South Dakota Road Trip: Our 8-Day Itinerary

Now, I’m going to tell you something and you have to promise not to judge me – I was born and raised in Wisconsin and have spent the majority of my adult life right here in Minnesota – and my deepest darkest secret is that I’ve never… been… to South Dakota or done the classic South Dakota road trip. I KNOW, RIGHT!? We’ve gone all over Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and done the Chicago thing, but I’m seconds away from turning 40 and just paid my first visit to the Mount Rushmore State! Ridiculous. Just ridiculous.

My husband, on the other hand, has been researching the best ways to experience a South Dakota road trip for our family since the birth of our first child, so I happily put all my trust in his planning. I jumped in last-minute only to help narrow down his massive must-do list before heading out. At the time of planning, seven days on a South Dakota road trip with three kids who travel like rabid caged hyenas sounded like a LOT. I wanted to have a say in the pace we took so the vacation wouldn’t stress me out or exhaust the hyenas – it was a difficult, but crucial, task to not overdo the planning but still be sure to hit a majority of the places we absolutely didn’t want to miss.

The benefit to not overbooking is that it allowed us room for spontaneity – SO important in providing a memorable and stress-free vacation with kids. We found that to be especially important on this South Dakota road trip.

Early on the morning of July 1, we buckled up for our first family South Dakota road trip (and my first visit EVER) to South Dakota to celebrate Independence Day in the presence of Abe, Thomas, Teddy and George. Below is our detailed itinerary of how we spent our eight wonderful (but not too jam-packed) days in South Dakota.

Before we crammed into our Honda Pilot to take on the 9-hour trek for our South Dakota road trip, I got a little crazy with the planning. I’ve written about How to Road Trip like a Boss before but specifically for this one, here are my Top Five South Dakota Road Trip Prep Pointers:

1. Make Buckets. Like, literal buckets. For this trip, we had one Rubbermaid for swim gear, beach toys, life jackets and towels and another one for extra clothes, sweatshirts and rain gear (preventing us from needing to dig through all the suitcases in case of a spill or dropping temps). You never know when you’ll need a break at a splash pad or run into a hike that has a tempting waterfall.
2. Use a Shared Google Map. My husband and I both research our trips thoroughly, but rarely do we sit down and do it together (thanks, busy life). Instead, we make one saved map in Google Maps (which you can see here) and share it so we can both add location pins as we read and find cool stuff. Seeing all the pins on one map helps when planning how to group your activities to keep the drive time to a minimum from point A to point B. From main attractions to small breweries to pizza parlors with great reviews – better to have too many pins than not enough.
3. Over pack Snacks and Entertainment: You know what your kids enjoy more than anyone, right? If you have an artist, try markers and sketch pads. If you have a gamer, let them play their device for awhile. If you have a snacker, pack healthy snack options, pre-divided for easy handout among the children (and bring a bowl for each kid so they have their own snacks – no fighting). And don’t forget the neck pillows ($5 at Five Below and work like a charm). We kept a small cooler under the toddler’s feet too for easy drink-grabs while on the road. Fruit snacks, popcorn, goldfish, granola bars, chex mix, small PB sandwiches, pretzels…easy to pack and easy to eat items make life, well, easier.
4. Compartmentalize Clothing: I like to pack the bare minimum when it comes to attire. For a 7 day trip, each kid had 7 pair of underwear, 4 shorts, 4 tanks, 4 t-shirts, 4 socks, 1 pair of pants, a rain coat, 1 sweatshirt, 2 swimsuits and 3 pair of pajamas. Yup, we most definitely re-wore shorts and pants and those sweatshirts looked like hell by the time we got home, but each child’s gear fit into one sweet little packing cube. We use these nice packing cubes in different colors, making it easy to find a specific someone’s something when that someone needs something specific. Oh – and for shoes, we packed each kid tennis shoes as well as their waterproof Keens, but in hind site, we probably could’ve gotten away with the Keens alone.
5. Find a Way to Prevent “Are We There Yet’s”: Do your kids constantly ask “How much longer?” Ours do! So this trip, I printed off our Google map (see #2) and pinned it to the backs of our chairs so the big kids could follow along on our destination stops. We also synced our phone to our car’s Bluetooth so the kids could yell, “Siri, are we there yet?” and she would answer them over the speaker. For the sake of my sanity, better her than me.

Here’s the Google Map we created for our South Dakota road trip:

DAY ONE: Driving + Sioux Falls Butterfly House

Sunday morning around 10am, we finally pulled off our street and took off on our week long South Dakota road trip adventure. I was nervous for a road trip of this length, but the plan was to break it up quite nicely with fun pit-stops, ice cream and pizza and even an overnight hotel before arriving at our Black Hills destination. Sunday was a breeze. Everyone was pumped, snacks were aplenty, and entertainment was fresh and new. The driving part was cake this first day. We knocked out the first three hours from our St. Louis Park house easy peasy.

Our first stop was the Blue Line Travel Center in Worthington, MN. The stop was based on everyone’s “staaaarrrvvaaation” and we were pleasantly surprised by the nummy sandwiches. They have a “real” restaurant but because we wanted to get back on the road, we grabbed hot food and ice cream from their mini sandwich shop – and they were delicious (reminded me of Nelsons in St. Paul, if you’re familiar)! This is also a travel center, so you can buy literally anything here.

After stomachs were filled, we quickly knocked out the next hour, bringing us to Sioux Falls, South Dakota (YAY! We made it to South Dakota!!). The plan here was to let the kids play and run and stretch their legs since they were 4 hours in already. We had planned to visit the Butterfly House & Aquarium in Sioux Falls to do just that.

The Butterfly House & Aquarium
The Butterfly House & Aquarium is located right inside Sertoma Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and after the drive, the price of admission was worth it to give the kiddos something to keep ’em busy for a couple house. Admission was $9/ages 3-12; $12/13+ (free for 2 and under) and they’re open 10-5 daily (11-5 Sundays).

