IMPOSSIBLE Challenge: Boondocking in the Black Hills
This week, RV life takes us to the Black Hills in South Dakota, but we only have 48 hours to see the best of the Black Hills. Will we see it all?
From Mount Rushmore to Custer State Park and the bison at Wind Cave National Park, we're giving you the ULTIMATE travel itinerary for your trip to South Dakota.
For those who are following along with our full time RV travels and are wondering how we got to South Dakota so fast... This video is some never before seen footage from a couple of months ago!
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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Vedauwoo Dispersed Camping
2:15 Heading to South Dakota
4:06 Custer South Dakota Boondocking
5:43 Mount Rushmore
9:02 Custer State Park
15:54 Wind Cave National Park
20:37 Jewel Cave National Monument
Who are we?
We’re Victoria & Craig, a full-time travel couple currently living the RV lifestyle! In 2021, we realized life was too short to wait to chase our dreams, so we purchased a used fifth wheel camper and completely renovated it. After selling our house in Florida, we set off on our journey as full-time RVers. Full time RV living has taken us across the United States, Baja Mexico, and Canada, where we’ve fallen in love with boondocking in stunning locations and living an epic adventure travel lifestyle. In 2023, we upgraded to a brand new Brinkley RV Model Z 3100.
Join us as we explore new destinations and embark on new adventures. From hiking, rock climbing, and paddle boarding to surfing, off-road exploring, and cooking around a campfire, we live our travel couple lifestyle to the fullest! Subscribe to our channel (bit.ly/3JF0VmZ) and come along on our adventure travel life!
Пікірлер: 208
The next time you roll through the Black Hills put Crazy Horse on your list of must see places. There’s a Native American museum there that is just amazing! Safe travels kids!!
@larryk3986
6 ай бұрын
Absolutely go to Crazy Horse. We have a rock from the museum there. They're free! Craig, the truck looks great.
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
we'll definitely have to add Crazy Horse to our list for next time!! thank you guys for watching!
@dustinmark6808
18 күн бұрын
Naw you might drive by on the highway you see the sane view from Inside its over priced and very little has changed in last 40 years
Hey guys, quick tip; Tie a rope to your wheel chocks and pull as soon as the truck rolls off, no more bending over to pull it out with your hands. If you don’t want to bend over to pick up the rope, get ya one of those old person grabbers. They work great for picking up trash, grabbing something in the middle of the basement, and picking up wheel chock ropes to pull with your hands. Put peanut butter and jelly on the other side of the end piece and the children don’t know they’re getting an end pieces😂😂
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
good idea with the rope!! thank you!!
I was laughing as you drove through that long skinny tunnel. I drove through ALL those tunnels back in the 80's with a RENTAL CLASS C Motorhome and MADE it through with NO scrapes or dings........and the AC was still on top!!! 🤣🤣
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
Oh my goodness, I think I would have had a heart attack doing that!! LOL
We enjoy the Black Hills so much we moved here.
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
We can see why you would!
I lived there for 4 years and never went at night, but came back to show family it. The Lighting ceremony was so amazing. If you can, I highly encourage you to do it. And as a Vet I love your shirt.
@wildrvlife
4 ай бұрын
That does sound amazing. That area seemed very peaceful!
Hey now, picking a good parking spot for one's truck is a big deal! There are so many ways to get dinged when you're in a big beastly truck. The big truck owners understand the challenge, Craig! :-)
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
hahah see you know exactly what I mean!
Craig, I circle the parking lot multiple times so people don’t ding up my truck also. I feel ya bro!
Your shirt is awesome. Thank you for supporting myself and my fellow veterans. Most of my family has served, I retired from 20 years of service and now my kids are serving in the military. Thank you for supporting us!
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
that's amazing!! Thank you so much for your (and your family's) service!
Great video, thank you for supporting our Veterans. My husband is a veteran and it’s so nice to see young people who has respect for the veterans. I Love watching you guys.
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
thank you so much for watching and thank you to your husband for his service!!
Every Sense I was a kid I loved the end piece of the loaf of bread 🍞
I was in a campground walking my 5lb Yorkie.. came around a corner 30 yards from a bison. Yup Abby when absolutely ballistic ready to take that thing down.. until I quickly scooped her up and backed up quickly. I'm sure she could have taken him if I let her!
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
oh my goodness, I'm sure ours would have went crazy too!! I bet that was a shock to come around the corner and see lol
I was born and raised in Deadwood, SD. Glad you two enjoyed your adventure here! I enjoyed the content of my home state! Put Deadwood on the list next time you’re in SD.
thank you for showing support for us veterans and I'm jealous my wife and I want to live in the Dakotas so bad were about to buy our full-time rig soon and when I retire from the navy, we plan on being on the road enjoying life.
