Key Hole State Park's Camping Cabins and a Hike around Devils Tower

The carful of kids spent the day in the Black Hills area of South Dakota on our three-week journey from Central Texas to Jasper National Park before loading up the SUV and heading west into Wyoming. We arrived at Key Hole State Park in the evening and enjoyed our first night of the trip in a cabin.

Key Hole State Park is located at 22 Marina Road in Moorcraft, Wyoming, it's a quick drive to our next destination, Devils Tower National Monument. Once you leave the Black Hills area of South Dakota, the lodging and restaurants get a bit sparse and I'm always looking for cabins to stay instead of roadside rooms.

On the porch right in front of the lake, this cabin features a pair of bunk beds and a full-sized bed too.

Key Hole State Park fits the bill, the kids LOVE staying in camping cabins and it's 41 miles away from Devils Tower. A quick 50-minute drive in the morning before the crowds really swarm this popular stop.

Key Hole State Park surrounds the Keyhole Reservoir and our cabin sits right on the water. It features a pair of bunk beds and a full-size bed that we throw our sleeping bags on top of.

Starting breakfast next to the Keyhole Reservoir 

Our cabin has full electricity, which means we can plug in all the electronics at once. There isn't running water in the cabin but potable water is next to our parking spot.

Let's talk about the bathrooms for a moment--kids don't care on vacation but Moms do. There is no bathroom located near our cabin--meaning a flush toilet and a sink with running water to wash those hands and brush those teeth. The Tatanka Campground, where our camping cabin is located, only has vault toilets.

Letting the kids sleep in while I write in my journal and have a cup of camp coffee. 

The carful of kids brush their teeth outside and I put my hair up in a ponytail, I'll take a shower later. I get the carful of kids started on packing up their sleeping bags while I start on breakfast.

We enjoy the amazing view for as long as we can, this is a great site and Key Hole State Park is not crowded, definitely worth checking out if you will be in the area. The cabins are $ 61 a night but you have to pay a $ 50 refundable deposit--the cabins are reservable and available from May 15 to September 15. There is no minimum stay requirement for this cabin.

Breakfast Tacos are on the menu.

The carful of kids get the SUV loaded without too much fuss and head over to our next destination, Devils Tower National Monument. It is located 33 miles northeast of Moorcraft, Wyoming, or 27 miles northwest of Sundance, Wyoming, on Wyoming Highway 24, north of Interstate 90.

Devils Tower National Monument is open 24 hours a day, everyday except Christmas and New Years Day. The Visitors Center is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the summer season and open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the rest of the year.

Devils Tower National Monument is the first national monument.

The admission is $ 10 for a passenger vehicle or you can purchase an America the Beautiful Annual Pass for $ 80 if you plan on visiting several parks on your road trip. Devils Tower is a popular destination and be prepared for a line at the entrance gate and parking is limited at the base of the tower. Pack your Patience.

Devils Tower National Monument is sacred to several Tribes in the area and the original name of Bear Lodge got misinterpreted to Bad God's Tower during the naming process in 1906. Bad God's Tower became Devils Tower.

Devils Tower National Monument is the first national monument in the National Park System and was proclaimed by Theodore Roosevelt. It's a premier traditional crack climbing area in North America and the fastest climb was 18 minutes though most ascents take four to six hours.

We stop by the Visitors Center to pick up our Junior Ranger Booklets and sit down at the base to listen to one of the many Ranger Talks that Devils Tower National Monument offers weekly. Our talk is lead by a volunteer ranger that happens to be a teacher during the year--she talks about climbing Devils Tower as she shows our group climbing equipment. The boys are mentally prepared now, too bad we are taking a hike instead.

Along the Tower Trail that rings around the tower.

The carful of kids choose the Tower Trail that encircles the Devils Tower--it's 1.3 miles. With a hike and Ranger Program done, we are ready to turn in the Junior Ranger Booklets and get our Badges.

Devils Tower National Monument is another iconic destination and should not be missed. You can spend all day or you can check it out for an hour, depending on your timeline.

Taking the Junior Ranger Oath.

On the way out of the park, we stop to admire the Prairie Dog Town that is right inside the entrance gates. The kids love them and I am always tempted to scoop one up as a souvenir.

The carful of kids have a full day of driving ahead to get to our room outside Glacier National Park in Montana. Here's to hoping I make good time.

Up Next: Glacier National Park in One Day