This 3-day Black Hills tour package is a carefully designed private itinerary, that showacases the best of South Dakota! You’ll experience iconic landmarks, scenic drives, wildlife viewing, and historic towns into one seamless experience.
From Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Crazy Horse Memorial and Custer State Park to the dramatic landscapes of Badlands National Park, and the charm of Deadwood, this tour is ideal for first-time visitors who want to experience the highlights without the stress of planning or driving.
Across all three days, expect:

Your first day focuses on the iconic landmarks of the Southern Black Hills.
You’ll travel through scenic mountain roads including Iron Mountain Road and Needles Highway, with time for unforgettable viewpoints and short walks. Highlights include, Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Crazy Horse Memorial, where you’ll learn about the history, carving progress, and cultural significance of the region.
The day also includes time in Custer State Park’s Wildlife Loop Road, home to rolling prairie landscapes and free-roaming wildlife (hello bison!), as well as sparkling Sylvan Lake.
Expect a full but relaxed day of scenic driving, sightseeing, and photo stops, with time for a restaurant lunch in a local mountain town, or picnic in the state park.
Day two takes you east into the dramatic landscapes of Badlands National Park.
This is a completely different scenery experience — towering rock formations, deep canyons, layered cliffs, and wide-open prairie views. You’ll follow scenic drives with multiple overlooks and opportunities to step out for photos and short walks.
Wildlife sightings are common in the early morning, including bighorn sheep, prairie dogs, and bison.
This day includes a relaxed pace with a picnic-style lunch (optional add on) or a restaurant stop in the national park, allowing you to enjoy the natural surroundings without rushing.
We follow the national park with stops at Wall Drug and either the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, or the Lakota Living History Museum.
Your final day explores the Northern Black Hills and historic Wild West towns.
You’ll visit Deadwood, a famous gold rush town filled with history, stories, and old western charm. From there, you’ll travel through scenic forested Spearfish Canyon, known for waterfalls, limestone cliffs, and some of the most beautiful scenery in the region.
You’ll also explore nearby historic town Lead and Homestake Mine – with optional stops depending on timing and guest interest.
We recommend the addition of Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming for an unforgettable day!
This day blends history, scenery, and storytelling for a relaxed and memorable final tour.
This is a private tour, running over 3 days. Order of tour days can be changed according to guest preferences. Days DO NOT need to be consecutive.
Each touring day is designed to be approximately 8 hours.
This tour leaves to and from your central Rapid City accommodation. If you are staying elsewhere in the hills, we will arrange a meeting point, or arrange pick up for an added fee.
From ~$2,350 + tax for 2 guests (3 days inclusive)
Additional guests from +$595 per person
Every Black Hills vacation is different. Our 3-day tour package is designed to be flexible, allowing guests to select from several touring options and experiences throughout their stay. Final pricing will depend on your chosen itinerary, group size, and any optional upgrades or attractions.
Contact us to build your ideal Black Hills adventure and receive a customized quote.
Contact us directly to book in this 3 day package, that way we can work through a few of the finer details. Send us a quick email with the days you would like to tour and we will respond within a few hours.
Each touring day is approximately 8–9 hours. This allows time to fully experience each region without feeling rushed, with a relaxed pace for sightseeing, short walks, and photo stops.
Your tour includes a private guide, private vehicle, entrance fees to parks and monuments, snacks and drinks each day, and a carefully planned itinerary covering the Southern Black Hills, Northern Black Hills, and Badlands National Park.
Optional picnic lunch is available for $15 per person.
The tours are priced for pick up within Rapid City, but we can arrange other pick up locations if needed (may incur fee).
Yes, this is one of the most popular options for first-time visitors because it covers the Southern Black Hills, Northern Black Hills, and Badlands in a logical, stress-free itinerary.
No, the itinerary is designed to balance sightseeing with comfort. Having a private guide means the pace is flexible, so you can spend more time where you want it.
However, we always say that three days should be your minimum time in the area.
Yes, Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a highlight of the Southern Black Hills day and is included as part of your itinerary.
Devils Tower National Monument is well worth the visit. It’s a unique and iconic natural formation that offers a completely different landscape from the Black Hills and Badlands.
We spend 1.5hours here enjoying the base trail, scenic views, and photo opportunities. It’s an easy and memorable stop that fits well into a Northern Black Hills itinerary.
However, if you prefer a shorter day, or fewer stops/shorter pace – then perhaps a visit to Devils Tower could be a seperate da trip.