This is a non-profit organization, which is cool, and my 3 and 7 year olds loved it, and my 10 year old thought the butterfly area was beautiful. The whole place overall felt quite tiny – there is a hands-on touch tank with starfish and sea urchins, then a some aquarium items like a stingray pool (you can touch them) and a fish tank you can stick your head into (cute photo opp). The gift shop was nice and big and the Discovery Den educational area had some baby seahorses and exhibits for the kids to learn and play a little bit. But the highlight was most def the butterfly dome.

The butterfly area was awesome – pretty and well-maintained with more than 800 butterflies swirling about and turtles cruising the grounds. Oh, and it was hot – so hot! The kids each bought a feeding flower filled with nectar so the butterflies would come right up and land in their hands. They also landed on our shoes, our heads and our shoulders. We spent a solid hour in here just slowly strolling through the gardens looking for different colors and types of these delicate creatures. PS. Strollers are not allowed inside the butterfly house for obvious reasons.

Need other Sioux Falls, South Dakota pit stop suggestions? Here you go:

• Pioneer Spray Splash Pad (free, fun and not as big a commitment as a full-on pool)
• Kuehn Pool (wading pool, diving board, concessions, open swim hours, $5/person)
• Drake Springs Family Aquatic Center (lazy river, slides, zero depth area, $5/person)
• Stop at one of their millions of playgrounds! A map of Sioux Falls playgrounds is here.
• Visit the Battleship Memorial Park and Museum (free, educational)
• Kirby Science Discovery Center (interactive exhibits kids will love, costs money)
• Great Plains Zoo (good indoor/outdoor option, mid-sized zoo, costs money)

After the kiddos were exhausted from the Butterfly House (and a little playtime at the playground outside in Sertoma Park), it was a quiet remaining 2 hours before arriving at our hotel destination in Chamberlain, South Dakota. We grabbed pizza for dinner in town and, of course, needed to swim in the hotel pool. Then, thanks to some comfy Howard Johnson beds, everyone zonked out by 8pm…parents included.

DAY 2: The Badlands + Wall Drug

Well, the good news is when you go to bed super early, it’s easy to get everyone out of bed and on the road when the sun comes up. And that’s exactly what we did. We were excited to get to the Badlands and continue our South Dakota road trip. I personally had no clue what to expect from this National Park, so my curiosity made the two hour drive from Chamberlain speed by. The plan for our second day was to finish the traveling portion but make stops at two of South Dakota’s most famous claims to fame: Badlands National Park and Wall Drug. Oh, and let’s not forget the spontaneous stop to feed prairie dogs on our way in to the Badlands (my kid’s highlight!).

Badlands Ranch Store
Almost immediately before turning in to the national park, we got sidetracked (it doesn’t take much for our crew). We spotted the Badlands Ranch Store with a 10-foot prairie dog statue welcoming you into the parking lot. Unsure of what we were getting in to, we pulled in, headed in to the store, used the restrooms, bought some cold drinks for our Badlands hike, and then purchased far too many $1 bags of peanuts to feed the prairie dogs (or the “corn dogs,” as my toddler fondly referred to them).

Yup, you can FEED the prairie dogs! I love looking at those little guys in the zoo, so to be out walking amongst them in the small semi-contained acre of land next to the ranch store was super exciting for me. There were about 100 prairie dog holes everywhere you looked and you never knew where a head would pop out. They’re obviously super used to humans. And peanuts. We shelled ours for them and they seemed to like them better that way. Only advice is to move slowly, be quiet and gentle and patient. We got some amazing photos and the kids were in heaven!

The Badlands National Park
You really can’t explain The Badlands. The yellow and green color combination as far as the eye can see, the vast open sky, the lack of “stay on trail” requirements (but be sure your kids understand the “leave no trace” concept before heading in), the endless hills of solidified dirt. I have to say, of all the activities on this 7-day vacation, hiking and running free in The Badlands was MY personal favorite. I credit a lot of that to the impeccable weather we were handed (low 70s when we were there, which is abnormal for July) because climbing around these wide open hills and caverns in 90 degree heat with three kids and zero shade might’ve left a worse taste in my mouth.

Of course, it’s a National Park so you pay an entrance fee. For $25, our car could get a 7-day pass which was ideal for a weeklong vacation. However, we had a 4th grader sitting in our backseat and came prepared by printing off our “Every Kid in a Park” free park pass before we came. If you have a 4th grader (going in or coming out), don’t forget to bring your printed paper you get from everykidoutdoors.gov. The ranger will convert your paper printout to a cute little National Park Card that your 4th grader has to sign, and that little piece of magic will get you into all National Parks free of charge until the hit 5th grade!

Once we were in, we were jaws-down-excited to see how gorgeously odd this park was. The kids wanted to get out and climb immediately, so we drove straight to the two hikes my husband most wanted to do with them (that he knew they could handle):

• The Window Trail: This can barely be considered a “trail” because it’s 1/4 mile long, round trip. Basically, for us it was an excuse to let the kids get out of the car and just run. Go – climb on everything – test out the surfaces – play King of the Mountain – have FUN! Window Trail is a short 5-minute walk from the parking lot but will lead you to a sweet little cutout in the eroded sandstone wall giving you a view of 100% Badlands! It’s a good starter hike to get the little ones excited for what’s to come.

• The Notch Trail: THIS! This was the best part of my trip. While the trail is technically only 1.5 miles roundtrip, it’s got adventure around every corner (especially in the eyes of a young one). Be sure to wear sturdy shoes, pack water and plenty of snacks and wear sun protection. We packed a full lunch to enjoy at the top (the “notch) and it was a glorious reward. I liked not having to tell my kids to stay on the path the whole time and they loved the ladder climb. It’s a relatively steep rope-and-wood ladder in the middle of the hike and provides a confidence-building challenge for youngsters. There is one spot post-ladder that advises you to stay away from the cliff edge – you better believe I was attempting to hold 6 tiny hands at that point. But overall, great hike for children and definitely beautiful for adults as well.

We called the hiking done after the Notch (due to tired legs, nap time and an impending trip to Wall Drug) but I know Nate and I could’ve stayed and played all day if time allowed. A full list of hikes you can take listed by difficulty level can be found here.

