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Great Plains & Monuments Loop
This 6-day loop takes you through the heart of the Midwest and the rugged beauty of South Dakota. I've broken up the long stretches across the I-90 corridor with quirky roadside stops and nature breaks to keep the kids entertained.
6days
18stops
2435km
Day 1: Chicago → National Mississippi River Mu… → Field of Dreams Movie Site
3h 41min · 330km3 stops
Chicago
09:00
3h 5min · 287km
National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
12:30
36min · 43km
Field of Dreams Movie Site
16:00
Day 2: Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor → Falls Park → World's Only Corn Palace
5h 58min · 607km3 stops
Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor
11:30
4h 30min · 464km
Falls Park
14:30
1h 28min · 143km
World's Only Corn Palace
17:00
Day 3: Badlands National Park → Wall Drug Store → Rapid City
3h 26min · 380km3 stops
Badlands National Park
10:30
3h 15min · 368km
Wall Drug Store
14:30
11min · 12km
Rapid City
17:00
Day 4: Mount Rushmore National Memor… → Custer → Crazy Horse Memorial
1h 6min · 65km3 stops
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
09:30
30min · 37km
Custer
13:00
36min · 28km
Crazy Horse Memorial
16:30
Day 5: Dignity of Earth & Sky → Ashfall Fossil Beds State His… → Sioux City
6h 21min · 676km3 stops
Dignity of Earth & Sky
11:00
3h 35min · 393km
Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park
14:30
2h 46min · 283km
Sioux City
17:30
Day 6: Pappajohn Sculpture Park → Reiman Gardens → Chicago
3h 35min · 378km3 stops
Pappajohn Sculpture Park
11:00
2h 57min · 319km
Reiman Gardens
14:00
38min · 59km
Chicago
18:00
Heads Up
- 1. Buy a National Parks Pass at the Badlands entrance; it covers Mount Rushmore parking and your park entry fees.
- 2. Bring binoculars for the Wildlife Loop in Custer!
- 3. Day 2: 7h 10m driving — plan rest stops
- 4. Day 5: 8h 8m driving — plan rest stops
- 5. Day 6: 8h 48m driving — plan rest stops