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Map of South Dakota to Yellowstone Parks Explorer including United States Of America

A showcase of National Parks, famous landmarks and incredible wildlife

See natural wonders in South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana on a 6-day small group adventure which packs plenty of National Parks into a short amount of time. Uncover the beauty of Badlands National Park, before you travel to Mount Rushmore, spot buffalo in Custer State Park and continue to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. With two nights at Yellowstone National Park, you’ll have time to spot wildlife and watch Old Faithful spray water into the air before joining a wolf tracking expedition. With easy to moderate walks, comfortable accommodation, and a knowledgeable leader, this nature-focussed adventure is big on beauty.

Start
Rapid City, United States
Finish
Bozeman, United States
Destination
United States
Style
Original
Theme
Explorer
Code
SSED
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Enjoy the changing landscape of Badlands National Park as you explore the scenic loop drive, looking out for bighorn sheep and antelope.

  • Visit Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument and join your Crow Nation Guide to learn about the history of the area.

  • Jump in a jeep with an expert guide to see buffalo up close and personal in Custer State Park along with pronghorns and elk.

  • Marvel at Mount Rushmore where a hike will take you up close to this famous mountain sculpture.

  • Join an expert naturalist on a wolf tracking expedition at Yellowstone National Park.

Is this trip right for you?

  • There are walking opportunities throughout this trip. We recommend you bring good quality walking shoes if you're keen to enjoy a hike - or two!

  • Lunches will be simple picnic style so perhaps bring some of your own snacks if you think you’ll get hungry between meals.

Badlands National Park in South Dakota, USA
A hiker at Yellowstone National Park's Grand Prismatic Spring, Montana, USA
Grey wolf up close in Yellowstone NP, Wyoming, USA
American buffalo herd in Custer State Park, South Dakota, USA
View of Mount Rushmore, South Dakota, USA

Itinerary
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Welcome to Rapid City! Your tour starts at 9am with a group meeting followed by a short drive to Badlands National Park. Have your camera handy to capture the sweeping prairie grass plains and dramatic rocky pinnacles. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, chirping prairie dogs and American bison. We'll take a short hike on one of the scenic trails before continuing to the nearby Wall Drug Store, drawing millions of visitors every year. It’s hard to believe this store won over customers in its early days by offering something as simple as free ice water. Take some time to wander around and grab lunch (at own expense).
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Badlands National Park – Hiking
  • Badlands National Park – Scenic Drive
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting at 9am as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

The total driving time is approximately two hours.

Drive to Custer State Park and wander through the State Game Lodge, a stately residence which was built in the 1920 and has played host to several presidents. Then it’s time to jump in a jeep and go wild on a Buffalo safari. Trek through the park in an open-air jeep as your expert guide shares historical and educational facts and helps you spot pronghorns, elk, and buffalo. Continue on to the famous Mount Rushmore to walk the Presidential Trail.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Black Hills - Mount Rushmore
  • Custer State Park - Buffalo Safari
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total walking distance is approximately is 1km/0.6miles and the total driving time is approximately 2 hours.

It's an early start for the drive to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. After a stop along the way for lunch, join your Crow Nation Guide for a three-hour tour which provides an Apsaalooke perspective on the conflict. With a tribal historian at your side, traverse the battlefield and learn how Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho warriors defeated the US Army on the Greasy Grass at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. After the tour, drive to Sheridan where you might like to visit the Sheridan Inn for a drink and a chance to learn about the history of Buffalo Bill who auditioned new members for his “Wild West” show from the front porch of this historic inn.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument -guided tour with a Crow Nation Guide
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 4.5 hours plus time on tour at Little Bighorn.

After breakfast, you’ll spend the day driving to Yellowstone National Park so settle back and enjoy the scenery, or perhaps listen to an audio book or your favourite tunes as the miles roll by. Along the way, your leader will choose the perfect scenic spot for everyone to stretch their legs and a enjoy a delicious picnic lunch.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Total driving today is 6 hours plus stops.

Spend the day exploring Yellowstone National Park where grizzly bears, wolves and herds of buffalo and elk roam free. Watch as Old Faithful sprays over 4000 gallons (14,000 litres) of boiling water into the air, then be hypnotized by the startling colours of the Grand Prismatic Spring. Other highlights include the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with its geysers along the north and south loop.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Yellowstone National Park - Hiking
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
In Yellowstone the cumulative walk options range from easy to moderate and 2 to 5 miles (3 to 8 km) in length. These are mostly on easy boardwalks. They are all optional and your leader will give options based on guest interest and abilities

You're up before the sun this morning, but we promise it's for good reason. We're heading back into Yellowstone to join a wolf-tracking expedition with an experienced naturalist guide. There's no better place than Yellowstone to see these magnificent animals in the wild. Your guide tracks the movements and behaviour of Yellowstone wildlife almost daily and knows the best places to find the animals. There will be top-of-the-line binoculars and high-powered spotting scopes for each person, so no one will miss out. After lunch, travel to Bozeman where your adventure ends at around 4pm.
Included Activities
  • Yellowstone - Wolf Tracking Expedition
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately two hours, plus time on the Wolf Tracking Expedition.
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

5 breakfasts, 3 lunches

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Hotels (5 nights)

Included activities

  • Badlands National Park – Hiking
  • Badlands National Park – Scenic Drive
  • Black Hills - Mount Rushmore
  • Custer State Park - Buffalo Safari
  • Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument -guided tour with a Crow Nation Guide
  • Yellowstone National Park - Hiking
  • Yellowstone - Wolf Tracking Expedition

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our South Dakota to Yellowstone Parks Explorer trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 9 am on Day 1 in Rapid City. Please make your own way to the Joining Point listed in the Essential Trip Information for this itinerary.
2. This trip finishes at approximately 4pm in Bozeman, Montana. No accommodation is booked for this evening. If departing this day, please do not book any flights before 7pm. if you would like to spend more time in Bozeman, we can request additional accommodation for you post tour. Please speak to your booking agent.
3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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