We hopped back in the car after hitting up one of the port-a-potties (do this when you see them because bathrooms aren’t exactly National Park regulars) and drove through to the end of the park (GORGEOUS, as if it even needs to be said again). 20 short minutes and about 10 gazillion Wall Drug billboards later, we arrived at the kitschiest, most bizarre lil’ western Main Street I’ve ever seen.

Wall Drug
What started out as a pitstop for travelers offering free ice water has become one of South Dakota’s most unusual tourist stops and regularly-seen Midwestern bumper sticker. I’m talkin’ about Wall Drug. Our family had zero idea what to expect when arriving here. It was certainly a Main Street, both sides of the road lined with unique shops and restaurants, laden with souvenirs and – yes – free ice water. Find a parking spot wherever you can and then just walk the legendary walk. We popped in and out of buildings, spending most of our time looking at souvenir pop guns and cowboy hats and lounging around the Wall Drug Backyard (home of the photo-oppable jackrabbit statue and cute little splash pad).

Come prepared to spend some money on (what many would call) “junk.” But it’s the best kind of junk – the kind of junk that your kids will remember forever. Do the shooting gallery, buy some fudge, have the ice cream or homemade donuts, watch the super robotic dinosaur roar (every 12 minutes), get wet in the splash pad, take photos in the horse carriage, mine for gems, plug quarters in those awful singing quarter machines and have fun! There’s also some less kitschy shops that sell nice boots and hats, gems and fossils, jewelry, toys and more.

But let’s be real – this is a photo opportunity haven, a fun western-themed memory for kiddos with a side of fresh burgers, cold malts or $.05 coffee. We spent 90 minutes here and that was just about enough. But would I go back? Yes. I can’t tell you why, but absolutely yes.

Time your visit appropriately because Wall Drug does close at 5:00 every day but Sunday (when they close at 3:30pm).

Downtown Rapid City
After Wall Drug, we embraced the toddler’s nap and finished our last one hour car stretch into Rapid City. This was our end destination and a victory celebration was definitely had with beer and potato skins at Firehouse Brewing Company on Main Street Rapid City. This brewery tends to get really busy so you’re better off going at off hours and not at peak meal times.

We parked in a free ramp right next to Main Street Square. If it’s hot and you have the time, bust out the kid’s swimsuits and let them run through the splash pad in the grassy Square. This was the highlight of our kids’ days…well, that and the ice cream we had from Silver Lining Creamery next to the Square. Nate and I settled in to the faux grass on our tiny blanket, played some football with our 10-year old and let the younger two run laps in the water spouts and wrestle on the field. It was an ideal way to spend an adult vacation hour.

After we changed them into dry clothes, we visited the toy and book store, walked Main Street and took photos with the president statues and listening to live music on the street corner. Downtown Rapid City is really quite adorable.

Cabin Sweet Cabin
You know when you’re just ready to be settled in somewhere you can call home for a few days? How good that feels to finally arrive!? Unpack your bags, decide who’s sleeping where, and just crash? This was our end to Day 2.

I loved the adorable cabin my husband found through Silver Mountain Resorts. While small, it had everything we needed to sleep, eat and survive the upcoming week. Coon Hollow was one of many cabins on the wooded property a little ways off the highway and about 20 minutes from downtown Rapid City. We liked it for its “wood cabin” feel and lack of television. I immediately unpacked our drinks and loaded the counter with our snacks and cereal boxes. There wasn’t room to run around inside – that’s for sure – but we’d just send them outside to play on the tire swing or swim in the small outdoor pool. Our lodging set us back about $200/night, but this was a central location between Rapid City and the other cities we wanted to check out (such as Custer and Keystone) so I thought it was perfect. Find info on Silver Mountain Resorts here.

There’s a million other options on sites like Airbnb and if you use this link, you can save $55 on your first Airbnb rental property. Cheaper than a hotel most times, and you get so much bang for your buck!

DAY 3: Custer State Park + Sylvan Lake

Our initial game plan for Day 3 was to head south to Wind Cave National Park and do one of the cave tours. but we saw a social post telling us their elevator was broken and no tours were taking place, so we decided to change our plans. If you decide the Wind Cave interests you though, check out their website. Tickets for a tour are around $10/adults and $5/kids (kids under 6 are free) – just be sure to bring a sweatshirt and closed-toe shoes.

Morning Coffee Stop
Our Plan B was a Custer State Park Wildlife Loop and Sylvan Lake Day. To make our day the most successful, we rolled out early early. We heard the animals were most present early in the day before the heat hits, so we headed out around 8:30am for the day. Mama’s first stop is always coffee, so we found this adorable coffee/wine/gelato shop called Grapes & Grinds located in Keystone. Keystone was a prime location for lots of the activities we were planning on doing and was about halfway between Rapid City and Custer. The outside of Grapes & Grinds was awesome – a large concrete patio with yard games, sidewalk chalk and a small playground offered entertainment for the kiddos while we sipped our coffee and prepared for the day under one of their cute umbrella’d tables in the sunshine.

Don’t forget to GET GAS if you need it. There aren’t any gas stations once you start down Iron Mountain Road and the last thing you need is to run outta gas halfway through the wildlife loop in the middle of a herd of buffalo.

Iron Mountain Road
The drive down Iron Mountain Road (winding and scenic) was super memorable, taking us from Keystone to Custer State Park’s Visitor Center in about 30 minutes. Well, it would’ve been 30 minutes if we wouldn’t have stopped so much – but I’m glad we did. We got out and took photos of the crazy narrow one-car-at-a-time rock tunnels that gave glimpses of Mount Rushmore and pulled over to climb rocks and get cool views of the landscape. The windows were rolled down and the kids thought some of those hairpin turns and switchbacks were amazing and death-defying (me too)!

