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  "description": "We added Devils Tower National Monument to our road trip as a spontaneous stop. It didn’t go as planned. Here’s what to expect, dog rules, crowds and timing.",
  "path": "/visiting-devils-tower-national-monument/",
  "publishedAt": "2025-12-25T01:12:59.000Z",
  "site": "at://did:plc:xoczgo53ahhoei6pror2b43g/site.standard.publication/3mmwwrtzqnc7k",
  "tags": [
    "History",
    "Road Trips",
    "United States",
    "Wyoming",
    "West"
  ],
  "textContent": "When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. See our Affiliate Policy. Some of our road trip stops are carefully planned weeks or months in advance. Others happen because we were already driving 8+ hours to our next National Park and we were passing right by something iconic. It’s in those moments that we figure we’d regret not stopping. This is exactly how we ended up visiting Devils Tower National Monument unplanned. We were on our way home to Alabama after our two-week Olympic Peninsula road trip in August 2024. After spending time hiking the PCT in Mount Rainier National Park, we started heading east toward Badlands National Park along I-90. Stopping at Devils Tower added less than an hour to our two-day drive. Devils Tower wasn’t a National Monument that was high on our bucket list. It was more of a spontaneous “hey, it’s on the way” kind of stop meant to break up a long day in the car. What we didn’t realize was just how busy Devils Tower would be during our visit. Why Devils Tower Ended Up on Our Road Trip We visited Devils Tower on August 10th, 2024, while driving east after leaving the Pacific Northwest. A few days earlier, we’d explored Mount Rainier National Park, then spent the night in Spokane before continuing into Montana. After an overnight stop in Worden, Montana (following an 8.5-hour drive), we got back on the road early the next morning. Along the way, we stopped at the Custer Battlefield Trading Post & Café, which ended up being a really meaningful pause in the drive. Seating at Custer Battlefield Trading Post & Café The café had a dog-friendly outdoor seating area, and after lunch, we walked through the shop to look at pottery, books, and clothing while learning more about the region’s history. The area is layered with complex history tied to Plains tribes and other Native American nations, and while we didn’t have time to visit nearby sites like Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, it was a reminder that this landscape carries far more stories than a quick stop can ever fully capture. From there, we continued east toward Devils Tower (about a 3.5-hour drive), with plans to eventually end the day exploring Badlands National Park. Visiting Devils Tower National Monument Without a Plan Our stop at Devils Tower wasn’t planned at all. We didn’t research it except for a quick search on the drive there. We didn’t check the best (or least crowded) times to visit. We didn’t even know if it was dog-friendly (it is, as long as you’re not trail hiking). We just knew it was along the way, iconic (Devils Tower famously played a role in Close Encounters of the Third Kind), and probably somewhere we should see since we were passing through. That flexibility is one of my favorite things about road trips. We don’t travel with strict schedules. We have a general plan, a rough timeline, and improvise the rest of the way. It helps break up long drives and keeps things from feeling rushed or like we’re constantly trying to catch up. With Badlands still about 2.5 hours away, we figured we’d spend about an hour at Devils Tower. Just enough time to see it up close, take a few photos, and get back on I-90. Why Devils Tower Was So Busy When We Arrived After leaving I-90 near Moorcroft, Wyoming, and heading north along US-14 E, the roads became twisty and winding. We started seeing a lot of RVs, motorcycles, and a surprising number of biker groups. It felt very different from most national park areas we’ve visited. It felt louder, heavier, almost metal. At the time, we figured this kind of fits the place, right? After all, why wouldn’t a monument called Devils Tower attracts a more metal crowd? Turns out there was a reason it felt that way (something I didn’t learn until writing this article). The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, the largest motorcycle rally in the world, was taking place from August 2nd until August 11th. With Sturgis sitting a little over an hour away from Devils Tower, it made sense why there were so many bikers on the road, why the area was so busy, and why it felt so metal. You still get a good view from the National Monument sign What Happens When Devils Tower Reaches Capacity We pulled up near the Devils Tower / Black Hills KOA Journey (there are other camping locations nearby, too) around 2pm, and the parking lot was completely packed. People were