Mt. Rushmore & The Black Hills

ITINERARY

Sunday - August 28th

Travel Day - St. Louis Arch

We start our travels north today! We stop in St. Louis for a trip to the iconic St. Louis Arch. Then onwards to our first nights stay north of Kansas City.

Tuesday, August 29th

Wall Drug - Custer State Park

A quintessential stop on any South Dakota road trip, Wall Drug Store in the small town of Wall is a legendary roadside attraction that has been delighting travelers since 1931. What began as a humble pharmacy has grown into a sprawling Western wonderland filled with quirky shops, cowboy memorabilia, free ice water, homemade fudge, and endless photo ops—including a giant jackalope and animatronic dinosaurs. It’s pure roadside Americana at its most entertaining.

From there, head south into the rugged beauty of Custer State Park, one of the country’s largest and most scenic state parks. Home to soaring granite peaks, lush ponderosa pine forests, and one of the largest free-roaming bison herds in the world, the park offers incredible wildlife viewing, the scenic Needles Highway, and pristine lakes perfect for hiking, fishing, or simply soaking in the Black Hills grandeur.

Wednesday, August 30th

Mt. Rushmore - Hill City - Crazy Horse

Touring Mount Rushmore National Memorial delivers an iconic American experience as you stand before the colossal carved faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, dramatically set into the granite cliffs of the Black Hills. The visitor center, sculptor's studio, and scenic trails offer inspiring views and deeper insight into this monumental tribute to democracy.

From nearby Hill City, step back in time aboard the 1880 Train, a authentic steam-powered excursion that chugs through the scenic Black Hills on vintage rails. The nostalgic ride delivers stunning forest and mountain views with the rhythmic clickety-clack of old-fashioned rail travel—pure charm and history rolled into one.

Continue your journey to the Crazy Horse Memorial, a colossal mountain carving in progress honoring the legendary Lakota warrior. Far larger in scale than Mount Rushmore, the site features the massive emerging figure, an impressive visitor complex with museums, cultural programs, and the chance to witness this monumental work of Native American heritage still being carved by the Ziolkowski family.

Thursday, August 31st

Deadwood - Devils Tower

Deadwood, South Dakota plunges you straight into the heart of the Wild West. This lively historic town, once a rowdy gold-rush boomtown, features beautifully restored Victorian buildings, bustling saloons, and the legendary stories of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. Wander Main Street for museums, old-time shootout reenactments, gaming halls, and authentic Western atmosphere—pure gold-rush nostalgia at its best.

From Deadwood, a scenic drive west crosses into Wyoming and leads to the striking Devil’s Tower National Monument, the country’s very first National Monument. This massive, otherworldly basalt column rises 867 feet above the surrounding prairie, sacred to many Native American tribes and instantly recognizable from Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Hiking the trails around its base, exploring the visitor center, and taking in the sweeping views make it a truly unforgettable natural and cultural highlight.

Friday, September 1st

The Badlands

Badlands National Park feels like stepping into another world, where ancient seabed sediments have been sculpted by erosion into a stunning maze of jagged buttes, towering spires, and deeply carved canyons in shades of pink, orange, and gold. The dramatic landscape comes alive at sunrise and sunset, when the colors intensify and the formations cast long shadows.

Drive the scenic Badlands Loop Road for breathtaking overlooks, hike easy-to-moderate trails like the Notch Trail or Door Trail for immersive views, and keep an eye out for abundant wildlife including bison, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, and prairie dogs. With its rich fossil beds, vast open skies perfect for stargazing, and otherworldly beauty, the Badlands offers a raw, unforgettable slice of America’s natural heritage.

Saturday, September 2nd

Travel Day - Home