5 to 7 hours (Approx.)

Mobile Ticket

Instant Confirmation

Overview

Uncover the hidden beauty and history of South Dakota with this combo tour of Mount Rushmore and Badlands National Park! Get the full story behind one of America’s largest sculptures at Mount Rushmore. Learn who designed it, how they carved it, and why these four presidents were selected for the monument. Then, take a trip back to the Badlands, where a landscape of alien beauty hides ancient fossils, geological marvels, and Lakota history.

After booking, you can check your email before downloading the Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. The preceding steps require good internet/wifi access. Simply follow the audio instructions and the route from there.

New, extra validity — now, it’s yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!

This is not an entrance ticket to attractions along the route. Check pandemic rules and opening hours before your visit.

Description

Stop At: Hay Butte Overlook, Sagecreek Rim Rd, Wall, SD 57790, USA

The overlook faces the Badlands and prairie meadows. It's a wonderful place to see bison, pronghorn, and the park's diverse scenery. From the Badlands Loop Road, a popular park route, the overlook is a short hike.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Badlands Wilderness Overlook, Rim Rd, Wall, SD 57790, USA

It is known for its unique landscapes, including rugged rock formations and deep canyons. The wilderness area is home to a variety of plant and animal life, including bison, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn. It is a popular destination for hiking and backpacking, as well as wildlife viewing and photography.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Roberts Prairie Dog Town, Rim Rd, Wall, SD 57790, USA

It houses many black-tailed prairie dogs. Prairie dogs, burrowing rodents from the Great Plains of North America, are known for their "bark" and behaviour. Visitors to the park enjoy seeing these fascinating animals in their natural habitat at Roberts Prairie Dog Town.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Ancient Hunters Overlook, SD-240, Wall, SD 57790, USA

This site is named after the ancient tribes that hunted in the Badlands. This site yielded bison bones and arrowheads. It was likely a butchering field where hunters cleaned and prepared bison corpses.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Yellow Mounds Overlook, SD-240, Wall, SD 57790, USA

It has unique layered rock formations. Iron oxide in the rock layers makes the Yellow Mounds yellow. The formations offer a unique picture of Badlands landscapes after millions of years of erosion and weathering.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Conata Basin Overlook, SD-240, Wall, SD 57790, USA

Here, you can take in another great view of the park’s yellow paleosols. These offer a window into the land’s distant past. Remember, this was once the bed of a warm, shallow sea. The paleosols you can see from here are part of the bottommost formation in the Badlands: the Pierre Shale.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Homestead Overlook, SD-240, Wall, SD 57790, USA

Lincoln believed the American west had the resources his country needed. Few Americans wanted to live there. West Coast Natives were wary of settlers in the unexplored region. So Lincoln signed the Homestead Act. All they needed to do was live on the land and work to improve it.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Burns Basin Overlook, SD-240, Wall, SD 57790, USA

This view overlooks Wilson Burns' 20th-century farmhouse. Burns showed how homesteaders survived this harsh environment. As a sheep rancher, he needed a lot of water. Most groundwater is buried several thousand feet deep! That was impossible for a typical homesteader. Burns was smart. He found a government-allotted plot with a freshwater spring.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Prairie Wind Overlook, Badlands Loop Road, South Dakota

This spot is quite different from previous overlooks, as the main attraction here isn’t badlands at all, but gentle, pleasant prairie. It’s a great example of the surprisingly diverse ecosystems of the park.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Big Badlands Overlook, Route 240, South Dakota

Get your camera ready because this is one of the best views in the park! The sharp dropoff reveals the immensity of White River Valley below. It’s a vast flatland dotted with the iconic Badlands rock formations.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Big Badlands Overlook, Route 240, South Dakota

Lakota Chief Spotted Elk (Big Foot) gave it its name. In 1890, the US Army pursued Spotted Elk and 200 Lakota through this route. He was soon apprehended by the 7th Cavalry. Spotted Elk surrendered peacefully to save his people. In 1990, Congress apologised but did not compensate the tribe. The Lakota are still trying to withdraw the 20 Medals of Honor given to cavalrymen who massacred them.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: White River Valley Overlook, Route 240, Badlands National Park, South Dakota, South Dakota

From here, you may see The Castle, a magnificent formation. It will be the largest formations seen from the overlook. Beyond the castle, the White River Valley extends forever. The White River created this valley long ago, as you would have surmised from the name.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Fossil Exhibit Trail, South Dakota