We made the kids promise to go to the bathroom at the Visitor Center outside the State Park since that was their last shot for awhile. Other than the bathroom, it was a pretty unexciting Visitor Center (no drinks or snacks available for purchase – be sure to pack some) other than the large table that told us the whereabouts of that day’s buffalo herds. We grabbed some maps for the kids and headed on our way, freshly peed and excited. The entrance stations sell the park passes, which will cost you $20/vehicle – this is a temporary pass that gets you up to 7 days in all South Dakota State Parks and, my lord it’s SO worth the money! Beauty like I’ve never seen it.

Custer State Park
This park’s Wildlife Loop was high on our South Dakota bucket list and it didn’t disappoint. I’m just going to say it – we got lucky. Seeing tons of buffalo and being able to pet and love on burros around every corner – apparently this isn’t always the case. In fact, I’ve heard from some folks that they see zero wildlife whatsoever. But we came on a cooler day and were there by 10am, so animals weren’t holed up in the shade yet.

We followed the loopy winding road through Custer, taking photos of the gorgeous plains and keeping our eyes peeled for bighorn sheep, pronghorn, deer, elk, coyote, prairie dogs, burros and buffalo. Eventually, about 5 miles into the 18 mile loop, we got stuck in our once-in-a-lifetime “buffalo jam.” At least a dozen cars stopped in their tracks and unable to drive forward due to at least 30 or 40 giant buffalo!

We got out of the car with the kids and watched them roam around from a safe distance – just keep far away and you’ll be fine. Then we slowly started moving again and so hopped back in the car, let the kids stay unbuckled while we drove through two rows of buffalo on either side of our car. We went about 1 mph with our windows down, staring, taking photos and oooing and aahhing at their massive size. One walked right past my window and stood taller than our Honda Pilot, leading her cute tiny baby right behind her. Keep quiet and all appendages should stay inside the vehicle. They’re a beautiful animal and the closer you can see them (from the safety of your car), the better.

After the 20-minute buffalo jam, we drove another 10 minutes before running into a family of burros hanging out on the side of the road. We pulled over (along with many others) and got out to enjoy their peaceful presence. The kids were told to not run or chase them and only touch them from the front. Our 3-year old did get kicked slightly by one’s back legs so keep your eyes on little ones and avoid the back-ends.

The park has a strict “no feeding the wildlife” policy to keep them healthy and safe. But dang, are they fun to touch and pet. Super friendly animals and adorable. We wanted to pack them up and bring them home with us (we didn’t). We took a snack break in the car and decided we were 100% satisfied with our wildlife adventure and proceeded to finish the loop and head into the town of Custer for some lunch instead of taking on the Stockade Lake Trailhead for a short hike.

Custer, South Dakota
The town of Custer, South Dakota was a very short drive from the end of the loop, which was good because we’re a very hangry family and it was setting in for all of us. Our restaurant of choice was Mt. Rushmore Brewing Company, where we sat on their back deck in the shade and enjoyed beers and pizza. We brought in our “restaurant bag” and the kids took this lunch break to do a little reading and coloring to chill from the wildlife excitement. The pizza was just ok, the beer was delish!

After lunch, we walked down the block to the Purple Pie Place. Yes, this stop was very much starred on our South Dakota Google Map because – I. LOVE. PIE. I cannot stress this enough. I LOVE PIE. So the Purple Pie Place was an absolute MUST for me. The adorable purple and pink building (aptly named) served “real” food too, such as paninis and sandwiches, but all I wanted was a $5 slice of heaven. My heart sank a little when I was told they were out of peanut butter pie, but we had chocolate cream and apple and I got over it pretty quickly. We ate our pies and ice cream on the outdoor patio (with kid tables!) with my only regret being that I didn’t buy the t-shirt.

Sylvan Lake
The day was getting hot and the kids were begging to cool off so we decided on Sylvan Lake. This man-made lake in South Dakota was a short 10 minute drive from Custer and gets super busy in the summer months. Finding parking was difficult but once we did, the walk to the beach area was short and it wasn’t hard to find a spot to chill. This was a lovely (and free since we already had our park pass) way to spend two hours of a blazing July day – the kids and dad swam out to the jumping rock (littered with teenagers) and went on a number of climbs up the rocks surrounding the lake. I had the pleasure of vegging with the toddler, building sand castles and holding him under a towel while he napped and I people watched. The water was frigid, but the temps were hot so it worked out. And the background can’t be beat – absolutely majestic!

If you do Sylvan Lake in the summer, pack your patience, your sunscreen, head coverings, snacks/food and drink, towels, life jackets if needed, beach toys (if you’re that organized) and rock climbing shoes. There are a few changing areas, but we just got dressed in the car in a busy parking lot. #NoPride

Hikes are everywhere around Sylvan Lake. Us parents really wanted to do the Sunday Gulch Trail, an easy and gorgeous loop hike good for families on the north end of the lake, but alas, three tired kids and too much heat and swimming would’ve made for a rough “hike.” So to prevent irritation and rage, we nixed it. Probably a wise choice, but if you get the chance to do the hike, let us know how it is.

While it was only 5pm, we started the drive back to the cabin, stopping for groceries along the way to get us through the next 4 days. Our go-to snacks and meals included milk and cereal, bread and peanut butter, sandwich meat and cheese, bags of chips, trail mix, granola bars, strawberries, fruit snacks, animal crackers and some juice boxes.

At the cabin, we gave the kids showers and let them chill for awhile. Eventually we headed into Keystone again to get dinner at a little arcade/burger joint (food wasn’t worth remembering, but Keystone has tons of restaurant options). Dinner that night was like eating with a bunch of zombies. Everyone was asleep by 8:30pm, to no surprise. We had a big day coming up on Day 4 so rest was important!

DAY 4: Mickelson Bike Trail + Big Thunder Gold Mine

George S. Mickelson Bike Trail
Our family loves a good bike ride, so everyone was pumped to rent our bikes early on the morning of Day 4 and head off to do 14 miles of the George Mickelson Trail of South Dakota. We scarfed cereal, packed two backpacks with water bottles, SO MANY SNACKS, entertainment for our trailer-riding-toddler, sunscreen, cash and our GoPro, and headed out on our 20 minute drive to Rabbit Cycle in Hill City to pick up our rented bikes.

