South Dakota Folks - How crazy is this? (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: Yesterday 10:59:36 PM EDT
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Can someone familiar with SD tell me if my master plan will work? My wife wants to get a puppy in Mitchell, SD. I've always wanted to visit the state, I'm from PA. I will fly on a Friday from PHL to Rapid City, arriving at about 10:30AM local time. I want to rent a car, head immediately to Mt. Rushmore, and quickly check it out. I don't need to see the visitor center, etc. I then want to drive through Badlands National Park and see as much as I can. After that, I plan to haul ass across 90 to somewhere near Mitchell and grab a hotel room. I'll get up earlyish, go pick up the dog, and then drive to Sioux Falls to catch a 12:30 flight back to PHL. Will this work? Am I nuts? Assuming I can pull this off, anything I *need* to see? |
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Not nuts at all. East River native. ETA: If you are staying overnight before snagging the pup, hit Sylvan Lake and Needles Highway after Rushmore and then head for the Badlands. |
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Aimless - Crying on a Dwi arrest because there is a kid in the car is a sign of some underlying mental health issues.
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Really not that crazy. You’re entirely at the mercy of that first flight being on time though. And missing out on a ton of stuff to see in the area (but those two items are a lot better than nothing). I’d be more concerned about checking out, getting a dog, then going to the airport in time for a 1230 flight, frankly. |
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Its reasonable. The speed limit is like 85mph all the way across I90. We've made pretty decent time across SD the times we've gone. Have fun and good luck with the pup! I bought my truck in Mitchell- you dont really have to explore much in that town. Maybe take your puppy for a walk along the river in Sioux Falls before your flight. They have a very nice downtown/ river area. |
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Visit the Corn Palace in Mitchell https://cornpalace.com/ |
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| It's doable. If you can keep moving. You can land, hit Rushmore, drop past Crazy Horse, and pass throough Custer taking 16A bypass (runs through Custer State park, pass through doesn't have to pay) to US79. 79 north to I90, speed limit is 80 most of the way to Mitchell. |
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FIFY. It's a gymnasium with glorified macaroni art on the walls. |
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Originally Posted By Sujumanji: Will that route take me to the Badlands or would that skip it? https://maps.app.goo.gl/6qRm6sp4fcyykKZQ9 |
Aimless - The police academy ain't med school
Aimless - Crying on a Dwi arrest because there is a kid in the car is a sign of some underlying mental health issues.
CallSign : Armbar
Aimless - Crying on a Dwi arrest because there is a kid in the car is a sign of some underlying mental health issues.
CallSign : Armbar
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Last December I flew out from Missoula MT and into Medford OR to get a red heeler puppy and then drove back. I fully endorse your idea! Honestly I would recommend flying down and getting to the dog as soon as you can, and then driving back and visiting the places you want to. If your schedule allows; Then you wouldn't be rushed or anything. Road tripping with a puppy is something everyone should do at least once. |
| There's more here to see than what you are planning, but go for it. You can drive 85+ on the interstate speed limit is 80, cops usually won't mess with you unless you are going more than 10-15 over, speeding tickets are realatively cheap but will put points on your license. |
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This looks perfect, thank you! |
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Originally Posted By Midyew5959: Last December I flew out from Missoula MT and into Medford OR to get a red heeler puppy and then drove back. I fully endorse your idea! Honestly I would recommend flying down and getting to the dog as soon as you can, and then driving back and visiting the places you want to. If your schedule allows; Then you wouldn't be rushed or anything. Road tripping with a puppy is something everyone should do at least once. My GSD had stomach issues last night and we had to clean up the blow outs across three floors of our house this morning. I do not recommend road trips with dogs. 
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Originally Posted By ZW17: My GSD had stomach issues last night and we had to clean up the blow outs across three floors of our house this morning. I do not recommend road trips with dogs. I mean, I didn't say the trips weren't full of piss n shit, but you sure can make some memories!!
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No. Don't.
