Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Bus Tour from Rapid City
by Mount Rushmore Tours
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$265Overview
This full-day bus tour from Rapid City lasts about nine hours and covers key sites around Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills. The tour begins with ticket pickup at Fort Hays Old West Town between 7:45 and 8 AM. The bus departs at 9 AM heading first to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, where visitors have just over an hour to explore the monument and its surroundings. The timing is planned to view the sculpture in the morning light, as it faces east. After Mount Rushmore, the bus travels along the 17-mile Iron Mountain Road, which features three one-lane tunnels framing views of the memorial. Then the tour stops for lunch at Custer State Park Resort’s Game Lodge, a former summer White House for President Calvin Coolidge. Lunch is not included but the lodge is known for its buffalo stew. Following lunch, the route continues on South Dakota Highway 87 through Needles Highway, a 14-mile scenic drive known for its narrow tunnels, including the Needles Eye Tunnel, where the bus passes with only inches to spare. There is a 20-minute break at Sylvan Lake for rest and coffee. The last stop is the Crazy Horse Memorial, where visitors have about an hour to explore the ongoing mountain carving project. The tour uses an air-conditioned bus with onboard restrooms and includes entrance fees but does not provide meals or bottled water.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Fort Hays Old West Town and Dinner Show
Tour participants check in at the Fort Hays Headquarters Building between 7:45 and 8 AM to receive printed tickets and their bus assignment for the day.
45 min
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
The bus departs at 9 AM and arrives at Mount Rushmore, where visitors have a little over an hour to walk around and view the monument. The sculpture faces east to be seen in the morning sun, as intended by its creator Gutzon Borglum.
60 min
Iron Mountain Road
After Mount Rushmore, the bus travels the 17-mile Iron Mountain Road, which offers scenic views and features three one-lane tunnels that frame Mount Rushmore perfectly.
60 min
Custer State Park Resort
The tour stops for lunch at the Game Lodge in Custer State Park, a former summer White House for President Calvin Coolidge. Lunch is not included, but the lodge is known for its buffalo stew.
60 min
South Dakota 87
The bus continues on South Dakota Highway 87 through Needles Highway, a 14-mile scenic drive with narrow tunnels. The bus passes through the Needles Eye Tunnel, with just inches of clearance on each side.
60 min
Sylvan Lake
A 20-minute rest stop is made at Sylvan Lake, located within Custer State Park, where visitors can take a break and have coffee.
20 min
Crazy Horse Memorial
The final stop is Crazy Horse Memorial, where visitors spend about an hour exploring the site of the ongoing mountain carving, which when finished will be the largest of its kind in the world.
60 min
Meeting point
The tour starts at Fort Hays Chuckwagon with checkin from 7:50-8:00am. Checkin is 45 mins before the bus departure to give you enough time to explore Fort Hays. It is conveniently located on Hwy 16 just south of Rapid City on the road to Mount Rushmore. (Just 12 minutes from downtown Rapid City)
End point
The tour starts at Fort Hays Chuckwagon with checkin from 7:50-8:00am. Checkin is 45 mins before the bus departure to give you enough time to explore Fort Hays. It is conveniently located on Hwy 16 just south of Rapid City on the road to Mount Rushmore. (Just 12 minutes from downtown Rapid City)
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Mount Rushmore and Black Hills Bus Tour from Rapid City
by Mount Rushmore Tours
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$265Overview
This full-day bus tour from Rapid City lasts about nine hours and covers key sites around Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills. The tour begins with ticket pickup at Fort Hays Old West Town between 7:45 and 8 AM. The bus departs at 9 AM heading first to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, where visitors have just over an hour to explore the monument and its surroundings. The timing is planned to view the sculpture in the morning light, as it faces east. After Mount Rushmore, the bus travels along the 17-mile Iron Mountain Road, which features three one-lane tunnels framing views of the memorial. Then the tour stops for lunch at Custer State Park Resort’s Game Lodge, a former summer White House for President Calvin Coolidge. Lunch is not included but the lodge is known for its buffalo stew. Following lunch, the route continues on South Dakota Highway 87 through Needles Highway, a 14-mile scenic drive known for its narrow tunnels, including the Needles Eye Tunnel, where the bus passes with only inches to spare. There is a 20-minute break at Sylvan Lake for rest and coffee. The last stop is the Crazy Horse Memorial, where visitors have about an hour to explore the ongoing mountain carving project. The tour uses an air-conditioned bus with onboard restrooms and includes entrance fees but does not provide meals or bottled water.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Fort Hays Old West Town and Dinner Show
Tour participants check in at the Fort Hays Headquarters Building between 7:45 and 8 AM to receive printed tickets and their bus assignment for the day.
45 min
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
The bus departs at 9 AM and arrives at Mount Rushmore, where visitors have a little over an hour to walk around and view the monument. The sculpture faces east to be seen in the morning sun, as intended by its creator Gutzon Borglum.
60 min
Iron Mountain Road
After Mount Rushmore, the bus travels the 17-mile Iron Mountain Road, which offers scenic views and features three one-lane tunnels that frame Mount Rushmore perfectly.
60 min
Custer State Park Resort
The tour stops for lunch at the Game Lodge in Custer State Park, a former summer White House for President Calvin Coolidge. Lunch is not included, but the lodge is known for its buffalo stew.
60 min
South Dakota 87
The bus continues on South Dakota Highway 87 through Needles Highway, a 14-mile scenic drive with narrow tunnels. The bus passes through the Needles Eye Tunnel, with just inches of clearance on each side.
60 min
Sylvan Lake
A 20-minute rest stop is made at Sylvan Lake, located within Custer State Park, where visitors can take a break and have coffee.
20 min
Crazy Horse Memorial
The final stop is Crazy Horse Memorial, where visitors spend about an hour exploring the site of the ongoing mountain carving, which when finished will be the largest of its kind in the world.
60 min
Meeting point
The tour starts at Fort Hays Chuckwagon with checkin from 7:50-8:00am. Checkin is 45 mins before the bus departure to give you enough time to explore Fort Hays. It is conveniently located on Hwy 16 just south of Rapid City on the road to Mount Rushmore. (Just 12 minutes from downtown Rapid City)
End point
The tour starts at Fort Hays Chuckwagon with checkin from 7:50-8:00am. Checkin is 45 mins before the bus departure to give you enough time to explore Fort Hays. It is conveniently located on Hwy 16 just south of Rapid City on the road to Mount Rushmore. (Just 12 minutes from downtown Rapid City)
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.