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Mount Rushmore & South Dakota's Black Hills

New Tour

6 days

Discover the highlights of South Dakota on a 6-day tour through the Black Hills, including a visit to the iconic Mount Rushmore. Visit Badlands National Park, see the Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming and pay your respects at the Crazy Horse Monument. Experience a scenic train ride through the Black Hills, explore the historic town of Deadwood and delve into the underground wonders of Wind Cave. End with a Buffalo Jeep Safari in Custer State Park, home to elk, bison, mountain lions and coyotes.

For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes

Tour Overview

Duration

6 days

Starts

Rapid City

Ends

Rapid City

Range

Handpicked

Tour Guide

Yes - escorted by a tour guide

Group Size

Min 6 / Max 14

Minimum age

6 yrs, accompanied by an adult

Departs

Mondays

Hotel Rating

3-star hotel

Countries

USA

Arrival Transfer

Yes

Departure Transfer

Yes

Meals included

Breakfast: 5, Lunch: 1, Dinner: 2

Physical Rating

Serious
Per Person From
NZD$5,715.00
Deposit From
Final payment
NZD$3,429.00
$8,001.00

Tour Highlights

Badlands National Park - Admire the dramatic landscapes and rock formations of the park and search for bison and other wildlife
Mount Rushmore - Take in this iconic National Memorial and return in the evening to experience the patriotic Evening Lighting Ceremony
Black Hills Central Railroad - Ride a heritage 1880s train through the diverse landscapes of the Black Hills
Devils Tower - Marvel at the towering Devils Tower National Monument with scenic walks around this iconic monolith
Wind Cave National Park - Head underground to explore the cavernous passages and "boxwork" formations of this reserve
Custer State Park - Enjoy a thrilling Jeep Safari through the park in search of the resident wildlife, including mountain lions, bison and elk

Included

5 breakfasts, 1 lunch & 2 dinners
5 Nights in a 3 star hotel
Airport arrival transfer on day 1 and airport departure transfer on day 6
Escorted by a knowledgeable local tour guide
Comfortable transportation in a Mercedes Benz Sprinter van or similar
Attraction and park entrance fees
Note: This tour is operated in conjunction with our trusted partner and you will join travellers from different operators, not solely On The Go

Not Included

International flights & visas
Tips for your tour guide - an entirely personal gesture!
Optional activities
Any meals or drinks not specified in the inclusions
Please note: This tour involves a lot of walking and hiking, and a decent fitness level is required. Please speak to us before booking your tour if you have concerns or questions about your level of fitness.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in the Black Hills

Rapid City - Keystone. Welcome to South Dakota! You will be collected on arrival at Rapid City Regional Airport and taken to our hotel in the heart of the Black Hills, near Keystone. In the evening, join the rest of the group for a welcome dinner, so everyone can get to know each other.

Please note: Please ensure that you arrive in Rapid City by 15:00 at the latest on day 1.

Please also note: This tour involves extensive hiking on uneven terrain, covering an average of 5 to 8 kilometres at a time, but sometimes more. Elevation changes range from 50 to 1,000 feet, and both touring and overnight locations are situated at altitudes between 5,000 and 8,000 feet above sea level. Due to the physical demands of this itinerary, participants should be prepared for significant activity.

Overnight: Keystone
Meals: Dinner

Day 2 - Badlands National Park

Keystone - Badlands National Park - Wall - Keystone. We’ll take a short drive to Badlands National Park for sightseeing and hiking. Badlands National Park is a dramatic landscape of layered, jagged rock formations in shades of red, yellow, and grey, carved by centuries of erosion. Towering rock formations rise above expansive prairies and lush grasslands teeming with bison, bighorn sheep, and prairie dogs.

After exploring this incredible park, we’ll stop at the world-famous Wall Drug store for lunch, and you will have some free time to explore on your own. Next, we’ll visit the Prairie Edge Trading Company in Rapid City, where we’ll have time to explore the charming shops and art galleries. We’ll then return to Keystone for the night.

Overnight: Keystone
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3 - Mount Rushmore

Today, after breakfast, we set off for Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Mount Rushmore depicts the 60-foot-tall faces of four U.S. presidents - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, carved into its granite face and surrounded by dense pine forests and rugged granite peaks.

Next, we board an 1880s train at the Black Hills Central Railroad for a historic ride through the Black Hills. After that, we head to the Crazy Horse Monument, a colossal yet unfinished tribute to the famous Sioux warrior.

We’ll return to Keystone, where you’ll have some free time to relax and enjoy dinner on your own. Later, we’ll return to Mount Rushmore to experience the Evening Lighting Ceremony, a moving and patriotic presentation.

Overnight: Keystone
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 - Devils Tower National Monument

Keystone - Devils Tower National Monument - Deadwood - Keystone. This morning, after breakfast, we travel to Wyoming on our way to Devils Tower National Monument for a tour and a scenic walk around this magnificent monolith. Devils Tower National Monument is formed of volcanic rock and rises 867 feet above Wyoming’s rolling prairies. After our visit, we return to South Dakota and arrive in the notorious old West town of Deadwood for further sightseeing. After some free time to explore on your own, we’ll head back to Keystone.

Overnight: Keystone
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 - Wind Cave National Park & Custer State Park

Keystone - Wind Cave National Park - Custer State Park - Keystone. We start the day by visiting Wind Cave National Park, famous for its vast underground passages, including the unique "boxwork" formations. Known as one of the longest and most complex caves in the world, the cave is named for the barometric winds at its entrance. Above ground, we may spot wildlife such as bison, elk, and pronghorn. You’ll have free time for lunch today.

In the afternoon, we make our way to Custer State Park and the State Game Lodge, where we’ll embark on a thrilling Buffalo Jeep Safari through the park. After encountering a variety of wildlife, we return to Keystone to join the group for a farewell dinner.

Overnight: Keystone
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6 - Rapid City

Keystone - Rapid City. After breakfast, you will check out and be transferred to Rapid City Airport for your departure flight home.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotels

The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.
K Bar S Lodge, Ascend Hotel Collection
Keystone

Nestled high in the Black Hills and surrounded by hiking trails, this modern lodge is just 3.3 miles from Mount Rushmore and 0.5 miles from the Keystone 1880 steam train. The comfortable rooms come with free WiFi, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, MP3 docks, fridges, and coffeemakers. A continental breakfast is served in a glass gazebo, and additional amenities include a lobby with a stone fireplace and an outdoor terrace with a fire pit.

Our Rating
Simple
Local Rating
3 Star Hotel

Prices & Dates

Departure dates are guaranteed with 6 travellers. 'Twin / Double' prices are per person when there are 2 people sharing a room. 'Single' prices are applicable to all solo travellers, or if your booking party cannot reach the minimum of 2 persons in a room. Single Rooms can also be booked by any other person wanting the comfort and privacy of their own room.

2025
Twin/Double
Single
12 May - 17 May
$5,715
$6,775
19 May - 24 May
$5,715
$6,775
26 May - 31 May
$5,715
$6,775
2 Jun - 7 Jun
$5,715
$6,775
9 Jun - 14 Jun
$5,715
$6,775
30 Jun - 5 Jul
$5,715
$6,775
7 Jul - 12 Jul
$5,715
$6,775
14 Jul - 19 Jul
Sold Out
Sold Out

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