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Originally Posted By Sujumanji: Can someone familiar with SD tell me if my master plan will work? My wife wants to get a puppy in Mitchell, SD. I've always wanted to visit the state, I'm from PA. I will fly on a Friday from PHL to Rapid City, arriving at about 10:30AM local time. I want to rent a car, head immediately to Mt. Rushmore, and quickly check it out. I don't need to see the visitor center, etc. I then want to drive through Badlands National Park and see as much as I can. After that, I plan to haul ass across 90 to somewhere near Mitchell and grab a hotel room. I'll get up earlyish, go pick up the dog, and then drive to Sioux Falls to catch a 12:30 flight back to PHL. Will this work? Am I nuts? Assuming I can pull this off, anything I *need* to see? |
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Originally Posted By Sujumanji: Can someone familiar with SD tell me if my master plan will work? My wife wants to get a puppy in Mitchell, SD. I've always wanted to visit the state, I'm from PA. I will fly on a Friday from PHL to Rapid City, arriving at about 10:30AM local time. I want to rent a car, head immediately to Mt. Rushmore, and quickly check it out. I don't need to see the visitor center, etc. I then want to drive through Badlands National Park and see as much as I can. After that, I plan to haul ass across 90 to somewhere near Mitchell and grab a hotel room. I'll get up earlyish, go pick up the dog, and then drive to Sioux Falls to catch a 12:30 flight back to PHL. Will this work? Am I nuts? Assuming I can pull this off, anything I *need* to see? Sounds fun. |
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It's a full day drive to Mitchell, well, 6 hour straight from Badlands Scenic Route Honsetly, don't rush it. Day 0 Rapid City - wake up from airplane trip and get rental car. Spend a day looking at Mt Rushmore and then go on one of the horseback trail rides back around the Mt Rushmore Mountain. That's still real wilderness and you'll see Eagle and all sorts of animals when going along the stream not to mention uncountable mine shafts (technically drifts since they're horizontal, shafts are vertical). Then do Needles Highway and if you're into caves, the Wind and Jewel Caves are the largest known Cave Network (2 inlets) like in the top 10 and they still haven't found the ends. Then spin through Deadwood casinos and crash that night. Day 1 Wildlife Loop (Custer State Park one, not Badlands One). Assuming you partied properly in Deadwood, get up around 6 am to head through Custer State Park wildlife loop, that entire drive is jaw dropping. Just looking at the animals, tons of them, you're going to be fighting Sturgis hangers on so be prepared for delays but still get Wildlife Loop done early, buy the food if you want some up close picture, like nose through driver window over to passenger seat person to get food for a donkey. Day 1 continued after Badlands Trailing - The 300 mile of which the first 100 are REALLY boring slog back toward Mitchell It's actually only 3 hours to Mitchell and if you're heading to Sioux Falls to depart that's an hour from Mitchell. P.S. Make sure you get a car with Air Conditioning fit for a reefer Trailer. It's gonna be hot idling 15 mph through the wildlife loops stop and go. There's a speed limit, but animals are always crossing with a "ha ha.. speed limit lol". I lost a cylinder in center due to overheating on bike engine, no breeze, just 100° and humid and heat didn't come off so bad, had temp warning the whole time and tried to bail on the loop but once you start you can never leave, too much traffic in both directions and animals crossing in the other two. There's really no way to experience Black Hills without the Mt Rushmore, Horse trail trip up Mt Rushmore backside, Needles Highway and a drive through and wildlife loop of Custer state park. There are more things to take up an entire summer 3 month vacation starting from Lake Pactola in the South to Spearfish in the North with Sturgis northern center. Too many neat hidden gems around. Kind of like "Tell me what to see in Wash DC when I only have a week..." It can't really be done, you can get the major memorials and step inside the major buildings but the Smithsonian sucks up a day for each museum on the mall and there's a bunch of em. |
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All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
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Originally Posted By GoBigRed: Can you squeeze in an extra day or two to enjoy your adventure? There might be more to see than you think. No, unfortunately not. Due to work and family commitments, this is the only time I can get the pup during the 8-12 week phase. SD has been on my bucket list for awhile and I want to get the Cliff's Notes version with my available time. Hopefully, I'll have to come back! |
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Originally Posted By GoBigRed: Can you squeeze in an extra day or two to enjoy your adventure? There might be more to see than you think. No, unfortunately not. Due to work and family commitments, this is the only time I can get the pup during the 8-12 week phase. SD has been on my bucket list for awhile and I want to get the Cliff's Notes version with my available time. Hopefully, I'll have to come back! |
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Doable. Biggest issue is I see you are likely flying American into Rapid. Check that they will let you do a one way rental. Don't forget the Black Hills area is on Mountian Time. Mitchell is on Central. Cattlemens Club in Mitchell is decent and the hotels are nearby. Have fun! |
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Why not just drive the whole thing? You can take whatever you need, see whatever you want, and have a good 22-26 hours of good bonding time with the pup. There are also services that will properly and safely handle getting your pup flown to you. |
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| Easily done. You'll leave Mt Rushmore by 2pm, drive thru the badlands on your way to Mitchell in the late afternoon/early evening and be in Mitchell by 10ish. It's about an hour from Mitchell to SF. It's about 3.5 hours from RC to Mitchell without the badlands loop. |
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| Doable, but might be rushed. When are you planning on taking this trip? Can you add 1 more day so you can take in a few more sights in the Hills and/or spend a little more time with the puppy before having to get on the plane in SF? Also, I'd skip the Corn Palace unless you really have to see it, and then a simple drive by would be more than sufficient. |
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Originally Posted By dawg69: FIFY. It's a gymnasium with glorified macaroni art on the walls. Originally Posted By dawg69: FIFY. It's a gymnasium with glorified macaroni art on the walls. This, is ok to look at but if I am making a speed run through SD to see cool stuff, you can leave that off the list. |
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second Wall Drug if it is on your route. Wall Drug If Devil Tower is on your path, that is cool as well, plus you drive through a massive field of Prairie dogs. |
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Originally Posted By bowmanch: second Wall Drug if it is on your route. Wall Drug If Devil Tower is on your path, that is cool as well, plus you drive through a massive field of Prairie dogs. Devils tower is about 2 hours in the wrong direction he will be heading. Cool to see tho. |
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I would do Mt Rushmore and Crazy horse. Dont skip Crazy Horse. Done this trip a few times. Other word of advice is fill up with Gas when you can as gas stations can be a bit of a distance between each other. There isn't a Wawa or Sheetz on every corner. They are telling you to stop at Wal Drug. To give you an idea you will see signs for 500 miles about the place. Similar to South of Border on I95. You need to stop and see otherwise you will wonder what all the hype is about. Look very carefully at your rental agreement terms. |
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Originally Posted By paul1911: I would do Mt Rushmore and Crazy horse. Dont skip Crazy Horse. Done this trip a few times. Other word of advice is fill up with Gas when you can as gas stations can be a bit of a distance between each other. There isn't a Wawa or Sheetz on every corner. They are telling you to stop at Wal Drug. To give you an idea you will see signs for 500 miles about the place. Similar to South of Border on I95. You need to stop and see otherwise you will wonder what all the hype is about. Look very carefully at your rental agreement terms. I call Crazy Horse a scam, they keep asking for donations and building their school. 