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
I'm super excited for you guys. Maybe we will cross paths out there. Also, thank you for your service.
The heal, or end piece of the bread is the best part.
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
lol you aren't the only one to say that!
We’ve been traveling to the Black Hills for 30 years. You need to schedule a week there and still not see it all. Craig would find attending the evening lighting of the faces at Mt Rushmore a bit more impressive. Then you’ve got to Boondock south of Wall on the ridge of the Bad Lands. So popular that they are going to start limiting it to 70 boondock locations. Go back when you can. Glad you got to see it.
I am with Craig. You gotta find the perfect spot. No one wants a damaged vehicle.
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
See, you get it!!
We love South Dakota. Beautiful and lots to see. Crazy Horse is a must. Nice Gift shop also.
Always look forward to your videos, thanks for sharing your time with us folks. I’m a RV newbie, we have learned so much from you guys. 🇨🇦 😊
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
That’s so awesome! I’m glad we’ve been able to help. And thank you for watching!
There’s so much to see and do in this area and Custer. The evening talk in Mt Rushmore was so inspirational. You missed so much with only 48 hours. Love you guys videos. Thanks.
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
we definitely want to go back and see more one day!
CRAIG SURE DID A NICER CAR WASH THAN THOSE SP IN CABO FOR 60 DOLLARS LOVE YOUR SHOW
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
😄 thank you!!
The truck would get very dirty in the badlands especially if you ventured off on the dirt roads to see some wild life. Craig would have to have some restraint since there are no car washes very close by that I could find anyway. But he may drive 50 miles for a car wash. 🤣
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
Haha, I've been known to fill our water bladder and wash at our boon docking spot. Lol.
The best way to see wildlife in Custer State Park is to take the wildlife drive. There is a herd of bison there, wild donkeys, pronghorn antelopes, prairie dogs and an assortment of birds. It’s definitely worth the time (2-3 hours) it takes.
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
Oh wow, that sounds like it would be an awesome drive too! I love donkeys too!
@mikeweis5925
4 ай бұрын
Got to love those donkeys when they stick their head in your vehicle !
Quick tip about google maps: You can download offline maps of entire areas that you're about to visit... then it will be able to figure out new routes anywhere inside there ... even when you don't have service.
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
yes!! we (sometimes) do that, like when we went to Mexico... but I have to admit that I forget more often than I remember lol
I have lived 15 miles north of Teddy Roosevelt national park, north unit. The very north of the badlands is just a mile away. Bison have wonderd through my yard. They are throughout the park. April and May are calving season. If you can plan that time of year, the little ones are very worth seeing.
Great video! Custer is one of our all-time favorites!
I am really enjoying your adventures. Thank you.
Gooood video guys!!! 👍😃🍻 We carry a small tarp with gromets in our day packs (similar to y’alls) with some parachute cord in the event of a downpour. We can quickly make a lean to to not get soaked in an afternoon thunder shower. Did y’all have to get a permit to film in the national parks since your YT channel is monetized??
We were just there this past summer. You guys did a lot considering all of the driving it takes to get from one attraction to another! We tried to do the cave tour but didn't book enough in advance, and didn't know about them taking walk-ups. Another great video!
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
Yes!! We were surprised at how much we fit in too. Everything is somewhat close but you are right in that you still end up driving a ways from one place to the next. I would have really liked to spend more time in Custer State Park for sure, it was so beautiful! Thank you for watching!
DSN there (mount Rushmore) South Dakota is so very nice to visit.
We went thru those tunnels with a dually 😮. It was a nail biter!!
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
oh my goodness, I bet you were on the edge of your seat the whole way through!
We're going to be in the Black Hills in August this year. So looking forward to it. Also, with the Z3100 you have the app for your phone than allows you to monitor how full your tanks are. So you can use the gauge, but you really only need your phone for filling your black before flushing or your fresh water tank.
If you like bison, you should visit the National Bison Range in Montana.
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
Ooh would love to go there! We’ll have to add it to our list!
Good job! Truck looks great. :). Ya'll threw me for a loop... your not in SD right now, you'd be a freeeezzziiinnnggg!! But I still watched. Too funny. Hope your holidays were good. Safe travels.
You're right! There is so much more to see in the Black Hills>Deadwood cemetery where Wild Bill & Calamity Jane are buried next to each other, The Spearfish Canyon, Sturgis, about another 50 miles west to Devil's Tower...
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
I knowwww, we definitely have to go back! It was killing me at how much we were missing but then again, we weren’t even planning to stop there so I guess I’m just happy that we got to get a little taste of it on our way back east 😆🙌🏼
@philipfareio4445
6 ай бұрын
Calamity Jane Show deadwood I want to see
If you put the jelly on the crust side of the end piece of bread and put the sliced end on the outside then you won't know you eating an end piece of bread. :)
We went there for a few days and stayed Iron Mtn Campground. Those going should know that they need to get directions from their destination and not follow Google. The rock tunnels were Def not big enough for rvs. Great area and custer was a blast. Keystone had lots to do. We also went to bear Country. Must see.
