Black Hills, Badlands & Mount Rushmore
August 14th – 22nd, 2024
$3299 (Based Upon Double Occupancy) +$800 (Single Supplement)
Includes Roundtrip Airfare Phoenix
DAY 1: ARRIVE RAPID CITY
Today arrive in Rapid City. Enjoy a Welcome Dinner with your traveling companions.
Meals: (D) Overnight: Rapid City
DAY 2: MOUNT RUSHMORE – CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL
This morning visit Mt. Rushmore, where remarkable sculptures of the faces of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln, each standing 60 feet high, are carved into the rugged granite mountainside to an incredible likeness of these former US presidents. Continue onto the Crazy Horse Memorial, still in progress, to view the giant mountainside sculpture of the famous Indian Chief astride his pony. This afternoon visit Custer State Park, a famous wildlife preserve. Home to a herd of 1,500 free-roaming buffalo, Custer State Park is the perfect setting for our thrilling Buffalo Jeep Safari. Later we’ll enjoy dinner at the famous State Game Lodge, built 1920 and listed on the national register of historic places with past guests including Presidents Coolidge & Eisenhower.
Meals: (B,D) Overnight: Rapid City
DAY 3: DEVIL’S TOWER – DEADWOOD
Today journey west into Wyoming to visit Devil’s Tower National Monument to view the 867 foot monolith. Return east into South Dakota to visit historic Deadwood, the 1876 hard scrabble gold mining and gambling camp. Once home to legendary figures, the likes of Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and Seth Bullock, the entire city of Deadwood is today, a national historic landmark. Later drive through beautiful Spearfish Canyon, a scenic journey into the Black Hills.
Meals: (B) Overnight: Rapid City
DAY 4: THE MAMMOTH SITE – THE JOURNEY MUSEUM
This morning travel to The Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, the museum has the greatest concentration of mammoth remains in the world. As of 2016, the remains of 61 mammoths including 58 North American Columbian and 3 Woolly mammoths had been recovered. Mammoth bones were found at the site in 1974, and a museum and building enclosing the site were established. Next visit one of Rapid City’s newest attractions, the city-owned $12 million The Journey Museum which traces the geology of the Black Hills and tells the story of the people who inhabited these lands. The Journey features four museums including the Sioux Indian Museum. Enjoy the remainder of the day at your own pace.
Meals: (B) Overnight: Rapid City
DAY 5: BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK – FORT HAYS
Today explore Badlands National Park, located between the White and Cheyenne Rivers. This area is home to spectacular examples of weathering and erosion—fantastic ridges, cliffs and canyons of variegated color. Later explore the famously kitschy Wall Drug Store, known for its “Free Ice Water”. This afternoon visit the Fort Hays Dances with Wolves Movie Set, to see some of the original buildings used in the Oscar-winning film. We’ll also enjoy a lively Chuckwagon Supper and cowboy Show.
Meals: (B,D) Overnight: Rapid City
DAY 6: 1880 TRAIN – MT. RUSHMORE AT NIGHT
This morning enjoy a short drive to Hill City. Explore Hill City’s interesting Main Street before boarding The 1880 Train for a rail journey through legendary Wild West history and breathtaking scenery, on an authentic narrow gauge railroad dating back to the Black Hills Gold Rush. Later visit The Black Hills Gold Factory. Tonight’s special Farewell Dinner will be served at the K-Bar S Ranch, nestled into the beautiful Black Hills, just outside Keystone. Following dinner, experience the drama and illumination of Mt. Rushmore at Night.
Meals: (B,D) Overnight: Rapid City
DAY 7: RAPID CITY – FLIGHT HOME
Today depart from Rapid City filled with wonderful memories of your Black Hills, Badlands and Mount Rushmore Tour.
Meals: (B)
