Roadside Attraction

Rock City Park, Kansas

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Check out this bizarre situation of rocks in the middle of Kansas! Formed from an ancient inland see, these rocks puzzling to see and even more fun to climb.

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Did you know that Kansas was once covered by an inland sea? Did you know that it left behind some crazy rock formations in the middle farmland? Check out this bizarre situation of rocks in the middle of Kansas!

Nestled into the fields just outside of Minneapolis, Kansas sits a rather unique cluster of rock formations. These giant concretions are the largest congregation of this type of formation in a single place in the world. Who knew it would be smack in the middle of Kansas?!

Fees & Hours

There is a small fee for this park, it is well worth it to enjoy this amazing natural landmark.

Fee: $3 per adult, $0.50 per child
Hours: Open from Dawn to Dusk, Gift shop closes during off-season
Dog Friendly: Yes! Dogs are welcome on leash, please clean up after your pet.

Fees can be paid at the gift shop. During the off season, there is a small lock box where fees can be deposited near the gift shop. The restrooms, it seems, remain open and are very clean vault toilets.

*We visited in the first week of March. The restrooms were open, but the gift shop was not.

Location

Address: 1051 Ivy Rd, Minneapolis, KS 67467

When driving out to this unique park, it will seem as though Google Maps has gone mad. It’s not what you’d expect for a rocky landscape. Fields surround this wild outcropping of rocks.

A great location for stretching your legs on a road trip that passes through Kansas.

The Rocks

Climbing: Our kids love to climb. This is the perfect spot to get some of that climbing energy out. These rocks offer great foot holds and grip for little fingers. The larger rocks are great for older kids to explore. There is a group of smaller rocks nearer to the entrance of the park that features easier rocks for the little ones to practice on.

Tunnel: Oh my goodness! This stone tunnel is such a fun find. This tunnel is located at the far side of the small group of rock formations. Nearer to the entrance to the park.

Mount Rushmore vs Crazy Horse, South Dakota

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Rushmore or Crazy Horse? Decisions, decisions… Check them out and see which fits your interests. Spoiler: We went to both!

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Of course Mount Rushmore comes to mind when one thinks of a road trip to South Dakota. But what about Crazy Horse? I’m embarrassed to admit that I had never heard of Crazy Horse until we were in Custer State Park for our camping trip at Sylvan Lake.

We happened to see a sign and my husband, Scott, thought it would be a neat stop. It was! Very worth the visit.

Mount Rushmore

Location: 13000 Highway 244, Keystone, SD 57751

Directions: From Rapid City, head south on US 16, watch for signs for Mount Rushmore, they are everywhere. Take the exit for SD 244, really there are signs everywhere.

Cost: Free, but there is a $10 parking fee.

Worth a Visit: Yes, I do think this stop is worth a visit at least once. I don’t think it’s a place I could spend too much time at but a quick visit on our way to other attractions for sure. Mount Rushmore is, of course, such an iconic stop on a SD road trip. There is history, nature and a giant rock with faces on it.

History/Education: Aside from the giant face-filled rock, there is a bit of history to learn in the lower level. Take the elevator down beneath the viewing platform to read about presidential history and the history of the area.

Hiking Trails: There are trails around the national monument, with our shorter visiting timeframe, we did not take extra excursions. The Presidential trail and Nature Trail lie within the park and loop the monument. The longer, more strenuous Blackberry Trail sits outside of the park. The Blackberry Trail does not offer good views of the park, it actually leads away from the park to the Centennial Trail.

Dogs: Dogs are welcome in specific areas including; the entrance area, parking garages, blackberry trail, and the pet exercise area.

Crazy Horse

Location: 12151 Avenue of the Chiefs, Crazy Horse, SD 57730

Directions: If coming from Rushmore, head west on 244, then take a left when you arrive at 385. Crazy Horse will be on the right.

Cost: $7-$35, depending on passengers per vehicle

Worth a Visit: Yes! I had no idea that this memorial was here and I’m so glad we checked it out. We spent more time here than at Mount Rushmore.

Crazy Horse is still under construction but it was still worth the stop. This was actually not a planned stop, we happened to see a sign for it on our way to get pie at the Purple Pie Place. It was worth a stop.

History/Education: At this location there is a museum with so much Native American history packed inside. They have many artifacts on display, we were lucky enough to catch one of the presentations outside in the square. You can see a finished model of the Crazy Horse monument in the square as well, Sandy thought this was pretty cool.

Tours: From the museum, you do get a great view of the Crazy Horse memorial, but for a closer look there are tours available. With our limited time, we didn’t catch a ride to the top of the mountain, but I wish we would have.

Dogs: Crazy Horse is pet friendly in the outdoor areas. Pets must be on leash.

So which to visit? Well, we did both, and I would actually suggest both to anyone visiting the Rapid City area. There is so much history and work put into these amazing monuments. Both are a marvel to see, just go to both!

Visit the Worlds Largest Bison, North Dakota

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Add the World’s Largest Bison to your road side attractions list. There is more to discover here than just on large bison.

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A regular bison is huge. So, just how big is the World’s Largest Bison? Did you know it’s right in North Dakota? Or how easy it is to find it?

Dakota Thunder

Name: Dakota Thunder received his name in 2010 after a naming contest.

Height: 26 feet

Weight: 60 tons

Year Built: 1959

Viewer Discretion Advised: He is… detailed. Hahaha!

Location

Address: 404 Louis L’Amour Lane, Jamestown, ND 58401

The monument can be seen from the Interstate 94 heading west. Take exit 258 toward Jamestown. Turn right onto US 52 and another right onto Louis L’Amour Lane. The monument will be at the end of Louis L’Amour Lane.

Village

Travel back in time to the old village surrounding the massive monument. The historic village provides visitors with a sense of how life was in the pioneer days about the west. There are interactive exhibits, a play area, historic buildings, an old General Store and so much to learn. Cruise down the old “Main Street” to discover the history of Jamestown.

Our little guy’s favorite activity was the water pump. He was so excited to discover that he could do it all by himself. It’s the little things.

Bison Museum

The National Buffalo Museum sits just beside the monument and is home to a small herd of bison. Visitors can tour the museum for a small entrance fee and learn much about the American Bison. The gift shop is a great place to stop for souvenirs.

Hours:

Summer: 10am-6pm Daily

March-Memorial Day & Labor Day-October: Tues-Sat 10am-5pm

Winter: (Nov-Feb) Tues-Sat. 10am-5pm

Fees: $8 per adult, $6 children, 5 and under are free

On the backside of the museum, visitors can observe the herd from the viewing deck. Be aware: Do Not Pet the fluffy cows. There are signs indicating a warning about climbing the fence and disturbing the bison.

Tip: They have a penny machine. That is one of our go-to souvenirs on trips. It costs $0.51, the kids can have fun making them, and they’re fun to collect in special books.

Jamestown

Jamestown is a perfect road trip pit stop, not just for the bison. While here, take the opportunity to refuel the road trip car and grab a bite to eat. There are several gas stations and quick locations to grab lunch.