You booked this experience
Make your trip unforgettable

Mount Rushmore Extended Expedition Tour

87 Reviews 4.95 out of 5 stars Based on 87 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and TripAdvisor | Recommended by 99% of reviewers |
Badge of Excellence |Badge of Excellence This experience is highly rated by travelers and has met our top quality standards.
Rapid City, USA
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 21 (0) days in advance.

10 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Instant confirmation

Overview

Neal and Becky live in the Black Hills near the historic mining town of Hayward. Neal is a native South Dakotan having a close association with the Black Hills since his youth.

As you tour the southern Black Hills, you'll get a narration of the history of the sights as well as personal stories of the area. The history begins with our pickup in Rapid City connecting the life of Crazy Horse with General George Armstrong Custer; the Fort Laramie treaty of 1868 and the Battle of the Little Bighorn, also known as Custer's Last Stand; and the thread that ties everything together is the discovery of gold in the Black Hills.

They love people and have a desire to serve you to make your visit an enjoyable one. Suggestions and tips on how to make your stay more enjoyable freely offered!

What's Included

  • All Fees and Taxes
  • We have unbrellas for folks in case it rains!
  • Bottled water and light snacks.
  • Lunch
  • No raincoats
  • No gratuity
See 3 more

Meeting Location

Meeting point
End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Book Online

Our secure website provides real-time availability, instant confirmation, and free, no-hassle cancellations up to 24 hours before your tour begins.
Read more

Safe & secure Easy breezy Hassle‑free

Black Hills National Forest

Our entire day trip is within the Black Hills National Forest that covers an area 125 miles long and 65 miles wide, a 1.25-million acre forest! We spend about 2 hours driving time that is interspersed between the sites we visit as outlined below. Along the way, we take in the beauty of the Black Hills that encompasses rugged rock formations, canyons, gulches, open grassland, and mountain lakes, including learning about the rich history of the area, including Custer's expedition to the area in 1874.
Read more

2 hours Admission Ticket Free

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Our first stop is Mount Rushmore National Memorial where the rich history of the United States is told through the lives of presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham enshrined on Mount Rushmore. Through their lives we learn about the birth, growth, development and preservation of this country. The memorial is surrounded by the beauty of the Black Hills.
Read more

1 hour 15 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Crazy Horse Memorial

Leaving Mount Rushmore, we wind our way over to Crazy Horse Memorial passing by Horsethief Lake, a beautiful mountain lake, and Black Elk Mountain, the highest peak in SD at 7,244 feet above sea level.Crazy Horse Memorial is the largest carving in the world, depicting the Oglala Lakota war chief, Crazy Horse, riding a horse and pointing to his tribal land. Housed within the Crazy Horse Memorial complex, is the Indian Museum of North American.
Read more

1 hour 15 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Custer

Next stop is in the small town of Custer for lunch. You’re on your own for lunch here, having the opportunity to choose the restaurant of your choosing. Custer is the oldest and first permanent settlement established in the Black Hills by European Americans.
Read more

1 hour Admission Ticket Free

Custer State Park

Next stop is Custer State Park, a 72,000 acre state park and wildlife refuge. The park is home to a herd of 1,500 bison and a variety of other wildlife that roam free over the varied terrain that includes rolling prairie grasslands and rugged mountains.
Read more

2 hours Admission Ticket Included

Custer State Park Visitor Center

We will stop here for a short break to stretch our legs, watch a 20 minute film on the history of Custer State Park (narrated by Kevin Costner), then head out to find the buffalo and other wildlife on the Wildlife Loop Road.
Read more

30 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Iron Mountain Road

The Iron Mountain Road is one of the most scenic and unique roads in America! It winds through the countryside, traversing through three tunnels, navigating up and down switch-backs and pig-tail-bridges with views of Mount Rushmore along the way. It was built to connect Custer State Park with Mount Rushmore. It was intentionally engineered to make travelers slow down to enjoy the beauty of the area. Along the way, we drive through the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve, a wilderness designated area.
Read more

1 hour Admission Ticket Free

Iron Mountain Road

Iron Mountain Summit, also called the Peter Norbeck Scenic Overlook. From the summit at 5,450 feet above sea level, we are at the same elevation as Mount Rushmore which can be seen in the distance across the valley below, about 1 mile away. A breathtaking view! We can also see Black Elk Peak, the highest point in South Dakota at 7,200 feet above sea level. It is also the highest peak east of the Rockies.
Read more

15 minutes Admission Ticket Included

Keystone (pass by)

Our last stop of the tour is Keystone, dropping off any guests we picked up here before heading back to Rapid City.
Read more
Show 8 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 9 travelers

Frequently Asked Questions (8)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Mount Rushmore Extended Expedition Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (MST). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

Still have questions?

