Day 6

Start Miles 6843

End Miles 6978

Total Miles 135

Badlands to Keystone, SD

Waking up Tuesday morning was bright, early, and amazing. It was our first night camping on the trip and with the sounds of nature, the cool air, and a dawn of day made the both of us almost not want to get out of bed. The prospects of taking amazing pictures of the Badlands at sunrise were just too much to pass up. Luckily we brought a java press and Green Mountain Coffee to get us moving. Anyone who knows us knows coffee is a must!

The Badlands Loop is about 30 miles around the park. Those are the most majestic 30 miles of rock you could see, and as we took them, the sun started to really shine. The colors that are layered in the rocks make you look twice, yellows, oranges, reds, pinks, and greens.

At the end of the Badlands loop is Wall, SD. What I’ve learned is that if a state only has a few roadside attractions and nothing else, they’ll start advertising it in the state before. This could mean hundreds of miles of advertising. Wall Drug is just that, a roadside attraction with tons of advertising. The place is huge and full of tourist junk and “Free Ice Water”. If you’re 16 in Wall, SD, your first job is probably Wall Drug, makin’ the donuts! P.S. the people watching is epic.

Our goal was Mount Rushmore by 3, but the weather was nothing but horrible so we decided to see a bit of Rapid City to provision and then find a room for the night. The Presidential Inn & Suites in Keystone, SD is just minutes away from and is the only hotel with views of Mount Rushmore.