Plans in Brief
I used this spreadsheet all through the planning stages - this its latest version.
Initial Plans
North Dakota - 3 or 4 days depending on if we go to Williston before going to Medora
Theodore Roosevelt National Park - 4 days
Spearfish Canyon - 3 Days
Custer State Park - 6 days to include Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Elk Peak, Needles Highway, Ironwood Highway, Hill City, Wildlfe Loop
Badlands National Park - 4 days
- The Sheyenne River Valley Scenic Highway begins in Lisbon, ND. 1 hour drive south of Lisbon is the Cortes des Plains lodge. This would be an interesting place to stay and begin a day driving trip. After ending the byway in Valley City, ND we could stay at another interesting place, the Pipstem Bed and Birding, working farm. See on Maps page
- Pipestem Bed and Birding in Carrington, ND to Mandan, ND is 2.5 hours - 138 miles. From Mandan to Medora on Old Red Old Ten Scenic Highway is 138 miles, 2 hour drive. This would put us in Theodore Roosevelt National Park
- In Sioux Falls visit the city and also Big Sioux Recreation Area.
- Sioux Falls South Dakota to Valley City, North Dakota on the Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Highway - See Map on Maps page. 337 miles, 6 hours. This would be an all day scenic route with several stops at look offs along the way. It would be a long day, but getting to North Dakota is a long way.
- Valley City to Mandan on I-94 is 139 miles - 2 hour drive. From Mandan to Medora on Old Red Old Ten Scenic Highway is 138 miles, 2 hour drive. This would put us in Theodore Roosevelt National Park
- Option would be to go from Mandan to Dickson on Old Red Old Ten Scenic Highway - which is 98 miles, 2 hours and then on to Williston, ND - on the CanAm highway which is 131 one miles more for another 2 hours.
- Williston to Medora is 128 miles and a 2 hour drive. This would put us at the TRNP
Theodore Roosevelt National Park - 4 days
- Medora to Spearfish Canyon
Spearfish Canyon - 3 Days
- Drive the Canyon Scenic Highway and do waterfall hikes
- From here to Medora and Theodore Roosevelt is 260 miles and 3 to 4 hours depending on Route
Custer State Park - 6 days to include Wind Cave, Jewel Cave, Elk Peak, Needles Highway, Ironwood Highway, Hill City, Wildlfe Loop
- Plan to stay in one of the lodges here. Could use this as a home base for other attractions
- Custer (Blue Bell Lodge) to Wind Cave- 6 miles, 11 minutes
- Custer (Blue Bell Lodge) to How Springs 25 miles, 42 minutes
- Custer (Blue Bell Lodge ) to Jewel Cave - 23 miles, 34 minutes
- Blue Bell Lodge to Sylvan Lake Lodge - 16 miles, 29 minutes
- Custer Sylvan Lake Lodge to Hill City 9 miles - 17 minutes
- Custer (Sylvan Lake Lodge) to Spearfish - 66 miles 1.5 hour
Badlands National Park - 4 days
- Visit the north unit as the south unit requires special vehicle and permissions. Hope to stay in Cedar lodge.
- Would be nice to spend time star gazing -
- Stay at Cedar Pass Lodge
- Spearfish Canyon to Badlands - this to miss the Buffalo weekend and still be with DeeDee at Badlands 134 Miles, 2.5 hours avoiding the Interstate
- Badlands to Custer Blue Bell Lodge is a 2.5 hour backtrack.
Along the Missouri
- From the Badlands head to PIerre and Fort Pierre Area - If you "Avoid Highways" it is a 2.25 hour drive - 123 miles. If you go on I-94 it is 124 miles and 2 hours so not much difference. Stop along the way at the Fort Pierre National Grassland which is south of Pierre. Stay at Eagle's View B&B. Spend 2 nights here and a day in exploring Pierre.
- From here travel on the Native American National and State Scenic Byway - to Arrowwood Cedar Shore Lodge in Chamberlin
- leave and head to Chamberlin on the Missouri River - Look up Arrowwood Cedar Shore Lodge as a place to stay. Traveling on 1806, the Lewis and Clark National Trail would be 2 hours - 97 miles.
- Continue on the same scenic byway to Yankton and then on to Vermillion
- From Vermillion to Sioux City, Iowa and then a 2 day drive back home.