Today we left Badlands National Park and drove west towards Rapid City and eventually Keystone, SD. We had to make a pit stop at Walmart for some items we had forgotten or realized we needed. We each picked out a snack or treat too. Our check-in time wasn’t until 3 and it was almost noon. Our RV park was only 5 minutes from Mount Rushmore so we decided to go to Mount Rushmore first.

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I thought it would be a quick in and out type thing but they had a movie, rangers doing programs, and a nature path.

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The girls worked on their third Junior Ranger Program badge for the trip and were sworn in before we left.

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By the time we finished up at Rushmore, it was time to check in. We are on a paid site for the first time on this trip. It’s a “city” RV park which means tiny lots but full hookups (and wifi). Our site is right on the creek and the girls have the best view out their bedroom window.

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The weather has been beautiful. Today it was about 74 and sunny. We used the heat each night because it dips down into the 40s. Tonight the low is 53. We may run the heat again. We only brought light blankets since even though it does cool off at night in the desert, it only gets down to about 58. Heavy blankets and sleeping bags take up a lot of space and space is at a premium on this trip.

You can see Mount Rushmore from our RV park so we plan to stay up to watch the lighting of Mount Rushmore at 9:30pm. I’ll post pictures of it tomorrow.

Total miles today 162