Yes, as this is a private tour, the itinerary can be adjusted based on your interests, weather conditions, or pace of travel. Your guide will work with you to create the best possible experience each day.
No strenuous hiking is required. Most stops involve short walks, scenic overlooks, and easy-access viewpoints. Guests are welcome to explore as much or as little as they prefer at each location.
If you prefer a longer walk or hike, talk to us about customizing your itinerary.
Pickup is included within Rapid City city limits and most nearby hotel areas. If you are staying outside of this area, pickup may still be possible with prior arrangement.
A private tour means your group has a dedicated guide and vehicle for the entire day with no other guests joining. Your experience is fully personalized, allowing for a flexible pace, custom stops when possible, and a more comfortable, stress-free way to explore the Black Hills and surrounding attractions.
Tours are operated in comfortable, private vehicles such as luxury Ford Transit vans or similar SUVs depending on group size. All vehicles are air-conditioned and chosen for scenic touring comfort.
The Black Hills are a forested mountain region known for scenic drives, wildlife, and historic towns, while Badlands National Park features dramatic layered rock formations, wide-open prairie landscapes, and unique geology.
Yes, we strongly recommend booking in advance, especially for summer travel (May–October), as our private tours have limited availability.
This package is designed to give you the best possible overview of the Black Hills in three days, combining iconic landmarks, scenic drives, wildlife viewing, and cultural highlights — all with a private guide and flexible pacing.
Snacks and drinks are included each day. Lunch is not included unless a picnic is pre-arranged. This allows us some flexibility to choose restaurant stops or picnic-style options depending on the day’s itinerary and your preferences.
No, we can do three in a row – or space them out as you please. Over the booking process we can discuss what works best for you.
EXCELLENT Based on 127 reviews Posted on Google Lisa TTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We took the Black Hills Half Day Tour on June 5th with Gena as our tour guide, and it was fantastic! I’d never done a private tour before, but as our first time here, we wanted to definitely get the most out of our visit through the Black Hills region and didn’t want neither my husband or I to have to worry about having to focus on the road while going around tight bends and then missing things. I will definitely say, it was well worth calling Black Hills Tour Company! Gena picked us up in a spacious van, got to know our interests and took us through all the sights, including going through the tunnels and pigtail bridges, driving through and learning the history of Needles Highway and Custer State Park, and stopping for an introduction visit to Mt. Rushmore and Sylvan Lake. Along our way, she pointed out lots of local fun facts. She stopped several times as we went through the Black Hills so we could get the best photo shots. Gena was very personable and went the extra mile to ensure we got the most out of our tour and visit. Gena asked about our itinerary for the rest of our trip and gave us great tips for places to visit during our time here. (And Gena- we did visit Spearfish Canyon and that was a great addition to our travels- thank you for the recommendation! 😊) My husband, daughter and I had a wonderful time! We all highly recommend Gena and The Black Hills Tour Company!Posted on Google Paula JoyceTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A fantastic tour of Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Needles Highway, Custer State Park and Wildlife Loop Road. Our tour guide Joel was very knowledgeable, had personal stories and references, and made our tour super fun. It was nice that we were consulted on each item of the itinerary as to the amount of time we spent at each attraction and where we wanted the focus. Joel's knowledge of the local customs and culture helped us to understand the history surrounding Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial. We were able to see Bison and their offspring and a few other wild animals in the wildlife loop. The veichle was very clean and well maintained. Overall a fantastic tour!Posted on Google Jennifer ThompsonTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This was a fantastic tour. Highly recommend. Our tour guide Denise was the best! Very knowledgeable of the area and went out of her way to make sure we had a great experience.Posted on Google Jay CollinsTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had an outstanding two-day tour of the Black Hills and Badlands with Kevin from Black Hills Tour Company. Kevin’s knowledge of the area’s history, geology, and local culture made every stop more meaningful and enjoyable. From the breathtaking landscapes of Badlands National Park to the iconic sights throughout the Black Hills, he ensured we experienced the best the region has to offer. Kevin was friendly, professional, and accommodating throughout the trip, taking the time to answer questions and share stories along the way. His passion for the area was evident and helped make our family vacation truly memorable. We highly recommend Kevin and the Black Hills Tour Company to anyone looking for a personalized, informative, and enjoyable way to explore the Black Hills and Badlands. Thank you for an unforgettable experience!Posted on Google Jeff CorwinTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We just finished the Tour of the Mickelson trail in South Dakota. The Black Hills Tour Company put it all together for us, It was amazing every step of the way! The guides, David and Gage were amazing, when they say they have local experience they mean it, these guys knew these hills like the back of their hand. David dropped us on the Mickelson trail in just the right spot everyday to make our trip very enjoyable. Gage was amazing on our Ride the Badlands by bike tour! He knew right where to stop to show us the burrowing owls and many other really cool areas…make sure when they ask , do the optional tours!