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Old 03-25-2013, 11:47 AM   #1
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Hi All,

The wife and I with two boys (8 and 5) are planning a (round trip) 15 day camping trip to Mount Rushmore from Chicago. Looking at June to begin our family trip. We are all excited!!! The main highway route is 90 from Chicago to Rushmore. I wanted to know if anyone knows of any scenic State Parks they would recommend in South Dakota and Wisconsin? We are looking forward to seeing mountains and wild life. Thanks in advance.
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Old 03-25-2013, 12:21 PM   #2
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Don't miss: Custer State Park..loaded with buffalo, antelope, turkeys, deer, and donkeys (yes wild donkeys!). Crazy Horse monument. Badlands National Park near Wall, SD. Be sure and visit Wall Drug in Wall and get a roast beef sandwich along with your free ice water. Wind Cave National Park. Needles Eye. These are just a few. Check the internet on interesting things to do around Mt. Rushmore.
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Old 03-25-2013, 12:23 PM   #3
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Big Sioux Recreation Area is a 430 acre state park near Sioux Falls and is not far off I-90. You will definitely need to make reservations 90 days in advance. Nightly rate for an electrical site is $18. Bath houses, dump site and potable water available.

In the Black Hills check out Custer State Park, a 10,000 acre park with multiple campgrounds. Reservations may be made 1 year in advance and you will definitely want one.

SD GFP | State Parks


The closest campground to Mt. Rushmore is Horsethief Campground, a US Forest Service campground. Rates are $23 per night.

Black Hills National Forest - Horsethief Lake Campground

Enjoy your trip!
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Old 03-25-2013, 12:32 PM   #4
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Oops, misspoke earlier. Custer State Park is 71,000 acres and is not to be missed. It has spectacular rock formations and scenery, as well as various wildlife viewing opportunites (including buffalo, burros, mountain goats, elk.)
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Old 03-25-2013, 12:32 PM   #5
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Ditto on the Custer State Park, it's a must do.
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Old 03-25-2013, 12:55 PM   #6
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Sounds like a great trip. We stayed at the Rafter J near Mt. Rushmore, great place!
Rafter J Bar Ranch Had a fantastic site on the Ranch Camp loop.
Did a long day trip to Custer SP, the donkeys and buffalo were cool. Don't know if they still allow it but a ranger at Custer told us to go up to the fire/radio tower, great view! We also took an easily doable day trip to Devils Tower. Do a Chuck Wagon dinner while you're around Hill City, great food, entertainment and fun. On the return trip you could stay at Mirror Lake State Park Mirror Lake State Park - Wisconsin DNR and do the Dells.
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Old 03-25-2013, 01:13 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by Hybrid 233T View Post
Hi All,

The wife and I with two boys (8 and 5) are planning a (round trip) 15 day camping trip to Mount Rushmore from Chicago. Looking at June to begin our family trip. We are all excited!!! The main highway route is 90 from Chicago to Rushmore. I wanted to know if anyone knows of any scenic State Parks they would recommend in South Dakota and Wisconsin? We are looking forward to seeing mountains and wild life. Thanks in advance.
Hy! Hybrid, We will also be in that area in June,12-16 I think. I've been looking at campgrounds in the area,and think,from pics on web,I like horse thief cc. We have not been to Rushmore area,but are also excited,and realizing how quickly it will be time to load m up and head out!
I'll be watching you're thread for ideas also.
Happy camping!
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Old 03-25-2013, 01:37 PM   #8
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Custer start park is a must.
We saw big horn sheep mere yards from the road!
Visit the lodge.
Drive up the scenic needles highway to Rushmore.
Stop along the way to take pictures!

