This post was written by a guest blogger.

In these economic times, it’s more important than ever to plan a family vacation that is fun and relaxing, but also provides excellent value for your vacation budget. Whether you prefer all-inclusive family resorts or choosing your own hotels and restaurants to complement your sightseeing, there are plenty of options to fit your budget.
Read on to learn about some of South Dakota’s stunning destinations and how to enjoy them without breaking the bank.

Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

No visit to South Dakota is complete without a trip to world-famous Mount Rushmore National Memorial. The 60-foot faces of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln carved in granite will be a sight your family remembers forever. There are a number of ranger-guided and self-guided tours available covering the history and construction of this historic landmark, and the nightly lighting ceremony offers particularly breathtaking views.

Nearby, the Black Hills National Forest offers over 300 miles of hiking and biking trails. Entrance to both parks is free, although there is an $11 parking fee at Mount Rushmore.

About an hour from Mount Rushmore, the town of Deadwood offers some inexpensive but entertaining places to stay, including Deadwood Gulch (800-695-1876) and The Lodge at Deadwood (605-584-4800). Each hotel has an on-site restaurant, pool, and casino, and rooms start at $79 a night.

Badlands National Park

The Badlands region provides some of the most spectacular vistas in the entire state. The Badlands National Park, about 75 miles south of Rapid City, offers a wide variety of activities for the entire family. The park’s entrance fee is $15 per vehicle for seven days of access. Once inside, drive the Badlands Loop Road for an excellent introduction to the park’s stunning natural wonders.
A number of free ranger programs provide information and activities relating to Badlands wildlife, geology, and plants and flowers. Kids will love Robert’s Prairie Dog Town, located near the Pinnacle Entrance. Don’t miss the extraordinary Night Sky program, held Friday through Monday evenings in summer, with the chance to view over 7,500 stars.

Budget Tips

• Take advantage of low or no entrance fees at South Dakota’s 12 state parks and 42 recreation areas! Outdoor adventure vacations are a chance for every member of the family to have fun and learn together without spending a fortune.

• On-site restaurants at the larger destinations tend to be overpriced and offer little variety. Instead, pack a cooler and have a picnic! All the major sites allow you to bring your own food, and you’re bound to find a quiet place away from the crowds.

• South Dakota is best experienced by car. If you live within one or two days’ drive, avoid the costs of plane tickets and car rental and consider making the road trip part of your vacation experience! Give maps to the kids so they can follow along and help pick out interesting stops along the way.

Wounded Knee and Beyond: SD Native American RV Itinerary

If you have a few days to spend in your RV camper and want to give yourself a real treat, you can’t make a better choice than to enjoy the rolling plains, majestic mountains, and Native American cultural history of South Dakota. Exploring the tribal lands of the Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota Indians is a magical adventure not only rich in history but also breathtakingly beautiful. Along the way there are numerous places to stop, things to do, and sights to see. Here is a suggested itinerary that will take you through many of the reservations and tribal lands of Sioux Nation.

We begin our journey in the Black Hills at the western end of the state where we find Keystone, site of one of our most famous national landmarks, Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Here we join the millions of visitors who come from across the country and around the world to visit this noted symbol of America. Then we hop in our RV and travel south along Interstate 385, almost to the Nebraska border, where we hook onto Route 18, also known as the Oyate Trail, for our journey east. First stop: the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Home of the Oglala Lakota Tribe, the reservation covers about 11,000 square miles and contains the battleground of Wounded Knee, site of the Indian massacre and last major battle of the Indian wars. There is a museum and Memorial Site to honor the victims (there are actually two Wounded Knee museums, located about 60 miles apart; one of them is located in the town of Wall and the other at the Oglala Lakota College in Kyle). For hiking, camping, and much more, we follow up with a visit to Badlands National Park. Those who enjoy trying their luck at the gaming tables and slot machines can pay a visit to the Prairie Wind Casino, located on the western edge of the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Continuing east along the Oyate Trail, we next encounter the Rosebud Indian Reservation. Here we are captivated by some breathtaking scenery, including large areas of Ponderosa Pine forest scattered within the grasslands. The drive itself is a treat, but we also have a couple of interesting stops along the way. The Sicangu Heritage Center at Sinte Gleska University, located in the small community of Antelope, houses the official archives of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. Need a little rest and relaxation? Well, there’s plenty of it available, along with camping, hiking, and picnic facilities, at Ghost Hawk Park in Crazy Horse Canyon.

