Things to do in South Dakota

Go on a hot air balloon tour of the Black Hills and treat yourself to an experience of a lifetime. Admire the beautiful Black Hills and witness historic, wild landscapes and abundant wildlife from a hot air balloon. Soar above the southern Black Hills, and world-renowned Custer State Park with extraordinary 360-degree views of mountains, rock formations, valleys, lakes, and prairies.  Look out for wildlife such as elk, antelope, whitetail deer, buffalo, mule deer, or even a mountain lion. Fly just miles away from Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Wind Cave National Park, and the South Dakota Badlands. Certified pilots will navigate the flight with your safety and enjoyment in mind. During your 1-hour ride, your pilot will answer any questions that you might have and identify local points of interest.  Upon landing, enjoy a celebratory champagne toast, light snacks, and a story about the origin of hot air ballooning.

We are excited you're looking to visit Great Plains Zoo. Every visit helps us to support hundreds of animals each day, provide educational programs, and work on conservation efforts that save animals from extinction! From anteaters to zebras – the Great Plains Zoo offers up-close views of animals from all over the globe, including giraffes, tigers, rhinos and a jumping, hooting array of primates. Start your visit by meeting our troop of Snow Monkeys as they loll about their exhibit. Stop by our Asian cat exhibit and see our majestic tigers. Stroll around our African Savannah and visit giraffes, meerkats, zebras and more. Visit our Face-to-Face Farm to feed and pet our goats or get a kiss from a sheep!

Visit two iconic memorials in western South Dakota on a narrated tour. Spend 2 hours at each memorial, Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse. Enjoy pickup from your hotel in Rapid City and bottled water during the tour. Begin at the iconic Mt. Rushmore. Watch a 14-minute video narrated by Tom Brokaw about the carving, the sculptor Gutzon Borglum, and the workers. Visit the Lincoln Borglum Museum to see displays about Borglum, his family and his works, the mountain and machinery, and the workers. Take the Presidential Trail, a gradually inclining walk that goes under the faces in the rock rubble with great spots for pictures of the individual faces. If you go further, there is a strenuous walk down to the Sculptor’s Studio (open only in the summer months) then back up to the viewing terrace. See the Avenue of Flags, representing all 50 states and the territories, along with their respective dates of admission to the Union. Visit the new Youth Exploration area and the large gift shop. Stop at the Carvers’ Café and an ice cream shop for refreshments. Leave and stop for a picture at the side profile of George Washington. Drive 30 minutes to the Crazy Horse Memorial, a 3-sided sculpture which will be the largest in the world when completed. Watch a 20-minute video about the carving and the sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski and his family that are doing the work. Visit the North American Indian Museum, with items from many different Indian tribes, with 90% of the items being donated. Enjoy refreshments at the Laughing Water Restaurant. Browse the gift shop, filled with Native-made items for sale. Walk through Ziolkowski’s workshop and the log home he built, filled with antiques. Visit the Native American Cultural Center, where you can watch Natives making items for sale, as well as display items to see and touch. See a brass Nature Gate and a huge statue of Fighting Stallions. For an additional $4, take a bus that delivers you to the base of the mountain so you can take a full picture of the face of Chief Crazy Horse.

Saloons, outlaws, dirt roads, and whiskey shots… The old west is alive and well in Deadwood, South Dakota. This gold rush boomtown beckons visitors with its historic cowboy charm and tough-son-of-a-gun attitude, but there was a time when those high noon duels weren’t just for show… Murder, violence, chaos, and corruption have spurred dozens of spirits… and we’re not talking about the whiskey… Meet your guide in front of the Deadwood Welcome Center at 501 Main Street, Deadwood, SD. Your guide will be wearing a US Ghost Adventures T-Shirt and Carrying a lantern! Join Deadwood Ghosts for a journey through the real old west — the one where one side-eyed glance could put you in an early grave… Just ask Wild Bill Hickok, who met his end at the Wild Bill Bar and Trading Post. Now his restless spirit is split between the saloon and Mt. Moriah Cemetery, where he was buried next to none other than Calamity Jane. Tours are held nightly. Before you book, ask yourself one question… Are you feelin’ lucky, punk?

