Your 3-Day Family Adventure Checklist: Cheyenne to Colorado Springs via the Black Hills

Trip: Cheyenne → Colorado Springs (via Black Hills, Mount Rushmore, Deadwood, Devils Tower, Rapid City)
Duration: 3 Days (July—family friendly pace)
Total Miles: ~710 miles round trip
Key Stops: Lusk, Custer, Mount Rushmore, Rapid City, Deadwood, Devils Tower, Chadron, Alliance, Colorado Springs
Entry Fees: $10 (Mount Rushmore parking), ~$62 (Reptile Gardens)
Budget: $450–$550 for a family of 4 (fuel, hotel, food, entry)

☀️ Weather & Road Safety

  • Weather: July highs around 30°C (86°F), nights can dip to 15°C (59°F)—pack layers for everyone.
  • Wildlife: Watch for deer near Custer—especially early morning or dusk.
  • Sun: Strong UV, so bring SPF 50+, sun hats and sunglasses.
  • Roads: Curvy highways in the hills; take regular breaks and share the driving.
  • Fuel: Cheaper in Lusk, Rapid City, and Chadron—fill up before remote stretches.
  • Mobile Signal: Patchy in the hills—download your maps before you set off.

Your 3-Day Family Road Trip Checklist

We’re a real family who’s done this adventure—here’s our road-tested checklist for a trip full of fun and memories. The best bits are often the unexpected ones—hope your journey is as full of surprises as ours! (And don’t forget your JB Travel neck pillows and gadget bag—they made our journey so much comfier!)

Before You Go

  • ✓ Book your stay: Rapid City is a great base. The Foothills Inn (family room ~$110/night) worked for us, but camping or cabins are fun too.
  • ✓ Budget: $450–$550 covers fuel, hotel, food, entry for 4 (July ‘25 rates).
  • ✓ Buy your snacks & packed lunches: Cheyenne supermarkets are best for price and choice.
  • ✓ Fuel up: Fill up in Lusk or Rapid City—it’s cheaper than the hills.
  • ✓ Emergency kit: Water, torch, spare tyre, jump leads, first aid kit (kids’ pain relief, plasters, wipes), and mosquito spray.
  • ✓ Entertainment: Bring drawing paper, pencils, pens, notepads, and small games for downtime. Our gadget bag kept all the leads and tablets tidy!
  • ✓ Comfy travel gear: Our JB Travel kids’ neck pillows (Penguin and Black Cat) made car naps cosy—and helped avoid grumpy tummies.

Daily Itinerary Checklist

Day 1: Cheyenne to Mount Rushmore & Rapid City

  • □ Fill up in Lusk and stretch your legs—picnic time if the children’s tummies are rumbling!
  • □ Custer: Stop for a snack, top up the tank, or spot the buffalo statues in town.
  • □ Marvel at Mount Rushmore—presidents up close! $10 for parking. Visit before midday for fewer crowds.
  • □ Settle into Rapid City—The Foothills Inn is great for families, with a pool and easy parking.
Pro Tip: For Mount Rushmore, don’t stop at the first car parks—keep driving right to the top near the monument. It’s only a five-minute walk and much easier for little legs. Take plenty of pictures—and if you share your best ones, tag us!

Day 2: Deadwood & Devils Tower

  • □ Walk Main Street in Deadwood—Wild West fun, wooden sidewalks, and cowboy tales.
  • □ Spot the Adams Museum and the Days of ’76 wagons—great for curious minds.
  • □ Head to Devils Tower—watch climbers and enjoy the view. Binoculars are a winner here.
  • □ Return to Rapid City for the night—rest and recharge.

Day 3: Reptile Gardens & Colorado Springs

  • □ Start at Reptile Gardens—this was a true family favourite! We couldn’t believe the size of the giant tortoises and the variety of reptiles. The kids loved the face painting and seeing so many animals up close. You could easily spend a whole morning here.
  • □ Quick stop in Chadron—fill up and grab snacks (We had McDonald’s).
  • □ Alliance: Spot a freight train from the road (see if you can count all the carriages!).
  • □ Arrive in Colorado Springs—hotel check-in, feet up, big family cheer!

Food & Budget Tips

  • Buy ingredients for healthy packed lunches in Cheyenne or Rapid City — park shops cost more.
  • Bring a cooler for picnic lunches—keeps sandwiches and fruit fresh for peckish tummies.
  • Don’t forget a flask of tea or coffee with honey for those classic road breaks.
  • Skip the souvenirs—drawings and photos are the best mementos.
  • Budget a little for ice cream treats (and don’t miss the face painting at Reptile Gardens).

Packing Essentials

Weather & Comfort

  • ❏ Layers: Lightweight jackets and hoodies (nights drop to 15°C/59°F even in July).
  • ❏ Sun hats, SPF 50+, sunglasses—strong UV.
  • ❏ Mosquito spray—especially for the parks.
  • ❏ Comfy walking shoes or trainers.

Food & Hydration

  • ❏ Cooler, snacks, and plenty of water bottles.
  • ❏ Cups, plates, cutlery, and a picnic rug.
  • ❏ Flask of tea or coffee—classic comfort.

Family Gear

  • ❏ Travel neck pillows for the kids (and adults!).
  • ❏ Gadget bag to keep leads, chargers, and tablets organised.
  • ❏ Charging cables and adaptors.
  • ❏ Picnic mat or rug for those scenic stops.
  • ❏ Wet wipes, water bottles, and a small first aid kit.
  • ❏ Drawing paper, pencils, pens, and notepads for creative time.

Highlights for Families

  • Mount Rushmore—snap a family selfie with the presidents.
  • Deadwood—Main Street, cowboy history.
  • Devils Tower—spot climbers and walk the trails together.
  • Reptile Gardens—tortoises, gators, and face painting galore. The kids didn’t want to leave!
  • Watching giant freight trains near Alliance.
  • Rapid City—family hotel and a splash in the pool to end the day.

Final Notes & Share Your Journey

Our Cheyenne-to-Colorado Springs adventure is still one of our favourites—so many memories, a few surprises, and lots of laughs (and a couple of tired tummies!). If you use this checklist, let us know how you get on. Share your best moments or ask us anything—tag @jummaiandbobtravel or visit jbtravelworld.com for more family travel inspiration. We love seeing your photos!

Happy travels from Jummai, Bob, and all at JB Travel! 🚗🌄