Itinerary
- Day 1
Rapid City to Custer
The trip kicks off with a welcome meeting in Rapid City at 10 am. From there, you'll drive out to Wall Drug Store, which is kind of a quirky roadside landmark worth checking out. After grabbing lunch, you head into Badlands National Park where the landscape shifts dramatically with rocky pinnacles and open prairie stretching out. Watch for bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, prairie dogs, and bison as you go. You'll take a scenic hike through the park, then settle into your cabin in Custer where you'll stay the next two nights. The day wraps up with a group dinner at the lodge.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner (Group dinner at the lodge)
Included Activities
- Wall Drug Store visit
- Badlands National Park - Scenic Drive
- Badlands National Park - Hiking
- Group dinner at lodge
Landmarks/POIs Wall Drug Store Badlands National Park - Day 2
Custer
Start this morning with breakfast at the lodge, then get into an open-air jeep for a buffalo safari through Custer State Park. Your guide will help spot pronghorns, elk, and buffalo while sharing the area's history. After that, you'll visit the Crazy Horse Memorial, which is the largest mountain carving in the Black Hills. Next is Mount Rushmore, where you'll walk the Presidential Trail and take photos. Dinner tonight is on your own, so you can eat at the lodge or try one of the nearby restaurants.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Custer State Park - Buffalo Safari
- Custer - Crazy Horse Memorial
- Black Hills - Mount Rushmore
Optional Activities
- Dinner at accommodation or nearby local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Custer State Park Crazy Horse Memorial Mount Rushmore - Day 3
Custer to Sheridan
Breakfast happens in Custer before you drive north to Deadwood, a Wild West town tied to outlaws like Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok. Your leader will take you on an orientation walk, then you have time to explore on your own and maybe find a cowboy hat. Everyone regroups for an included lunch, and after that it's a long afternoon drive to Sheridan. You'll get settled at your accommodation for the evening, and there are nice rolling prairie views to take in.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Deadwood visit
- Leader-led orientation walk in Deadwood
- Lunch in Deadwood
Optional Activities
- Shopping for cowboy hats in Deadwood
- Self-guided exploration in Deadwood
Landmarks/POIs Deadwood - Day 4
Sheridan to Cody
After breakfast, head to Cody, Wyoming, home of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. This museum has five different themed exhibitions all under one roof, and the Plains Indian Museum is particularly strong. Inside you'll find exhibits on the Yellowstone ecosystem, firearms, Western art, and Buffalo Bill's story. Grab lunch somewhere in town, and your leader will take an orientation walk afterward so you can scope out dinner spots or find authentic cowboy boots if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cody - Buffalo Bill Center of the West
- Cody - Leader-led orientation walk
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Cody
- Barbecue dinner in Cody
- Shopping for cowboy boots in Cody
Landmarks/POIs Buffalo Bill Center of the West - Day 5
Cody to Gardiner
Departing from Cody, you'll drive west toward Yellowstone National Park. First stop is the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, which has incredible photo opportunities with the waterfalls and canyon walls. Then you'll explore the Norris Geyser Basin, the hottest and oldest geyser basin in the park. It's geothermal activity on a big scale with hot springs and steam vents everywhere. By evening you'll check into your hotel in Gardiner.
Included Activities
- Yellowstone National Park - Northern Loop Featuring Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone & Norris Geyser Basin
Landmarks/POIs Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone Norris Geyser Basin - Day 6
Gardiner
This morning you'll have breakfast and continue through Yellowstone. Head straight to Old Faithful Geyser, the cone geyser that shoots over 4000 gallons of boiling water into the air. Afterward, check out the Grand Prismatic Spring with its striking colors. Dinner is on your own tonight, and some groups like to gather informally for a goodbye meal before the final day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Yellowstone National Park - Southern Loop Featuring Old Faithful Geyser & Grand Prismatic Spring
Optional Activities
- Group dinner and socializing in Gardiner area
Landmarks/POIs Old Faithful Geyser Grand Prismatic Spring - Day 7
Gardiner to Bozeman
Rise before sunrise for an early wolf-tracking expedition with an experienced naturalist guide. Yellowstone is one of the best places to see wolves in the wild, and your guide knows the spots where they're most likely to appear. You'll have access to high-powered binoculars and spotting scopes so everyone gets a good view. After tracking, you'll travel to Bozeman, arriving around 4 pm when the trip ends. If you want to stay longer in the area, contact your booking agent to arrange extra nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Yellowstone - Wolf Tracking Expedition
Optional Activities
- Extended stay in Bozeman area
Landmarks/POIs Yellowstone National Park
