South Dakota

Since we had to cancel the Spearfish reunion due, to respiratory issues, the wife decided we'd take a trip to a bit of South Dakota in June. Only plan to go as far as Palisades State Park just above Sioux Falls and then return home. The only required stops, from St. Louis, MO, are 1.) Elks lodge in Blue Springs, MO (KC) and 2.) then Minowi Tavern, Minowi NE (google it). Plan to take a week each to and from. Looking mainly for COE, State & Municipal parks. Private parks if we must. Live by the rule of 2. Drive no more the 200 mile at a time, drive 2 days then stop after the third for 2 days, and arrive by 2 o'clock each day, cause that's cocktail time.
We generally like to make the trip a circular one. Like going though, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa then Missouri. Or something of the such. Never retracing the route. Open for things to see & stay, history, scenery, nature most anything except cities. Not big on boondocking.
thanks

Not far from Sioux Falls on I-90 is Blue Mounds State Park in Lucerne MN.  They have nice showers and sort of private, wooded campsites.  It will probably be busy on week-ends.  If you continue on I-90 there is the Spam museum in Austin 😉.  We've never stopped there. We spend a lot of time on the Mississippi River.  Being from St. Louis, the water may not be of as much interest to you as us desert dwellers but there are some nice places to stay- just follow the Great River Road down river to home.  Pikes Peak State Park on the Iowa side across from Prairie DU Chien is nice with beautiful views of the river.  Dubuque has the National Miss. River museum and aquarium and a casino if that's your thing.  Shady Creek COE c.g. is on hwy. 22 between Davenport and Muscatine.  Just a bit west of there is Fairport State Park.  Iowa has very reasonably priced parks and unless they've changed things, you don't have to buy a park pass on top of the daily fee.  Our favorite place to stay is a town park in Canton MO on hwy.61. It is next to Lock and Dam 20.  There is not much in the way of amenities (just water, sewer and elec.  for $20) but we love watching the tow boats pushing in and out of the lock and always meet the nicest people!

Patti