Planning a BIG trip

[~Kristina~ 10]

So dh and I got this great idea to camp to and from Mount Rushmore.  Sounds fun, but how?  How do I map it out and find awesome places to stay and visit?  Any tips or suggestions?

[alexwyattmommy 181]

No tips or suggestions, but I wanted to let you know I admire your ambition.  I bet you are going to have a great journey getting there and back along with the memories of the destination.

[h2odivers...Ray 952]

You have to stop at Wall Drug store. It is east of mount Rushmore and definitely worth the stop. Google it.

[momof3kids-Yvonne 594]

When went about 5 years ago we took this tour and loved it!

http://www.mountrushmoretours.com/?110120

[momof3kids-Yvonne 594]

A word of warning for you. I am not sure if cell service has improved or not, but when we were driving on I-90 through a lot of SD the reception was scarce. I have Verizon and I was able to have at least one bar to make a quick call. At the time DH had TMobile and got nothing.

Someone also mentioned a book on another thread that tells you what is at the next exit. Invest in that book. The exits are few and far between.

Besides Wall Drug other places we stopped at were The Corn Palace and the Bad Lands.

[momof3kids-Yvonne 594]

You really have a few different routes to take to get there. One would take you through Wisconsin and Minnesota then to SD. Another would have you going through Illinois and Iowa with part of your path in Iowa being right on the Iowa Nebraska border. If you have the time, I would recommend a visit to the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha.

What might be fun to do is go there one way and return another. Of course this would depend on how much actual time you had for this vacation.

[~Kristina~ 10]

We have T Mobile...  I'll look for that book!

[~Kristina~ 10]

I think I want to go through the UP to MN and over and then through IL on the way home.

[momof3kids-Yvonne 594]

I would go that route too.

[Beckers 1,136]

We did this trip about 20 years ago from NJ to SD and who knows where else. We also stopped at Crazy Horse, and a handful of the little house on the prairie places.

[4Brians.....Todd 103]

We have T Mobile...  I'll look for that book!

We use one all the time. The title, aptly enough, is "The Next Exit". Covers all the interstates in the U.S., with listings for businesses, services, and attractions at each exit.

[Momof6....aka Marty 769]

To recommendations.  One is, if you have AAA you can go to their site to create a "Trip Tik".  Once you put the route in, you can set it up to show you campgrounds along the way.  I have been planning my "big" trip that way - driving from SC to Colorado Springs and back.

 

The other recommendation is to look at "We Camp Here" for campground recommendations.

 

HTH!

[Beckers 1,136]

And we want a trip report!

[momof3kids-Yvonne 594]

To recommendations. One is, if you have AAA you can go to their site to create a "Trip Tik". Once you put the route in, you can set it up to show you campgrounds along the way. I have been planning my "big" trip that way - driving from SC to Colorado Springs and back.

The other recommendation is to look at "We Camp Here" for campground recommendations.

HTH!

Be careful using AAA Trip Tik for planning. At times they will have you taking a much longer route than you need to.

[Beckers 1,136]

I'd be willing to bet you could probably google and find people from your area who have done it and put either their route or trip reports on line.

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

Do you have Coach Net? They have a trip routing service too.

[Disneyzombie-Brenda 10]

Good Sam's and KOA Also have a trip planning tool.

[~Kristina~ 10]

I'm a Good Sam member, I'll have to find that tool.  Thanks everyone!

[Judy in Texas 150]

Check out Custer State Park. It's near Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse.

http://gfp.sd.gov/state-parks/directory/custer/campgrounds/

[Fugarwe(MN John(Juanito)) 23]

Boy, have I got a LOT of advice for you.  I'll start slow.  If you go through the UP, Wisconsin, and across MN and the two Dakotas, it's almost all two lane Highway.  Your travel time will be impacted until you get most of the way across MN because of all the small towns.  Once you get farther out west, two laners aren't such a big deal because you can still make time.

 

When we travel west, I like to stay in the small towns.  Once you get to western MN and into the Dakotas and Nebraska, most of the small towns, even the little tiny ones, have free RV parking for overnight stays in city parks.  Some are better than others.  I do lots of scoping on google maps and bing maps to decide if it looks any good.

 

Big piece of advice:  Nebraska has an amazing state park system.  Really top notch parks, most have a pool, cabins, and lots of fun stuff to do.  I've been to the Black Hills a million times so we don't stay there as much any more.  We had a great trip to western Nebraska last summer with lots of history stuff.

 

In Minnesota you might want to check out the National Eagle Center in Wabasha MN.  http://www.nationaleaglecenter.org/  It's not too far off of 90, and you will drive within a mile of my house on the way there most likely.

 

There are several Little House on the Prairie sites from the Eagle Center area to SD.  We've been to Burr Oak and DeSmet and enjoyed them.  http://www.travellerspoint.com/guide/The_Wilder_Trail/

 

We like 1880s town on the way across 90 in SD.  http://www.1880town.com/   I can do without Wall Drug.  But to each their own.  There is an authentic prairie homestead we really enjoyed at the entrance to the Badlands (something you should see)  http://www.prairiehomestead.com/

 

 

I'm sure I'll think of more and be along soon with some more suggestions.

[Fugarwe(MN John(Juanito)) 23]

The best, cheapest place we've stayed in the Black Hills is the Hart Ranch.  http://www.hartranchresort.com/form/2.html?random=0

 

To get the good deal you have to sit through one of their pitches to buy in and be an owner.  And I have to tell you it was the most painless one I've ever been to.  A nice retired real estate agent explained the rules and how it works, and asked if we had any questions.  No high pressure, no pushing at all.  We actually had some questions on how things work, otherwise we would have been sprung earlier.  And we KNEW we weren't buying anything.  And we never felt tempted.  It's a great campground, and stuff in the store and restaurant was cheap.  It's a bunch of retirees running the place and they keep everything nice and reasonably priced.  And from the ranch you are in a good position to take the back roads to all the great stuff to see in the Black Hills if you take the back roads.  It's very centrally located on a good road.

[acampingwewillgo 1]

Don't know if anyone mentioned this yet.....but be sure to visit the Monument both during the day and at night during the "Lighting Ceremony". Have a Great trip!

[Mtnmanky...aka Leon 72]

Cabelas in Mitchell is worth a visit. 

The Corn Palace (also in Mitchell) is fun and free.  Good chance to get out and stretch.

When are you going?   Watch for Rally Week...the first full week of August.  It will be just you and 50,00 bikers!  We have been then more than once, and it is neat and no problems except that prices go up that week and reservations are harder to get.

x2 on the lighting ceremony.

x2 on Custer State Park.  Great camp sites in the park, and you can reserve ahead online.  Just do a search on SD state parks.

x2 on Wall Drug.  Get a free bumper sticker to start conversations later!

We really like the Beaver Lake Campground in Custer...very nice people.

Keep an eye on the weather...T'storms can pop up quick.

 

As you maybe can tell we love it there, and go out every couple of years.  If you want to IM will be glad to provide more info, some of it may even be useful! :)