When I was first plotting the major destinations for our Summer 2019 RV Road Trip, our family went back and forth as to whether or not to explore South Dakota. After visiting this amazing state, I think it’s safe to say that we are all so glad that we did!
Our first visit was to Wind Cave National Park, near Hot Springs, South Dakota. Wind Cave National Park is home to one of the longest caves in the world, with 143 miles of cave passages found within this amazing network. It was discovered in 1881, when brothers Jesse and Tom Bingham discovered a “gust of wind” coming from a hole in the ground. Above ground, bison, deer, prairie dog, elk, and pronghorn roam, but you have to go underground to truly see why this park shines.
Our family arrived at Wind Cave very late at night after our drive from Rocky Mountain National Park, and checked into our site at the Elk Mountain Campground, right on the edge of the prairie. The convenience of this campground cannot be underestimated, as there is not much else around, and being able to have quick access to the visitor center was priceless. I got up super early the next morning to get in line for first-come, first-served Cave Tour tickets, the best way to explore the park, and secured six tickets for the tour we were hoping for. SCORE. The only problem was, when we returned for the tour, we were quickly informed that there were no tours available as the elevator in the cave had broken. This was such a disappointment for us, but we knew it was out of our hands.
Our family spent some time in the Visitor Center, learning about the park, and we also visited the original cave entrance. We learned so much, and it was fascinating hearing about the now 150 miles of cave in this area. The kids especially loved reading all of the unique names of the “rooms” in the cave, many of which were very funny (Quinn’s favorite was “Bob’s Big Toilet,” of course!).
Following our time at the visitor center, we drove through the park, and saw many Bison along our route, a highlight for sure, before heading on our way. In light of the fact that we were not able to do a cave tour, we opted to head straight to Badlands National Park, the next stop on our journey.
The dusty, barren landscape of Badlands National Park is other-worldly, giving visitors a chance to interact with the open plain of South Dakota. Wildlife is plentiful, with bison, bighorn sheep, fox, coyote, prairie dogs, pronghorn, and deer all roaming amidst the pinnacles of rock and twisted spires that characterize much of the landscape of this park.
And, boy, was Badlands fascinating! Our kids loved the “fossil lab” in the visitor center, where they were able to watch firsthand as two paleontologists worked on excavating fossils from rock. One of them spent some good time talking to the kids, and even let them touch the fossils of a Hyracodon tooth. Quinn was immediately talking about the fact that he would certainly find a fossil in the park, and was jazzed to head out on a hunt.
After touring the Visitor Center and watching a short film about the park, we headed out on a drive through Badlands, stopping at “Window” and “Door,” and hiking at both stops. The park looked nothing like I thought it would (I am not quite sure what I was expecting, but it was breathtaking!), and the kids really enjoyed climbing the sandstone rock formations.
Next, we headed to the “Fossil Trail,” the location of many fossil finds in the park. Though we did not find any fossils, we enjoyed exploring the area and climbing on the sandstone formations throughout. It was gorgeous there, with the light-colored sandstone serving as a harsh contrast to the blue, cloudy sky, and a gorgeous non-native yellow flower called Mullein COVERING the ground (and, as we later found, the entire state of South Dakota and parts of Wyoming).
On our drive through the park, we also encountered a huge herd of bison, and were able to get pretty close without risking safety. In addition, we spotted a herd of bighorn sheep (and babies!) grazing cliffside. The kids absolutely LOVED these up-close encounters with the wildlife in Badlands.
After our experiences in both Wind Cave and Badlands, our family was so glad that we included a stop in South Dakota on our Road Trip that Summer.