Rabbit Cycle was great. Highly recommend. Bikes were $25-40/each and the trailer rental was $20. Shuttle ride was another $40 though (boo). Our family grand total for the experience was $180. Reservations can be made online and your rental is good for the entire day until close of business. Very chill employees, knowledgable, and good with kids. We all tested our bikes before hopping into the shuttle for our ride to Mystic Trailhead. While there were at least two other trailheads closer to Hill City, South Dakota Nate was confident our kids could handle the 14.8 mile stretch he signed us up for (plus I think he wanted to get our monies worth).

Mystic Trailhead was awesome – but the most challenging adventure our kids have ever experienced. The guide told us the first 7 miles were uphill, and we were all like, “Yeah, so we do hills all the time. Big whoop.” You guys –– it was ALL UPHILL. The first 7 MILES were ALL UPHILL. The slope was small but absolutely gradual and just kept going and going and going. Tunnels and gorgeous scenery helped break up the exhaustion, but it was an accomplishment like nothing they’ve ever accomplished. Energy was high and they really wanted to do it, but our middle child specifically had a hard time staying positive. She and I did a lot of walking and talking, game playing (think road trip games like the alphabet game and Would You Rather), and a little trailside crying. I found the more I could take her mind off what she was doing, the stronger she was. After 5 miles, we stopped for a lunch break along the trail. We were in no hurry since the bike rental place didn’t close until 4pm, so we took our sweet time and understood how tired those little legs must be.

The path was crushed limestone, which I wasn’t expecting and took some getting used to. We really didn’t see too many other people on the trail and the weather cooperated beautifully. If it would’ve been too hot, it could’ve been a disaster.

7 miles up finally ended. It was the best feeling ever! We celebrated under a pavilion and refilled our water bottles and went to the bathroom (there are only a few stops like this so take advantage of them when you see them). The last 7.8 miles went in the blink of an eye. Everyone’s moods were lifted and we could enjoy the scenery because we were no longer struggling. Those last 7.8 miles made for one of the best hours of the trip for me! It really was all downhill (not like “dangerous” downhill, but a gradual and peaceful downhill). I was so impressed by this gang and I thought their daddy’s head was going to pop with pride!

The whole ride from Mystic Trailhead back to Hill City took about 4 hours in total. It had moments of frustration and times we all wanted to quit, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. No regrets at all! Wear comfortable clothes, pack nourishment and take your time. Those are my words of advice if taking young kids on this route. Also, consider calling one of the bike rental shops and just asking about the different parts of the trail and the ages/skill levels of your kids. Their advice probably can’t be beat.

After returning the bikes to Rabbit Cycle, we scoped out Main Street Hill City. A-dorable! Take some time to support these unique local businesses – from Teddy Bear Town to delicious burritos at Maria’s Mexican to pounds of fudge and coffee at Turtle Town Candy Shop. My 10-year old and I even spent 30 minutes taste testing in the Beef Jerky Outlet store.

Big Thunder Gold Mine
After Main Street, we hopped back in the car and drove 20 minutes back to Keystone to Big Thunder Gold Mine in Keystone. This tourist attraction is exactly what you’d expect, just kitschy enough for the kids to enjoy and educational enough for the adults to find interesting. The mine is open March-September, hours vary by month and the cost for the tour is $12/adult and $9/child. Kids 5 and under are free.

On-site is an underground cave, a gift shop and a large wooden patio with tables for gem and gold panning. Gem and gold panning cost can be done separate from the mine tour for $12/pan. Otherwise, if you combine it with the tour, it’s $10/pan. We had our 7- and 10-year olds pan for tiny flecks of gold and our 3-year old searched for gems. In hindsight, I would’ve gotten them all gem bags, but they still enjoyed themselves. Panning for gold just feels like a “Black Hills Staple” and this was just as good a place as any. Staff was nice and the setup was authentic feeling.

The tour itself was much more interesting than I had anticipated. We had a young tour guide who talked really fast and had a great sense of humor. All the talk about explosions and how workers used to have to go to the bathroom held my kids’ attention. Plus, they really liked wearing the miners helmets. It’s cold down there so pack a sweatshirt and make everyone go to the bathroom before heading in.

The tour was about 45 minutes long and they run regularly. Reservations for the tours can be made online (but you need to be sure to select a specific date). It wasn’t too terribly busy when we went so I’m guessing you could potentially show up and pay as well.

Rain came on very quickly at the end of our time here so we grabbed some quick sub sandwiches from a Keystone deli and called it a night. Jammies and Captain Underpants on the iPad were enjoyed by all.

DAY 5: Needles Highway + Cathedral Spires Trail

Happy 4th of July!! We finally took a day to sleep in knowing full well our plans for the day were not at all jam-packed. South Dakota has SO many Independence Day celebrations (I mean, it IS the home to 4 giant president heads), making it very hard to choose what to do. After a lot of research, we decided on something small, crowd-free and inexpensive. So we did a simple (very simple) parade in downtown Custer, grabbed a baked good and coffee from Calamity Janes and shopped at a rock shop.

Needles Highway
Nate and I wanted to spend the rest of our holiday hiking with the kids. They wanted to go swimming at the cabin pool. We decided to do both, starting with Needles Highway – a 14-mile National Scenic Byway in South Dakota with the sharpest turns and narrowest tunnels ever, lined uniquely by tall granite rock formations and spires that will blow your mind (and is closed in the winter, for good reason). We had our snacks and entertainment bag in the car ready to go, but we didn’t even need them. The kids were so in awe of their surroundings, they couldn’t take their eyes off the drops, dips and spires.

The highlight was Needles Eye Tunnel, the 8-foot-wide claustrophobia trap which allows one car through at a time and requires a very attentive driver. Just outside the tunnel stands the tunnel’s namesake – a giant spire with a curled top that resembles a sewing needle. We missed it a couple times but eventually realized we were directly under it.

The Needles Highway drive was an adventure for sure – and probably took a few years off my life.