The Oyate Trail meanders along eastward and we eagerly follow along on our trek across the southern edge of South Dakota, all the way to the western bank of the Missouri River, where we encounter the Yankton Tribal Lands. A person could spend hours here just soaking in the beauty of the surrounding shoreline, or instead head slightly north to the Lake Andes Natural Wildlife Refuge to observe wildlife and waterfowl in their natural habitat. Those who enjoy gambling can make a stop at the Fort Randall Casino, adjacent to the nearby town of Wagner.

A glance at our itinerary tells us that it’s now time to say farewell to the Oyate Trail and head northwest along a connecting trail, the Native American Scenic Byway. And “scenic” is very definitely the right word to describe this trail, which follows the Missouri River and winds its way through South Dakota’s prairie grass country. Elk, bison, deer, and prairie dogs are just some of the sights we see as we head through the Lower Brule and Crow Creek Indian Reservations. Lower Brule is home to Lakota Foods, the production and marketing outlet of the tribal farm, whose popcorn and other delights are known throughout the country. Visitors to Crow Creek can enjoy a wide variety of activities, including boating, fishing, swimming, and camping along the water’s edge.

As we travel further north, we encounter the Cheyenne River Reservation. Here we can visit the Timber Lake and Area Museum, which offers us a glimpse of local Native American history and culture along with a collection of marine fossils native to South Dakota. After passing the Cheyenne Reservation, we continue northward, getting closer to the North Dakota border, and also closing in on the end of our journey. But our final stop is an interesting one: the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. Covering a total of more than 3,000 square miles, Standing Rock is the fifth largest reservation in the U.S. And there is plenty to see and do. In the community of Mobridge we find the Sitting Bull Monument, gravesite of the legendary Sioux Indian Chief. Nearby stands a monument honoring Sakakawea, the Shoshone woman who traveled with explorers Lewis and Clark. For a mix of culture and recreation, we can enjoy the Lewis and Clark Legacy Nature Trail, a three mile trail for walking, hiking, or biking; replete with markers identifying natural plants and area wildlife. More recreation in the form of fishing, boating, and water sports can be had on Lake Oahe, near the North Dakota border.

Getting away from it all is one thing, but immersing yourself in a world you may never have known even existed—a world of fascinating art, culture, scenery, and fun—is a treat beyond belief. There is such a world. It is real and it is located in the wonderful state of South Dakota. Hop in that RV and transport yourself to that magical world.

About the Author

Joe Laing is the Marketing Director for El Monte RV Rentals. Be sure to check out their new Professional Football (NFL) Tailgating and RV Tailgating to College Football Games pages in preparation for the upcoming seasons.

Troy Derksen of Minnetonka, MN took this photo of a large mule deer buck in Badlands National Park and sent it to us.

Growing up in a family with four kids (all in braces) we never really had the money to take lavish vacations…instead we took lots of road trips. My dad would hook up the camper and my mom would pack coolers full of snacks and away we would go on our “Griswold-like” getaways. We always made lots of stops and enjoyed the sights along the way. Today, I still look forward to a good road trip, especially across South Dakota. That’s because there are so many fun and interesting stops along I-90 that can make your road trip a true adventure. So grab the kids and hop in the car because here are my top 10 places on the way to the “faces”.

