Visit Mt. Rushmore, located near Wyoming on the western side of South Dakota.
Stretch your legs and engage your mind as you wander through forests, museums, caves and zoos while you drive from one major destination to another. Taking a road trip from Wisconsin to Wyoming on Interstate 90 offers the traveler the opportunity to explore state and national parks as well as urban attractions. Turning off the interstate now and again can turn a dreary couple of days on the road into a memorable adventure.
Hardwood Forest
As you enter or exit Minnesota on Interstate 90, you'll go through part of the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest, which encompasses more than a million acres in the southeastern part of the state. Popular activities include hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, camping and picnicking. You can access the forest from exits 242 to 270 off the interstate. Stop for a quick look at the Enterprise Rest Area, located at exit 244.
Sioux Falls
About 150,000 people call Sioux Falls, South Dakota home. This small city lies on the eastern side of the state at the junction of Interstates 29 and 90. The Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History provides an educational diversion for families. Set on 45 acres, this attraction includes a children's zoo, train rides and a carousel. Sioux Falls also has several golf courses and museums, a battleship memorial and an amusement park.
Badlands
South of Interstate 90 via exits 110 and 131 in western South Dakota, you can explore the unusual landscape of Badlands National Park. Stay in the car for a scenic drive along the Badlands Loop Road between the two exits, or stop to learn more at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, where a 20-minute film will fill you in on the park's remarkable geologic formations. Badlands also has hiking trails and two campgrounds.
Mt. Rushmore
Head south on U.S. Highway 16 from exit 57 off of Interstate 90 in Rapid City, South Dakota to journey toward Mount Rushmore National Memorial, located about 35 miles away on U.S. Highway 16 Alternate. See the giant heads of four U.S. presidents--George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln--carved into the side of the granite mountain and learn about how and why this national memorial came into being.
Wind Cave
South of Interstate 90 via U.S. Highway 385 in western South Dakota, break up your journey with an interpretive cave tour at Wind Cave National Park. Learn more about the cave with a visit to the Wind Cave Visitor Center, which includes three rooms with exhibits about the cave and the park. The remainder of the park offers 30 miles of hiking trails plus year-round camping at the park's Elk Mountain Campground.
Tags: South Dakota, Sioux Falls, Wind Cave, about cave, hiking trails, National Park, South Interstate