Enjoy watching your show. If you put ropes on your wheel chocks, you’ll be able to pull the rope so that your hand is not in danger when taking the pressure off of the chocks.
@user-wp3bb4yn8h
6 ай бұрын
I’ve seen other people that have done this, I have the same chocks and still haven’t done it myself!🤪🤔
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
that is a good idea!! You never know what could happen!
Beautiful scenery
Good job Craig- the truck looks great! Love you both. Big thanks for supporting our troops!! ❤️❤️
Good job Craig! Truck looks great! 😊
Another good video! You really need to see the Buffalo roundup in Custer State Park in September!
@mammafawn
Ай бұрын
Truck is 👌👍 😂
Thanks for a great video and your support for veterans!🇺🇸👍
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
Absolutely, thanks for watching!!
And yet another great video!! I love how much you see in such a short period of time. How do you research what to see? We often get to a place and struggle to find things to do. Also…I have to give you props for being so far north in January! I’m glad to see that you’ve managed to avoid the snow so far on the road and sending you best wishes for a continued safe journey!!
Truck looks great, Craig!
Jewel Cave was gorgeous ❤
Thanks for taking us along! I enjoyed the video.
I really enjoyed your video. I wish you had more on the caves. They’re pretty cool and the truck looks pretty nice.
You guys missed the best. You have to see Crazy Horse, it's quite amazing.
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
We definitely will have to go back and spend more time one day, and Crazy Horse is on the list.
peanut butter and jelly sandwich tip: Put a thin layer of peanut butter on each slice of bread Then spread your jam or jelly this keeps your bread from getting soggy.
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
Ooh now that’s a pro PB&J tip right there!! 🙌🏼
Great job Craig. 👏
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
haha thank you!!
Great Video! Looks like so much fun and your truck looks great! :)
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
it was such a good time, thank you for watching!
You two have a lot of fun on your outings. You two are awesome. Can't wait til next week. Much love. Stay safe and God bless 🙌 🙏.
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
we're always having a good time for sure 😄 thank you so much for watching!
The night ceremony at Rushmore is spectacular. Custer State Park wildlife loop is a fabulous drive. You missed a lot.
Visit Jamestown, ND and you can feed and pet the bison. Great time we'll never forget.
Truck looks great Craig! Totally get the wanting to keep the truck clean thing!
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
haha thank you!!
The area you were in absolutely beautiful. We used to go to the bike rally every year and always found different things to see. Robert Norbeck scenic byway is fantastic
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
oh how cool! we definitely need to go back one day, we missed a lot with such a short time
Fun video! Kinda glad you saved it so we have something to watch now!
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
It was kind of fun editing it so much later, lol we had already forgotten some stuff and got to relive it
I have had my F-350 FORD lifted truck for two years. Every time I have washed it, it has rained after even though the weather states that it wasn't going to rain. Every single Time. Has Never been clean for more than 6 hrs. EVER.
This is on my Bucket list for sure.
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
a must-visit area for sure!
End Pieces?! For us those were the best, especially toasted with butter and peanut butter and honey! Rapid City is my cousin Bobby's new home (Bronx NY then Clearwater FL and now Rapid City) and my visit with him shared a few of the many vistas abounding in the surroundings. Definitely a GO TO place to visit with so many nearby natural beauties.
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
haha apparently end pieces are more popular than I thought! I will have to try them toasted... that seems to be the secret!
Great video! Next time you’re in the area you should check out deadwood SD. Pretty neat town. And if you’re ever up in medora ND you should check out the Theodore Roosevelt national park. Plenty of buffalo and during the spring and summer months medora has musicals that are pretty entertaining.
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
I do want to go to Deadwood one day! We got to go to Theodore Roosevelt NP last year actually and really enjoyed it! We happened to be there for the annual astronomy festival and got to look through some really cool telescopes at night! it was awesome!
Great video.
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
thank you for watching!
Sandwich tip: turn the end piece inside so the outside is white. 😁 Used to fool my kiddos like that.
Truck looks great Craig!
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
thank you!!
Being from Northern Minnesota I've spent a lot of time around that area! So pretty! And my cousin had a pet Buffalo. He used to ride it like a horse,
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
oh my goodness, I bet that was a sight to see!
We boondock in that same spot in SD and the spot in Wyoming, both very nice !
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
It turned out to be a really nice spot! less flat areas than I initially thought there was, but we got ourselves a pretty good spot for a couple of days!
