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 trip. 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.
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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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Day 14 - June 28
Game Lodge Campground, Custer State Park
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5:07 a.m. - Sunrise​
​Drive home or stay for one more night
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8:32 p.m. - Sunset​
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