A 3-day road trip in the Midwest
Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming

Pictures: Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming
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Wisconsin

  • Janesville (link)
    • Historic town
  • Madison (link)
    • State Capitol
    • Downtown
  • Wisconsin Dells (link)
    • Riverbanks
    • Kids' Attractions
    • Wisconsin Dells is a colossal tourist trap / family resort in the moddle of nowhere.
  • LaCrosse (link)
    • Grandad Bluff
    • Riverbank Park
    • Downtown

Minnesota

  • Mississippi River County & Bluff Country (link)
  • Southern Lakes Area (link)
  • Prairieland (link)

South Dakota

  • Badlands National Park
    • The Badlands can be visited in an afternoon by driving through it. The landscape is somehow similar to Southern Utah.
    • Some short trails lead to a number of scenic viewpoints (Door Trail, Window Trail)
    • The sligthly longer Notch Trail (3-4 kms roundtrip) meanders through rock formations, climbs over a ridge with a wooden ladder, and leads to an opening over the valley. Worth it.
    • The longer Castle Trail is a 9 mile hike through most of the park
    • The Yellow Moulds, towards the western entrance are strangely colored rocks as an effect of different geological ages.
  • Mt Rushmore
    • The entrance of Mt Rushmore is free. However, the parking costs 8$ (and is valid one year, as if you came back here every so often).
    • A nice trail walks around the Mount(Presidential Trail)
  • Wind Cave & Jewel Cave
  • Black Hills National Forest
    • The drive through the Black Hills is quite scenic. Worth doing it with some spare time.
    • The town of Newcastle has some accomodation.The Old Mill Inn in Newcastle is a renowned old-fashioned restaurant.

Wyoming

  • Devil's Tower
    • Trail
  • Bighorn Mountains & Powder River Pass
    • Lunch in Gillette
    • Coffee Friends
  • Ten Sleep Canyon
    • City of Tensleep
    • Flagstaff Cafe
  • Cody

 

Itinerary

DAY 1

Chicago, IL
Rockford, IL (+84 miles)
Madison, WI (+62 miles)
La Crosse, WI (+141 miles)
Rochester, MN (+57 miles)
Sioux Falls, SD (+236 miles)

Total Est. Distance: 574.92 miles.
Total Est. Time
: 8 hours, 38 minutes.
Map


DAY 2

Sioux Falls, SD
Rapid City, SD (+348 miles)

Total Est. Distance: 350.05 miles.
Total Est. Time
: 5 hours, 12 minutes
Map


DAY 3

Rapid City, SD
Spearfish, WY (+40 miles)
Cody, WY (+346 miles)
Yellowstone Lake, WY (+79 miles)

Total Est. Distance: 492.77 miles.
Total Est. Time
: 8 hours, 44 minutes
Map

Links & Maps

Wisconsin maps

Explore Minnesota

Badlands
Infos
Maps & Directions
Hiking in the Badlands

Black Hills
Infos
General Road Map, Detailed Road Map

Devil's Tower
Infos
Park Map, Regional Map
Hiking Devil's Tower

Mount Rushmore
Infos
Area Map, Park Map

Wisconsin Pictures

Wisconsin Dells

La Crosse
-
Riverbanks

Minnesota Pictures

Prairieland

Clouds over the Prairie

South Dakota Pictures

Badlands National Park

The Notch Trail ladder

Yellow Moulds

Eerie landscape over the Badlands

Mount Rushmore

The profile of Washington

Stormy evening in the Black Hills

Sunset over the Black Hills

Wyoming Pictures

Devil's Tower from far away

Devil's Tower

Pass over the Bighorn Mountains

Tensleep Canyon

 

© Lorenzo Casaccia