My sister and I drove over 2,400 miles through Minnesota and the Dakotas—with a quick trip to Wyoming—to visit some unexpectedly breathtaking views.

July  25, 2025

Voyageurs National Park

We canoed a couple of miles around Black Bay, absolutely loving the peaceful scenes and sounds until we had to battle the wind gusting across the bay to get back. Voyageurs Outfitters thankfully made it easy to pick up and drop off the canoe right at the launch site.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Despite being an hour apart from one another, both the North Unit and South Unit have breathtaking views that make them worth visiting. We actually preferred the quiet spaciousness of the North Unit—although the fun shops in Medora outside the South Unit were definitely a hit.

Wind Cave National Park

While the cave itself was interesting with its boxwork formations, the most interesting part about Wind Cave to us was what we learned on the Natural Entrance Tour about it being the sacred place of emergence of the Lakota Nation.

Badlands National Park

Despite the heat having us bounce between overlooks and the car's AC, Badlands felt like entering another planet—with its towering striped spires and vibrant pink and yellow formations.

State parks

The state parks in South Dakota and Minnesota rivaled some of the national parks we hit.

South Dakota

Custer State Park

This was one of the most beautiful parks I've been to. Between the scenic road that wound between the towering rocks to the hikes that took us up above them to tarry with the clouds, I could have spent much longer here that we had time for.

Minnesota

Minnesota's scenic drive along the North Shore of Lake Superior offered some stunning scenes of rocky lakeshore.

Monuments and memorials

City wandering

We loved the old-timey western towns like Deadwood and Custer, but also appreciated how lively and welcoming Rapid City was. Also, sandwiches from The Bashful Bison (recommend The Bison and The Wasta) made a fantastic dinner at our glampsite. The Elkview Lodge at Battle Creek Camping Resort was a lovely stay that featured a cozy hut, funky installation art, and incredible nightly views.

On the road

Some sights that helped break up the long drives between destinations.