We are finishing up our planning for the next few months, that includes a trip to see the grand son complete his first year of life, a trip to Florida to visit with MOM, and a visit back to South Dakota before my pass runs out. After all I paid $60 for this park entrance pass, I might at well drive 1000 miles back to the area to get my money out of it.
I have been considering going back to Custer state park to see the buffalo round up the last week of September. But the reviews I have read indicate it can be a very frustrating bust if you aren’t well versed in the process and what to expect. The parking and traffic in and out of the round up area is unanimously described as a cluster with no coordination or traffic control , so you might just end up sitting in a traffic jam for 3-4 hours before you get back to your campsite or out of the park.
Even getting to the corrals is a lot of luck, unless you get there the night before and just wait for it to happen the next day. The video in the visitor center is probably more impressive than anything you would ever experience at the actual corral. So instead, I’m considering Yosemite or Yellowstone for a day visit. If anyone has any “REAL Hidden gems” they want to recommend, I”M all ears and will be very much appreciative. remember, I’m into mounains and forests, not beachs or fancy cities.
I’m most likely going to be in tht are around march or april as I was in 2025, so snow an such are on my radar. This year I have chains, what a mess they are. And I Doubt they would last more than a few hundred feet before they disintagrate. but they are required. I may have said it before , but I drove 275 miles to sequoia national park in spring 2025, and when I got there they told me my 4×4 4runner needed chains to get up into the park because they had 2 inches of snow. So I will not be turned around again!
just a fine example of not knowing what you need to know before venturing out on an adventure. We are hopinh we will be better ready for everything this year, and will have a much more relaxing trip with some long relaxing camping and hiking and resting. hopefully the media will be much better too.
Well I’m going to make this short and sweet. Please let me know what you have seen and liked, any recommendation will be consideerd. so far I haven’t been led astray yet by any of my followers. Hope you had a safe and happy 5th of July. Keep smiling, and stay happy. It takes too much energy to be miserable. Trust me I know!!! feel free to drop me a $$ using this link $$ Make a Donation $$
if you haven’t read this one, you should https://goingnowherefastrv.com/magical-michigan-up/
Hi Rick. It’s good to see you active again.
Say HI to mom. We all wish her the best.
$60 for a park entrance pass? Yes, you better get back there so you can claim it was worth it. 😉
South Dakota’s Bad Lands is an amazing place. I highly recommend you drive the Needles Highway. SD rt 87 from rt 385 through rt 16A and continue to rt 395. Rt 87 is an amazing ride.
As for suggestions on where to visit, last summer I camphosted at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota. It’s a wonderful place. Teddy Roosevelt actually lived there. The geology is shocking. Ask a Ranger and they will give you a personal guided tour.
I’m currently camphosting in western Montana at Seeley Lake. Stop by and I’ll be glad to get you breakfast like we did in Quartzsite.
Safe travels, and like always, say hello to Akela.
Tom
Hy there Tom, we did drive a lot of the roads around custer and rushmore and crazy horse. it is a very facinating area. we are caurently trying to plan the trip back out there starting in sept. But finding overnight areas is not easy with the little knowledge I have of the area. I See quartzite is still listed as $40 for 2 weeks and $80 for all winter season, so they didn’t raise the rate p to $600 like thy were threatening. Leaving my house for the months I want to be out there is scary. and so far the trailer is not acting like it wants to go, the fresh water system is not behaving. and you probably heard about my isue going through texas where the wheel/axle self destructed. Heading up to Syracuse NY in August. for the grand baby’s !st birthday. Might have to detuor up into the adk for relaxation and have a very long stern talk with the wolf pup.