Best of the Dakotas

10 days
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4.3/5 Great
100+ reviews  
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Group Tour
Watch for bison along winding roads in the Black Hills and take in moonscape views in the Badlands as you explore the history and heritage of the Dakotas from the Ice Age to today.
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$2,834
From$2,199
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Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Visit world-renowned parks, memorials and monuments like Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park, Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Devil’s Tower and learn more the region’s history at places like the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center
    • Learn about the history, culture and people of the Dakotas as you visit both states’ capitals, and find out more about the native and presidential history of the Badlands on both sides of the border
    • Appreciate the massive metal art sculptures along the Enchanted Highway, and attend the Greatest Show in the West, The Medora Musical, featuring real horses, cowboys, song and dance

What's this trip about?

    Watch for bison along winding roads in the Black Hills and take in moonscape views in the Badlands as you explore the history and heritage of the Dakotas from the Ice Age to today.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityRapid City
End CityRapid City

Travel Themes

  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Hiking & Walking
  • Education / Learning
  • National Parks

Destinations

Activities

  • Educational/ Learning
  • Historic Sightseeing
  • History

Trip includes

    • 9 nights of accommodations
    • 5 expert-led lectures
    • 22 expert-led field trips
    • 2 performances
    • An experienced Group Leader
    • Customary gratuities throughout the program
    • Road Scholar Assurance Plan
    • Taxes

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Best Western Ramkota

Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner

Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m. Driving approx. 3 miles over a period of 1.5 hours, with stops. Walking about 1 mile on fl...

Day 2

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Best Western Ramkota

Mount Rushmore & evening lighting, Crazy Horse, Mammoth Site

Activity note: Driving a total of approx. 65 miles throughout the day with stops. Walking about 2 miles through...

Day 3

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Best Western Ramkota

Stave Kirke Chapel, Custer State Park

Activity note: Driving a total of approx. 69 miles throughout the day with multiple stops. Walk about 2 miles today on sidewalks and flat terrain....

Day 4

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: ClubHouse Inn & Suites

Wall Drug, Badlands National Park, Minuteman Missile

Activity note: Driving a total of approx. 210 miles, about 6.5 hours drive time, with multiple stops. Walk about 2 miles on f...

Day 5

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: ClubHouse Inn & Suites

South Dakota Capitol and Museum, Oahe Dam, Paddlewheel Boat

Activity note: Driving to locations within a 10 mile radius of the hotel; about 2 hours throughout the day. Wa...

Day 6

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Radisson Hotel Bismarck

Standing Rock Reservation, Fort Lincoln

Bismarck, ND  B,L  Radisson Hotel Bismarck

Activity note: Driving about 210 miles, approx. 7 hours, with stops. Walk about 2 miles on ...

Day 7

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Rough Riders Hotel

State Capitol, Heritage Museum, Medora

Activity note: Todays driving distance, approx. 190 miles, 8 hours, with multiple stops throughout the day. Walk about 2 miles; several sto...

Day 8

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Rough Riders Hotel

Theodore Roosevelt Park, Chateau deMores

Activity note: Driving approx 50 miles within a 2 hour window of time, with photo stops. Walk about a mile on level terrain, some gravel paths.

Day 9

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Best Western Ramkota

Center of the Nation, Devils Tower National Monument

Activity note: Drive from Medora to Devils Tower is approx. 226 miles, about 4 hours with stops; drive from Devils Tower to...

Day 10

Meals: Breakfast

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon. For those who need it, contact the hotel front desk personnel to make your reservation back to the airport. The cost of the hotel shuttle to the airport is included. Driver tip is not included.

...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,199
Price per day$220
Single supplement (single occupancy)$630
Last Updated: 11/14/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Road Scholar.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Best Western Ramkota

4 nights  Rapid City

Restaurant and lounge on-site, Indoor pool, heated, ideal for lap swimmers. Business center, free, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Free wireless Internet access available in public areas and all guest rooms. All guest rooms are hardwired for Internet access. Exercise facility, open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Complimentary shuttle to downtown, local restaurants or local shopping areas.

ClubHouse Inn & Suites

2 nights  Pierre

New hotel, opened in 2012. Located close to the Missouri River and walking paths along the river. Within walking distance (one to ten blocks) to a variety of dining options ranging from fast food to sit down service, grocery store and postoffice.

Radisson Hotel Bismarck

1 night  Bismarck

Opposite downtown’s Belle Mehus Auditorium, this classic hotel is 1.3 miles for the ND State Capital.

Rough Riders Hotel

2 nights  Medora

Located in the heart of downtown Medora the charming Rough Riders Hotel was originally constructed in 1884 in anticipation of an economic boom when French nobleman the Marquis de Mores built his meat packing plant, a stagecoach line, and several other businesses in the area. Originally called the Metropolitan, the name was changed in 1903 to honor Roosevelt's Rough Riders and their service in the Spanish-American War. That same year, Roosevelt returned to his beloved badlands as the first United States President to ever visit Medora. History of the Rough Riders Throughout the years the hotel has been operated by several families as a bar and restaurant, in addition to the sleeping rooms in the upper level. Since 1986 the Rough Riders Hotel has been owned and operated by the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, the non-profit organization Harold Schafer founded when he sold the Gold Seal Company. Though well maintained since the 1960s reconstruction, the hotel was once again in need of significant repairs. In the fall of 2008 a major renovation began at the Rough Riders Hotel, which included an expansion project and complete updates to the original eight hotel rooms, the addition of the 68 new guest rooms in the Tower, a full conference center facility, outdoor courtyard for meetings and events and the popular "Theodore's Dining Room and TR's Tavern" addition to the main level of the building.

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Meals Included

9 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches and 5 Dinners

The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
[object Object]
Trip ID
roadscholar-945

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