Skip to content
Menu
Mommy Baggage
  • About Me
  • Camper Van
  • Travel Philosophy
  • Wanderchain
  • Wanderlust
  • Work With Me
Mommy Baggage

Badlands National Park and Mount Rushmore

Someone once told me that travel with kids wasn’t called a “vacation” it’s called a “trip.” It’s true, traveling with kids takes more planning and certainly more patience. Despite the challenges, we packed our bags for a trip to Badlands National Park and Mount Rushmore with our five and three year old for what proved to be a very memorable and exciting adventure. The Mommy Baggage philosophy is that memories are worth making even if they take a bit of effort.

Trip Itinerary

On this adventure we planned to see Badlands National Park, get face to face with Mount Rushmore, visit the Crazy Horse Memorial, tour Wind Cave National Park, ride the 1880 Train in Keystone, see the wildlife in Custer State Park, white knuckle drive on Needles Highway and eat dinner at a chuckwagon. We planned to do all of this in just five days; including drive time.

Day One

To break up the 8-hour drive to Badlands National Park, we stopped at Falls Park in Sioux Falls, SD. The Big Sioux River drops 100 feet at Falls Park, making it a scenic backdrop for a picnic lunch. We would be staying at camper cabins during most of our stay in South Dakota, so we came prepared with sandwiches and sides. After lunch we stopped at the Falls Overlook Cafe for ice cream while walking around the falls area. Our stop at the falls was a great way to break up the drive as we made our way to Badlands National Park where we planned to stay for the night at Cedar Pass Lodge.

When we arrived at the park, we checked into our camper cabin and set out to explore a few trails. We scurried along a few ridges along portions of the Castle Trail before dinner. Traveling with little kids means early bedtimes. We went to bed early as we had another full day of activities the next day.

Day Two

The next morning we would venture out early in hopes of seeing some wildlife along Badlands Loop Road. We stopped at Panorama Point and Burns Basin pullouts for incredible views of the Badlands. We lucked out and saw a few big horned sheep and a herd of antelope as well. Our next stop was Wall, SD for mid-morning coffee and donuts and of course a free drink of water at Wall Drug.

Wall Drug

From Wall, SD we drove another two hours to Keystone to get face to face with Mount Rushmore. We enjoyed the boardwalk Presidential Trail that takes visitors closer to the monument. I especially liked the sculptor’s studio and the story of Gutzon Borglum. The amphitheater movie on the creation of the 60-foot granite heads of president’s Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln is fascinating. If you visit Mount Rushmore later in the day, there is a nightly lighting program. Find details here.

Mount Rushmore
Crazy Horse Memorial

Next, we drove another 30 minutes to a memorial in the making; Crazy Horse Memorial. The Crazy Horse Memorial has been in progress since 1948. Today, work still continues on the 563 foot memorial to the Lakota Chief. The Memorial houses a well-done visitor center with an excellent movie describing how the memorial was derived and the excavation timeline. If we would have had more time, I would have liked to take a van ride to the top of the monument or stay for the evening laser light show. However, with two little kids, coming back after 9pm would not have made for a pleasant tomorrow.

For dinner, we made reservations at the Circle B Chuckwagon. Before the chuckwagon supper, the boys enjoyed roping cattle and panning for gems. The dinner itself consisted of baked potato, applesauce, baked beans, biscuit, cake and lemonade or coffee with your choice of barbecue chicken or roast beef. Right before dinner was served, theatrical performers staged a Western-style shoot out and the kids in the audience helped capture the biscuit bandit. After dinner, there was a musical performance of cowboy music and ranch humor.

Chuckwagon Dinner

Day Three

Our third day in the Black Hills started with a train ride on the 1880 Train. We boarded the two hour, narrated steam train bound for Hill City on it’s first run of the day. Along the route, we saw Mt. Baldy as well as a few mining encampments. The train follows the original route taken by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in the 1880s. Though some passengers chose to stay in Hill City and walk around the town, we continued on the train ride back to Keystone.

1880 Train

After a quick lunch at Eno’s Pizza, we made our way to Custer State Park where we checked into our lakeside housekeeping cabin on Legion Lake. We spent the rest of the day hiking the trails around the lake and swimming at the beach just steps from the cabin.

Legion Lake

Day Four

Since wildlife are most active in the morning, we started our fourth day in the Black Hills area with a drive on the Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park. We found the bison herd and enjoyed spotting prairie dogs.

