Discover the Wild West as we visit Mount Rushmore; Crazy Horse Memorial; Custer State Park; Badlands National Park; Deadwood; Devil’s Tower National Park; The Mammoth Site; and Fort Hayes, where they filmed Dances with Wolves. This trip features a one-hotel stay in Rapid City, South Dakota.

July 23 –29, 2025

 

Package Includes:

• Round-trip airfare — Raleigh-Durham International Airport or Charlotte Douglas International Airport
• Six nights’ hotel accommodations, one-hotel stay
• 10 meals: Six breakfasts and four dinners
• All sightseeing and admissions as listed
• Motor coach transportation
• Professional tour guide and driver
• Our State host
• Baggage handling
• Hotel transfers

 

Accommodations:

• Six nights – Holiday Inn, Rapid City Downtown

Note: An alternate hotel may be substituted

 

Itinerary Highlights:

• Mount Rushmore
• Mount Rushmore at night
• Devil’s Tower National Monument
• Crazy Horse Memorial
• Fort Hays
• Badlands National Park
• Wall Drug Store
• Custer State Park
• Buffalo Safari Jeep Tour
• State Game Lodge dinner
• 1880 Train
• Deadwood
• The Mammoth Site
• The Journey Museum
• K-Bar S Ranch dinner
• Chuckwagon Supper & Cowboy Show

 

Itinerary:

DAY 1: ARRIVE IN RAPID CITY

Today, arrive in Rapid City. Tonight, enjoy a wine and beer reception followed by a Welcome Dinner with your fellow Our State travelers.

Meals: D
Overnight: Rapid City

 

DAY 2: MOUNT RUSHMORE – CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL

This morning, visit Mount Rushmore featuring the awesome sculptures of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln. Each face is 60 feet high and is carved into the rugged granite mountainside with intricate perfection. Then, continue onto the Crazy Horse Memorial, still in progress. View the giant mountainside sculpture of the famous Indian Chief astride his pony. This afternoon, visit Custer State Park, a famous wildlife preserve featuring a herd of 1,500 free-roaming buffalo. Experience a thrilling Buffalo Safari Jeep Tour in search of some of the herd. Enjoy dinner at the famous State Game Lodge, built 1920 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places with past guests including President Coolidge and President 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 rough and tumble gold camp and gambling town where the Wild West legends were made, like Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and Seth Bullock. The entire city is a National Historic Landmark and features an incredibly preserved Main Street. Later, drive through beautiful Spearfish Canyon, a scenic drive in 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 mammoths and three 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 Journey Museum, which is a city-owned $12 million museum and learning center that traces the geology of the Black Hills and tells the story of the people who inhabited these lands. The Journey Museum 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, visit and drive through Badlands National Park, located between the White River and the Cheyenne River. The area contains spectacular examples of weathering, erosion, fantastic ridges, cliffs, and canyons of variegated color. Later, explore the unusual and well-known Wall Drug Store, famous 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. Later, at the same location, enjoy a fun filled Chuckwagon Supper & Cowboy Show.

Meals: B, D
Overnight: Rapid City

 

DAY 6: 1880 TRAIN – MOUNT RUSHMORE AT NIGHT

This morning, enjoy a short drive to Hill City to explore Main Street and board the 1880 Train for a rail journey through history and scenery. The 1880 Train is an authentic narrow-gauge railroad, dating back to the Black Hills Gold Rush. Then, stop at a Black Hills Gold Factory. Tonight’s special Farewell Dinner is at the K-Bar S Ranch, nestled in the beautiful Black Hills just outside Keystone. Following dinner, experience Mount Rushmore at night to see this American treasure illuminated in a whole new light.

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 adventure.

 

Tour Rates:

Regular Rate: $3,749 per person based on double occupancy

Booking Discount: $3,649 per person based on double occupancy*

Single supplement: $875

 

For reservations and more information:

Premier World Discovery
Melissa Grant
(877) 953-8687, ext. 238 (Pacific Standard Time)
mgrant@premierworlddiscovery.com

 

Additional Information:

What to expect on an Our State trip:

Traveling with a group of Our State readers is an enriching, enjoyable, and safe way to experience new cultures, people, and places. In addition to the informative narration from the tour director and local guides, an Our State host will be available to assist in making your trip successful.

We usually fly to our destination, then travel by a comfortable motor coach with anywhere from 35 to 50 people who appreciate learning about new regions. Your entire trip will be guided, planned, and arranged for your upmost enjoyment. Many activities are things you can only do because you are traveling with Our State. There is some free time built in for you to explore on your own.

You can also choose not to attend an activity if you prefer something different. Please let your tour director know if you are not coming on a scheduled day.

Many meals are included. Where you have meals on your own, suggestions will be provided.

Most of the motor coaches have restrooms but every effort will be made to make regular rest stops.

One of the best parts of traveling with Our State is that you will meet new people, many of whom you will already have much in common with since most travelers read the magazine. Many guests often develop friendships that go on long after the tour is finished. Our State trips are generally filled with dynamic and friendly people.
 

Physical requirements:

Our tours are physically active but not meant to be strenuous.

Please be aware you will be on your feet, walking and standing for much of the day, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions and terrains. There will also be extended time on the motor coach when we travel from place to place. If there are any mobility issues you will need to have an able-bodied traveling companion to accompany and assist you.

Most days are moderately paced with approximately two to three total miles of walking, possibly including some hills and stairs.

We regret that we’re unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs. The responsibility of the Trip Director who accompanies your trip is to ensure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest. Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it.

If you have additional questions, please call Our State’s Travel Director Amy Wood Pasquini at 336-286-0600, or email apasquini@ourstate.com.