Yup, It’s not called America the Beautiful for nothing!! Love to Watch you two, thanks for taking U.S. along. Yummy lunch, can’t go wrong with PBJ 😂 by the way Craig you did a great job!! the truck looks really nice ❤🙌👋☺️
That is not fog, go to central valley California, our school bus driver in 1988 had a person walking in front of the bus for miles and an ambulance flipped over headed to an accident we heard it didn't see it. We had foggy day schedule at school when it started at noon 40 times a year.
I'll trade you any piece of bread for the end piece! ;-) My fave!
Wow the truck looks great! The other stuff was nice also😂
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
haha thank you!!
Good Job Pretty Truck, Pretty Man
Good job Craig! Looks very shiny 😂❤
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
😆 haha THANK YOU!
pro tip: replace jelly with fresh apple, sliced a quarter inch thick.
So much better on a motorcycle!
Hi guys... Craig... Your truck looks good...lol.... Victoria.... When a guy drives around looking for a spot or he's not totally sure that he likes that spot To park... Back in the old days we used to call that.... Cruising.... We used to cruise through the drive-thrus just to see who was there and if we wanted to park next to them ( pretty girls )...lol... You guys did a lot in 48 hours... We are planning ongoing there to South Dakota next summer... To the same spots... Looking forward to seeing you soon in Tampa... Stay safe..J&A
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
haha well Craig sure does a lot of cruising then! 😆 Can't wait to see you guys in Tampa!!
Yup im amazed some peeps brains actually have the power to breathe at times , like they go camping with strawberry shampoo apple blossom body wash ect then get attacked by Yogi thinking there a picknic basket or try to pet the Buffalo or bulls
Would love it if you would give us the gps coordinates for the awesome boondocking sites !!!
Craig, I have the same style mirrors on my Ram. Unfortunately mine aren’t the power swing like yours. That would make it so much easier being that I travel solo. BTW , I have a car wash contract here locally and yes I’ve been known to seek out a car wash while on vacation!! Love the videos!!
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
haha see you get me! thank you for watching!
The truck looks nice❤I took drivers Ed and our last drive was Black Hills the President’s monument.
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
haha what a fun drivers test!!
Great video. Nice job on the truck😉. Now get some mudflaps for it 😂
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
haha funny you should say that.... stay tuned! 😆
Toasted the heals are the best of the loaf. Try them with honey and cinnamon.
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
ooh now that does sound good
You guy’s just need to go back and spend a week or two there, Deadwood is great place to visit.
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
definitely need to go back for longer one day!
Yep good job
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
Thank you!😄
Truck looks great…
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
Thank you!!
The end of the bread toast before you make your sandwich yummy
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
so many people said to toast it, I will have to try that next time!
Just wondering what you use to select boondocking spots you mostly seem to be by your selves at them too.
Make sure you stop at the Cosmos Mystery Area. Well worth it
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
I will have to add that one to our list for next time, thank you!!
Good job on the truck crag. Your about ready for a hair cut lol
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
yes I was!! lol and thank you!!
This is big Mike from Iowa.
If you turn the bread around and put the end pieces towards the pb&j its a lot better!
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
Ahhh how did I not think of that! 🙌🏼
Yes...unfortunately dispersed campsite #4 at Vedauwoo is NOT private because you are forced to share it with random rock climbing companies.
Good job. More to see for sure. FYI - some of the best of the Black Hills is to take the gravel roads. Get off the tar next time. Take care.
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
the best adventures are always found off the pavement for sure!
Another great video! -C4YT
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
thank you! 😄
A little random, but Victoria.. where do you buy your tank tops from? Love that style
I noticed it looked like Craig was punching in a code to lock the door on the fifth wheel I thought you could just hold the lock button down for 3 seconds. That's how mine is👍🇺🇲
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
our old one was like that! this one is a little weird and doesn't always want to work right
@bobabooie6389
6 ай бұрын
@@wildrvlife 👍🇺🇲😃
Just a curious question for you guys! You like to do so much dispersed camping, wondering why you didn’t get an off grid trailer to travel the country?
Hey how do you manage leaving your rig? I would be concerned at the very least.
Bad time of year for South dakota!!!!
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
haha luckily this footage is from a few months ago... I bet it's not quite as enjoyable right now lol
@cejumpdog5292
6 ай бұрын
Haha you should do travel adds for South Dakota in January, amazing weather!
Great video. Noticed you didn’t bring the dogs on the hike. Are they not allowed in Custer State Park?
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
dogs are allowed in Custer State Park, but we just didn't bring them along on that one
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Put the Jelly on the outside of the hell of the bread. Now, soft bread on each side! Makes it a bit better 😊❤‼️👍🍓🍞🥜🥪
@wildrvlife
6 ай бұрын
lol that's the secret!!