![]() I’ll be honest, this is probably my least favorite national park I’ve ever visited. Take the Scenic Route: Continue along HWY 385 from Crazy Horse to Wind Cave National Park. He stood his ground with Sitting Bull at the Battle of Little Big Horn against General Custer. Who was Crazy Horse? The famous Lakota Indian war leader from the Black Hills who stood his ground to avoid giving up the land to U.S. America the Beautiful Passes are not valid here.īudget Traveler Tip: If you arrive before 8 AM, there won’t be anyone in the parking lot to collect money for tickets. Only the face of Crazy Horse is completed, his body and rearing horse are yet to be sculpted.Ĭost of Crazy Horse: $30 per vehicle. Because as I mentioned, it is unfinished. Why is it taking so long? They have refused money from the government for the work because they wanted the sculpture to be done exactly the way the Native people wanted.īe sure to visit the Museum during your visit because without context you might find the monument less than impressive.Henry Standing Bear, the Lakota tribal chief of the area, commissioned the project & worked with Korczak Ziolkowski to create a design that the Native Americans could be proud of.Now some of his 10 children are continuing his work. The famous sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski planned & sculpted Crazy Horse by himself (with the help of his family) until his death in 1982.It’s likely it won’t be completed for hundreds of years.It’s the single largest mountain carving project in progress.The finished portion of the Crazy Horse Memorial. & not to poo-poo the founding fathers because it is worth a stop but….it’s got nothing on the Crazy Horse Memorial. Without stopping this drive will take about an hour and a half. Taking the Scenic Route: From Deadwood, drive down HWY 385 through the Black Hills all the way to the Crazy Horse National Monument. During the hike to Black Elk Peak overlooking the Black Hills of South Dakota. Why are they called the Black Hills? From a distance, the hills were blanketed in such a dense layer of thick green trees that the hills looked near black. & are in the heart of Native American territory. The Black Hills provide the perfect backdrop to your longest stretch of roadway in South Dakota. Spearfish is known for its outdoor activities whether you like hiking, biking, or fishing–this is a good place to relax for an afternoon.īut in Deadwood you could also stop & explore the cobblestone streets, drink at some local watering holes, check out some famous headstones with names from the wild west, look at some bonafide fossils at Adams Museum, or check out some remarkably well-preserved mansions from another era. You could drive through these two towns in one day easily. You’ve probably heard of Deadwood, if not because of Wild Bill & Calamity Jane then from the popular TV show with the same name. These two charming towns will bring out your inner cowboy. One of the lesser visited South Dakota attractions. So, for popularity sake–we’ll start our trip through South Dakota as if you’re driving East from Wyoming. I’ll assume if you made it to South Dakota you’ll probably be interested in visiting Yellowstone National Park & Grand Teton National Park as well. Since South Dakota sits in the central USA and is spattered with sparsely populated towns it’s likely you’ll be combining this road trip with at least one other destination. Your Complete South Dakota Road Trip Itinerary It’s just one of the many benefits of vanlife. ![]() Of course, you can also do this South Dakota road trip in any old vehicle & stay in hotels along the way but if you want to really immerse yourself in the landscape I highly recommend making your vehicle your accommodation. RV Share is a great (cheap) way to test out if vanlife or RV life is right for you before you buy a vehicle of your own. Save this post for your next road trip!! Need a Road-Trip Ready Vehicle? So, start converting your camper van & get ready to hit the road. South Dakota has all the components of a perfect road trip. Stunning scenery that changes from fiery fall foliage to towering granite peaks–throw in some bison, golden rolling fields, & the alien rock formations of the Badlands National Park and you get a good picture of South Dakota. We were focused on the cozy New England vibes of Vermont, beachy Florida, and the stunning peaks of Glacier National Park. When we set out on our cross-country road trip we expected very little of South Dakota. Does a South Dakota road trip come to mind? Probably not, but it absolutely should. I don’t endorse any services I don’t personally use or recommend.Ĭlose your eyes & imagine your perfect road trip. This just means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you for helping them promote their product or service. Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest ![]()
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