Los Angeles to Mount Rushmore and back in 7 days. Approximate mileage: 4,040 miles.
My objective is to visit Mout Rushmore and conduct a reconnaissance of the Black Hills of South Dakota. Like many of my trips, another goal is to check out National Monuments and National Parks along the way. At each location, I pick up local information (brochures, maps, and books) that will help me identify whether I want to come back and visit for a longer period.

I always plan a circular route that will take me to the destination and back but I am not locked into the planned route. Mant times I have serendipitously change course when I encountered points of interest. The journey has as high of a priority as the destination so I never feel bad if I do not complete the entire planned route.

DAY 1: Torrance, CA (9:00 p.m.)to a rest stop just south of Cedar City, UT. DAY 2: Cedar Breaks Nat. Mon, Capitol Reef Nat. Park, to a rest stop just south of Denver, CO. DAY 3: Spent the day with friend in Larkspur, CO, left at 3:00 p.m. and traveled north to a rest stop on I-25 south of Douglas, WY, DAY 4: East to Wind Cave Nat. Park, Custer State Park, Mount Rushmore Nat. Memorial, Crazy Horse Memorial, Jevel Cave Nat. Mon., to a KOA campground in Deadwood, SD. DAY 5: Spent the day in Deadwood, Devils Tower Nat. Mon., WY, and then traveled to a rest stop west of Hardin, MT. DAY 6: Little Bighorn Battlefield Nat. Mon., Pompeys Pillar Nat. Mon., Yellowstone Nat. Park, to a rest stop south of Idaho Falls, ID. DAY 7: Craters of the Monn Nat. Mon., Hegerman Fossil Beds Nat. Mon., Twin Falls, Wendover, to a motel in Ely, NV. DAY 8: Grest Basin Nat. Park, Death Valley Nat. Park, to Torrance, CA.