The Trek West-River
All of our families love heading west-river… whether it’s for family or for scenery, the long drive across the state is completely worth it! You wouldn’t think driving across South Dakota would take that long. Truth be told, it’s around four and half to a five hour drive. Add in a one-year-old, it can seem longer. However, our little dude rocked the drive. A travel tip that I’m sure many already do is to start your trip around nap time and travel prepared! We brought plenty of snacks and liquids and took off a good half hour past our little man’s usual nap time. We got in the car and he was ready for the zzzzz’s!
The first picture is of Custer State Park. An absolute must. The nature and views throughout the park are absolutely breathtaking! Make sure you’re alert because there’s buffalo everywhere and there’s a lot of “buffalo jams”!
Click here to learn more about Custer State Park!
Another drive you need to take is through Needle’s Highway! The second picture shows us literally driving through the mountainous highway. Needles Highway is a National Scenic Byway. It was completed in 1922 and includes 14 miles of sharp turns, low tunnels and impressive granite spires. The road lies within Custer State Park, just 30 miles south of Rapid City. You drive on the edge of cliffs, overlooking amazing views and mountains. One cautionary tip, if you’re with kiddos (we left our son with Gma & Gpa) the drive itself is lengthy and there’s a lot of twists and turns. Potty breaks don’t really exist! However, the drive is amazing! Another must-do when you visit!
Click here to learn more about Needles Highway!
This trip we didn’t have time to go to Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore, but of course, you have to see those! Even if you live on the other side of the country, they are amazing, historic monuments that are what South Dakota is known for! When you see it, it’s absolutely breathtaking! There’s a spot for lunch, a Rushmore gift shop and a theater room where you can watch how these came to be! Click here!
Last but not least, SHOPPING! “The Square” in downtown Rapid City is filled with views and adorable shops to enjoy! From coffee shops, boutiques to antiques, there’s plenty of browsing! I, of course, found some goodies! Two of the shops I really enjoyed were Karma and Revival!
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