, then north to Laramie %26amp; Cheyenne, or go in then back through Estes Park to Loveland and north on the interstate? From Cheyenne, interstate to Buffalo and east to Devil%26#39;s Tower, or north via Agate Fossil Beds Nat%26#39;l Monument, Toadstool Park, Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, etc.? We arrive in Denver at 1 pm and need to be in Rapid City by 8 pm the following day for orientation. How much can we reasonably expect to fit in?

What to see between Denver %26amp; Rapid City?

We did this trip in June. It is too far to go to Devil%26#39;s Tower. After RMNP just drive to Rapid City. It is a long 7 hour drive with nothing really to see or do from Denver area to Rapid City. I would go to Cheyenne and then to Lusk to Rapid City. Enjoy your trip.

What to see between Denver %26amp; Rapid City?

I think I would try to do some of RMNP, then head up to Rapid City with Spearfish canyon drive on the way.

Keep in mind that the Denver Airport is out east of town. It can take 30-40 minutes to clear the airport once you land (with the train to baggage, getting baggage, taking shuttle to pick up car, etc). And then it is about 90 minutes to Estes Park. So I would estimate you would be in Estes Park about 3 to 3:30 PM (unless you stop for lunch).

That probably isn%26#39;t enough time to go all the way across to Grand Lake and back, so would suggest concentrating on the East side of RMNP, maybe with a drive up part way Trail ridge road.

The next day will be about a 6 hour drive up to Black Hills area from Estes Park. I also don%26#39;t think you can fit devil%26#39;s tower in on that day before having to be in Rapid City at 8:00 PM.

I would go up I-25 from Estes Park and then either:

1) Lusk to Newcastle then through Spearfish canyon (very pretty drive) to Deadwood and then to Rapid City

2) Lusk/newcastle/to Custer State Park and see some of that if your tour doesn%26#39;t cover any of it when you see Mt Rushmore/Crazy Horse?