South Dakota to Yellowstone Parks Explorer
South Dakota to Yellowstone Parks Explorer
South Dakota to Yellowstone Parks Explorer
6 Days Starting in Rapid City and ending in Bozeman
Visiting: Rapid City to Custer, Custer, Billings, Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone Wolf Tracking / Bozeman
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SSED
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99 years
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Tour Overview
See natural wonders in South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park on this six-day small group adventure that packs plenty of wonders into a short amount of time. Uncover the beauty of Badlands National Park before you travel to Mount Rushmore, spot buffalo in Custer State Park and continue to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. With two nights at Yellowstone National Park, you’ll have time to spot wildlife and watch Old Faithful spray water into the air before joining a wolf-tracking expedition. With easy to moderate walks, comfortable accommodation and a knowledgeable leader, this nature focussed adventure is big on beauty.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Rapid City To Custer
Location: Rapid City to Custer
Accommodation: Lodge
Meals Included: dinner
Welcome to South Dakota! Your adventure starts at 10 am with a welcome meeting in Rapid City. After, take a short drive to the iconic Wall Drug Store – drawing millions of visitors every year, it’s hard to believe this store won over customers in its early days by offering something as simple as free ice water. Take some time to wander around and grab some lunch before heading to Badlands National Park. Have your camera handy to capture the sweeping prairie grass plains and dramatic rocky pinnacles. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, chirping prairie dogs and American bison. Take a short hike on one of the scenic trails before continuing to your lodge in Custer. Your home for the next two nights will be a game lodge, established in 1920, where you can see bison wandering the property grounds and immerse yourself in the Western feel of this historic-style accommodation. Tonight, you’ll have a group dinner at the lodge to settle in and get to know your fellow travellers.
Included Activities:
-
-
Day 2: Custer
Location: Custer
Accommodation: Lodge
Meals Included: breaksfast
Enjoy breakfast at State Game Lodge – your residence has played host to several presidents – then it’s time to jump in a jeep and go wild on a buffalo safari. Trek through the Custer State Park in an open-air jeep as your expert guide shares historical and educational facts and helps you spot pronghorns, elk and buffalo. After, you’ll visit the Crazy Horse Memorial – the largest mountain carving in the Black Hills (widely considered the Eighth Wonder of the World in progress). Then continue to the famous Mount Rushmore to walk the Presidential Trail – a bucket list location, this is a great spot to grab a photo! Tonight, you’re free to grab dinner at your accommodation or a nearby local restaurant.
Included Activities:
-
-
-
Day 3: Billings
Location: Billings
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
It's an early start this morning as after breakfast you’ll drive to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. After a stop along the way for lunch, join your Crow Nation Guide for a tour that provides an Apsaalooke perspective on the conflict. With a tribal historian at your side, you’ll traverse the battlefield and learn how Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho warriors defeated the US Army on the Greasy Grass at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. After, head to Billings, where you’ll spend the night.
Included Activities:
-
Day 4: Yellowstone National Park
Location: Yellowstone National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning after breakfast, depart Billings and drive west towards Yellowstone National Park – one of the country's most popular, expansive, and beautiful national parks. Stop in Cody along the way – a western town in Wyoming famously named after Buffalo Bill Cody. Enjoy some free time for lunch and to explore Cody, and then carry on to the park. When you arrive at Yellowstone, you’ll head straight for a visit to the Old Faithful Geyser – a must-see for any trip to the park, Old Faithful is a cone geyser with striking colours and a predictable geothermal eruption (hence the name). Watch as it sprays over 4000 gallons (14,000 litres) of boiling water into the air, then be hypnotised by the startling colours of the Grand Prismatic Spring. After, you’ll check into your hotel in West Yellowstone.
Included Activities:
-
Day 5: Yellowstone National Park
Location: Yellowstone National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Today after breakfast, you’ll continue to explore the gorgeous Yellowstone National Park, looking out for grizzly bears, wolves, buffalo and elk roaming free. Visit The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (a great spot for photos) and then explore the Norris Geyser Basin – the hottest and oldest geyser in the park. Along the way, you’ll enjoy a picnic lunch with your group, giving you some free time to sit down and relax or wander and take photos. Tonight, you’re free for dinner, so maybe get your group together and say a pre-final day goodbye over a couple of drinks.
Included Activities:
-
Day 6: Yellowstone Wolf Tracking / Bozeman
Location: Yellowstone Wolf Tracking / Bozeman
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
You'll be up before the sun this morning, but it's for a good reason! After breakfast, you’ll head back into Yellowstone to join a wolf-tracking expedition with an experienced naturalist guide. There's no better place than Yellowstone to see these magnificent animals in the wild. Your guide tracks the movements and behaviour of Yellowstone wildlife almost daily and knows the best places to find the animals. There will be top-of-the-line binoculars for everyone and high-powered spotting scopes, so no one will miss out. After an included lunch, travel to Bozeman, where your adventure ends at around 4 pm this afternoon. If you’d like to stay in the area for longer, just speak to your booking agent.
