South Dakota's Great 8 Road Trip

Once the epicenter for the rush for gold, Deadwood today is a quaint town with ample entertainment options and a very rich legacy. Even while you’re having fun, you cannot escape the history that has shaped this amazing Wild West town. What is now the Old West Trading Post was the site where Wild Bill Hickok was shot in cold blood. If these streets could talk!

These two monuments personify history and national leadership – for the U.S. and for Native Americans. Mount Rushmore never ceases to impress with four massive U.S. Presidents carved into a mountain. Be sure to catch the short film on the history of the monument at the visitor center for a well-rounded look at the significance of the monument. Best of all, there is ample RV parking at the monument.

Often overlooked (but shouldn’t be), Crazy Horse Memorial is a fitting tribute to the iconic Native American Lakota tribal leader. Work began on the memorial by Korczak Ziolkowski in 1948 and is still a work in progress, but once finished, it will be the largest mountain carving not only in South Dakota, but the world.

Custer State Park spans more than 70,000 acres of pure wilderness and wildlife. Established in 1919, Custer State Park is the largest park in South Dakota and offers visitors stunning scenery and a wide variety of activities. The park is known for its abundant wildlife and wide-open spaces, as well as its rich history.

A gem of a park in the heart of the Black Hills, Custer State Park is home to thousands of bison, a hallmark of the wild west and sure to delight young and old alike. There is a high probability that you will see bison during your visit, but please keep your distance and do not feed them – as gentle as they look, they can be dangerous to humans! Bison make for great photo ops from your car or a far distance. You may also encounter mountain goats, elk, pronghorn antelope, and burros.

With over 200 miles of tunnels and paths to explore, Jewel Cave National Monument is the world’s third largest cave. You could easily spend an entire day or more discovering all of the nooks and crannies of this historic underground wilderness monument. Look out for calcite crystals called nailhead spar and dogtooth spar, as well as boxwood, flowstone, cave popcorn and cave bacon (always popular with the kids). The rich diversity of underground rock formation is sure to impress young and old alike. Tours are required to see the caves.

Wind Cave National Park is the first cave system to be designated as part of the National Park system. It’s called “wind cave” because of pressure changes leading to air blowing out of the cave as the pressure constantly equalizes between the surface and the caverns. Underground formations aplenty can be found in this centuries-old mineral maze of wonder, with gypsum, flowstone, crystals, popcorn, and more to delight the senses.

As you head east from the Black Hills toward Badlands National Park, you will notice that the terrain becomes flatter and more barren. You will also notice hundreds of signs for Wall Drug. This iconic and historic general store (a few miles off the highway) in the small town of Wall, South Dakota, is a great stop to grab a bite (great homemade donuts) and browse the large and eclectic array of merchandise (from authentic cowboy gear, hiking equipment, toys, to toiletries, and everything in between!). Continue on for 30 minutes to reach Badlands National Park.

Badlands National Park offers breathtaking landscapes, canyons, buttes, spires and pinnacles. The geology alone is awe-inspiring. There are many wonderful and relatively flat hikes, as well as ample scenic overlooks to pull off and simply take it all in.

Located on the border of South Dakota and Nebraska, the majestic Missouri River National Recreational River is a treasure that encompasses a 59-mile stretch of the nation’s longest river. Thanks to historical markers found throughout, you can take portions of the same journey Lewis & Clark did so long ago. The country’s longest river, the “Mighty Missouri” cuts a path diagonally through the state and offers ample boating, fishing and water activities. The Recreational River area is located in southeastern South Dakota near its Nebraska border and the city of Sioux Falls. Since this beautiful area is spread out, we recommend picking a campsite or campground as a base from which to explore. There are plenty of things to keep you busy for a day or a week! Don’t miss the Lewis & Clark State Recreation Area.