30 days in Rapid City, Wisconsin Dells & Mackinac Island Itinerary

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: Custer (Iron Mountain Road, Wildlife Loop Road, &more), Keystone (Presidential Trail, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, &more) and Devils Tower (Tower Trail & Devils Tower National Monument). The adventure continues: look for all kinds of wild species at Bear Country USA, take your sightseeing to a higher altitude at Black Elk Peak, learn about all things military at South Dakota Air and Space Museum, and admire all the interesting features of Loop Road.

Use Inspirock's suggestions to plan your Rapid City trip and find the best activities and attractions for your vacation.

Dallas to Rapid City is an approximately 5.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. The time zone changes from Central Standard Time (CST) to Mountain Standard Time (MST), which is usually a -1 hour difference. Plan for colder temperatures traveling from Dallas in April, with highs in Rapid City at 54°F and lows at 33°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 11th (Sun) to allow time for travel to Wisconsin Dells.

Named after a nearby scenic gorge famous for its steep sandstone formations, Wisconsin Dells features more than 20 water parks, making it one of the most popular vacation areas in this region.

Explore Wisconsin Dells' surroundings by going to Madison (Owens Conservation Park, Henry Vilas Zoo, &more), Winona (Garvin Heights City Park & Minnesota Marine Art Museum) and Spring Green (The House on the Rock, Taliesin Preservation: Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center , &more). Plan for a day of cool, family-friendly fun on the 21st (Wed) at Noah's Ark Water Park. And it doesn't end there: get a dose of the wild on Original Wisconsin Ducks, cool off at Wilderness Territory, grab your bike and head to Green Circle Trail, and brush up on your military savvy at Portage WWII History Museum.

For more things to do, other places to visit, ratings, and more tourist information, go to the Wisconsin Dells trip planner.

You can do a combination of flight, bus, and train from Rapid City to Wisconsin Dells in 8.5 hours. Other options are to do a combination of flight and train; or drive. The time zone difference when traveling from Rapid City to Wisconsin Dells is 1 hour. In April, plan for daily highs up to 53°F, and evening lows to 34°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 26th (Mon) to allow time to travel to Mackinac Island.

Mackinac Island is a city in Mackinac County in the U.S. Mackinac Island is known for nature, museums, and wildlife. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: get engrossed in the history at Fort Mackinac, don't miss a visit to Is It You Spot From Somewhere in Time Movie!, contemplate the long history of Biddle House, and pause for some serene contemplation at Trinity Church.

To find ratings, other places to visit, where to stay, and other tourist information, go to the Mackinac Island tour planner.

Traveling by combination of train, bus, flight, and ferry from Wisconsin Dells to Mackinac Island takes 12 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus, flight, and ferry; or do a combination of train, bus, and ferry. You'll lose 1 hour traveling from Wisconsin Dells to Mackinac Island due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Wisconsin Dells in April, expect nights in Mackinac Island to be about the same, around 30°F, while days are a bit cooler, around 42°F. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 30th (Fri) to allow time for travel back home.