Chicago to Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone Road Trip
This article originally appeared on My Yellowstone Park
Start in Chicago on this incredible road trip through some of the nation's most stunning prairies, wide-open skies and gorgeous rock formations on your way from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone.
From Chicago head west, stopping at the Akta Lakota Museum to discover northern Plains Indian history. Then drive to South Dakota's Badlands National Park. Beyond lies Rapid City where you can base out of to see Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, S.D., and two national park sites that give you a rare glimpse into the Earth's underbelly: Wind and Jewel caves.
Head to the Crazy Horse Memorial, the world's largest monument carving currently in progress. In Sturgis, check out the town's many festivals and events. In Belle Fourche, stand in the nation’s geographic center. In Wyoming, Sundance and Gillette offer easy access to Devils Tower National Monument while farther west, Thermopolis has hot springs and bison. Right before you get to Yellowstone, you'll find an uncrowded lodging experience. After exploring Yellowstone, head to Red Lodge, Billings, Lewistown, Miles City and other towns on your return route to Chicago.
Road Trip Map
Start: Chicago
In Chicago, join locals and travelers alike at Millennium Park downtown. A showcase of who’s who in architecture, this interactive park is an adult playground. Check out these three architectural gems, Cloud Gate, the kidney-bean-shaped stainless steel sculpture, Jay Pritzker Pavilion designed by architect Frank Gehry, and Crown Fountain which features the faces of 1,000 Chicago residents on two 250-foot glass towers.
South Dakota Plains
Go Full Circle at the Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center
Move clockwise through the museum from pre-European to “Two Worlds Meet” to “Broken Promises” and finally “Continuity and Change.”
Badlands National Park
2 Days in the Badlands and Black Hills
Hit the best of the South Dakota parks with these top spots including national parks, steam trains, wild bison and a legendary store.
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site
Explore nuclear weapon history near the northeast Pinnacles Entrance to Badlands National Park in South Dakota.
Wind Cave National Park
Journey deep into the Earth on a tour of one of the world's most complex cave systems. Want more? Visit Jewel Cave National Monument nearby.
Mt. Rushmore National Memorial
Constructed from 1927-41, the memorial features the faces of four U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.
Hidden History
Before the faces of four U.S. presidents were carved into Mount Rushmore, this mountain was called The Six Grandfathers by the Lakota Sioux. Learn more.
Crazy Horse Memorial
See the world’s largest monument carving in progress, the Crazy Horse Memorial. Seventy years after the first blast, you can watch crews drilling, carving and removing rock at the memorial still under construction.
Black Hills Adventures
Alternative Rapid Route: Fly Into Rapid City
For an alternative launch point to your road trip, fly into the Rapid City Regional Airport. It’s the most direct route to the Black Hills, Badlands National Park and Mt. Rushmore. While your main destinations may be the national parks, make sure your travel plans include spending time in Rapid City itself.
Rapid City Guide
If you’re looking for a basecamp to explore some of our most iconic national park sites in South Dakota, stop and stay in this City of Presidents.
Find More Than the World’s Largest Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis
Learn the history of the town's famous motorcycle rally but also explore its outdoor recreation and year-round events.
The Tri-State Museum is near the Geographic Center of the Nation
See silver spoons that traveled on the Mayflower in 1620 and antique saddles at the Tri-State Museum. Then take a selfie at the Geo-Center monument.
The Lodge at Deadwood
Experience the past in the luxury of today. The Lodge at Deadwood Gaming Resort is one of the newest, most beautiful Deadwood hotels.
Devils Tower National Monument
The Magic of Devils Tower
Travelers roaming through the northeastern Wyoming prairie will be treated to a strange and wonderful sight: a striking stone column rising seemingly out of nowhere.
The Other Black Hills in Sundance
In the heart of the Black Hills but away from the commercialization and traffic, Sundance, Wyo., offers a deep dive into the Old West and is the closest town to Devils Tower.
Gillette’s Top Six
Dubbed the “Energy Capital of the Nation,” the Wyoming towns of Gillette and Wright are home to an enormous bison ranch and an ever-evolving, eclectic culinary scene.
Buffalo and Kaycee, Wyo.
6 Ways to Experience the Old West
Go on a trail ride, visit a saloon and learn about Wyoming's history in the towns of Buffalo and Kaycee, Wyo.
Thermopolis, Wyo.
