A buddy and my self are planning a trip from Topeka, KS to Mt. Rushmore and back in late August '11. Any advise on places to stay, eat, side trips and route suggestions. Thanks
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Mt. Rushmore
- Thread starter jjk1646
- Start date
I live in Grand Island Nebraska and when we would travel to South Dakota, we would always stop at Wall South Dakota on the way to Sturgis and on the way home. It is the home of Wall Drug, has tourist attractions and restaurants.
The last time I was in South Dakota was with my family and my wife set us up for a Chuckwagen Supper and show at the Flying T in Rapid City. I wasn't sure if I would like it but I had a blast.
Deadwood is an interesting gambling town.
Back in the day we would take Highway 2 West out of Grand Island, we would continue west until we hit Halsey? or near there near a national forest (which was nice scenery, then north to the South Dakota Interstate then back West.
I hope this was helpful.
Denny
The last time I was in South Dakota was with my family and my wife set us up for a Chuckwagen Supper and show at the Flying T in Rapid City. I wasn't sure if I would like it but I had a blast.
Deadwood is an interesting gambling town.
Back in the day we would take Highway 2 West out of Grand Island, we would continue west until we hit Halsey? or near there near a national forest (which was nice scenery, then north to the South Dakota Interstate then back West.
I hope this was helpful.
Denny
I saw 41 in WV remarks after my post. He is correct that the prices of everything go way up during the Sturgis event. I believe the Sturgis dates in 2011 are August 8th -14th. So if you go in late August you should be alright if you want to avoid the high prices.
Lot's of nice riding around Mt. Rushmore -- do Deadwood, Keystone, Lead, Spearfish, Crazyhorse monument, Badlands, Sturgis. If you have time, Devil's Tower over in Wyoming is a nice day ride, it just sticks up out of the middle of the prairie and you first see when you are 20 miles or so away.
We were in SD in 07 and stayed in Custer at the Rocket Motel. Not fancy by any means, but clean and very bike friendly and reasonable. There are all good rides from there. We did the Custer wildlife loop about 35 miles almost every day. You ride thru the buffalo and all kinds of wildlife. Spearfish canyon is about 70 miles , makes a good day ride by Deadwood and Sturgis. Custer is about 20 miles from Mt Rushmore, with some good riding to get there. The Needles road is a good ride also. We actually didn't find any bad rides there. Have a good trip.
Casper
400+ Posts
Rapid City and Sturgis have quite a few nice hotels, all the major chains are there, Google search and you will a ton to choose from...we went through there on the way to Billings MT last year. We stayed in a lodge, a little pricy, but it was only one night. We stood on the deck and could see the faces of MT Rushmore...way cool..worth the 135.00 for the one night...
As for riding, pick a direction, all the roads are sweet....several hotels have the maps of the area...again Googles is your friend.
The lodge is:
KBarS Lodge
434 Old Hill City Rd.
Keystone, SD
605-666-4545
Web site
kbarslodge.com
As for riding, pick a direction, all the roads are sweet....several hotels have the maps of the area...again Googles is your friend.
The lodge is:
KBarS Lodge
434 Old Hill City Rd.
Keystone, SD
605-666-4545
Web site
kbarslodge.com
Be sure to go back for the night program,your pass that you bought for the day is also good for the night program.
I am sure you will enjoy it.
:wave4::wave4::yes::yes:
I am sure you will enjoy it.
:wave4::wave4::yes::yes:
Casper
400+ Posts
Yes, the night show is great...also from the lodge we stayed in, we could see the faces at night, they have a spot light until 12:00 midnight
My dad and I have staid here The Lantern Inn - Hill City, South Dakota twice now while in SD, the owners are great folks and the rooms are clean. Like others have said, Crazy Horse, Deadwood, Custer State Park is a great ride might see some Buffalo which we did this past July.
Needles Highway is a good ride if your into scenic twisty roads.
Needles Highway is a good ride if your into scenic twisty roads.
There used to be cabins to rent in the KOA in Rapid City If I remember right ... We were out there in 2000 and had a blast but wall drug Pshssss never again !!!!!
The prices get even better (lower) if you go after Labor day weekend. That is when are planning on our trip north and west this year. Sturgis, Mt Rushmore, Devil's Tower and back down thru Denver/Silver City area to the canyons of Utah before heading back to Florida.
Tomg
Tomg
Blondie Gal
Gone but not forgotten.