Custer State Park

From Custer State Park, we drove to Wind Cave National Park. Visitors cannot reserve tickets for the Natural Entrance Cave Tour, they are only available on a first-come-first-serve basis. When we arrived, the next tour time required a 90-minute wait. There are also no food or beverage options available at Wind Cave National Park. We were so thankful we had packed our cooler and were able to make sandwiches while we waited. We were also happy we brought jackets. Wind Cave is always about 54 degrees Fahrenheit.

We loved the Natural Entrance Cave Tour. The tour involved a look at the small natural entrance to the cave and the story of how the cave was discovered. Wind Cave is one of the largest cave systems in the world, with about 149 miles that have been explored. Tour takers enter the cave through a man-made entrance and follow more than 300 steps to the middle level of the cave. Wind Cave is famous for the boxwork that hangs from the ceiling. The tour covers about 2/3 of a mile and takes a little over an hour before tour takers resurface via an elevator.

Wind Cave National Park

In the mid-afternoon, we decided to drive the 14 mile stretch of hairpin turns along Needles Highway. We used the drive as an opportunity for the kids to nap. It was a great way for mom and dad to relax, minus the white knuckle driving. The granite spires up close are worth the stressful drive.

With Needles Highway checked off our list, we concluded our day and our trip with more swimming and relaxing (with rhubard wine) back at our cabin on Legion Lake. The final day of our five-day trip would be spent on the road, traveling the 8 hours back to Minnesota.

Where we stayed, where we ate and what we paid

  • Accommodations
    • Cedar Pass Lodge-Badlands National Park
      • This was the perfect little cabin with a great big view. Book early, it fills up FAST.
    • Roosevelt Inn-Keystone
      • The location is perfect. Very near Mount Rushmore and right across the street from the 1880 Train Station. Needs updating.
    • Legion Lake Lodge-Custer State Park
      • We loved our stay here. So close to the lake with access to quick, easy hiking.
  • Food
    • Circle B Chuckwagon-$98 for 2 adults and 2 kids
    • Eno Pizza in Keystone
    • All other meals were made at out camper cabins-groceries $100
  • Attractions
    • Badlands National Park entrance fee-$30
    • Mount Rushmore parking fee-$10
    • Crazy Horse Memorial entrance fee-$30
    • 1880 Train ride-$96 for 2 adults and 2 kids
    • Custer State Park entrance fee-$20 per vehicle per day
    • Wind Cave tour-$36-for 2 adults and 2 kids

We loved our time in the Black Hills area of South Dakota visiting Badlands National Park and Mount Rushmore. For more tips and tricks on traveling with kids, see our posts on Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Glacier National Parks.

Happy Adventuring, Rochelle

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X

Like this:

Like Loading...
Pin
Share
Share
Share
0 Shares

Travel Abroad

  • Athens, Santorini and Mykonos
  • A Drive Through Tuscany
  • Belgium and the Netherlands
  • Cusco, Peru
  • Dubrovnik
  • Ease into Traveling Abroad: London
  • Hiking the Cinque Terre
  • Iceland/Germany/Czech Republic
  • Inca Trail
  • Kotor
  • Lake Bled
  • Mostar
  • One Day Visit to Venice
  • Peruvian Rainforest
  • Plitvice Lakes National Park
  • Split
  • Top Three Things to See in Rome
  • What to See in Paris

Travel Adventures

  • Alabama Civil Rights Trail
  • Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend
  • Best of Boston
  • Bolivar Beach
  • Cathedral Rock Trail in Sedona
  • Cedar Point
  • Chicago Christmas
  • Colorado Springs Hikes
  • Devil’s Bathtub
  • Devil’s Bridge Hike in Sedona
  • Door and Notch Trails
  • Fabulous Sights in Philly
  • Hocking Hills, Ohio
  • Honeymoon in New York City
  • Hoover Dam
  • Immersive Van Gogh Experience
  • Memphis
  • Nashville, Tennessee
  • Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum
  • Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Tahquamenon Falls
  • Porcupine Mountains
  • Roughlock Falls
  • San Antonio
  • Seattle
  • Seven Sacred Pools Hike in Sedona
  • Springfield, Illinois
  • Sunday Gulch
  • Upper Peninsula Michigan
  • Washington DC
  • What to do in the Windy City; Chicago with Kids
  • Winter in Colorado-Minus the Skiing