standing around, biker groups were gathered, and no one really seemed to be going anywhere. After finally finding a parking spot, we left the dogs safely in the car and walked toward the sign and viewpoint only to find a couple park rangers there letting everyone know that the monument was temporarily closed. Because of capacity issues, the entrance road, parking areas, picnic area, and visitor center were all closed off. The gate was closed, and no one was being allowed up to the tower. Since there’s only one road in and out, visitors already inside had to clear out before anyone else could enter. We waited around for about half an hour, just in case things opened back up quickly, but that didn’t happen. So instead, we took photos by the sign and of Devils Tower from a distance. A Little History Behind Devils Tower Devils Tower was officially protected on September 24th, 1906, when President Theodore Roosevelt made it the first U.S. National Monument. Long before that, it was known as Bear Lodge, a name tied to the cultural and spiritual traditions of several Plains tribes who still consider the area sacred. Today, the National Park Service manages the monument, working to protect the landscape while also making it accessible to visitors. The tower rises 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River, and even seeing it from a distance, it’s hard not to stop and stare. Did We Miss Out? While it would have been cool to walk around the base, see the textures and surrounding landscape up close, and take photos looking vertically up the side of the tower, I didn’t feel like we missed out. Devils Tower wasn’t a place we felt emotionally attached to before visiting. We didn’t get to explore the hiking trails, like the popular Red Beds Trail, but seeing it from a distance still left us feeling accomplished in our little side quest. It’s fascinating and visually striking, but it didn’t hit us on the same emotional level as places like Mount Rainier, the Badlands, or Olympic National Park. And that’s okay. Visiting Devils Tower National Monument With Dogs While we didn’t get a chance to drive up to the tower with our dogs, Devils Tower is actually somewhat dog-friendly, similar to many national parks. Dogs are allowed on leash in parking lots and paved areas, but not on hiking trails or inside buildings. Since our pups stayed in the car the entire time and we weren’t planning to hike anyway, being unable to get close to the tower didn’t affect our experience much. Even if we’d made it up to the monument, our visit would have been fairly limited. That made it even easier to be okay with how things played out. The texture and landscape here are really funky. No wonder it ended up in Close Encounters. When Is the Best Time to Visit Devils Tower? If there’s one thing we learned, it’s that timing matters. Arriving at 2pm in August was pretty much the worst-case scenario since that is both peak season and the busiest time. Based on our experience, better times to visit would be: Early morning (before 9am) for fewer crowds and easier parking Late afternoon or early evening (after 5pm) once day-trippers clear out If you’re planning a summer visit (July through August), definitely plan your timing ahead of time to avoid getting turned away like we did. Or visiting outside of peak summer altogether would make for a much quieter experience. Looking for a more guided way to explore? Is Devils Tower Worth Stopping For on a Road Trip? I’d say yes, especially if you’re already driving through the area. Devils Tower is worth a stop if: You’re road tripping through northeastern Wyoming or the Black Hills You’re curious about unique geological features and landmarks You’re short on time and want something memorable without committing a full day You might want to plan carefully, or skip it altogether, if: You’re visiting during peak summer hours You don’t like crowds You’re hoping for a quieter, more immersive park experience And if you never make it inside the monument area, you’re probably not missing as much as you’d think. Our pups exploring a Teepee at Custer Battlefield Final Thoughts on Visiting Devils Tower This stop ended up being a perfect example of how we like to travel. Not everything goes according to plan, and that is kind of the point. Sometimes you get a full experience, and sometimes you only get a glimpse. Devils Tower was a glimpse for us, and that felt like enough. It’s an intriguing and iconic place that is worth seeing if you are passing through, but it does not need to take over your entire itinerary or derail the rest of your adventure. On a long road trip, not every stop has to be all-consuming to be meaningful. Sometimes, just seeing a place from the road, taking a few photos, and moving on is still part of the story.",
  "title": "Is Devils Tower National Monument Worth the Road Trip Stop?",
  "updatedAt": "2026-01-01T22:28:18.000Z"
}