Discover the sights on this 5 night South Dakota to Yellowstone Park trip from just £1,805pp!
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 accommodations, and a knowledgeable leader, this nature-focused adventure is big on beauty.
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.
About the Great American West
The Great American West states of Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming are home to awe-inspiring scenery, abundant wildlife, Wild West history and Native American culture. Discover the breathtaking beauty of 15 national parks, monuments and memorials including the hot springs and geysers of the world’s first National Park, Yellowstone.
Find out more about these incredible states here.
Itinerary
Day 1 – Rapid City
Welcome to Rapid City! Your tour starts at 9 am 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 stay
Included Activities: Badlands National Park hike and scenic drive
Meals: There are no meals included on this day.
Day 2 – Rapid City
Drive to Custer State Park and wander through the State Game Lodge, a stately residence which was built in 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 stay
Included Activities: Visits to the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore. A buffalo safari in Custer State Park.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 – Sheridan
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 stay
Included Activities: Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument – guided tour with a Crow Nation Guide.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 – West Yellowstone
After breakfast, you’ll spend the day driving to Yellowstone National Park so settle back and enjoy the scenery, or perhaps listen to an audiobook 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 enjoy a delicious picnic lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel stay
Included Activities: Visit to Yellowstone National Park
Meals: Breakfast and lunch.
Day 5 – Yellowstone National Park
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 Yellowstone with its geysers along the north and south loop.
Accommodation: Hotel stay
Included Activities: A hike in Yellowstone National Park.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch.
Day 6 – Yellowstone Wolf Tracking / Bozeman
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: Wolf Tracking Expedition.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.
Price correct as of 06Apr23