You will absolutely love Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. Of all the parks we visited in August, I fell in love with these - they're breathtaking and have almost a cathedral-like feeling. See our pix at Picasa Web Albums - jcrigler. Hope you have a wonderful time!
skuuter
One of the Origionals
All of these places are on Our "To See and Do" List.....just not yet...ThumbUp
Blondie Gal
Gone but not forgotten.
We've still got a full bucket list ourselves . . . so many beautiful places still to enjoy!
If you or one of your fellow riders is military (active or retired) then Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City has guest quarters that are very reasonable (under $40 a night) with superb accommodations. They also have a campsite for daily use also I believe.
Whats wrong with Wall Drug....
I had a blast... It was exactally what I expected...
A BIG kitchy (sp) tourist trap, WITH AN EXCEPTIONAL Hot roast beef sandwich, and homade ice cream....
Oh yes and LOTS of FREE Ice cold water...
But yes it is a tacky tourist trap.... but a LOT of fun!!!
Agree about Wall Drug. It is touristy, but fun. Al's Oasis in Chamberlain has good home-made pies too. Coffee is still only five cents. We stop there about twice a year...once for the Sturgis Rally, and then Christmas with family in Rapid City. Mitchell has Cabellas and several nice places to stay. We usually stay at the Hampton Inn there each time we go through.
Wall drug newspaper review
International Herald Tribune
If you stop at Wall be sure to get a Jackalope bobblehead
International Herald Tribune
If you stop at Wall be sure to get a Jackalope bobblehead
Made the trip years ago....Mt Rushmore was cool -the ride to actually get there was way cool - but I had a ton of fun at Crazy Horse National Monument. There is actually more to see there, and if even 1/2 the plans that they had then have come to fruition, there will be even more now! I can't wait to go back on 3 wheels!
Definitely check out Devil's Tower, too - remember the movie? Nobody actually climbed that bad boy! I tried....
Definitely check out Devil's Tower, too - remember the movie? Nobody actually climbed that bad boy! I tried....
The Sturgis Rally is over on 08/14. Room rates should go down after that. You can find maps of the Black Hills just about anywhere. Do the Needles and Iron Mountain Rd for sure. Lots of great rides in the Hills. You won't do all of them in one year. I do Sturgis the week before the Rally, getting most of my rides in before all the idiots show up, and then meet up with a bunch of friends from all over the world during the Rally, mostly just staying put and partying. This year I may still be tooling around the Hills and points west for a week or so after the rally.
Hi, I live down the road from Sturgis SD.
I would suggest that you write Division of Tourism in Pierre SD and ask for information that you are interested in.
I think someone else suggested that you try and plan your trip after Labor Day. That, in my opinion, is very good advice. Less traffic, most tourist are back home cause school has started. I think you will find that motels may be a little cheaper and more rooms available.
Another benifit is you will miss the Sturgis rally which is sort of like going to the Zoo.
Have a safe trip.
I would suggest that you write Division of Tourism in Pierre SD and ask for information that you are interested in.
I think someone else suggested that you try and plan your trip after Labor Day. That, in my opinion, is very good advice. Less traffic, most tourist are back home cause school has started. I think you will find that motels may be a little cheaper and more rooms available.
Another benifit is you will miss the Sturgis rally which is sort of like going to the Zoo.
Have a safe trip.
The Franklin Hotel in downtown Deadwood. What a wonderful Hotel. Looking at the outside and the pictures of the inside on the internet, one would think, I can not afford this place. Well, think again. We were there in 2007 and that is what we thought. Cheaper than the rest and was totally pleased. We will, be going back. We both loved the town, the people, and scenery. So much to see in the area. The Needles, Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Badlands, Wall, Sturgis, the dinosaur dig. Too much to mention it all. And we found the gold shops were very pleasing to the wallet. And the traffic was not that bad either.
From your direction, I would recommend going up through Alliance, NE and detouring off to see "Carhenge". It's like Stonehenge but with cars. Google it. Custer is a nice town and passes buffalo as you head to Mt. Rushmore from the South (nice side profile of G. Washington's head). I think I also forgot Crazyhorse monument. Every other location everyone else mentioned is also worth looks. I have ridden out 8 times to Sturgis (been 10 years since I have been there).
:Agree:, nothing wrong with Wall Drug. My dad and I checked it out in 2008 when we hit the Badlands on the way to Hill City. Wall was something folks should check out, as you said the food wasn't bad.
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