Grand Teton to Glacier National Park Road Trip
Road Trip Summary
- Begin: Deadwood, South Dakota
- End: Hot Springs, South Dakota
- Distance: 100 miles
- Drive Time: 2.5 hours
- Best Time of the Year: Middle of May to End of September
From Mount Rushmore this badlands scenic road trip will provide you with a host of things to see or do in a relatively short distance. From the discovery of ancient Mammoth bones to the gorgeous views of the Black Hills landscape this road trip has something for everyone.
Some Must See Places Include:
Adams House– Once referred to as the “Grandest house west of the Mississippi” the Adams house is a Queen Anne Style Victorian House well worth visiting.
Black Hills Railroad– This 2 hours train ride on a 1880 steam engine drive train is both relaxing and gives you insight of what traveling by rail in the late 1800s was like.
Mount Moriah Cemetery– A short trip to this cemetery will allow to you visit the graves of such well known western figures as Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok.
Wades Gold Mine– No matter what your age, a stop at Wade’s Gold Mine is sure to result in your suffering from a bit of gold fever. You will learn a little about South Dakota gold mining, take a lesson on panning for gold and even be able to try your luck at panning yourself. For those who are lucky you’ll find a gold flake or nugget or some other gem.
Custer State Park– Part of the fun of any road trip is getting out of your vehicle and stretching your legs and Custer State Park is a great place to do just that. You can enjoy a hike, drive through the wildlife loop looking for buffalo and other animals or simply camp and commune with nature for a night or two.
Wind Cave National Park– This park is worth stopping at since there are a number of different cave tours that will allow you to explore some of these natural caves. For something really out of the ordinary, try the Candle light wind cave tour although you’ll need to make sure that you make reservations for this night time exploration 30 days in advance.
Mammoth Site of Hot Springs– A stop at this working Paleontological site will let you observe first hand what a dig is like, learn about Mammoths and actually see the bones of mammoths and other animals still in the ground as they are slowly recovered.
Evans Plunge– Plunge, slide and play in the natural warm waters for which this Hot Spring is named. There are also hot tubs, saunas and an exercise room so you can spend a relaxing afternoon or work out before taking a swim in the 87 degree pool.
By avoiding taking this road trip during the winter months you’ll be able to avoid most of the hazardous road conditions. But you will still want to pack some warm gear and check the weather conditions before heading out for your day’s adventures.
