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We drove all the way to Alaska last summer and one of the places that stuck with us as a place "we want to go back to" is the town of Deadwood.
We pulled into town late from many miles of travel, and continued on through for about 10 more miles to get to a campground for the night. I would have loved to go back to spend the day in Deadwood, but we were under a time schedule unfortunately.
The Badlands are amazing. Mt Rushmore, meh, but one of those things to see before you die. I found with all the preservation methods that were necessary, that the faces looked more like plastic than stone (maybe they are?)
Thank you so much for your advice and all your efforts. I really appreciated it.
To be honest: I love driving car and the more I'm on the road the better it is. So I've chosen an extra long tour on purpose. It's beautiful to drive through vast savage land. I really enjoy it and it's more attractive to me than spending to much time in a city. Sure, I want to see the cities, as well. But a few hours are enough for me. Except it's Bozeman! Fell in love with it for whatever reason.
Thank you all for your recommendations! So now I have enough stuff to check out in advance.
I will be there from end of July to August. Hope the weather will be as good as this year. It will be fun to check out all those beautiful places you wrote about.
have always wanted to do ^this but the groups book up early and the one time we attempted to get in "the day of..." there were no openings.
staying overnight in the NP Cabins in the Badlands is a must, so that you have the park mostly to yourselves for sunrise and sunset.
pay no heed to those that dismiss Crazy Horse as a rip-off, it's worth every dollar and if you hit it the first weekend in June, you can trek up to the top of the monument. https://crazyhorsememorial.org/crazy...olksmarch.html
If you go as far East as Bismark, ND there is a Mandan Village and FT Lincoln (7th Calvary) barracks that provides a glimpse of history seldom seen. Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park
I disagree. Crazy Horse was started by a Polish man. His 10 children and now grandchildren (possibly even great-grandchildren) all are part of the corporation. When we visited the entrance fee was high and the video they showed was just about Korczak Ziolkowski and we learned nothing about Crazy Horse himself. Then we were funneled into some junky gift shops and over-priced restaurants, and then were told if we wanted to see it up close we had to pay another fee to take a van. You honestly see just as much from the road. That family has to make millions each year and they have no incentive to ever finish it. I cannot understand why the Native American tribes aren't upset about that cash cow run by a non-native family.
I disagree. Crazy Horse was started by a Polish man. His 10 children and now grandchildren (possibly even great-grandchildren) all are part of the corporation. When we visited the entrance fee was high and the video they showed was just about Korczak Ziolkowski and we learned nothing about Crazy Horse himself. Then we were funneled into some junky gift shops and over-priced restaurants, and then were told if we wanted to see it up close we had to pay another fee to take a van. You honestly see just as much from the road. That family has to make millions each year and they have no incentive to ever finish it. I cannot understand why the Native American tribes aren't upset about that cash cow run by a non-native family.
I'm also of the belief that Crazy Horse is a rip-off. They've been working on that thing for almost 70 years and they're not much further along than they were when I first saw it 30 years ago. It's a private entity so there's absolutely no transparency about where the money goes, and they nickel-and-dime you to death. Save your money and go to Jewel Cave and the Mammoth Site instead.
I would definitely suggest a Black Hills - Deadwood - Badlands route.
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So I've chosen an extra long tour on purpose. It's beautiful to drive through vast savage land. I really enjoy it and it's more attractive to me than spending to much time in a city. Sure, I want to see the cities, as well. But a few hours are enough for me. Except it's Bozeman! Fell in love with it for whatever reason. 
Thank you!
