We rolled out of the campground in Rapid City about 10AM this morning. Our destination is Devil Tower National Monument. The first National Monument about 120 miles away. By the way the difference between a National Park and a National Monument is a NP requires an act of Congress, while the NM is designated by the President.

We arrived right around lunch time, reserved a site at the KOA right at the entrance of the park. We parked the RV and went to the cafe for lunch. After resting for a bit we headed into the park. At the entrance we found out they have very limited RV parking on the side of the road as you exit the Visitor Center. They have extra parking by the campground but it is 2 miles away.

We drove in and there was no parking available, so we drove out and parked in the administration building parking lot at the entrance of the road to the campground to wait for a spot to open. There was a trailer that left right behind us, but we saw an RV heading in so we knew they would take that spot. Our strategy would be as soon as we saw an RV leave we would drive up and take the stop. The first RV that passed by, as Gil was getting ready to pull out, an RV passed in front of us out of the campground and headed towards the visitor center. I knew we were doomed, he would take the only site available. Back around we went to the parking lot to wait again. We saw a few smaller RVs leave, but I knew we would not fit where they were parked. Then finally one big enough left. We pulled out and headed for the spot. They should really have a shuttle from the extra lot to the Visitor Center. It would make things a lot easier.

There are a few trails in the park. One goes 1.3 miles around the monument. We walked the trail, visited the Visitor Center and then headed back to the campground. I made dinner and we then went to the campground deck to watch Close Encounters of the Third Kind. A movie which was filmed partly at Devils Tower. We were too tired and bailed out about an hour into the movie - just as it seem to be getting good. Oh well.

Tomorrow we will drive towards Yellowstone stopping in Cody, WY or as close as possible.