The trail includes interactive exhibits showcasing the park's fossil heritage, including ancient animal fossils. The wheelchair-accessible trail welcomes all ages and fitness levels. Visitors can learn about extinct animals like the rhinoceros and three-toed horse and their environment along the trail.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Saddle Pass Trail, South Dakota

This 0.7-mile trail takes under half an hour to hike and features some great opportunities for bird watching and sightseeing along the way. Despite its short length, this is one of the steepest in the park, with over 200 feet of elevation gain. If it has rained recently, you should steer clear of this one.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Ben Reifel Visitor Center, 25216 SD-240, Interior, SD 57750, USA

If you’re looking to take a quick break from your expedition through the Badlands, this is a great place for it. In addition to a picnic area and the usual amenities, you’ll also find things like the Fossil Preparation Lab here, which shows what paleontologists do with fossils once they’ve discovered them.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Cliff Shelf Nature Trail, South Dakota

This half-mile loop offers one of the best views in the park. In addition to the stellar vista from the top of the loop, you’ll also get to explore one of the Badlands’ lesser-known biomes as you walk through a lush juniper forest.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Notch Trail, South Dakota

The Notch Trail features 1.5 miles of rough terrain for the intermediate hiker, including a rope ladder that takes you up to a tremendous vista of the White River Valley. Hikers looking for tricky terrain and great views will love this trail.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Door Trail, South Dakota

This quarter-mile, fully accessible boardwalk is more of a stroll than a hike. It leads to a break in the Badlands Wall. This gap, known as The Door, features unbeatable views of the landscape beyond. Be sure to bring your camera for this one!

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Castle Trail, South Dakota

Finally, there’s The Castle. At 5.4 miles, it’s the longest-maintained trail in the park. It weaves through prairie, Badlands peaks, and all kinds of unique formations along the way. If you want to get a good look at all the different features of the Badlands, this trail is a great choice.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Big Badlands Overlook, Route 240, South Dakota

It’s a fitting place to conclude, as it offers one of the best views in the whole park. This sweeping vista looks out across the eastern stretch of the Badlands Wall and reveals beautifully striped layers of rock dating back tens of millions of years. If you’re looking for that one perfect photo of the Badlands, you’re likely to capture it here.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Gutzon Borglum Historical Center, 342 Winter St, Keystone, South Dakota 57751

See that bust to your left? That honors Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor behind Mount Rushmore. Born in Idaho in 1867, Borglum led what some might call a complicated life. He first entered the public sphere when the Metropolitan Museum of Art accepted a sculpture of his for display in 1906—the first time they had ever done so for any work by a living American.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Avenue Of Flags, 13000 Sd-244, Keystone, South Dakota

Just ahead is the Avenue of Flags. There are actually 56 flags here, in alphabetical order. 50 are indeed state flags, but what about those other six? Those come from the District of Columbia, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: 64 Presidential Trail, 64 Presidential Trail, Keystone, SD 57751, USA

The Hall of Records is a proposed structure that was planned to be built in the vicinity of Mount Rushmore National Memorial. It was intended to serve as an archive and repository for important historical documents related to the Presidents depicted on Mount Rushmore, as well as other important American historical records.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Presidential Trail, Keystone, South Dakota

It is a tourist route that highlights the history and legacy of former U.S. Presidents. There are sites and attractions related to several Presidents, including Mount Rushmore National Memorial, which features the carved faces of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.

Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Sculptor's Studio, Highway 244, Keystone, South Dakota

Up here is Gutzon Borglum’s studio. Inside, you’ll find a huge plaster sculpture showing the original design for Mount Rushmore, which is quite a bit more intricate than the final product! As you’ll notice, the original design featured fully carved bodies for each of the presidents.

Duration: 10 minutes

Schedule

What's Included

What To Bring

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and an instructions email. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular
How to start the tour: Once onsite, open the Action's Tour Guide App: • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If there are multiple tour versions, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
Amazing savings: • Driving Tours: Save money by purchasing a single tour for the entire vehicle, avoiding individual fees per person like on a bus tour. Connect your phone to the car speakers to share the audio. • Walking Tours: While each person typically needs their tour, couples or small groups can share one using split headphones.
Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It's perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app's features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.