NY to Chicago to Mt. Rushmore... then what?

[Midwest Michael]

Gasbuddy.com has a color-coded map of average gas prices, county by county throughout the country. You can also find it via RTA's fuel cost calculator on the right side of this page.

You'll probably see the highest prices of your trip in Chicago and around Yellowstone. Try to get your fuel either in Indiana or wait until you are in Wisconsin for your trip around Chicago. Yellowstone is so big that its almost hard to avoid filling up there. Prices in Gardiner were about 10 cents less than in the park last year, but stations in Cooke City were actually 25 cents more than in the park. Prices are a bit less in the Tetons, but you don't get back to "normal" prices until you reach Jackson.

[DonnaR57]

If traveling with a laptop or other wi-fi enhanced device, be sure to either bookmark gasprices.com (same as gasbuddy mentioned above) or get the gasbuddy app for your phone or tablet. For the past 2 years, we've traveled with a laptop and check the next day's locations for the best possible fuel prices. For instance, we're getting ready to leave on a trip, and I know which stations in Yuma have the best prices, and that those prices are better than El Centro and Gila Bend.

BTW, Michael, thanks for the reminder about Indiana being lower than Illinois. Our trip will take us through IN and IL this year, so we'll try to fuel up (diesel) before entering IL!


Donna

[glc]

I can vouch for the Gasbuddy smartphone app. It's very useful.

Today around Yellowstone, gas is $3.63 in Jackson, $3.83 in West Yellowstone, $3.89 in Gardiner, $4.09 in the park, $3.57 in Cody, and Cooke City is not reporting - but I'd bet it's around $4.25.

[Charlie H]

No trip to South Dakota is complete without a stop at Wall Drug. It is right at the end of the Badlands Loop and is a "must see." In addition to a pretty decent restaurant, they have everything from the junkiest rubber tomahawk souveneirs to very nice gifts and western clothing. Here's a little more info on Wall Drug: Wall is the northern gateway to the Badlands National Park, and the home of the block-long Wall Drug Store. In 1936 the owners of this small-town pharmacy, Ted and Dorothy Hustead, came up with an ingenious marketing campaign. Realizing travelers going through the hot, dusty prairie would be thirsty, they put up signs along the highway offering free ice water. Tourists have been stopping there ever since. Having had success with small roadside signs, the Husteads began investing in billboards. Wall Drug roadside advertisements appeared across the country. While the 1965 Highway Beautification Act forced the removal of most of these famous billboards, there are still Wall Drug signs beside South Dakota's highways and in many countries overseas. The store is now the principle industry in Wall, employing almost a third of the town's residents.

If you can work out the pet situation, I would suggest a night or two in Keystone and then taking the Iron Mountain Highway (US 16A) through Custer State Park and then on in to Custer for a night or two. From Custer, you could head north on US 16 and US 385 through Spearfish Canyon to either Deadwood or Spearfish. Along the way, you could make your stop at Crazy Horse Monument. There are some things to do in Deadwood although it has kind of been overun by casinos in recent year. Mount Moriah Cemetery is the burial place of Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane. They also have a play called "The Trial Of Jack McCall." McCall is the man who killed Wild Bill. If you're interested in casinos, Kevin Costner's Midnite Star is pretty nice and has a good restaurant.

As others have suggested, you're going to do an awful lot of unnecessary driving if you "headquarter" in Rapid City for your entire stay, but if you can't find pet-friendly lodging, I guess you have no choice.

If you do decide to head north from the Black Hills to Medora, North Dakota and Theodore Roosevelt National Park, you might want to go to The Medora Musical, a wonderful music show performed in a beautiful outdoor amphitheatre. The Badlands of Theodore Roosevelt are not as extensive as those in South Dakota but they are much more colorful and eye-pleasing.

Have A Great Trip!!

[Long Island lady]

Thanks for all the additional information. I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge and experience with me. We will have a laptop with us - no Smartphone yet. (It takes us a while to catch up with technology!) Gasbuddy.com is book marked!!

I did find a pet-friendly hotel in Gardiner - one more reason for a big thank you to Michael.

[glc]

More and more places are putting in free public wifi - almost all McDonalds and Starbucks have it. Panera Bread (and their affiliates St. Louis Bread Company and Paradise Cafe) has it, and I recently found it at a Bob Evans restaurant and a Denny's. Truck stops will have it, but not necessarily free. Some states have it in Interstate highway rest areas. Just make sure your battery is charged, as it may be difficult to find an electrical outlet. I have also found it at public libraries. Most hotels have it, but it's not always free.

[Long Island lady]

Great to know, glc. Will remember to charge each night.