Trip to Mount Rushmore

[Toast46]

Hi members
I am planing a driving trip starting from Las Vegas to Denver via Archers National park, then to Mt Evans in coming Mid September. I have allocated 4 days for overnight stays, stopovers etc.
I have already seen Zion and Bryce canyon in my previous drives. I appreciate any advice on a possible itinerary such as where to have a break for overnight stay what I should not miss on the way.

I also like to know of any driving tips, warm clothing etc

I will be starting as early as possible before 10am from Las Vegas

Thank you for your advice
Toast46

[Southwest Dave]

Hello and welcome to the RTA forums !

September is just about my favourite time of year to travel, where the weather [hopefully] can be wonderful, Fall colours are out and the main crowds have gone. You should certainly pack layered clothing as the temperatures will most likely vary a lot, possibly plus 70f in Moab and night time temperatures below freezing, especially at high elevations.

You could reach Moab same day using Interstate, if you haven't been to the Grand canyon that would certainly be an option, you could visit the South rim and then drive through Monument valley. That would require an overnight stop at the GC. You could also easily spend 2 nights in Moab and at least a day and a half and visit Islands in the Sky section of Canyonlands and Dead Horse point SP. From there onwards you have choices depending on time and whether or not you stop at Grand canyon. You could head to Mesa Verde NP and then drive the 'Million dollar Highway [US550] from Durango to Montrose and then take US50 past Black canyon. If you headed to I70 from Moab [take UT128 through Castle valley if you do, scenic ] and you take the rim drive through the tunnels of Colorado NM near Fruita. Then of course there is Rocky mountain NP, but you will have to choose what you want to see and then work out your overnight stops which we can help with if needed.

[jm98]

UTAH scenic highway 12 between Bryce Canyon and Green River +

[Toast46]

Thanks for your propmpt reply and advice.
I have already being to Grans canyon as well.
Would you be kind enough to advise me on the best overnight stay on my route from Las Vegas, (skipping Bryce Canyon, Zion and Grand canyon) if am going to see both Archers National park, an Mt Evans going towards Denver. I like to take a relaxed time on my route. I will be staying at Denver for one day as well before heading towards Mt Rishmore (Rapid City)

Thanks once again
Toast46

[glc]

If you plan on just taking I-15, I-70, and US-191 to get to Arches, you can make that drive easily in one day - 8 hours or less. You can spend the night in Moab, it has a wide selection of lodging. Plan on spending 2 nights - half a day in Arches and half a day in Canyonlands.

Moab to Mt. Evans is also a day's drive, the closest lodging is in Idaho Springs or Georgetown. You won't have time to drive from Moab to Mt. Evans and still get into Denver the same day. Take UT-128 out of Moab to get to I-70. You may also want to get off I-70 at Dillon and take US-6 over Loveland Pass instead of using the I-70 tunnel.

[Toast46]

We (from Melbourne, Australia) are planning a trip to Mount Rushmore. We have no idea about the geography around. We will first be driving to Denver by a rented car. At this stage we are not sure how we will get to Mount Rushmore. If we drive it takes around six hours to get to Rapid City or any other location around Mount Rushmore to stay overnight.

First question is where do we stay after driving 6 hours

Leading to the next question; Other than the great "Presidents" face carvings, what else can we do when we get to Mount Rushmore. We intend staying only for one full day there.

Leading to the next question: After completing Mount Rushmore, we intend to go to Chicago. Our first choice was to drop of the "Hire car" at Rapid City and fly to Chicago. Our research shows that there are no direct flights to Chicago from Rapid City. Most flights have a stop over and change planes at Denver and are expensive as a result. As such we are considering driving back to Denver (time consuming but cheaper). Any travel advice on this is very much appreciated.

Thanks and regards
Toast46

Moderator note: please keep all questions about the same trip in the same thread.

[Midwest Michael]

When someone says they have "no idea" about an area my first reaction is to say you need to do some research. As great as this forum can be, no forum should really be your first stop to learn about an area. At the very least, you should start by taking a look at some good maps.

If you do that, you'll see a number of towns beyond rapid city where you could stay, including Keystone, Hill City, and Custer to make a few. That will also show you a lot of other parks and attractions you could explore, like Custer state park, jewel and/or wind caves, and the badlands, just to name a few places.

You also appear to need to do more research on your flights, as both United and American offer nonstop flights from rapid city to Chicago. That said, Rapid City is a small and relatively isolated airport and that usually means high prices. while flights could be expensive, I would expect any one way car rental drop fee to be very high in a small place like Rapid.

[DonnaR57]

Mt Rushmore is more of a "half day" place (IMHO). You get there, find parking ($12), walk through the all the flags, look at the visitor center, watch a short movie, then go out and view the Presidential faces carved in the stone. That's what 75% of the visitors to Mt Rushmore do. The other 25% also take the Presidential Trail, which takes you closer to the mountain and gives you different views of each of the faces up there. It also takes you to the Artist's Studio.

If you do that reasonably early in the morning, you have the rest of the day to do any of the following: Custer State Park (3 scenic drives: Iron Mountain, Needles, and Wildlife Loop), Wind Cave NP, Jewel Cave NM, and poking around any of the areas around Keystone. The Badlands is about 45-60 minutes drive from Rapid City in one direction; Devil's Tower Natl Monument is about an hour in the opposite direction.

My husband and I stayed in Custer City (2014) and found it to be centrally located for any of the things I just mentioned.


Donna

[Toast46]

Mt Rushmore is more of a "half day" place (IMHO). You get there, find parking ($12), walk through the all the flags, look at the visitor center, watch a short movie, then go out and view the Presidential faces carved in the stone. That's what 75% of the visitors to Mt Rushmore do. The other 25% also take the Presidential Trail, which takes you closer to the mountain and gives you different views of each of the faces up there. It also takes you to the Artist's Studio.

If you do that reasonably early in the morning, you have the rest of the day to do any of the following: Custer State Park (3 scenic drives: Iron Mountain, Needles, and Wildlife Loop), Wind Cave NP, Jewel Cave NM, and poking around any of the areas around Keystone. The Badlands is about 45-60 minutes drive from Rapid City in one direction; Devil's Tower Natl Monument is about an hour in the opposite direction.

My husband and I stayed in Custer City (2014) and found it to be centrally located for any of the things I just mentioned.


Donna

I am glad I found this website. There are so many travelers who are happy to provide much needed advice and share their experiences.

Thanks and regards
toast46

[Lifemagician]

Why fly to Chicago? Or for that matter, drive back to Denver? For one thing, it is a nice drive if you care to get off the interstates (freeways). For another, dropping the car in Chicago would most likely incur a lesser one way drop fee.

Where does your trip take you after Chicago?

Did you bring home any maps or a road atlas from your last trip? If not, then I would urge you to get hold of a good road atlas such as the Rand McNally. I know it is available at Map Works in Keilor Rd North Essendon, but it is much cheaper (despite postage) to order it via the RTA shop, the link of which is at the bottom of this page. If you order it now you will have it in a couple of weeks.

Once you have some decent maps which show you all the routes available to you, (not just those which the computer wants you to take) and the attractions along each route, you will be in a better position to make your decisions.

Lifey