National Park Trip 2024
Pipestone, Badlands, Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Devil's Tower and Custer State Park
During this trip P was almost 9 almost 10, T was 8, and V was 5 almost 6.
We wanted to stay a days drive from home after our miss adventure last year. This was a great trip! We had a lot of rain and thunderstorms on this adventure. This was only our second trip with a pop-up and we were so glad to have it. After the first thunderstorm, we saw so many destroyed tents. We were glad we weren't in a tent that night! The campgrounds were all lovely.
Trip Dates: June 15 - June 28, 2024
Total cost of trip: $2,906.99
This includes; gas, lodging at five different campgrounds, groceries, eating out, souvenirs, fees for activities.
Total miles: 3,273
Itinerary
Day 1 - June 15
7:00 a.m. - Leave house drive to Badlands National Park
7 hours 30 min (add 1 hours 30 min for stops) = 10 hours
7:00 - 9:30 a.m. - Jeffers Petroglyphs - 27160 County Road 2, Comfrey, MN 56019 - 116 miles | 2 hour 30 minutes
Opens at 10:00 a.m. - skip if we would arrive too early
10:00 - 10:30 a.m. - Tour Jeffers Petroglyphs
10:30-11:50 a.m. - Drive to Pipestone National Monument - 36 Reservation Ave, Pipestone, MN 56164 - 72 miles | 1 hour 16 minutes
11:50 - 1:30 p.m. Tour Pipestone National Monument & Lunch Stop. Lunch packed in easy cooler.
1:30 - 4:20 p.m. Drive to Rest Area in Chamberlain Lewis & Clark Welcome Center, SD - 179 miles | 2 hours 39 minutes
4:20 - 6:20 p.m. - Drive to Cedar Pass Campground, Badlands National Park - 142 miles | 2 hours
No check-in time
Dinner - Dinner on the way or precooked frozen fried rice
8:30 p.m. - Sunset
9:00 p.m. - Evening Program - every night
9:30 p.m. - Night Sky Program - every night
Day 2 - June 16
Stay at Cedar Pass Campground, Badlands National Park
5:03 a.m. - Sunrise
Breakfast - hard boiled eggs & muffins
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Visitor Center Hours
Suggested Trails
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Notch Trail: 1.5 miles
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Window Trail: 0.25 miles
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Door Trail: 0.75 miles
Lunch - picnic lunch: Crackers, small container of peanut butter, beef jerky, ice tea, dried fruit, hummus, veggies
1:30 p.m. Fossil Talk
Location: Fossil Exhibit Trail
Duration: 30-45 minutes
Rest at camp
Dinner - Mongolian Broccoli Beef
8:30 p.m. - Sunset - drive to an overlook for sunset
9:00 p.m. - Evening Program - every night
9:30 p.m. - Night Sky Program - every night
Day 3 - June 17
Stay at Cedar Pass Campground, Badlands National Park
5:03 a.m. - Sunrise
Breakfast - pancakes, bacon & eggs - cook extra bacon for lunch. Maybe cook tortillas for lunch.
Drive Badlands Loop Road, overlooks and hikes
Lunch - Copycat Avocado Wrap
Suggested Hike: Cliff Shelf: 0.5 miles
Dinner - Indian Tacos at lodge or Hot dogs, carrots, mac & cheese
8:30 p.m. - Sunset
9:00 p.m. - Evening Program - every night
9:30 p.m. - Night Sky Program - every night
Day 4 - July 18
Stay at Cedar Pass Campground, Badlands National Park
5:04 a.m. - Sunrise
Breakfast - Hard Boiled Eggs & Muffins
9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Drive to Stronghold Unit - 53 miles | 53 minutes
10:00 - 10:30 a.m. Visit White River Visitor Center: hours 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
10:30 - 11:00 a.m. Ranger Program
Lunch - picnic
Drive back to camp - 53 miles | 53 minutes
Dinner - Indian Tacos at lodge or Hot dogs, carrots, mac & cheese
8:31 p.m. - Sunset
9:00 p.m. - Evening Program - every night
9:30 p.m. - Night Sky Program - every night
Day 5 - June 19
Departing Cedar Pass Campground for Elk Mountain Campground, Wind Cave National Park
5:04 a.m. - Sunrise
Breakfast - Eggs, sausage, & Hashbrowns
Pack up camp
12:00 - 12:15 p.m. - Drive to Minuteman Missile National Historic Site Visitor Center - Visitor Center Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
12:15 p.m. - picnic lunch
1:00 - 1:30 p.m. Visit the visitor center
1:30 p.m. Drive to tour site
2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. - Minuteman Missile Tour
3:00 - 5:00 p.m. - Drive to Elk Mountain Campground, Wind Cave National Park - 127 miles | 2 hours, 5 minutes
Campsite 29 - B Loop
Check-in time: 1:00 p.m.
