5 days in South Dakota Itinerary

On the 24th (Mon), look for all kinds of wild species at Roberts Prairie Dog Town.

For photos, where to stay, other places to visit, and more tourist information, read our Badlands National Park itinerary builder tool.

Washington DC to Badlands National Park is an approximately 7-hour flight. You can also drive; or do a combination of subway, train, bus, and taxi. The time zone difference moving from Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Mountain Standard Time (MST) is minus 2 hours. Prepare for little chillier weather when traveling from Washington DC in April: high temperatures in Badlands National Park hover around 58°F and lows are around 30°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 25th (Tue) early enough to go by car to Manderson.

Start off your visit on the 26th (Wed): don't miss a visit to Pine Ridge Reservation, explore the world behind art at Red Cloud Heritage Center, and then appreciate the history behind Wounded Knee Massacre Monument.

For reviews, more things to do, traveler tips, and more tourist information, refer to the Manderson trip itinerary app.

Getting from Badlands National Park to Manderson by car takes about 1.5 hours. In April, daytime highs in Manderson are 58°F, while nighttime lows are 30°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 26th (Wed) so you can drive to Rapid City.

On the 27th (Thu), cruise along Wildlife Loop Road, then admire the majestic nature at Custer State Park, then explore the striking landscape of Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and finally learn about wildlife with up-close encounters at Reptile Gardens. Here are some ideas for day two: stop by Alex Johnson Mercantile and then identify plant and animal life at Bear Country USA.

To see photos, ratings, and more tourist information, go to the Rapid City route builder website.

Getting from Manderson to Rapid City by car takes about 1.5 hours. In April, daytime highs in Rapid City are 54°F, while nighttime lows are 33°F. On the 28th (Fri), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can fly back home.