South Dakota National Parks Road Trip Itinerary
South Dakota National Parks Road Trip Itinerary
Boasting more than half a dozen National Park Service sites, most of which lie squeezed together in the southwestern corner of the state, South Dakota is a great destination for lovers of scenic drives. For millennia the home of the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota people—all part of the Sioux Nation—these lands now house a few exceptional national parks. Located 6 hours drive from Denver, Colorado the city of Rapid City lies conveniently among them. Home to an airport, it couldn’t possibly make for a better starting point for a South Dakota national parks road trip. Pick up your rental car or motorhome at the Rapid City airport and head out for ten days of cultural, natural and historical immersion in the Northern Plains.
Drive 30 minutes (23 miles) to Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial (1 Day)
Just outside of Rapid City lies Mount Rushmore, arguably the most famous American sculpture. The 60-foot faces of four great Presidents—Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln—represent the origins, expansion, development and conservation of the United States. It’s an iconic site, to say the least.
You don’t, however, need a whole of time to see this national memorial. You’ll be done in just a few hours, after which you can move on to destination number two. On the way, don’t skip Custer State Park, one of the best state parks in America, featuring wild bison and wonderful Black Hills scenery.
Drive 1 hour and 20 minutes (38 miles) to Wind Cave National Park via Custer State Park; longer if stopping in the state park.
Wind Cave National Park (2 Days)
You’ll find more of these wide-open valleys and rolling hills in Wind Cave National Park, which also has its own herd of American bison. Spend a couple of days getting to know these landscapes more intimately. Go for hikes and watch the wildlife, but you need to head underground, too.
Below the surface lies a completely different world, one of the world’s oldest and most complex caves. Named for the constant wind at its entrance, Wind Cave features huge formations of rare boxwork.
Drive 40 minutes (30 miles) to Jewel Cave National Monument.
Jewel Cave National Monument (1 Day)
A short drive to the northwest of Wind Cave lies another fascinating cave. Named after the many crystals that adorn the cave’s walls, Jewel Cave is the third-longest cave on earth, boasting almost 200 miles of mapped passages. Go on a cave tour and explore one of the world’s last real frontiers.
A visit to Jewel Cave National Monument doesn’t take up an entire day. So, instead of heading straight to your next destination, you may want to consider taking the long way through Black Hills National Forest.
Drive 1 hour and 45 minutes (96 miles) to Devils Tower National Monument. (Or 2 hours and 45 minutes (120 miles) via Black Hills National Forest.)
Devils Tower National Monument (1 Day)
It may be a bit out of the way, but the detour is totally worth it. The first national monument ever created, Devils Tower in northeastern Wyoming is an enormous solitary rock rising dramatically 867 feet above the ground. Of major spiritual significance to the Native Americans, it’s also highly valued by modern Americans.
Spend some time hiking the park’s trails and consider spending the night at the Belle Fourche River Campground. The night sky is sensational. Make your way to the last destination on this South Dakota national parks road trip the next morning.
Drive 2 hours and 30 minutes (165 miles) to Badlands National Park.
Badlands National Park (3 Days)
Words cannot describe the otherworldly scenery of Badlands National Park. Its maze of canyons, buttes, mesas, spires and pinnacles impresses even the most skeptical of visitors, while the green grasslands support huge numbers of wildlife. Once upon a time, this was the home of saber-toothed cats, horses, camels and rhinos. Now, you can spot bison, prairie dogs, black-footed ferrets, bighorn sheep and elk.
One of the greatest national parks, Badlands deserves at least three days. Drive the Badlands Loop Scenic Byway, go for hikes deep into the hills and learn about the rich history of this region.
Drive 1 hour (65 miles) back to Rapid City to drop off your rental vehicle.