Mt. Rushmore - Page 3

wayne30152 · 03-06-2023, 11:03 AM

My wife and I visited Mt. Rushmore last summer. Beautiful state! We stayed at Rafter J Bar Ranch. Highly recommend it! It’s very convenient to Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse and not all that far from Rapid City.

While our route maybe different than yours, we had no issues pulling our 5th wheel with our 2500 diesel. Nice rolling hills all the way to Hill City, SD.

If you have the opportunity and desires I highly recommend boon docking on the Wall right outside Wall, Sd. It’s located in the national grassland right outside The Badlands national Park.

{tpc} · 03-06-2023, 11:07 AM

Thank you everyone for all the great information! We wanted to stay at Rafter J but it booked up just the week prior to our calling. Beaver lake looked nice, I think its right next to the Custer KOA. I'm pretty sure we got the last full hook up spot at Beaver Lake!

Rdynbama · 03-06-2023, 12:59 PM

Thanks Max
If anyone knows of a good cg near the Ark that can accommodate a 39 foot 5ver , any info both positive and negative would help

**JRTJH** · 03-06-2023, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rdynbama

Thanks Max
If anyone knows of a good cg near the Ark that can accommodate a 39 foot 5ver , any info both positive and negative would help

We wound up having to stay at Whispering Hills RV Park just north of Georgetown, KY when we visited the Ark. All the parks closer were either full or we'd have had to change sites due to other people having reservations for the site they could assign us to for the 3 days we planned to stay there....

So, if you're planning to visit the Ark this summer, make your reservations SOON !!!!!

Georgetown is only 30 miles south of the Ark, so it wasn't a bad choice and we stayed a couple extra days and toured the Toyota assembly plant while we were there. Wound up buying a new "GatorMade car hauler flatbed trailer" (their factory is in Somerset, KY, just south of Lexington) as well, so it wasn't a "cheap 6 days in a campground" LOL

Max23 · 03-06-2023, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rdynbama

Thanks Max
If anyone knows of a good cg near the Ark that can accommodate a 39 foot 5ver , any info both positive and negative would help

Well, not so close to the ark encounter itself, but pretty close to the ark encounter museum is the Rising Star Casino in Rising Sun Indiana. Very new park at the site. I have my eyes on that because I just couldn't find a place that I was terribly interested in closer to the ark AND, there is a Casino!!! LOL

Rdynbama · 03-07-2023, 05:27 AM

Thanks
I’m taking notes

AF0DJ · 03-10-2023, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jawplw

I have gone to Mt. Rushmore with kids and grandkids. I always go at night best show ever. When music starts and then they light up the Mt.
this has always been big hit with all my kids.

I fondly remember when they used incandescent lights for the evening ceremony. It would be during a presentation by one of the local tribal elders and as he swept his hand up in the direction of the totally darkened mountain all the spotlight banks would be snapped on simultaneously. WOW!!!.
Now quite so impressive now with lights that come on slowly but still a really uplifting experience to me as a retired Senior NCO.

infantryofficer81 · 03-14-2023, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rdynbama

I’m guessing an F450 with no rv is still out of the question for the Needles Hwy?
Asking for a friend!

I took my RAM 3500 Dually through those tunnels in 2018. Made it without getting a scratch on it! I creeped thru and about halfway in, the wife and I thought we had made a huge mistake! The guy on the other end directing traffic told me, "I'll see when you come back!" I told him, not no, but heck no! I won't ever do that again.

**JRTJH** · 03-14-2023, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infantryofficer81

I took my RAM 3500 Dually through those tunnels in 2018. Made it without getting a scratch on it! I creeped thru and about halfway in, the wife and I thought we had made a huge mistake! The guy on the other end directing traffic told me, "I'll see when you come back!" I told him, not no, but heck no! I won't ever do that again.

I said the same thing my first time through the needle... NEVER, EVER again !!!

Then the next day, the G-kids were saying, "G-pa, let's go see that skinny tunnel again".... Guess who "won out in the end".... Hint: Wasn't me....

Rdynbama · 03-14-2023, 07:57 AM

Grandkids always win!

rlh1957 · 03-14-2023, 08:20 AM

F450 will be fine, just suck in the tow mirrors.
The 450 won’t be as fun as a smaller vehicle.

Rdynbama · 03-14-2023, 09:42 AM

This trip is on the radar for next summer, if the Lord above continues to bless me with good health I’ll load the Harley in the TH and ride it through the needle

notanlines · 03-14-2023, 09:58 AM

And to all who have done it you have a story to tell. For those who drove your little Corollas through, sorry but no story. Nor do your kids/g-kids.
Remember, there are those who cruised to Alaska and those who drove/rode to Alaska. Who has the story to tell?

**JRTJH** · 03-14-2023, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlh1957

F450 will be fine, just suck in the tow mirrors.
The 450 won’t be as fun as a smaller vehicle.

The age old mantra goes something like this: If the mirrors fit, the hips will fit...

OSo, you can leave the mirrors out and use them as "feelers" for those "wide hips"... Remember, a mirror is about $50 to replace the plastic edge or the clearance light, those "hips in the back" well, don't even ask the price !!!!!

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