Day 1: Hometown – Salt Lake City Fly to Salt Lake City, Utah. Tour guide will assist with shuttle to the hotel. Check-in time is 3 PM MST. Hotel:Clarion inn Salt Lake City airport Day 2: Jackson – Grand Teton – Yellowstone Breakfast at the hotel. Flying J Travel Center – Restroom Break (20 mins) Jackson Town Square – Sightseeing & Lunch (60 mins) Explore the charming Old West atmosphere with iconic elk antler arches. Grand Teton (Teton Point) – Scenic View (25 mins) Panoramic views of the Teton Range, perfect for photos. West Thumb Geyser Basin – Sightseeing & Easy Hiking (45 mins) Colorful hot springs and geysers along Yellowstone Lake. Old Faithful Geyser – Sightseeing & Restroom (60 mins) Watch the famous geyser erupt every 90 minutes. Grand Prismatic Spring – Sightseeing & Easy Hiking (35 mins) The largest hot spring in the U.S., with vibrant rainbow colors. Fountain Paint Pot – Sightseeing & Easy Hiking (30 mins) Witness bubbling mud pots and hot springs in Yellowstone. Arrive at hotel in West Yellowstone for overnight stay. Day 3: Yellowstone – Rocky Mountain – Sheridan Norris Geyser Basin – Sightseeing & Moderate Hiking (45 mins) Explore Yellowstone's hottest geothermal area. Brink of Upper Falls – Sightseeing & Easy Hiking (25 mins) Views of the powerful Upper Falls in Yellowstone River. Artist Point – Sightseeing (30 mins) Iconic view of Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Mud Volcano Area – Sightseeing & Easy Hiking (25 mins) Bubbling mud pots and colorful pools. Cody, WY – Lunch & Restroom (60 mins) Arrive at hotel in Sheridan for overnight stay. Day 4: Sheridan – Devil’s Tower – Mount Rushmore – Crazy Horse – Casper Gillette – Restroom Break (20 mins) Devil’s Tower – Sightseeing & Easy Hiking (75 mins) A sacred Native American site with stunning views. Mount Rushmore – Sightseeing & Easy Hiking (90 mins) Visit the iconic monument with faces of four U.S. presidents. Crazy Horse Memorial – Sightseeing & Museum (45 mins) Explore the ongoing sculpture honoring Native American heritage. Arrive at hotel in Casper for overnight stay. Day 5: Casper – Independence Rock – Salt Lake City Independence Rock – Sightseeing & Restroom (60 mins) Historic Oregon Trail landmark with inscriptions from pioneers. Green River, WY – Lunch & Restroom (60 mins) Utah State Capitol – Sightseeing (35 mins) Impressive building with stunning views of Salt Lake City. Temple Square – Sightseeing (35 mins) Explore the heart of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Arrive at hotel in Salt Lake City or transfer to SLC Airport by 6:00 PM to end the tour.

Day 1: Hometown – Salt Lake City Fly to Salt Lake City, the largest city in Utah. Our tour guide will assist with the hotel shuttle. Check-in time is 3 PM MST. Hotel:Clarion inn Salt Lake City airport Day 2: Jackson – Grand Teton – Yellowstone Breakfast at the hotel. Flying J Travel Center – Restroom Break (20 mins) Jackson Town Square – Sightseeing & Lunch (60 mins) Explore the iconic elk antler arches and Old West charm. Grand Teton (Teton Point) – Scenic View (25 mins) Stunning panoramic views of the Teton Range. West Thumb Geyser Basin – Sightseeing & Easy Hiking (45 mins) Colorful hot springs and geysers by Yellowstone Lake. Old Faithful Geyser – Sightseeing & Restroom (60 mins) Watch Old Faithful’s famous eruption. Grand Prismatic Spring – Sightseeing & Easy Hiking (35 mins) Vibrant, rainbow-colored hot spring. Fountain Paint Pot – Sightseeing & Easy Hiking (30 mins) Bubbling mud pots and geysers. Arrive at hotel in West Yellowstone for overnight stay. Day 3: Yellowstone – Rocky Mountain – Sheridan Norris Geyser Basin – Sightseeing & Moderate Hiking (45 mins) Home to the tallest active geyser, Steamboat Geyser. Brink of Upper Falls – Sightseeing & Easy Hiking (25 mins) Breathtaking view of Upper Falls in Yellowstone River. Artist Point – Sightseeing (30 mins) Iconic view of Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Mud Volcano Area – Sightseeing & Easy Hiking (25 mins) Explore bubbling mud pots and colorful thermal pools. Cody, WY – Lunch & Restroom (60 mins) Arrive at hotel in Sheridan for overnight stay. Day 4: Sheridan – Devil’s Tower – Mount Rushmore – Crazy Horse – Casper Gillette – Restroom Break (20 mins) Devil’s Tower – Sightseeing & Easy Hiking (75 mins) Sacred Native American site with stunning views. Mount Rushmore – Sightseeing & Easy Hiking (90 mins) See the famous U.S. presidents carved in granite. Crazy Horse Memorial – Sightseeing & Museum (45 mins) Ongoing sculpture honoring Native American heritage. Arrive at hotel in Casper for overnight stay. Day 5: Casper – Independence Rock – Salt Lake City Independence Rock – Sightseeing & Restroom (60 mins) Historic Oregon Trail landmark with inscriptions from pioneers. Green River, WY – Lunch & Restroom (60 mins) Utah State Capitol – Sightseeing (35 mins) Neoclassical building with stunning views of the city. Temple Square – Sightseeing (35 mins) Explore the heart of Salt Lake City and its iconic Salt Lake Temple. Arrive at hotel in Clarion inn Salt Lake City airport Day 6: Salt Lake City – Great Salt Lake – Hometown Great Salt Lake – Sightseeing (30 mins) The largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere, home to unique ecosystems. Transfer to SLC Airport by 10:00 AM to end the tour.

Visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial, a massive sculpture carved into Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. See the faces of U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. Start your tour at an iconic South Dakota landmark. Watch a 14-minute video narrated by Tom Brokaw about the carving, the sculptor Gutzon Borglum, and the workers. Visit the Lincoln Borglum Museum to see displays about Borglum, his family and his works, the mountain and machinery, and the workers. Walk the Presidential Trail, a gradually inclining walk that goes under the faces in the rock rubble with great spots for pictures of the individual faces. If you go further, take a strenuous walk down to the Sculptor’s Studio (open only in the summer months), then back up to the viewing terrace. See the Avenue of Flags, representing all 50 states and territories, along with their respective dates of admission to the Union. Stop for a picture at the side profile of George Washington.

Embark on a narrated tour to the Badlands National Park from Rapid City. Learn about the history of the area and stop at the Minuteman II Missile Museum (open Tues-Sat) and the Prairie Homestead Sod House Historical Site. Visit Wall Drug Store and enjoy a late lunch. Depart from Rapid City and drive through South Dakota ranch country toward the Badlands National Park. Stop at the Minuteman II Missile Museum to see the displays and video about the Minuteman Missiles that were in South Dakota for 30 years. Next, stop at the Prairie Homestead Sod House Historical Site to see how the early homesteaders lived. Enter the Badlands National Park with a stop at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center for about 45 minutes. Enjoy restrooms, a great video about the plants, animals, and formations, and displays about the plants, animals, fossils, and early history of the Badlands. Drive the 30-mile loop road to Wall, SD with several stops at scenic overlooks and boardwalks for pictures and views of the dramatic landscapes of layered rock formations, steep canyons, towering spires, and mixed grass prairies. Visit the famous Wall Drug Store where you can purchase a late lunch in their dining room. They still have the free ice water that made them famous, 5 cent coffee, homemade ice cream, cake donuts and good food. Admire a huge Western art display, 25,000 South Dakota ranch brands burned onto the dining room walls, a silver dollar collection (oldest 1878) and many other shops, historic photos, and displays. After spending time in Wall, drive back to Rapid City, completing a large circle for a total time of approximately 7-8 hours.

Enjoy a day of sightseeing on this all-inclusive private tour of the main sights of Black Hills. After a convenient pickup from your hotel, travel to the iconic Mount Rushmore National Monument, where you will spend some time hiking. Learn about how the monument came into existence. Next, travel to Crazy Horse Memorial, where you will learn about one of the most important historical figures in the history of South Dakota. Finally, explore the beautiful Custer State Park. See wildlife at incredibly close proximity and enjoy the local flora.

Experience the trifecta of iconic western South Dakota landmarks on a narrated tour of Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Custer State Park. Enjoy a comfortable ride from Rapid City and see the best of the Black Hills. Begin your tour at the iconic Mount Rushmore. Watch a 24-minute video about the carving, the sculptor Gutzon Borglum, and workers. Visit the Lincoln Borglum Museum to see displays about Borglum, his family and his works, the mountain and machinery, and the workers. Walk the Presidential Trail to see the faces in the rock rubble with great spots for pictures of the individual faces. Continue to the Avenue of Flags, representing all 50 states and the territories, and their respective dates of admission to the Union. Stop at the Carvers’ Café and an ice cream shop for refreshments. As you leave, stop for a picture at the side profile of George Washington. Next, drive to the Crazy Horse Memorial. Watch a 20-minute video about the carving and the sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski and his family that are doing the work. Visit the North American Indian Museum to see items from many different Indian tribes, with 90% of the items being donated. Walk through Ziolkowski’s workshop and the log home he built, filled with antiques. See a Native American Cultural Center where you can watch Natives making items for sale, as well as display items to see and touch. Stop at the brass Nature Gate and a huge statue of Fighting Stallions. For an additional $4, take a bus that delivers you to the base of the mountain so you can take a full picture of the face of Chief Crazy Horse. After leaving Crazy Horse, drive through the city of Custer, the oldest town in the Black Hills, and down into Custer State Park. Drive the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road. In the spring, see around 1300 buffalo including newborn calves in the park. See antelope, deer, prairie dogs, begging burros, and breathtaking scenery. Make a comfort stop by the State Game Lodge area at Coolidge Inn Store or Peter Norbeck Visitor Center, then drive back to Rapid City.