South Dakota｜Rapid City｜Midwest US Road Trip 1⃣️

With a 4-day weekend 🗓️, I could only explore nearby states. Since I’ve always wanted to visit all 63 U.S. national parks 🏞️, I embarked on a trip to the Badlands. Four days of endless prairie views really felt like they improved my eyesight! 👀🌾 I checked out Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, and Devils Tower National Monument. If you’re planning a similar route, I recommend staying in Rapid City—it’s super convenient for getting around. 🚗💨 The roads in South Dakota are wide and easy to drive. Throughout the trip, I was surrounded by vast grasslands, and the weather was gorgeous. The golden glow of the sunset over the prairies was absolutely breathtaking. 🌅✨ 🦕 Wall Drug Store A unique spot combining a restaurant, museum, and gift shop. You can’t miss the giant dinosaur out front! 🏙️ Rapid City Parking downtown is pretty convenient 🅿️—free after 6 PM! The city is filled with bronze statues of U.S. presidents. One memorable moment: the owner of a family-run gun store 🔫 asked where I was from. When I said China 🇨🇳, he warmly showed me photos of his two adopted children from China. 🦖 Dinosaur Park Offers a great overlook of the Rapid City skyline. 🗿 Mount Rushmore About 40 minutes from Rapid City. Parking: $10 🅿️ The Avenue of Flags displays each U.S. state’s entry year—I took photos of the states I’ve lived in the longest! 📸 There’s a trail that loops around the monument—takes less than 30 minutes to complete. 🥾 ⛏️ Keystone A gold rush-themed town you pass on the way to Mount Rushmore. Perfect for a quick stop—enjoy some ice cream 🍦 or coffee ☕️. 🍜 Thai Thai Restaurant A fantastic Thai place 🇹🇭 with great prices. I ordered Drunken Noodles, Tom Yum Soup, and Penang Curry—all delicious! 😋 It’s super popular—had to wait 30 minutes for a table on a Friday night. #RomanticLife #TravelInspiration #TravelGuide #RoadTrip #SouthDakota #RapidCity