Thinking about taking a trip to Montana, and would like to visit the Badlands and Black Hills areas. Is one day enough for each area, to do some sight-seeing? My plan is to visit Little Bighorn battlefield, then Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills the next day, and the Badlands the following day. Any tips on things to see is much appreciated!

One day in the Badlands will probably do it. It is an impressive area. One day in the Black Hills area including Mt. Rushmore is not enough, it's just too big and spread out.

Came to post this. The hills is a big area with a lot to see and do. If you do a day trip do Rushmore and needles highway and Custer if you have time.

 

Skip the Bandlands and spend two days in the Hills. There's so much beautiful country to see and so much to do.

If you only have two days do this.
The badlands are nice but the hills have more to see and do.

I wouldn't miss the Badlands or Needles. Wind Cave is just to the south and well worth the entry fee.  

These are big areas but worth seeing.

The Badlands are like being on another planet. I don't think I would skip it.

I don't want to skip the Badlands, we were there when I was a kid on family vacation 40 years ago, so it'd be neat to see it again. I might just extend the black hills to 2 days, as I've got an extra day or two I'm holding as a cushion. This is going to be a trip to western Montana, with the main reason being to spread my father's ashes on his father's grave, which was one of his wishes. I'm just trying to add in some other stuff into the trip.

Thanks!

I definitely wouldn't skip the Badlands, but after the last time we were there I'm pretty sure my wife would be OK with it.    We spent the better part of a day and she was getting pretty bored by the end.

Very near the Badlands is the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, I would definitely recommend hitting that while you're in the area.  And I would also recommend hitting that first, as there's a limited amount of slots and it does fill up.

If you can spare an extra day in the Black Hills, you can easily find things to do.  Custer State Park is a great place to hit, and not that far from Rushmore (the Iron Mountain Road from the Park to Rushmore is an awesome way to get to Rushmore, as you can see it several times along the way).  

I'm sure you've already considered it, but the Devil's Tower isn't too far out of your way given what you've told us...  

Do you have kids?

With kids and only 2 days, skip the Badlands.  There's more than enough to do in the Hills that will be far more interesting for them.  Frankly, while the Badlands are cool, I don't think that I would, or even could, make a day out of them.

Whereas I could make a month.

Diff'rent strokes. I've been through the Badlands. Once. I thought it was boring and ugly and have no desire to ever go back. The Hills, on the other hand? I wish I would have moved out there years ago.

Yup.

Also consider checking out Crazy Horse monument in progress and a second on wind cave and Jewel cave is neat as well.

For sure. I could go get lost for a few days out there and love every minute of it.

We pulled our horses out there two years ago to hunt antelope and explore. Spent most of our time in a hotel in Wall due to the great October blizzard. Got home no worse for wear, but it wasn't the trip we envisioned. Gonna try again this fall.

Just did this thrip. Stayed in Custer 3 nights. Never made it to Spearfish, Deadwood, Sturgis, etc. Custer has about 3 gun shops, no time to visit any, no one open carrying either. Surprising. Crazy Horse was 5 min away and bizarre. Are there any Native Americans involved at any level in that project? Wind and Jewel Cave were a half hour away and awesome. Wind first as Jewel is larger than life. Mount Rushmore meh. I could see it in 10 minutes. Loved Hill City, just walking around, eating ice cream, buying junk. Keystone, walking around the same way, meh. Needles and Custer NP were excellent for animal and people viewing. I thought that, at least, until I went to the Badlands. Stayed at Cedar Pass Lodge for 2 nights.  Wow! The bighorn are everywhere. Knocking each other off sheer rocks, trying to get into the car, etc. I have been to a lot of touristy places like the Black Hills. I did not know that a place like the Badlands existed in our world. Due to the nothing off limit policy, and the erosion rate, they have no problem with you walking on surfaces that are insanely old. Try finding that anywhere.

They have not worked on Crazy Horse's face since 1998. A van ride to get closer than a mile is $125. The collection includes lots of Indian stuff and lots of weird guy stuff. I thought that the whole place was bizarrely put together.

 
Eh, it's a lightning rod for hippie weirdness. Sort of an anti-Mount Rushmore. Leftists love to bloviate about how great it is.

I did this in two days.

Got to keystone late afternoon, went to see Rushmore.
Next day, went to

Wall drug
Badlands
Minuteman missle museum


Next day
On my way to NE went through Black Hills, Custer state park. Saw Bison, antelope, Turkey's and deer.

The best part was it was November, so I had all the stuff to myself.

I was the only person at Mt Rushmore. (It was -10!)

I wouldn't miss Badlands, it is stunningly beautiful.