Chicago Travel Forum

Hi,

This summer we'll visit Chicago with my family and then go to Mt Rushmore by car, I know it takes a long, so is there something between that deserve a stop, things to see ?
Idem between Mt Rushmore and Yellowstone, and Seattle, could someone tell me how long it takes and if there are things to visit, to see ?

Thank you for your help :o)
Pat

The Dells in Wisconsin are supposed to be very pretty and you have lots of Minnesota to cross, too. Minneapolis is a very interesting city, and the state is full of beautiful lakes.

I have to disagree slightly with the previous poster. The Dells are kind of great and they're quite lovely, but probably not worth that much of a side trip, given the scenery you will encounter later on in your trip. (Ignore this advice if you're a fudge and/or miniature golf fan. The Dells are ground zero for fudge and miniature golf.)

I recommend a stop at the Mitchell corn palace, especially if you're traveling during harvest season. Take route 240 and drive through the Badlands - spectacular. Don't forget a stop at Wall drug.

After you leave Yellowstone, I would recommend that you go to Seattle via Portland so that you can drive along the Colombia River Gorge. It's one of the country's great scenic drives.

Sounds like a really fun trip.

Chicago to Mt. Rushmore will take 12~14 hours directly, without stops depending on how fast you drive.

A good place to get your road directions is http://maps.google.com/
Once you do the research and find the places you want to stop, google maps is capable of making detailed multi-point directions.

For example, you can type in "Chicago to Mt. Rushmore".
Then once the map populates with the line between the two, you can click and drag the line to re-route or detour through a point in the middle and it will recalculate the route!

Ok, if I understand you correctly, you are going to be flying into Chicago and driving to Mt. Rushmore, then to Yellowstone National Park, and then to Seattle. That is quite a drive!

While in the Black Hills (where Mt. Rushmore is) be sure to go through Bear Country. Go see Crazy Horse - it is bigger than all four faces. Go to the Passion Play in Spear Fish!!!

Your biggest cost is going to be parking to see many of these sites. When I was there a few years ago it was $11 to park to see Mt. Rushmore and $20 to park to see Crazy Horse. Check with the park service site to see if there are some parking deals.

If you are going on to the other two places let me know, I have a few tips on the other places also.