This next itinerary is from when we visited the midwest states of North Dakota, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota. There are 3 National Parks in this itinerary so be sure to get your America The Beautiful National Parks Pass for $80 ahead of time to save a few bucks on entry fees (there’s typically a $30 per car entry fee at each park)!
Here’s the itinerary…
- Day 1 – Fly into Dickinson, North Dakota and stay overnight in a hotel there…
- Get some grub in Dickinson this evening…
- Dinner Ideas – Blue 42 Sports Grille & Bar, Brickhouse Grille, The Grub Tub ND
- Day 2 – Drive 0:36 and spend the morning exploring/hiking at Theodore Roosevelt National Park
- After that, jump in the car and drive 3:30 and visit Devils Tower National Monument…
- This is a really cool spot to check out and a MUST-SEE if you’re a movie-buff like I am… this is the iconic landing spot where the aliens landed in the movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”
- After that, drive 1:36 and stay overnight in Rapid City, South Dakota
- Reserve this hotel for TWO nights
- Get some grub in Rapid City this evening…
- Dinner Ideas – Independent Ale House, Colonial House Restaurant & Bar, Firehouse Brewing Company (we ate here and were very pleased)
- Day 3 – Drive 1:10 and spend the morning exploring Badlands National Park
- AllTrails Hiking Information
- Specifically we’d recommend checking out hiking the Notch Trail here… you’ll get a great overview of the park’s most iconic and prominent features, as well as a little adventure!
- Drive 1:44 and spend a couple hours at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial
- Drive 0:39 and visit the Crazy Horse Memorial
- Drive 0:43 and stay overnight in Rapid City again
- Get some grub in Rapid City this evening…
- Dinner Ideas – Murphy’s Pub & Grill, Delmonico Grill, Sabatino’s Italian Ristorante
- Day 4 – Drive 3:12 and visit Scotts Bluff National Monument (Old Oregon Trail)
- Drive 0:29 and visit Chimney Rock National Historical Park (Old Oregon Trail)
- Drive 0:23 and visit Courthouse and Jails Rocks National Historical Marker (Old Oregon Trail)
- Drive 2:21 and stay overnight in North Platte, Nebraska
- Get some grub in North Platte this evening…
- Dinner Ideas – Luigi’s, Merricks Ranch House, San Pedro Mexican Restaurant
- Day 5 – Drive 2:58 and visit the Geographic Center of the USA in Lebanon, Kansas
- This is a cool little landmark that puts you right square in the center of our country (the lower 48 states… not counting Alaska & Hawaii). There’s a small monument (and signage) there that is a nice photo-op that is actually en-route to the next location in Kansas that you’re headed to.
- Drive 2:40 and visit the Strataca Underground Salt Mine
- Drive 0:45 and stay overnight in Wichita, Kansas
- Get some grub in Wichita this evening…
- Dinner Ideas – Public, The Anchor, The Monarch
- Day 6 – Drive 2:40 and visit the Tulsa Air & Space Museum
- Drive 0:17 and visit the Route 66 Historical Village
- Drive 2:00 and stay overnight in Fayetteville, Arkansas
- Get some grub in Fayetteville this evening…
- Dinner Ideas – Mockingbird Kitchen, Renzo’s Pasta & Italian Steakhouse, Hugo’s
- Day 7 – Drive 3:00 and visit Blanchard Springs Caverns
- Drive 1:42 and stay overnight in West Plains, Missouri
- Get some grub in West Plains this evening…
- Dinner Ideas – Hibby’s Sports Grille, Ozark Cafe, Pizza Inn
- Day 8 – Drive 3:19 and visit Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis, Missouri
- Drive 1:25 and stay overnight in Springfield, Illinois
- Get some grub in Springfield this evening…
- Dinner Ideas – Maldaner’s Restaurant, Route 66 Motorheads Bar, Engrained Brewing
- Day 9 – Drive 3:19 and visit Maquoketa Caves State Park
- Drive 0:35 and visit the Fenelon Place Elevator
- This is the world’s shortest and steepest railroad! Pretty cool attraction!
- Stay overnight here in Dubuque, Iowa
- Get some grub in Dubuque this evening…
- Dinner Ideas – Copper Kettle, Woodfire Grille, Barrel House (we ate here and were very pleased)
- Day 10 – Drive 4:33 and spend the afternoon at the Mall of America
- Get some grub here at the mall before heading to the airport tonight
- Dinner Ideas – Cedar + Stone, Urban Table, Twin City Grill, Cadillac Ranch
- Drive 0:05 and fly home out of the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport late tonight
Quest for 50 states 