My Minnesota

  • Alphabet Family Adventure
  • Drive-In Movie Theater
  • Girls Day Away Ideas for Adventurers
  • Ice Castles
  • Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular
  • Minnesota Bucket List
  • Minnesota Donut Tour
  • Minnesota Drive-In Tour
  • Minnesota Ice Cream Tour
  • Minnesota Pizza Tour
  • Minnesota’s Largest Candy Store
  • Pine Grove Zoo
  • Pizza Farm
  • Pumpkin Patch
  • Reading Adventures
  • Sam’s Christmas Village and Light Tour
  • Say Hello to Paul Bunyan Land
  • Superior Hiking Trail
  • Trolls in Detroit Lakes
  • Wonderful Wabasha Street Caves

Minnesota State Parks

  • Banning State Park
  • Frontenac State Park
  • George Crosby Manitou State Park
  • Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock Lighthouse State Parks
  • Interstate State Park
  • Itasca and La Salle Lake State Parks
  • Minnesota State Parks
  • North Shore State Parks
  • Sibley State Park Winter Camping
  • Snowshoeing at Jay Cooke State Park
  • Southeastern Minnesota State Parks
  • Southwest Minnesota State Parks
  • Tettegouche State Park
  • Yurt Camping at Cuyuna Country Recreation Area
  • Yurt Camping at Glendalough State Park

4th Grade Minnesota Ski Passport

  • Andes Tower Hills
  • Spirit Mountain

6th Grade MN History Pass

  • Historic Fort Snelling
  • James Hill House
  • Jeffers Petroglyphs
  • Lower Sioux Agency
  • Mill City Museum
  • Minnesota History Center
  • Minnesota State Capitol
  • Oliver Kelley Farm

National Park Adventures

  • Badlands National Park and Mount Rushmore
  • Big Bend National Park
  • Destinations to Die for in Death Valley
  • Gateway Arch National Park
  • Gorgeous Glacier National Park
  • Grand Canyon National Park
  • Indiana Dunes and Cuyahoga Valley National Parks
  • Isle Royale National Park
  • Joshua Tree National Park
  • North Cascades National Park
  • Mammoth Cave National Park
  • Mount Rainier National Park
  • Olympic National Park
  • Petrified Forest National Park
  • Pipestone National Monument
  • Saguaro National Park
  • Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

Adventures at Home

  • Adventure Awaits Anniversary Party
  • Back to School Party
  • Back to School Treat
  • Build Your Own Treehouse
  • Caramel Apple Bar
  • Christmas Bucket
  • Dinosaur Taco Tuesday
  • Dr. Seuss Party
  • Eat to Explore: Spain
  • Elfin’ Around
  • Festive Ice Cream Floats
  • Fortnite Back to School Party
  • Last Day of School: Ice Cream Party
  • Last Day of School Party
  • Leap Year Party with Littles
  • Milk and Cookies After School Party
  • North Pole Express
  • Olympic Games
  • Pandemic Social Distancing Activities
  • Reading Buddy Birthday Treat
  • Skol Vikings Party
  • S’mores and Stargazing Party
  • Soda Tasting Party
  • Super Easy Super Bowl Party
  • Travel Christmas Tree
  • We love you because….

Birthday Adventures

  • Barnyard Birthday Party
  • Birthday Pie Bar
  • Construction Birthday Party
  • Dragon Birthday Party
  • Firefighter Birthday Party
  • Hoppy Birthday Party
  • Ninja Birthday Party
  • Pirate Birthday Party
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Birthday Party

Holiday Adventures

  • Candy Explosion Gift Box
  • Christmas Movie Parties
  • Donut Valentine Party
  • Easter Bunny Pancakes
  • Easter Tablescape
  • Gingerbread House Party
  • Gnome Valentine Party
  • Gobble, Gobble Breakfast
  • Great Pumpkin Party
  • Grinch Party
  • Holiday Tablescape
  • Hot Cocoa Party
  • Little Love Valentine Party
  • Mother’s Day Tea Party
  • New Year’s Eve Party
  • North Pole Breakfast
  • Peach of My Heart
  • Pumpkin Carving and Cocktails
  • Spooktacular Halloween Party
  • Spooky Snacks
  • Super Father’s Day
  • Thanksgiving Tablescape

Date Your Spouse

  • Date Your Spouse: Cooking Class
  • Date Your Spouse: Drink Dangerously
  • Date Your Spouse: Play Hooky
  • Date Your Spouse: Soup Saturday

More on Mommy Baggage

  • About Me
  • Camper Van
  • Hot Cocoa Party Packages
  • The Baggage’s Bag Recommendations
  • Travel Philosophy
  • Travel Journal
  • Wanderchain
  • Wanderlust
  • Work With Me

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

©2025 Mommy Baggage | Powered by SuperbThemes!
%d