The park is the most active earthly wilderness in the world. This is not because of the some three million annual visitors, but rather the hot lava bed which shifts the altitudes of the park in relatively short measurement spans and therein, it has more geysers than everywhere else in the world combined. It's an incredible visit.
Also, visit the gift shop. It's like no other, truly awesome store.
For several minutes we watched the steam rise up slightly and blow off into the wind, unsure of what to expect but knowing this wasn’t quite it yet. And then in a swoosh, the steam rose up several meters into sky forming a giant cloud which rolled over us and lasted for several minutes.
Rather than crowd by the visitor center, grab a spot on the trail to side of the geyser for the front row view.
We stopped here for breakfast and had delicious coffee and yogurt parfaits. It's also a great working environment for those with a laptop in need of wifi on the road.
Buffalo Bill was at one point the most famous man in America and founder of Cody, Wyoming. Visit the very saloon he built himself and the incredible built in wood work. Stop next door at the saloon for a pint or a whiskey.
Earth's natural skyscraper, this extinct volcanic protrusion is an epic site to see... and climb. You can even camp at the foot of the tower at a KOA.
I highly recommend this route. In just 45 minutes we saw several donkey, elk and prairie dogs and some 60 buffalo.
We had a delightful stay here, be sure to enjoy the hot tub and the divine lobby fireplace while you relax and sip wine.
This is a really important monument to visit and an important part of American history to recall.
Book With KOA
Click to find bookable tours and activities here
We stayed here when we were checking out Mount Rushmore, Hill City and Crazy Horse. They might have the cleanest bathrooms and showers I have ever seen. The WiFi didn't work great for us, which was only a problem because we work on the road — however Hill City was only a short drive with some cool cafés to work from.
Sure, everyone has heard of Mount Rushmore, but seeing it in person is truly exciting. It's greater than you can imagine, and you can even hike right up to the foot of the carvings.