Great American Road Trip Itinerary

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Hot Springs

Take Hwy 16 south out of Rapid City- take the truck route to Hwy 70 and travel 50 miles to Hot Springs.

Once here, visit The Mammoth Site, which allows you to learn about the Ice Age, and the animals that came along with it, also you can take a guided tour, watch a great film, and the kids can participate in the Junior Paleontology Dig. Make sure to grab a snack at the Bonebed Bistro and try your hand at "Sluicing" for fossils and gemstones.

Make sure to stop by Evans Plunge, which is the world’s largest natural warm water indoor swimming pool. Try out the waterslides and relax in the naturally warm mineral water.

Head out on Highway 385 out of Hot Springs and continue on Hwy 87 to Wind Cave National Park. The park includes a wildlife sanctuary of almost 29,000 acres for many animals and creatures to roam. Here, the pine forest meets the prairie, make sure to observe and enjoy the beauty of nature here.

Custer State Park

Once you’ve left Wind Cave National Park, continue on Hwy 87 into Custer State Park. Here, you have a very good chance of seeing abundant wildlife, and don’t be shocked if you get stuck in a "Buffalo Jam"! About 1,300 buffalo roam freely throughout the park; the herd is one of the largest public-owned herds in the world. Custer State Park encompasses 71,000 acres and is home to many outdoor activities and wildlife, as well as Black Elk Peak (formerly Harney Peak). At 7,242 feet it is the highest point between the Rockies and eastward to the Swiss Alps.

This drive will lead you towards Blue Bell Lodge, Mt. Coolage Lookout, and Legion Lake. Wind on up and take a drive on Needles Highway (still Hwy 87), a National Scenic Byway which curves through 14 miles of rock formations called “Needles." NOTE: Be prepared for narrow roads and low, one-vehicle tunnels! If you have an RV be sure to check the height and width restrictions before entering. There are no pull-offs large enough to turn around! You’ll soon find the Needles Eye which reaches almost 40 feet in the air with a 3-foot wide slit – a perfect spot for climbing and taking pictures. Towards the end of the drive, reward yourself with a stop at Sylvan Lake, which is a part of Custer State Park. This gorgeous body of water is surrounded by rock formations and is the perfect place for a hike, picnic or some R&R.

Tip - There is so much to see in what South Dakota considers the "crown jewel" of its state park system that we recommend hiring a personal guide service to make the most of it. A stay at the State Game Lodge will have you resting comfortably in the heart of history. But book early as they fill up quick!

Continue on to the intersection and hang a right onto Hwy 244, driving past Mount Rushmore and turning onto Hwy 16A which turns into Iron Mountain Road. The same cautions for height and width restrictions must be observed here too! This road takes you through pigtail bridges, curves, and tunnels that frame Mt. Rushmore (in your rearview mirror).

Custer

Proceed into the town of Custer, and visit the 1881 Custer Courthouse Museum, which offers a lot of history on the area.

Head back towards Custer and jump on Hwy 385, which will take you to the Crazy Horse Memorial. Here, you can enjoy the abundance of history, educational center, gift shop, and don’t miss the laser light show in the evening!

Day 5

Belle Fourche

Head back on I-90 for about 65 miles towards Belle Fourche. Here, you can see the Center of the Nation Monument as well as the Tri-State Museum. Now, take Hwy 34 out of Belle Fourche and you will be traveling to Devils Tower.

Wyoming

Devils Tower is the nation’s first National Monument and you will see it rise unexpectedly out of the prairie and grasslands of eastern Wyoming. This monument rises 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River. Once hidden, erosion has revealed Devils Tower. This 1,347-acre park is covered with pine forests, woodlands, and grasslands. You can also see wildlife daily.

Once you depart from Devil’s Tower, head south on Hwy 24, then to Hwy 14. You'll cruise right into the "cowboy" town of Sundance. Nestled at the base of Sundance Mountain, in the valley of the Bearlodge Range in Northeastern Wyoming on the western edge of the Black Hills, history and folklore abounds. Wide streets that were made for freight wagons and teams of horses, now allow for easy parking and walking along the shops and restaurants. The Sundance Kid did his only jail time here. You can relive all the history in our free, Crook County Museum.

Continue your step back in time... Take the service road alongside I-90 west to the Vore Buffalo Jump. The Vore Buffalo Jump is one of the most important archaeological sites of the Late-Prehistoric Plains Indians. The site was a natural sinkhole that was used as a bison trap for the Native Americans. Today visitors can actually walk down into the "jump". Learn about the Plains Indians, their rich cultures and fascinating history that developed around the immense bison herds and grasslands and of western North America.

Spearfish

After you have left Beulah, head east on I-90 to Spearfish. You can explore their downtown that is lined with shops and boutiques, and see the DC Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery next to Spearfish Park where Spearfish Creek runs through. For a peek into the western history of the area, plan to stop at the High Plains Western Heritage Center. Explore 20,000 square feet of authentic displays of the pioneer, ranching, mining, forestry, and transportation history - all from the five-state area of Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, North and of course, South Dakota. For an evening of great food and fun, consider reserving your seat at the new "Spirit of the American Cowboy" Supper and Comedy/Music Show! When you're done exploring there, take a drive on Highway 14, also known as Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway - just south of Spearfish.

