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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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. |