Included Activities:
-
What's Included
-
Accommodation
Lodge (2 nights), Hotel (3 nights) -
Meals
5 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinners -
Badlands National Park – Hiking
-
Black Hills - Mount Rushmore
-
Custer State Park - Buffalo Safari
-
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument -guided tour with a Crow Nation Guide
-
Yellowstone National Park - Hiking
-
Badlands National Park – Scenic Drive
-
Yellowstone - Wolf Tracking Expedition
-
Black Hills - Crazy Horse Memorial
-
Yellowstone National Park - Southern Loop Featuring Old Faithful Geyser & Grand Prismatic Spring
-
Yellowstone National Park - Northern Loop Featuring Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone & Norris Geyser Basin
Transport
- AIRPORT TRANSFERS IN THE USA & CANADA
- We recommend taxis and rideshare services like Lyft and Uber when traveling to and from hotels in the USA and Canada. These services are widely available across North America, offering convenient and accessible transportation options. Private transfers in North America incur high costs and present an increased risk of missed connections due to their fixed schedules. In contrast, taxis and rideshares offer both cost-effectiveness and flexibility, ensuring a smoother journey. With transparent pricing, GPS tracking, and on-demand availability, we believe that taxis and rideshare apps not only offer a reliable alternative to private transfers but also provide a secure, trustworthy, and budget-friendly transportation option for our customers.
- NORTH AMERICA VEHICLES
- Our large fleet of 15-passenger vans are fully equipped with air-conditioning system, V8 engines and any camping or cooking equipment needed for your trip. Most have cloth-upholstered seats and carpeted interior with radio or CD players. Your luggage is typically transported in a trailer which is towed behind the van.
- The vans are regularly serviced by a well-established network of maintenance and service facilities throughout the continent. However, unforeseen maintenance problems can still occur while on the road and we appreciate the patience of our travellers as we make necessary repairs as quickly as possible.
- While your group will have a van for all included activities on the trip, the services of the van and leader may not be available for your use during free time, or after you have arrived for the day. If you need a special trip into town you may need to arrange transport or a taxi.
Accommodation
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
- Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
Important Information
- 1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 10 am on Day 1 in Rapid City. Please make your own way to the Joining Point listed in the Essential Trip Information for this itinerary.
- 2. This trip finishes at approximately 4pm in Bozeman, Montana. No accommodation is booked for this evening. If departing this day, please do not book any flights before 7pm. if you would like to spend more time in Bozeman, we can request additional accommodation for you post tour. Please speak to your booking agent.
- 3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Check out our Q&As
-
Is this trip right for you
There are walking opportunities throughout this trip. We recommend you bring good quality walking shoes if you're keen to enjoy a hike - or two!
This trip includes time spent travelling in a private vehicle with your group. Extra space can be tight, and conditions may feel a little cramped. It’s all part of the adventure and a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. Please read the itinerary carefully for travel time estimates.
You may also want to check out our Great American West trip if you have a longer time to explore the region:
https://www.intrepidtravel.com/united-states/great-american-west-150416 -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
-
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
-
What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
-
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
Reviews of this operator
1 Select your preferred date
Sunday - Friday
Jul 28, 2024 - Aug 02, 2024Sunday - Friday
Aug 18, 2024 - Aug 23, 2024Sunday - Friday
Aug 25, 2024 - Aug 30, 2024Sunday - Friday
Sep 01, 2024 - Sep 06, 2024Sunday - Friday
Sep 15, 2024 - Sep 20, 2024Saturday - Thursday
May 24, 2025 - May 29, 2025Saturday - Thursday
May 31, 2025 - Jun 05, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Jun 07, 2025 - Jun 12, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Jun 14, 2025 - Jun 19, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Jun 21, 2025 - Jun 26, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Jun 28, 2025 - Jul 03, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Jul 05, 2025 - Jul 10, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Jul 12, 2025 - Jul 17, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Jul 19, 2025 - Jul 24, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Jul 26, 2025 - Jul 31, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Aug 16, 2025 - Aug 21, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Aug 23, 2025 - Aug 28, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Aug 30, 2025 - Sep 04, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Sep 06, 2025 - Sep 11, 2025Saturday - Thursday
Sep 13, 2025 - Sep 18, 2025Book with Confidence
-
Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
-
Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
-
Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
-
Terms and Conditions