The one hike we wanted to do off Needles Highway was Cathedral Spires, so we made our way to the trail head and thankfully were able to park in one of the limited spots. Cathedral Spires is a good family hike, 1.5 miles round trip, with lots of rocks and some tricky footing (and one snake, so help me GOD!). Our youngest is a real trooper and could hike a marathon if there was a cookie at the end, but other 3-year olds (and younger) might not be as energetic with the elevation climb. The overlook at the end was decent enough to make the ascent worth it for him (which is good, because I didn’t have a cookie handy).

When taking on a hike in this environment, you want to make sure everyone has proper foot coverage (think rocks, mud and sticks), water and snacks, bug spray and sunscreen. We also did a lot of “put the sweatshirt on/take the sweatshirt off” during this hike (and all hikes, honestly), so wear strippable clothing. We bought the kids each a walking stick at the gold mine and those were kind of fun to use for them on the rocks and steps.

Miner Brewing Company
The hike took a lot out of everyone so we finished our Needles Highway drive and headed back through Hill City, South Dakota . We noticed there were wineries and breweries a-plenty along this route on Hwy 385 and US-16 and we thought, hey, after 5 days traveling with the little ones, it’s about time we reward ourselves at one of them. We were torn between Prairie Berry Winery and Miner Brewing Company and decided on the latter after recognizing Prairie Berry as a lot less conducive to young children. Miner Brewing it was – and you guys – BEST watermelon wheat beer I’ve ever had (we came home with a growler).

The nice part about Miner Brewing was that it had a huge grassy yard. People brought yard games and were willing to share. There was bocce ball and a patio so we could sip our beer and eat our delicious cranberry grilled cheeses while keeping a close eye on our running children. It was another vacation win for mom and dad!

After we finished our drinks and the kids ran off their energy, we held true to our promise and headed the 20 minutes back to the cabin for a dip in their small but satisfactory pool. It felt pretty good on a warm July 4th day – we even got our freeze baby dad to hop in.

If you are staying somewhere with a pool, consider packing some small water toys that don’t take up much room such as diving sticks or squirt guns (avoid the inflatables if you know what’s good for you). Of all the adventures we went on during this weeklong vacation, I promise you 1 out of 3 of our kids would say swimming in the pool was their favorite part.

Fireworks were canceled due to an epic storm, and everyone was tired so after swimming we did the thing we try to avoid the most on vacations: we were craving pasta so we went to the greatest of all chain restaurants. Thank you, Olive Garden, for a filling and rather tasty end to our holiday. We’re a normal family with normal needs – and that night, fettuccini alfredo was our greatest need.

DAY 6: Rush Mountain Adventure Park + Mount Rushmore

After our relaxing 4th of July, we decided July 5 would be a BIG South Dakota day filled with tons of adventure and the tour attraction of all tour attractions – Mount Rushmore! The morning item on our list was something the kids wanted to do super badly (but the adults wound up liking just as much, if not more)…Rush Mountain Adventure Park!

Rush Mountain Adventure Park
This adventure park sits just 5 miles east of Keystone, so was about a 30 minute drive from our cabin. The park consists of the following attractions: a zip line, big and small ropes courses, a mountain rollercoaster, a gunslinger 7D ride, a cave tour, gem mining, gift shop and snack station. The park is closed in the winter but opens on weekends only in the spring and then every day of the week in the summer. Check their online hours before planning your trip and be sure to gauge whether your kids are old enough, tall enough and interested enough before purchasing your wristbands. It’s not a cheap ordeal, but if your kids are interested in this kind of adventure and you have the time to go, it was worth the money!

While you can purchase the attractions one by one, the wristband is definitely the best deal. There’s no way I could’ve talked my kids into just going on the mountain coaster once, plus it adds up so quickly if you do the ala carte option (gunslinger is $12, ropes course is $15, coaster is $10, etc). Wristband costs sound pricey, but we spent a solid 5 hours here and the kids didn’t even want to leave.

Wristbands are $52/adults, $47/kids 5-12 and $27/kids between 38-41″ tall. Kiddos smaller than 38″ won’t be able to do much here anyway so there’s probably no need to purchase them admission. The wristband includes a cave tour and then unlimited rides on the coaster, zip line, ropes course, and 7D ride. All height, age and weight requirements can be found on their website here.

The best tip we heard over and over when researching this place online was to GO EARLY. This absolutely paid off! We arrived when the gates opened at 9am (cuz that’s how we roll) and were so grateful we did. Around noon the lines got backed up to nearly a 30-minute wait, but from 9-11:30, we were able to practically walk right up to the front of all the rides. We were told to do the zip line and mountain coaster first since those lines get the longest…so we did. Over…and over…and over…and over again. The coaster was amazingly fast, but you can control the speed with a hand brake. You can go solo or have a smaller passenger if you’re of age. Our 3-year old was able to do everything and he was thrilled about that!

Our favorite part was the 7D Gunslinger ride, an interactive theater ride where your seat vibrates, wind blows in your face and the competition is fierce as each theater seat competes for the highest score as the #1 gunslinger. There are 3 films to choose from (some more kid-friendly) and you select your film by standing in 1 of 3 lines. The fun part is watching the theater filled with people on the screens while waiting in line. Lines go fast here too because the theater holds a lot of people, but each movie is a few minutes long.

A couple items to note if you decide to do Rush Mountain Adventure Park:

• Order your tickets online and then pick them up at the upper gift shop at the top of the hill. The hill is no joke. It’s steep and exhausting to climb. Wheelchairs and strollers, be warned.
• Wear closed toe shoes for the ropes course.
• Get there the minute it opens. You won’t regret it.
• We packed a lunch in a cooler and took a break at the car for some R&R before heading back in for another coaster ride or two.

We wrapped up the adventure park fun around 12:30, leaving us plenty of time to enjoy ACTUAL Mount Rushmore, which was our next stop.

MOUNT RUSHMORE INFO WORTH NOTING 2019/2020: Huge construction projects are happening in the main areas of Mount Rushmore. This kind of stinks if you plan on heading there in spring/summer 2020 because the Avenue of Flags and part of the Presidential Trail will be closed. You can still get to the presidents via the nature trail though, so not all is lost. Learn more by checking out the maintenance map or the construction update page.

