I did a two week trip up to that area back in early June 2022. I had been to that area numerous times on business trips and had only spent a day or so there at a time in the past. This was my first extended stay.
I drove from NE Texas up to Teddy Roosevelt NP. I stayed off of the main highways to avoid traffic and to have a more relaxed, casual scenic drive. Along the way I drove the Outlaw Trail through Nebraska, parts of the Lewis & Clark Trail, across the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Reservation Native American Byway, parts of the Buffalo Trails Tour, Yellowstone Trail, and through the Little Missouri National Grasslands. While in ND I also visited the Fort Union Trading Post NHS. After TRNP I traveled down to Rapid City taking parts of the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway.
Once in Rapid City my girlfriend flew up and we used Rapid City as our home base. We visited Mt. Rushmore during the day and went back at night for the patriotic lights and video. Also drove over to see Devil's Tower. Went through Spearfish Canyon, Deadwood (must visit the cemetery), the Peter Norbeck National Byway and the Needles Highway. Hiked parts of Custer State Park. Visited Jewel Cave and Wind Cave. Road the steam locomotive out of Hill City/Keystone. Drove through Bear Country USA. Visited the Crazy Horse Monument. Went to the Wall Drug Store tourist trap. Went to the Minutemen NHS and hiked parts of the Badlands NP.
After the Rapid City stay the GF flew back home and I drove back taking in Agate Fossil Beds NM and Scotts Bluff NM along the way.
It was a fantastic trip. The weather was nice, it even got cool at night. The mud (Bentonitic clay) was horrible at parts of TRNP. The crowds were light everywhere. Many of the hikes that I did it was just me and nature. Would do the trip again in a heartbeat.