Planing on heading to See Yellowstone starting out April 26. Going to Mt Rushmore first . Planning for 2 weeks could make it 3 if we drop down to the Grand Canyon but that's not likely trying to get away from the farm that long. So probably only the 2 stops and anything along the way.


So with limited time any must see and do things and places to stop? Weather and time of year considerations? Would be appreciated.

Time to take the kids to see things I have not got to see in this country yet. The big trees, waterfall, And Alaska are on the list as well but will have to be in the future and likely flying trips not driving.

Hit the Badlands on the way to the Black Hills. Skip Wall Drug.

Theodore Roosevelt National park especially the north sector........ In North Dakota.
Some cool geology

Devil's tower is on the way

What do you like to do?
Lots of good hikes in the Black Hills, Harney peak is one of the best, awesome views of the Hills from the top.

Badlands are nice, I would recommend if you do them drop down to hwy44 and take that into Rapid City, much nicer drive then the interstate.

Custer State Park and Wind Cave are good spots to see wildlife in mornings and evenings, lots of Buffalo, antelope, elk and bighorns if you’re lucky. Many tourists say they see more wildlife there then in Yellowstone and with far fewer people. Some good spots to trout fish and hike in Custer state park as well.

Spearfish area is also really nice.

April weather can be really nice or really crappy so be prepared for that.

Custer state park is well worth the visit if that close. Check out the fur shop in Custer if have time. Seems all kind of fur and fur related products.

Needles highway as well

Buffalo Bill museum in Cody Wyo., and forget Jellystone

I agree unless your boys want to see what an old Minute Man II missile silo used to look like which is part of a National Historic site that just off of I-90 about 5 miles east of Wall. There's also a Launch Control Center that's part of the Historical site but I think you have to make arrangements to take the tour. I think its location is about 10 miles east of Wall.

The South Unit of Badlands NP isn't used much by the tourists and as Tray mentioned, its closer to SD 44 than I-90. Some of that was used as gunnery range by the AAF and later the Air Force and you can find spent .50 cal slugs and casings once and while walking around.

Custer park and needles highway

Make your room reservations now, especially if you plan to stay in the park. I think it can be done online.

X2. Also, if you're in Cody, hit Trail Town. Cool little museum and John Johnson's (Jeremiah Johnson) grave.
I could spend a couple of days at the Buffalo Bill Museum.

Yep, a good choice by White17 >>>This would a good thing to visit and see. I always love to see that country when I have been there and then drop into SD.

We went in June 2021 and were gone for two weeks (from MO). Our main destination was Yellowstone/Grand Tetons. Day 1 drove to Mitchell and saw Corn palace. Day 2 Badlands, drove by Wall Drug (didn't get out of the car), then to Rapid City area. Day 3 Mount Rushmore/Custer SP. Day 4 Devils Tower and drove to Lovell, WY. Day 5 to Cody, stopped at Wal-Mart to resupply food. Massive mistake by not stopping by Jeremiah(John) Johnsons grave in Cody. Knew it was there but just didn't get it on the itinerary. Days 6-11 Yellowstone, saw it all, we were on the road each day at 8. Day 12 to Grand Tetons. Days 13 and 14 Jenny Lake boat ride to hike, and Jackson. Day 15 to Scottsbluff, NE, Day 16 Chimney Rock and home. Might be a little cool when you go.

We were there the first week of June last year and had a great time, but a lot of the roads had only opened the week before we got there so you may want to check on that when planning your trip. Take a good spotting scope and enjoy the Laramie Valley in Yellowstone.

Absolutely! At least some binoculars. Better yet. some kind of gizmo that attaches your camera to the scope so you can get good pics.
The way to spot game in Yellowstone it to look for stopped cars and people out taking pics. lol. I once watched an idiot run right to within 10' of a moose and take his pic.
The moose took it well and just ambled off.

Yes, that is some neat country and not nearly as busy. My guess is the end of April much of the park will be shut down and the snow may be axle deep on a Ferris wheel in places. I was through there the middle of October and most of the stores and stuff were already closed for the winter.

The only road generally open year-round to regular vehicles is from the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, through the park to Cooke City, Montana (via Tower Junction). Most park roads are closed to regular vehicles from early November to late-April, and are open to limited oversnow travel (commercially-guided snowmobiles and snowcoaches) from mid-December to mid-March. When open, roads are not gated at night and people may enter/exit the park 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

One of the most scenic drives we have ever been on was around the Ten Sleep, Wyoming, area. Gorgeous country, to say the least.

Been going out there for the last 20 years (Sturgis trip). All the Rushmore sites (Rushmore, needles, Custer loop, ect) are must-see. Gas stations have free maps with sites and loops listed. The mammoth site in Hot Springs is worth seeing. Also a must stop is Crazy Horse, you could spend half a day. Drive through Spear Fish Canyon. Devils tower is a great stop (you don't really need to go into the park as you can see it from miles away). Cody is a great town to make your base for the Yellowstone area. It's about 50 or so miles from the park entrance but a great road to and from. Do a day trip from Cody up Cheif Joseph hwy to the Bear tooth pass road and drop through to red Lodge and back to Cody.
I would go on for pages with off the path things to see, but these are some of the highlights for us. Every year we find new things to see and it never gets old.