The World's Largest Mineral Hot Spring is in Thermopolis
It’s a small, picturesque town where the elevation is higher than the population. Come soak in the famous mineral hot springs. And at one of the best dinosaur museums in the world, locate the prehistoric dinosaurs beneath Thermopolis on a Dig for a Day adventure.
Find the Wild West in Cody
Locals like to brag Cody and the surrounding area is where your great American adventure begins. Here is our list of the top 10 things to do in this town founded by Buffalo Bill Cody.
Don't miss:
Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Smithsonian-Affiliated 5-Museum Complex
He rode for the Pony Express, entertained Queen Victoria, called Mark Twain a friend. Learn about the legend and the world and culture Buffalo Bill loved.
Also:
Rest Stops:
Buffalo Bill [Cabin] Village at Buffalo Bill Village Resort in Cody
These 83 historic cabins maintain the exterior historic cowboy hand hewn log; the interior is a complete, full service non-smoking hotel room.
Read more.
Comfort Inn at Buffalo Bill Village Resort in Cody
The Comfort Inn is located 52 miles from the East Entrance of Yellowstone/Grand Teton National Parks and eight blocks from the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. Complimentary deluxe continental breakfast.
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Holiday Inn Buffalo Bill Village Resort in Cody
Cody's only full-service hotel is conveniently located downtown, 52 miles from Yellowstone's east entrance and eight blocks from the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.
Read more.
Pahaska Tepee Resort
Originally Buffalo Bill's hunting lodge, the Pahaska Tepee Resort is the closest lodging to the park's East Entrance at only 2 miles.
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Lodges of East Yellowstone
The Lodges of East Yellowstone offer some of the most beautiful views with the closest access to east Yellowstone. Choose between a variety of lodges, guest ranches, hotels and RV sites.
Read more.
Elephant Head Lodge
Less than 12 miles from the park, this small resort sits along a national forest. Stay in a log cabin listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Read more.
Yellowstone National Park
Enter East Entrance
2 Days in Yellowstone
Only have a couple of days? Make the most of your time by visiting some of our favorite spots in the park.
GyPSy Guide's Narrated Driving Tour App
Download the Yellowstone tour app that's like having a tour guide in your car. GyPSy Guide automatically plays interesting and entertaining commentary as you go.
Watch Wildlife in Yellowstone’s Lamar and Hayden Valleys
Yellowstone's huge, wide valleys make excellent habitat for wildlife. For your best chance of spotting them, point your compass toward the Lamar and Hayden.
Read more.
Exit Northeast Entrance
Check for road closures following the June 2022 floods.
Silver Gate Lodging Has the Closest Cabins to Yellowstone
A 1/2 mile from Yellowstone’s northeast entrance, this quiet cabin resort is surrounded by snowcapped mountains and wildlife. silvergatelodging.com
Eastern Montana
Drive the Dramatic Beartooth Highway Northeast of Yellowstone
One of the most breathtaking routes to Yellowstone is the 68-mile stretch of the Beartooth Highway – named a National Scenic Byway's "All-American Road."
Montana's Charming Town of Red Lodge
From incredible outdoor recreation in every direction to world-class rodeo and unique glamping, plus a scenic drive on the stunning Beartooth Highway, Red Lodge is a can't-miss stop.
Top 7 Places to Find Food and Lore in Billings, Montana
Northeast of Yellowstone, find a brewery district, gluten-free pancakes and Old West charm in this city of 110,000.
Go Big in Southeast Montana
When you drive through the towns of Southeast Montana, like Billings, Glendive and Miles City you'll notice that the skies are big and that means that when the sun goes down, the stars are big, too. After boating and hiking in Bighorn Canyon and learning about history at the Little Bighorn Battlefield, explore the stars at local parks and recreation areas.
Watch Wildlife and Scenery from a Train in Lewistown
From big game hunting to fishing, camping, biking, hiking and skiing, take advantage of the outdoor recreation opportunities in the beautiful Judith Basin.
Have an Historic Stay at The Calvert Hotel
This historic building is beautifully remodeled to retain the classic design of the past while adding luxury amenities to provide the utmost in comfort.
Lose the Crowds in Northeast Montana
Go wildlife watching at the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, which hugs the shores of Fort Peck Reservoir. It's the largest body of water in the state, with more miles of coastline than all of California. Or try your luck panning for gold and see where dinosaurs roamed near these small Montana towns.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
This 3-unit park is known for amazing wildlife (bison and elk), 95 miles of hiking trails, horseback riding, water sports, and inspiring a president.
End: Chicago
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