Spearfish Canyon is unique because the view is always close to the visitor and always upward. The canyon walls rise skyward from Spearfish Creek and the Scenic Byway is sculpted along the canyon floor. Make sure to stop and see Roughlock Falls. You can grab a bite to eat at the nearby Latchstring Restaurant or on down the road at historic Cheyenne Crossing. From 1878 to 1885, the Cheyenne, Wyoming to Deadwood, South Dakota Stagecoach stopped here for fresh horses and to allow passengers to stretch their legs or grab a bite to eat. You won't be disappointed stopping at this Black Hills landmark!

Once you get to Cheyenne Crossing, take a left onto Highway 85 and proceed into Lead/Deadwood.

Lead Me There!

Your first stop will be Lead, take drive through the downtown and visit the Homestake Visitor’s Center. Observe the deep “Open Cut” at the Homestake Mine and enjoy the history of the Miners that created it. Just up the street is the Historic Homestake Opera House. Plan to take a tour and learn how this magnificent venue has close-ties to the Homestake Gold Mine of years past. If your schedule allows, catch a show - the acoustics (and the talent) are amazing! Relax in a toasty outdoor hot-tub after your day of exploring at the newly renovated Blackstone Lodge & Suites, again just up the street, at the top of the hill. In the morning after your complimentary continental breakfast, get back on Highway 85 and drive the scenic 3 miles north into Deadwood.

Deadwood

Named one of the picture-perfect towns by Forbes magazine. With its beautiful natural setting and the architecture, this historic town is your last stop on this journey. You will want to stay a few nights to explore all it has to offer. One of the best ways to do that is to hop on the Original Deadwood Tour bus. Journey through time as you travel down Deadwood's cobblestone streets and learn about an era gone by. History is hilarious fun as the guide tells you about Deadwood's famous characters as the bus climbs the hill to Mt. Moriah Cemetery where most of them are buried.

The Adams Museum and House were both donated to the city of Deadwood by W.E. Adams, a former Mayor of Deadwood and by his second wife, Mary Adams. They're both preserved and run by Deadwood History Inc. Built in 1892, the Adams House is well-known for its excellent example of a Queen Anne-style home, but also for the authentic tours they offer and many events that are held there. In 1930 pioneer businessman W.E. Adams founded the Adams Museum with the purpose of preserving and displaying the history of the Black Hills. Some of the Black Hills’ greatest treasures are on exhibit at the museum.

Not all of Deadwood's history is as elegant as the Adams House. Visitors (16 years & older) to The Brothel Deadwood learn the stories of the104-year history as they walk through one of Deadwood’s houses of ill-repute. This guided tour of the original site of the Shasta Rooms tells the story of Deadwood brothels from 1876-1980.

Wild Bill Hickok remains Deadwood's most famous resident, even though he was only in town a few short weeks - and he’s been dead since 1876. You’ll find his likeness all over Historic Deadwood – reenactors, photos, paintings, statues, signs, life-size cutouts and more. Explore that history through a fun, new game! #WildBillMe is a selfie treasure hunt in Historic Deadwood (and the surrounding area). Find Bill (any likeness will do) and take a selfie with him. So grab your camera and fire away! (Sorry, Bill)

Continue your step back in time with a visit to Mt. Moriah Cemetary where Wild Bill, Calamity Jane, Preacher Smith, Potato Creek Johnny, and Seth Bullock are buried. In the evening, attend the Trial of Jack McCall, which takes place at the Masonic Lodge next door to the Silverado Casino. They will capture Jack McCall at Saloon #10 on Main Street and drag him up to the Masonic Temple for the trial. It starts about 7:45 and the actual trial is at 8 PM. And don’t forget about the "Shootouts" that happen on Main Street as well as the many chances you'll have to try your luck and chase similar fortunes as those who settled Deadwood in the 1870s.

Explore Tatanka - Story of the Bison. Just out side of downtown, positioned on a scenic hill side you will find a hands-on interpretive center, as well as 17 larger-than-life bronze sculptures of buffalo and Native Americans on horseback. As Kevin Costner was filming "Dances With Wolves" (all in South Dakota), he developed a great admiration for the Lakota Indians. So much so that he built (and still owns), this beautiful site.

Another way to get to what locals call the "Northern Hills" is to take Hwy 385 up through the center of the Black Hills. Deadwood, Lead, and Spearfish all offer year-round outdoor adventure. Park your RV at Fish 'N Fry Campground. You'll be near all the action and have direct access to explore hundreds of miles of ATV trails near Deadwood, During the warm weather months of May through mid-October, cast a line and catch your dinner at Fish 'N Fry's Trout Pond! No license is needed and you're pretty much guaranteed to catch a fish. They provide everything you need from fishing poles to bait and they'll even clean and cook it up for you if you want. It's great fun for old and young alike.

There are a variety of lodging options nearby. Choose from a cozy cabin stay at Cole Cabins where you can relax in a beautifully furnished log cabin in the pines and Strawberry Creek meanders along - just outside your door. There is plenty of parking and your well-mannered pets are welcome too!

We're sure you will love every part of our beautiful area. Most everything is within an easy 1-2 hour drive from Rapid City or Mount Rushmore. All roads are well marked and easily accessible. Drive yourself or book a guided tour. With so much to see and do, make sure to allow enough time, or plan to come back. Happy trails!