Dinner - Turkey burgers, Pasta Roni, and canned green beans
8:31 p.m. - Sunset
Day 6 - June 20
Stay at Elk Mountain Campground, Wind Cave National Park
5:04 a.m. - Sunrise
Breakfast - Cheerios & Fruit
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Wind Cave Visitor Center
Tour Visitor Center
Walk to Wind Cave's Natural Entrance
Lunch
11:45 a.m. Drive to Mammoth Dig Site - Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 14 Miles | 24 minute drive
1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. Family Dig
1:45 - 3:00 p.m. Mammoth Dig Site
Get Groceries
4:00 - 4:30 p.m. Drive back to camp
Dinner - Grilled Cheese, tomato soup, potato chips, and baby carrots
8:31 p.m. Sunset
Day 7 - June 21
Stay at Elk Mountain Campground, Wind Cave National Park
Clothing for the day:
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Closed toe shoes
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Sweatshirts
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Layers, the cave gets cold
Breakfast - Oatmeal
Pack lunch - picnic: Hummus, club crackers, cucumbers, baby carrots, apples, peanut butter in small container, knife
9:30 -10:05 a.m. - Drive to Jewel Cave National Monument - 30 miles | 35 minutes
10:10 a.m. - Arrive at Jewel Cave National Monument and check out the visitor center. Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
10:40 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Jewel Cave Scenic Tour
12:00 - 12:30 p.m. Eat snack or lunch
12:30 - 1:00 p.m. Drive to Crazy Horse Memorial (if up for it) - 19 miles | 27 minutes
1:00 p.m. Eat Indian Tacos or picnic lunch if haven't eaten yet & tour Crazy Horse
Drive back to camp 26.4 miles | 35 minutes
Dinner - Beef stroganoff
8:32 p.m. Sunset
Day 8 - July 22
Depart Elk Mountain Campground, Wind Cave National Park
Breakfast - Cheerios
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Drive to Bell Fourche River Campground - 126 miles | 2 hours 14 minutes
First come - first serve
Lunch at campground - Panini, chis, apples, and pickles
Hike around Devil's Tower
Dinner - Hamburgers
8:32 p.m. Sunset
Day 9 - June 23
Bell Fourche River Campground, Devil's Tower National Monument
5:05 a.m. - Sunrise
Breakfast - Pancakes, eggs, sausage
Hike Devil's Tower
Drive to Bell Fourche, Center of the Nation 52.4 Miles | 1 hour
Do laundry if needed
Dinner - Turkey Chili
8:32 p.m. Sunset
Day 10 - June 24
Depart Bell Fourche River Campground Drive to Sylvan Lake Campground, Custer State Park
5:05 a.m. - Sunrise
Breakfast - eggs
Pack up camp
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Drive to Sylvan Lake Campground 115 Miles | 2 hours 6 minutes
Check- in Time: 12:00 p.m.
Site: SL03E
Lunch
Suggested Trails:
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Sylvan Lake Shore Trail: 2.8 miles
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Spur Trail to Little Devil's Tower: 3 miles
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Sunday Gulch Trail: 2.8 miles
Needles Highway to Hill City in the afternoon
Big Smokey the Bear
Dinner:
8:32 p.m. - Sunset
Day 11 - June 25
Sylvan Lake Campground, Custer State Park
5:06 a.m. - Sunrise
Breakfast: any breakfast food left over
Hike to Black Elk Peak - bring lunch: 7 miles
Needles Highway to Hill City in the afternoon* if not done the day before
Big Smokey the Bear
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Drive Needles Highway to Mount Rushmore
8:32 p.m. - Sunset
Day 12 - June 26
Depart Sylvan Lake Campground for Game Lodge Campground, Custer State Park
5:06 a.m. - Sunrise
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Drive to Game Lodge Campground
Check-in Time: 12:00 p.m.
Site: GL23E
Dinner - spaghetti
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Drive Needles Highway to Mount Rushmore
20.6 miles: 48 minutes
Visitor Center
8:32 p.m. - Sunset
9:00 -9:45 p.m. Mount Rushmore Evening Show
9:45 - 10:30 p.m. Drive back to camp via Keystone - 30.7 miles | 45 minutes
Day 13 - June 27
Game Lodge Campground, Custer State Park
5:06 a.m. - Sunrise
Breakfast - cheerios and fruit
8:45 -9:06 a.m. - Drive to Blue Bell Stables
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. - One hour Trail Ride
Lunch - picnic
Drive Wildlife Loop back to camp
Dinner -
8:32 p.m. - Sunset
Day 14 - June 28
Game Lodge Campground, Custer State Park
5:07 a.m. - Sunrise
Drive home or stay for one more night
8:32 p.m. - Sunset