Badlands NP is an easy day trip from Custer SP.
On the way back make the mandatory stop at Historic Wall Drug for ice cream.
http://www.walldrug.com/

Enjoy!!
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Old 03-26-2013, 04:58 AM   #9
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Don't miss: Custer State Park..loaded with buffalo, antelope, turkeys, deer, and donkeys (yes wild donkeys!). Crazy Horse monument. Badlands National Park near Wall, SD. Be sure and visit Wall Drug in Wall and get a roast beef sandwich along with your free ice water. Wind Cave National Park. Needles Eye. These are just a few. Check the internet on interesting things to do around Mt. Rushmore.
X2 on all the stops mentioned. Consider taking state roads instead of 90 too. The drive is part of the adventure and there is some beautiful scenery when you get off of 90.
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Old 03-26-2013, 05:00 AM   #10
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We also stayed at the KOA near Rushmore. It was an easy drive to all of the monuments too.
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Old 03-26-2013, 06:59 AM   #11
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Originally Posted by TurkeyHog70 View Post
Don't miss: Custer State Park..loaded with buffalo, antelope, turkeys, deer, and donkeys (yes wild donkeys!). Crazy Horse monument. Badlands National Park near Wall, SD. Be sure and visit Wall Drug in Wall and get a roast beef sandwich along with your free ice water. Wind Cave National Park. Needles Eye. These are just a few. Check the internet on interesting things to do around Mt. Rushmore.
Wow, Custer State Park sounds great! The lids will love it! I will also check the internet for more interesting things to do. I just thought beginning with the forum would a great start.
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Old 03-26-2013, 07:02 AM   #12
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Big Sioux Recreation Area is a 430 acre state park near Sioux Falls and is not far off I-90. You will definitely need to make reservations 90 days in advance. Nightly rate for an electrical site is $18. Bath houses, dump site and potable water available.

In the Black Hills check out Custer State Park, a 10,000 acre park with multiple campgrounds. Reservations may be made 1 year in advance and you will definitely want one.

SD GFP | State Parks

The closest campground to Mt. Rushmore is Horsethief Campground, a US Forest Service campground. Rates are $23 per night.

Black Hills National Forest - Horsethief Lake Campground

Enjoy your trip!
Thanks for the great info! Can you camp over night at the Big Sioux Recreation area in a camper?
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Old 03-26-2013, 07:04 AM   #13
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Oops, misspoke earlier. Custer State Park is 71,000 acres and is not to be missed. It has spectacular rock formations and scenery, as well as various wildlife viewing opportunites (including buffalo, burros, mountain goats, elk.)
How close can you get to the Buffalo? The wife would really enjoy the wild life.
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Old 03-26-2013, 07:48 AM   #14
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Yes Big Sioux has 46 nice spots to camp with an RV. Reservations a are necessary for weekends.

The buffalo roam wild and aren't tame so you'll want to keep your distance. The burros will be within petting distance along the road. If your main focus is wildlife you may check out Bear Country. It's a private drive through wildlife park that would be pretty exciting for the kids.
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Old 03-26-2013, 08:00 AM   #15
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How close can you get to the Buffalo? The wife would really enjoy the wild life.
Getting close to buffalo on foot is never a good idea. While they are accustom to people, the buffalo are still wild animals and very unpredictable. Just like Yellowstone buffalo they do seem to enjoy walking down the road. You'll see plenty of animals in Custer State Park. Here are a few pics I took on a drive through the park a couple of years ago.
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Old 03-26-2013, 08:10 AM   #16
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Also Custer SP-
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Old 03-26-2013, 08:12 AM   #17
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Custer state park is perfect! BEWARE that there are tunnels and nasty switchbacks in Iron Mountain and the Needle.....so using a car is best there!
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Old 03-26-2013, 08:16 AM   #18
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We'll be there in August and are staying in Custer then taking day trips to see the sights. If you are thinking of staying in Custer, you really need to jump on reservations NOW.
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Old 03-26-2013, 08:18 AM   #19
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Custer state park is perfect! BEWARE that there are tunnels and nasty switchbacks in Iron Mountain and the Needle.....so using a car is best there!
Thanks for the warning! I will pass it along to the wife so we can both keep an eye on the kids. :0)
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Old 03-26-2013, 08:20 AM   #20
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We'll be there in August and are staying in Custer then taking day trips to see the sights. If you are thinking of staying in Custer, you really need to jump on reservations NOW.
Thank! I will look at reservations today!
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