Mount Rushmore National Monument
A 22-minute drive from the park, Mount Rushmore National Monument is one of those “must-sees” when in South Dakota. Did I think the kids were going to jump out of their skin with excitement? No, not at all. Did they find it a little bit amazing once they were there and looking at it in person? The sure did! I’m so glad we went. It’s part of history and led to a lot of conversations about history and “who did whats” and “what does that means?,” which we were happy to answer. If you want to learn more about the presidents, the sculptor and the historical story, read up on it here before you sound like an idiot in front of your kids (like I did…thank you, Google, for your handy assistance).

Getting in to Mount Rushmore is completely free, but they charge for parking. It’s $10 per vehicle and that’s good for up to one year from purchase (you know, in case you become a Mount Rushmore junkie). Parking was easy and then it’s as simple as following the crowds to the main entrance. You can’t miss the Avenue of Flags – lined with colorful flags and stone pillars, each flag and pillar representing one of the 50 states. The kids had a fun time trying to guess the flag and looking for Minnesota.

Pay a visit to the bathrooms before heading in and check out the map to see which direction you’d like to go. The entrance area hosts a gift shop, tour guide building where you can rent a self-guided tour kit for $8/person (we passed on this), and an ice cream parlor + food truck. Our first stop had to be the ice cream because we wanted to try Thomas Jefferson’s homemade vanilla ice cream recipe (it sort of tasted like Kemps, but don’t tell Thomas). They also served mint, cookies and cream, praline pecan and strawberry.

We walked with our ice cream down the Presidential Trail. If you do this and want to avoid 422 steps (yes, I said 422), head left. To the right is the Sculpture Studio, which was cool but if you have a stroller or don’t enjoy stairs, choose wisely. The trail is one large circle so you can turn around at any point or go the full loop. It’s paved and easy for strolling. We headed left and walked the smooth part of the trail first. The kids played on some rocks and sat at some benches and got ice cream all over their shirts. The Presidential Trail is only 0.6 miles long and you get to stand close to directly under the faces of the presidents.

Obviously, photo opportunities are aplenty and people are more than happy to trade family photo shoots with you. The second half of the loop (the one with the 422 steps) had better views than the first flat loop. We enjoyed being there in the daylight and seeing everything in the sunshine, but apparently every evening between May and September hosts a lighting ceremony at either 8 or 9pm. Looks kinda neat and is very patriotic.

Overall, we lasted about 90 minutes total here and spent under $30 when all was said and done. Our 10-year old thought it was super cool, our 7-year old got hot and tired (per usual) and our toddler enjoyed the open space to run and climb and had absolutely no idea there were presidential replicas carved into a hill directly above his head. Nate and I thought it was pretty incredible.

If you have the chance and the time, right down the road is the Chief Crazy Horse Memorial. This would be worth seeing as well, but our kids were so over rock carvings at this point. Crazy Horse is between $30-40 per car to get in, but the history here is important and educational. I regret not going and wish we had saved some of their energy for it. Next time we will see this in person…

We left Mount Rushmore and headed back into Hill City to do a little shopping and grab an early dinner since the storm was coming back. We found a little Hubcap Diner to eat at and wait out the rain and lightning. (Get the cheese curds if you know what’s good for you).

We had an hour or two to kill before fireworks so Nate and I played the “selfish card” and finally paid a visit to a couple of those little wineries/breweries we see along the drive every night. Yes, we busted out the iPad and set the kids up on a couple couches and let them watch a show while we tried some Sick-N-Twisted stouts and Naked Winery merlot. We gave ourselves time to be adults, to talk about the trip, to pat ourselves on the back for staying sane for 6 days nonstop with all the noise and chaos, to just be together without full exhaustion having set in yet. And we LOVED the beer and wine just as much as the conversation. Don’t be afraid to treat yourself on family vacations too! It’s important because you’re a person too and deserve a “turn to choose” just as much as those rugrats in the backseat.

Fully refreshed, we headed back to the cabin to change into jammies, grab some nighttime snacks and drove to Rapid City, South Dakota to watch the fireworks. A beautifully patriotic way to end a beautifully patriotic day.

DAY 7: Reptile Gardens + Rapid City + Storybook Island

Our final full day in South Dakota had finally arrived and we had big plans to fill it.

Reptile Gardens
Our first stop was Reptile Gardens, the largest reptile zoo in the country. It’s open March-November various hours (check the website for specifics), but during the summer I recommend getting their early in the day. We got there at the 9:00am open time and walked right in, but when we left at 1:00pm, the line to the entrance was well into the parking lot (and it was HOT by then too).

Admission fees to Reptile Gardens vary by time of year, but in the summer months, prices range from $13-19 and kids 3 and under are free. Spring and fall you will save about $5/ticket. I know it’s pricey but if you have kids who really dig stuff like this, it really is a cool place to visit for a few hours.

The zoo highlights three main shows: Gator Shows, Bird Shows and Snake Shows. They are performed five times throughout the day in the summer months so time your visits to each right when you arrive so you’re sure to not miss the one or two you absolutely want to see.

We started our day with the alligator show, which was my kid’s favorite part! Who wouldn’t like watching one crazy dude stand in the middle of 20 alligators? (Actually he made me incredibly nervous, but he was so chill and reminded me a little of Ian Somerhalder, so it was worth the watch). We got there about 15 minutes before the show after grabbing a latte at the window cafe, which I would definitely recommend (both the getting there 15 minutes early and the latte), and the kids were enthralled the entire time. The host-slash-crazy-dude taught them all about alligator behaviors, common misconceptions, interesting facts and had some “close call” moments that made the audience gasp and laugh simultaneously. Do NOT miss the gator show!

We followed the gator show with the bird show right around the corner. It’d be unfortunate for anyone who had to follow the gator guy, but the bird show just did not hold the attention of my kids (or me, if I’m being honest). It was superbly educational, but there was very little action and zero interaction. We left halfway through and continued through the rest of the park.