….:Great Job Black Hills Tour Company!!! Would recommend…..Posted on Google Craig LandryTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a great time on our tour of Mount Rushmore and Custer State Park with our tour guide. We rode in a super nice SUV loaded with drinks and snacks. We hit the main attractions on a half day tour. It was great for us that have never been here. Our tour guide Denise was fantastic and knew all about the history of the area. I’d highly recommend this tour.Posted on Google Jacque WillardsonTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Absolutely fantastic. Jeff was so knowledgeable. I would give it a 10!Posted on Google Paula LeonardTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Wonderful tour company! They took great care of us on our two tours! We were able to see all of the highlights in the Black Hills area and the Badlands! Loved every minute! Highly recommend this company!Posted on Google Mohammed AbdullateefTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a wonderful day with Jeff; he truly made my trip to this beautiful city an unforgettable memory. He was so kind and engaging that the time just flew by. Thank you allPosted on Google Knock outTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A outstanding tour of Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park and Wildlife Loop Road. Joel our tour guide was friendly, knowledgeable, respectful, motivated and went well beyond what we expected. Thank so very much Joel. We will return for a longer stay next time.Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
EXCELLENT Based on 398 reviews Posted on Tripadvisor Sue0419Verified Great tour of Badlands Wonderful tour with great tour guide Kevin who was personable, interesting and knowledgeable.Posted on Tripadvisor David KVerified Great additional experience during our Mickelson trail bike ride Gina did a great job. She’s an amazing tour guide. We saw a ton of wildlife in Custer State Park. Mt Rushmore was amazing as was the scenic drive on needles highway. We where riding the Mickelson trail in the morning and Gina was able to accommodate our schedule for a one o’clock pickup at our hotel in Custer. Everything went very smoothly.Posted on Tripadvisor Nick WVerified Five Star Tour Plus Kevin with Black Hills Tour Company was great! Always on time, attentive, concerned about what we wanted to see and do, knowledgeable and informative. Knew the territory well and explained things well. Would highly recommend this tour!Posted on Tripadvisor Jacque WVerified Mt Rushmore. Exceptional Jeff was so knowledgeable. It was great having someone show you around. We would have missed so much without the tour. Exceptional!Posted on Tripadvisor Jacque WVerified Exceptional tour Exceptional experience cr. So knowledgeable and fun Jeff went beyond to make it an memorable experiencePosted on Tripadvisor Karen HVerified Special Anniversary Tour We enjoyed and appreciated all the unique special details that our tour guide pointed out, e.g., the tunnels that framed Mt Rushmore, explaining the design and naming of the pigtail bridges, and sharing her life experiences growing up in the area. Totally a fun day for us. We saw our first ever pronghorn antelope and prairie dogs. Nature is so beautiful!Posted on Tripadvisor Escape01390378493Verified Great Experience There were 2 couples we all had a great time on our 3 tours. Our guide Steve was very knowledgeable about the area and sites we visited. Had a small hiccup with the snow it was a GREAT experience, we would do it again.Posted on Tripadvisor Happiness13422205233Verified Mt Rushmore touring at its finest We did two tours with Black Hills. Our tour guide, Joel was without a doubt one of the best guides we have ever experienced. He was not only knowledgeable but easy to understand. We saw places that the average tour would never see. He was good with everyone in our small group from 7 years old to 70. The booking process and the tour van were top notch. If you want a 10 star tour experience call Black Hills Tour Company.Posted on Tripadvisor Alexis CVerified Perfect Family Experience at Mt. Rushmore Our Mt. Rushmore project experience was absolutely amazing! Denise, our tour guide, went above and beyond to make sure our family had a wonderful time. We are so grateful for her kindness and highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Mt. Rushmore!Posted on Tripadvisor MohammedVerified wonderful day It was such a pleasure spending the day with Jeff. He made my visit to this lovely city truly memorable. He is such a kind person that time passed before I even noticed. Many thanks to you all

Black Hills Tour Company operates under a special use permit on the Black Hills National Forest