10 days in Denver & Black Hills & Badlands Itinerary

Aptly nicknamed the "Mile-High City," Denver sits at an altitude of 1,600 m (5,280 ft) above sea level, located right where the Great Plains give way to the Rocky Mountains.

You'll find plenty of places to visit near Denver: Garden of the Gods (in Colorado Springs) and Pikes Peak - America's Mountain (in Cascade). There's much more to do: take in the awesome beauty at Mount Evans, take in nature's colorful creations at Denver Botanic Gardens, contemplate the long history of Molly Brown House Museum, and explore the activities along Crown Hill Park.

To see maps, more things to do, traveler tips, and more tourist information, refer to the Denver trip planner.

New York City to Denver is an approximately 7-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a train. Traveling from New York City to Denver, you'll gain 2 hours due to the time zone difference. Traveling from New York City in July, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be slightly colder in Denver, with lows of 60°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 18th (Sun) so you can travel to Keystone.

Fewer than 400 people call Keystone home year-round, but the population explodes in summer when crowds flock to nearby Mount Rushmore.

On the 19th (Mon), go deep underground at Big Thunder Gold Mine, trek along Presidential Trail, then explore the striking landscape of Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and finally get great views at Breezy Point Picnic Area. On your second day here, explore the striking landscape at Needles Eye Tunnel, explore the activities along Sylvan Lake, then admire the majestic nature at Custer State Park, and finally cruise along Iron Mountain Road.

For traveler tips, other places to visit, maps, and tourist information, go to the Keystone trip planning site.

You can fly from Denver to Keystone in 4 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of bus and taxi. Traveling from Denver in July, things will get a bit cooler in Keystone: highs are around 80°F and lows about 53°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 20th (Tue) early enough to go by car to Deadwood.

Deadwood is a city in South Dakota, United States, and the county seat of Lawrence County. On the 21st (Wed), go deep underground at Broken Boot Gold Mine, cruise along Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, then take an in-depth tour of D.C. Booth Historic National Fish Hatchery, and finally take in the dramatic scenery at Bridal Veil Falls.

To find photos, traveler tips, reviews, and other tourist information, you can read our Deadwood online trip itinerary maker.

Getting from Keystone to Deadwood by car takes about 1.5 hours. The time zone difference moving from Mountain Standard Time (MST) to Central Standard Time (CST) is 1 hour. In July, plan for daily highs up to 83°F, and evening lows to 58°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 21st (Wed) to allow enough time to drive to Rapid City.

South Dakota's second-largest city, Rapid City has for many years served as a gateway to the West.

Get out of town with these interesting Rapid City side-trips: Badlands National Park (Burns Basin Overlook, Badlands Wall, &more). There's much more to do: learn about wildlife with up-close encounters at Reptile Gardens, visit Downtown Rapid City, take in the architecture and atmosphere at Chapel in the Hills, and get in on the family fun at Storybook Island.

To see ratings, traveler tips, photos, and more tourist information, use the Rapid City trip itinerary planner.

You can drive from Deadwood to Rapid City in an hour. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and bus. Traveling from Deadwood to Rapid City, you'll gain 1 hour due to the time zone difference. In July, plan for daily highs up to 85°F, and evening lows to 62°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 24th (Sat) so you can travel back home.