10. Palisades State Park in Garretson - This will take you a few miles off the interstate but it’s worth the extra time. You’ll be driving along next to cornfields when all of a sudden you’re in a quartzite canyon carved by a meandering creek. Rock climbers love the Palisades for its 60-foot vertical cliffs, be we love it because of the unique beautyf in the middle of a flat prairie.

• HISTORY BUFF ALERT! Located in the park is Devil’s Gulch. This is where legend tells of the outlaw Jess James jumping the gap to escape lawmen. Today, a bridge will guide you across the gap or you can take a pontoon ride on Split Rock Creek and learn all about the infamous incident.

9. Sioux Falls – Located just off I-29 and I-90, Sioux Falls is the place for fine dining and excellent shopping. You’ll also find all kinds of family-friendly attractions like museums, zoos and water parks.

8. Mitchell – Home to the World’s Only Corn Palace, Mitchell offers unique family attractions you’ll only see as you head west on I-90. Mitchell also has museums that showcase homesteading, prehistoric and Native American history.

7. Chamberlain – Nestled along the shores of the Missouri River, Chamberlain is a great place to find some peace and quiet. Visit the Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center to view historic exhibits and Lakota fine art, then head over to the South Dakota Hall of Fame to learn about famous South Daktoans.

• HISTORY BUFF ALERT! Stop at the I-90 Visitor Center and re-trace the footsteps of explorers Lewis & Clark. The visitor center has exhibits and artifacts, not to mention an overlook shaped like the deck of a keel boat.

6. Pierre – The capital city on the Missouri River has many activities for families. The galleries of the Cultural Heritage Center tell stories of South Dakotans with life-sized exhibits. It’s always fun to feed the geese that live on Capitol Lake, or look for the elusive blue tiles in the Capitol building. The war memorials are a must-see as well. These life-like statues depict men and women from all service branches who have fought in WWI, II, Korea and Vietnam.

5. Pioneer Auto Show in Murdo – Nothing says road trip more than a collection of historic cars, rocks and other Americana nostalgia. The Pioneer Auto Show has almost 400 rare and collectible cars, tractors and motorcycles. Highlights include a 1948 Tucker, the Dukes of Hazzard’s General Lee and Elvis Presley’s Harley Davidson.

4. Badlands National Park – This truly unique site features lunar-like rock surfaces and colorful plateaus. Badlands National Park is filled with water-chiseled ridges and rugged canyons perfect for hiking and stretching your legs. If you’re really lucky you might catch a glimpse of the endangered black-footed ferret which was re-introduced into the park in 1994 as part of a recovery effort. The Badlands are also home to big horn sheep, buffalo, deer and antelope.

• HISTORY BUFF ALERT! Western South Dakota played a key role in the Cold War with more than 150 nuclear missile silos and 15 launch control facilities buried under the prairie grasses. Two of these sites, the Delta One Launch Control Facility and the Delta Nine Launch Facility, have been preserved to provide visitors with a unique Cold War history lesson. The launch facility dates back to the Cuban Missile Crisis and only a few modifications were made when deactivating the site. The Minuteman National Historic Site is located near the north entrance to Badlands National Park.

3. Rapid City – Before you get to Mount Rushmore National Memorial make a stop in Rapid City. While you’re there, wander downtown among the Presidential statues or visit one of the family-friendly attractions.

2. Crazy Horse Memorial – More than 50 years ago an immigrant sculptor began this mountain carving memorializing the great Lakota Sioux chief Crazy Horse. Today, you can see this monument-in-the-making and learn more about the rich Native American heritage of the Black Hills.

1. Mount Rushmore National Memorial – You will stare America’s history in the face when you stand at the foot of Mount Rushmore. Carved out of a granite mountain, this Shrine of Democracy symbolizes our country’s commitment to freedom and democracy. Don’t miss the nightly lighting ceremony where you will learn more about the making of the monument and pay tribute to our troops who bravely defend the United States.

Those are my 10 places on the way to the faces. Do you have a favorite I-90 stop?