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You might end up backtracking a bit, badlands typically goes east to west. Otherwise, you can do pretty much what you planned in a day if you get into Rapid in the morning. Don't give this guy something to regret!  Cabelas is the only place worth stopping in Mitchell. |
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Originally Posted By Chaingun: When we visited Crazy Horse it has 11 workers on it. I worked out the numbers, its going to take 1,000 years at this man power rate. Mt. Rushmore had some hundreds of workers on it. I call Crazy Horse a scam, they keep asking for donations and building their school. Originally Posted By Chaingun: Originally Posted By paul1911: I would do Mt Rushmore and Crazy horse. Dont skip Crazy Horse. Done this trip a few times. Other word of advice is fill up with Gas when you can as gas stations can be a bit of a distance between each other. There isn't a Wawa or Sheetz on every corner. They are telling you to stop at Wal Drug. To give you an idea you will see signs for 500 miles about the place. Similar to South of Border on I95. You need to stop and see otherwise you will wonder what all the hype is about. Look very carefully at your rental agreement terms. I call Crazy Horse a scam, they keep asking for donations and building their school. They have an automated piece of equipment now that should shave off a couple hundred years. It's a cool monument and the museum inside is really cool. |
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Originally Posted By Chaingun: When we visited Crazy Horse it has 11 workers on it. I worked out the numbers, its going to take 1,000 years at this man power rate. Mt. Rushmore had some hundreds of workers on it. I call Crazy Horse a scam, they keep asking for donations and building their school. Originally Posted By Chaingun: Originally Posted By paul1911: I would do Mt Rushmore and Crazy horse. Dont skip Crazy Horse. Done this trip a few times. Other word of advice is fill up with Gas when you can as gas stations can be a bit of a distance between each other. There isn't a Wawa or Sheetz on every corner. They are telling you to stop at Wal Drug. To give you an idea you will see signs for 500 miles about the place. Similar to South of Border on I95. You need to stop and see otherwise you will wonder what all the hype is about. Look very carefully at your rental agreement terms. I call Crazy Horse a scam, they keep asking for donations and building their school. They were in a big hurry and got the arm sort of smoothed out but then just kind of stopped 40 years ago. I was up on the arm/face and crawling around and there honestly isn't that much work done but I haven't seen in very recently. You can see all the interesting stuff driving past on the road that goes by it, SW from Mt Rushmore, heading toward Custer to drive the coolest drives there, Iron Mountain Road and Needles Highway (Both have tunnels and a cliff face wall on one side and big drop on the other so don't take if you have a wife yelling at you to slow down and scoot over. Taking that path ends you back up near Custer but then get on the road that goes past Grace Coolidge Campground and that's very cool and also the one with the wildlife loop that will tack on an hour but you'll see a lot more stuff. After that, you buzz to Rapid City and fill up with gas and go for the badlands loop. One tank of gas isn't enough to go form RC to SF, one of the cheaper gas stops on the interstate is strangely in Chamberlain, right in the middle of the state. Use gasbuddy on your phone to make sure though. Also, get a good audiobook for the drive over nothing across the state. The only thing going for it is it's better than going across Nebraska or Kansas but it's kind of a tie in some areas. |
The person who complains most, and is the most critical of others has the most to hide.
All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
|
Originally Posted By Midyew5959: Last December I flew out from Missoula MT and into Medford OR to get a red heeler puppy and then drove back. I fully endorse your idea! Honestly I would recommend flying down and getting to the dog as soon as you can, and then driving back and visiting the places you want to. If your schedule allows; Then you wouldn't be rushed or anything. Road tripping with a puppy is something everyone should do at least once. Agreed. Took my blue heeler from CA to NM when he was a few months old. He's still a punk, but it was a good time. |