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 were so looking forward to this trip. We ended up with July due to two events in June and in August, making impossible for us to do this trip those months. This trip was derailed from the start, but we pushed through and ended up making the most of it. Spoiler alert, it involves our van breaking down several times.
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This trip was exhausting, and we missed a lot of what we had planned. Though there were tears, we managed to have fun, not fight, and ended up having a lot of fun.
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​Trip Dates: June 15 - June 28, 2024
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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
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Learn how our trip went: coming soon.
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
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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
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10:00 - 10:30 a.m. - Tour Jeffers Petroglyphs
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10:30-11:50 a.m. - Drive to Pipestone National Monument - 36 Reservation Ave, Pipestone, MN 56164 - 72 miles | 1 hour 16 minutes
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11:50 - 1:30 p.m. Tour Pipestone National Monument & Lunch Stop. Lunch packed in easy cooler.
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1:30 - 4:20 p.m. Drive to Rest Area in Chamberlain Lewis & Clark Welcome Center, SD - 179 miles | 2 hours 39 minutes
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4:20 - 6:20 p.m. - Drive to Cedar Pass Campground, Badlands National Park - 142 miles | 2 hours
No check-in time
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Dinner - Dinner on the way or precooked frozen fried rice
8:30 p.m. - Sunset
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9:00 p.m. - Evening Program - every night
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9:30 p.m. - Night Sky Program - every night
Day 2 - June 16
Stay at Cedar Pass Campground, Badlands National Park
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5:03 a.m. - Sunrise
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Breakfast - hard boiled eggs & muffins
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8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Visitor Center Hours
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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
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Lunch - picnic lunch: Crackers, small container of peanut butter, beef jerky, ice tea, dried fruit, hummus, veggies
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1:30 p.m. Fossil Talk
Location: Fossil Exhibit Trail
Duration: 30-45 minutes
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Rest at camp
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​Dinner - Mongolian Broccoli Beef
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8:30 p.m. - Sunset - drive to an overlook for sunset
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9:00 p.m. - Evening Program - every night
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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
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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
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8:30 p.m. - Sunset
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9:00 p.m. - Evening Program - every night
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9:30 p.m. - Night Sky Program - every night
Day 4 - July 18
Stay at Cedar Pass Campground, Badlands National Park
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5:04 a.m. - Sunrise
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Breakfast - Hard Boiled Eggs & Muffins
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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.
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10:30 - 11:00 a.m. Ranger Program
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Lunch - picnic
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​​Drive back to camp - 53 miles | 53 minutes
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Dinner - Indian Tacos at lodge or Hot dogs, carrots, mac & cheese
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8:31 p.m. - Sunset
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9:00 p.m. - Evening Program - every night
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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
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Pack up camp
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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.
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12:15 p.m. - picnic lunch​
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1:00 - 1:30 p.m. Visit the visitor center
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1:30 p.m. Drive to tour site
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2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. - Minuteman Missile Tour
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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.
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Dinner - Turkey burgers, Pasta Roni, and canned green beans
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8:31 p.m. - Sunset
Day 6 - June 20
Stay at Elk Mountain Campground, Wind Cave National Park
5:04 a.m. - Sunrise
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Breakfast - Cheerios & Fruit
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8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Wind Cave Visitor Center
Tour Visitor Center
Walk to Wind Cave's Natural Entrance
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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
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1:45 - 3:00 p.m. Mammoth Dig Site​
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Get Groceries
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4:00 - 4:30 p.m. Drive back to camp
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Dinner - Grilled Cheese, tomato soup, potato chips, and baby carrots
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8:31 p.m. Sunset
Day 7 - June 21
Stay at Elk Mountain Campground, Wind Cave National Park
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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
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Pack lunch - picnic: Hummus, club crackers, cucumbers, baby carrots, apples, peanut butter in small container, knife
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9:30 -10:05 a.m. - Drive to Jewel Cave National Monument - 30 miles | 35 minutes
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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.
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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
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9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Drive to Bell Fourche River Campground - 126 miles | 2 hours 14 minutes
First come - first serve
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Lunch at campground - Panini, chis, apples, and pickles
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Hike around Devil's Tower
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Dinner - Hamburgers
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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
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Hike Devil's Tower
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Drive to Bell Fourche, Center of the Nation 52.4 Miles | 1 hour
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Do laundry if needed
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Dinner - Turkey Chili
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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
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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
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​Lunch
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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
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Needles Highway to Hill City in the afternoon
Big Smokey the Bear
Dinner:
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8:32 p.m. - Sunset
Day 11 - June 25
Sylvan Lake Campground, Custer State Park
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5:06 a.m. - Sunrise
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Breakfast: any breakfast food left over
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Hike to Black Elk Peak - bring lunch: 7 miles
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Needles Highway to Hill City in the afternoon* if not done the day before
Big Smokey the Bear
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7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Drive Needles Highway to Mount Rushmore
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8:32 p.m. - Sunset​
Day 12 - June 26
Depart Sylvan Lake Campground for Game Lodge Campground, Custer State Park
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5:06 a.m. - Sunrise​
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11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Drive to Game Lodge Campground
Check-in Time: :00 p.m.
Site:
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Dinner - spaghetti
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7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Drive Needles Highway to Mount Rushmore
20.6 miles: 48 minutes
Visitor Center
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8:32 p.m. - Sunset​
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9:00 -9:45 p.m. Mount Rushmore Evening Show
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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
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5:06 a.m. - Sunrise​
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Breakfast - cheerios and fruit
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8:45 -9:06 a.m. - Drive to Blue Bell Stables
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10:00 - 11:00 a.m. - One hour Trail Ride
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Lunch - picnic
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Drive Wildlife Loop back to camp
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Dinner -
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8:32 p.m. - Sunset​
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