We're here to help.
Activity code: C-368596P1

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.95
87 reviews

Average 4.95 out of 5 stars based on 87 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
84
4 stars
2
3 stars
1
2 stars
0
1 star
0
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 21 (0) days in advance.

Similar Tours & Activities

Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Black Hills and Mt Rushmore

Download GuideAlong's Black Hills, Badlands, Mount Rushmore, & Custer State Park audio tour to explore a surprising mix of big-name icons and wild landscapes, crowned …More

Download GuideAlong's Black Hills, Badlands, Mount Rushmore, & Custer State Park audio tour to explore a surprising mix of big-name icons and wild landscapes, crowned...

4 to 12 hours Free Cancellation
4.6 (177)
from
$30

Devil's Tower Tour

This tour offers a unique opportunity to experience the awe-inspiring presence of Devils Tower, a geological marvel unlike any other. Unlike typical mountain peaks, Devils …More

Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out
5.0 (5)

Devil's Tower Tour

5.0 (5)

This tour offers a unique opportunity to experience the awe-inspiring presence of Devils Tower, a geological marvel unlike any other. Unlike typical mountain peaks, Devils...

8 to 9 hours Hotel pickup offered Free Cancellation
5.0 (5)
from
$396

Badlands National Park by Bicycle - Private

Formed by several hundred thousand years of erosion, the Badlands formations expose the layers of millions of years of the regions history. It is a …More

Formed by several hundred thousand years of erosion, the Badlands formations expose the layers of millions of years of the regions history. It is a...

7 hours Hotel pickup offered Free Cancellation
5.0 (18)
from
$245

Private Glass-Top Mercedes: Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse & Custer

Experience the Southern Black Hills in unmatched panoramic luxury aboard our custom-built Mercedes Calèche! Unlike standard enclosed vans or crowded motorcoaches, our limited-production luxury vans …More

Experience the Southern Black Hills in unmatched panoramic luxury aboard our custom-built Mercedes Calèche! Unlike standard enclosed vans or crowded motorcoaches, our limited-production luxury vans...

8 hours Hotel pickup offered
4.9 (41)
from
$1,999

Travelers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought

Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Tour with Two Meals and a Music Variety Show

Join us on a journey through the breathtaking landscapes and historic landmarks of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills. This all-inclusive tour offers an immersive …More

Join us on a journey through the breathtaking landscapes and historic landmarks of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills. This all-inclusive tour offers an immersive...

9 hours Free Cancellation
4.8 (1,062)
from
$164

Bus Tour of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills

Join us on a journey through the breathtaking landscapes and historic landmarks of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills. Our Sightseeing Bus Tour Only package …More

Join us on a journey through the breathtaking landscapes and historic landmarks of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills. Our Sightseeing Bus Tour Only package...

9 hours Free Cancellation
4.8 (447)
from
$133

Private Tour of Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse and Custer State Park

Mount Rushmore is more than just the carvings. They have secrets that are not easily revealed. GeoFunTrek's guides are local experts with decades of experience. …More

Likely to Sell Out
Likely to Sell Out

Mount Rushmore is more than just the carvings. They have secrets that are not easily revealed. GeoFunTrek's guides are local experts with decades of experience....

8 to 9 hours Hotel pickup offered Free Cancellation
5.0 (223)
from
$300

Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Black Hills and Mt Rushmore

Download GuideAlong's Black Hills, Badlands, Mount Rushmore, & Custer State Park audio tour to explore a surprising mix of big-name icons and wild landscapes, crowned …More

Download GuideAlong's Black Hills, Badlands, Mount Rushmore, & Custer State Park audio tour to explore a surprising mix of big-name icons and wild landscapes, crowned...

4 to 12 hours Free Cancellation
4.6 (177)
from
$30

What's Included

Activity name

  • All Fees and Taxes
  • We have unbrellas for folks in case it rains!
  • Bottled water and light snacks.
  • Lunch
  • No raincoats
  • No gratuity

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 9 travelers

Report Product Issue

Activity name