There’s a spot outside the bird show called Rattlesnake Gulch where you can pay extra for a shooting gallery, gem mining or a 3D safari ride. We intentionally distracted our kids so they didn’t beg to spend more of our money and completely skipped that area. Instead, they were just as entertained by the tiny playground near the back of the gardens. It didn’t have a lot of structures or anything, but it was wide open and perfect for hide and seek or just running around for a bit. Drank some water, ate some snacks, reapplied some sunscreen and continued on after some hefty play.

We sadly bypassed the Snake Show because the crowds were already so huge that we didn’t feel like fighting it to get a seat so we instead watched some prairie dogs run around for a bit and then headed to the giant tortoises – MY favorite part!

The giant tortoise area allows you to walk among three enormous jurassic-looking animals that move faster than one might think. You can touch them gently and observe them eye-to-eye. My oldest was fascinated by these creatures!

We finally made our way into the Sky Dome, the huge Epcot-looking ball in the middle of the zoo. Inside holds a walkthrough forest with free-roaming lizards, exhibits with plenty of venomous snakes, a good collection of intriguing amphibians, and Maniac, the 16-foot crocodile, who just so happened to be the only thing my kids talked about for the next week!

After a couple hours, we had seen what we came to see and left (after spending way too long in their massive gift shop, which is unavoidable). The rest of our day was going to be spent in Rapid City again – we went to Christmas Village (for mom to get an ornament), revisited the same parking ramp from day one (which is free after 5pm and on weekends) right off Main Street Square, and let the kids play in the splash pad again. We walked Main Street and took photos with the president statues, played in the book and toy shop and then dried off for a delicious “last meal” at Que Pasa on Main Street. I LOVED this experience for many reasons: A) we live for Mexican food, B) everyone was in a good mood, C) we got to sit on the rooftop, and D) the server was awesome.

Storybook Island
After stomachs were full, we had to hustle to Storybook Island since it closes at 7pm. What is Storybook Island, you ask? Well, I thought it was going to be cheesy and a waste of time, but I don’t know…with kids and just tons of fenced-in room for them to run and play and climb and recognize all the characters…it was pretty darn cool.

Storybook Island in South Dakota is open Labor Day through Memorial Day from 9am to 7pm. This 7-acre park comes with no admission, free range play, a carousel ($2/person), a train ($2/person), and so many storybook character statues, it just makes you smile. Some of the figures are more than run-down, but the park is built and operated on sponsorships and donations, which is super cool, and it adds a fun element to the city and a cool memory for the kiddos.

The park has plush grass and some pathways, so strollers wouldn’t be a problem. There are bathrooms, a snack shop, a gift shop and ice cream. Some of our favorite characters included Cinderella’s carriage, Wizard of Oz, Rapunzel in the tower, Snow White’s house, the bridge with the troll, Cat in the Hat and the 3 Little Pigs. While there is a playground and a smaller kids area, our crew just enjoyed checking out the figures, climbing the bridges and running freely.

Dinosaur Park
After Storybook Island closed (we definitely could’ve stayed longer), we took our final adventure – Dinosaur Park. Standing atop the Rapid City, South Dakota skyline are 7 giant dinosaur replicas, dated and slowly falling apart. But kids don’t care, man. They didn’t care that the dinosaur’s paint was chipped off or that its eyes resembled those of a cartoon cat. They just cared that the view was awesome, the gift shop sold dinosaur fossils and the dinosaur replicas were bigger than they were.

Dinosaur Park is closed November-April and is free to enter. Park in the lot by the gift shop (where you can get snacks, souvenirs or use the restroom) and then climb a ton of stairs to get up to the dinosaurs on the hill. We spent about 30 minutes here and that was plenty. But, hey, we can say we saw it. After you’re done with the dinos, consider finishing the rest of the Skyline Drive or even stop for a short hike on one of the trails. It feels like you’re on top of the world and the view is pretty sweet.

Back to the cabin for one last night of sleep (and packing) before heading back on the road for our final day – of mostly just travel.

DAY 8: Badlands, Corn Palace, Home!

The last morning, we packed the rest of our cabin, made one big bin of grabbable entertainment and snacks and set out to dominate the 9-hour drive back home from South Dakota . We broke up the drive by stopping in the Badlands again (it was MUCH hotter this time so we kept it short) and visiting the Corn Palace (something I will never understand, but people love it?).

The Badlands of South Dakota are just a must whenever you drive past them. They aren’t that far from Rapid City, so it’s not the most timely pit stop, but it is a good way to wear out those little legs before piling into the car for an epic journey. Even something as simple as parking right by the visitor center and taking the winding trails up and down the sandy hills for 30 minutes will tire them out.

Corn Palace
Corn Palace is about 4 hours from Rapid City, South Dakota so is a lovely stop to get out and stretch your legs. But what is the Corn Palace? I had absolutely no idea what we were getting in to, and as we were walking out, I still had no idea what we had gotten in to. But it’s a classic South Dakota road trip stop so ya gotta do it!

The Palace is right on Main Street in Mitchell and takes up a whole block of city. The building is lined with murals made of corn, both inside and out. It’s a free visit and holds industrial exhibits representing the agricultural culture of South Dakota. The main part is an auditorium space with a gift shop and more corn murals. You can buy some popcorn balls or concession snacks to keep you going on your drive. I got a lot of crap from my husband for not “getting” the Corn Palace, but we all have our own opinions. The artistic designs were undeniable, but the concept was odd. Whatever. Been there, done that.

Even though there are more options along the route to stop at to break up the drive, our whole family was ready to be home, sleep in our own beds and snuggle our dog so we powered straight through – the whole drive in one day, home by 8pm. The drive home included a lot more electronics, a lot less organization and just a few gas station stops to pick up snacks and drinks. The kids were rockstars and the time flew!

It was nice to be home, but this was definitely a vacation we won’t soon forget. My first trip to South Dakota left me with millions of memories and great anticipation to do it again someday. Worth the drive, worth the planning, just so worth it. 8 days in South Dakota may sound like a lot, but the list of adventures we didn’t have time to do remains long. Guess it’s time to start planning our return…