Day 1 

Fly into Minneapolis 

Pick up rental van Avis

Drive to Sioux Falls, SD 4h 

Stop at Walmart to get cooler, water and snacks 

Lunch - Farmer's Grandson Eatery

Stay - Holiday Inn Sioux Falls Empire Mall $119

Drive 15 min to Falls Park and walk to Sculpture Walk and dinner Phillips Avenue Diner, MacKenzie River

 

Day 2 

7:00AM Leave hotel

Drive to Badlands National Park 3h 45m

Hike Notch Trail (1.5 miles)

Eat our sandwich lunch at the Visitor Center or on the drive

Drive to Mt. Rushmore 1h 35m

Drive through Needles Highway

Wind Cave National Monument (call before to see if they have run out - Natural Entrance Tour)

Sylvan Lake backup option - walk around the lake, rent kayak or SUP

Dinner in Custer (30m) Black Hills Burger and Bun, The Custer Wolf

Dessert - Bobkat Purple Pie Place

Stay- Holiday Inn Custer 

 

Day 3 

7AM Breakfast at hotel

Drive 1h 50m to Devils Tower Wyoming

Hike 1.5 miles Devils Tower Loop

Drive 3h to stop for lunch Casper, WY Cottage Cafe, Arepa Barn

Visit - Tate Geological Museum

Drive 4h 20m to the hotel in Jackson- Cowboy Village Resort 

Walk to Dinner - McPhail’s Burgers, Hand Fire Pizza

 

Day 4 

7AM Grab breakfast at Pearl Street Bagels (5 min drive) pick up lunch to eat after the hike

Drive 1h to Jackson Lake

8:30AM Morning Hike - Colter Bay Lakeshore Trail (3 miles)

Stop at Moose Visitor Center on the way back

Drive 1h to Mad River Boat House for BE THERE BY 2PM Afternoon Rafting 

Rafting is from 2:30-5:30PM

Dinner - Sidewinders Tavern, Merry Piglets Mexican
 

Day 5 

6AM Breakfast at Cowboy Coffee (5 min drive)

Stop at Moose Falls

Drive 2h 11m to Old Faithful Inn

See Old Faithful and get a map to hike Upper Geyser Basin Loop Trail or Observation Loop

Eat lunch at the Old Faithful Inn (they have some cheap options)

Drive 13 min to Grand Prismatic Spring

Dinner -  Boondocks (Island Park)

Drive to Airbnb house -  Lodgepole in Island Park 

 

Day 6 

Leave by 7AM to Hike Grand Canyon of Yellowstone

Hike Uncle Tom’s Trail (park Artists Point) (picnic lunch - make sandwiches or buy in the AM)

Drive 1hr Mammoth Hot Springs and Swim in the Boiling River

Dinner in West Yellowstone

 

Day 7 

Leave by 7:30AM  Drive 4h to have lunch in Missoula - Tamarack Brewing Company

Stop at Garnet Ghost Town ($3 pp)

Drive 2h to Whitefish, MT  

Riverside Park (bike or river float) and go to City Beach on Whitefish Lake

Dinner - Jersey Boys Pizzeria, Buffalo Cafe, Loula’s

Stay two nights - AlpenGlow B&B 

 

Day 8 

Leave by 6AM

Drive Going to the Sun Road

Stop Avalanche Lake/Trail of the Cedars 4.5 miles - picnic lunch

Continue Going to the Sun Road and stop at scenic points

Stop at Logans Pass Visitors Center and hike Hidden Lake Overlook Trail 2.7 miles and Highline Trail

2h drive back to the BnB

Dinner - see above choices

 

Day 9 

Leave by 7AM

Drive 2h to hike Aster Falls/Aster Park Overlook 4 miles

Drive 20m to East Glacier Village - at lunch at Looking Glass Restaurant

Drive 2h 35m to Great Falls, MT

If we have time, go to Giant Springs State Park (fish hatchery and walk rivers edge trail)

Dinner - Rikki’s Pizza and Pasta, Cafe Rio Mexican

Stay Springhill Suites Great Falls 

 

Day 10 

Breakfast at the Hotel - leave by 8AM

Drive 3h 47m to Summit Corral for lunch

Drive 2h 46m to Theodore Roosevelt Park - South Scenic Loop Drive

Hike Wind Canyon Trail  (½ mile loop)

Painted Canyon Visitor Center and Hike Painted Canyon Nature Trail (1.1 miles)

Drive 30m to Dickinson - Townplace Suites

Visit Fluffy Fields Vineyard and Winery

Dinner - Los Cabos Mexican or Schlotsky’s

 

Day 11 

Drive 4h 12m to lunch at Fargo, Sickies Garage

Drive 3h 30m - Drive around downtown

Drive 15m to Minnehaha Falls

Drive 12 min to Great Wolf Lodge  in Minneapolis 

 

Day 12 

Water park and then Mall of America

 

Day 13 

Flight leaves in the AM