Jun 1 - Jun 10, 2025
Starting at
4,499
South Dakota/Wyoming
On the Road: Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons
Program No. 20297RJ
Explore the iconic monuments and national parks of South Dakota and Wyoming. From Mount Rushmore to Old Faithful, from herds of bison to the Mammoth Site — this adventure is big!
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800-454-5768
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Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Jun 8 - Jun 17, 2025
Starting at
4,499Sep 4 - Sep 13, 2025
Starting at
4,499DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Jun 1 - Jun 10, 2025
Starting at
5,829Jun 8 - Jun 17, 2025
Starting at
5,829Sep 4 - Sep 13, 2025
Starting at
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This date is available to book as a private experience for your group!
10 days
9 nights
22 meals
9B 7L 6D
1
Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Rapid City, South Dakota
2
Rock Talk, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer Park
Rapid City, South Dakota
3
Minuteman Missile, Badlands & Visitors Center, Wall Drug
Rapid City, South Dakota
6
Buffalo Bill Museum & Dam, Yellowstone National Park
West Yellowstone
7
Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces &Travertines, Visitors Center
West Yellowstone
8
Yellowstone Park, Fountain Paint Pots, Old Faithful Geyser
Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole Valley Wyoming
9
Grand Tetons Scenic Drive, Visitors Center, Town of Jackson
Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole Valley Wyoming
10
Program Concludes
Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole Valley Wyoming
At a Glance
Travel from the beautiful Black Hills of Western South Dakota to Wyoming’s parks and monuments on this exceptional adventure. Be mesmerized by natural and manmade wonders at Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park and the Mammoth Site in South Dakota. Experience the mystique of Devils Tower Monument, see Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park and take in the majesty of Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Walking up to 2-4 miles a day. Getting in/out of motor coach frequently. Elevations of 3,400-7,731 feet.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Learn how Mount Rushmore was carved at the mountain.
- Experience the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming, the oldest and most comprehensive museum of the American West.
- View the waterfalls in Yellowstone National Park and look for herds of bison in Hayden Valley.
General Notes
Select dates are designated for small groups and are limited to 24 participants or less.
Suggested Reading List
(5 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
On the Road: Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons
Program Number: 20297
Standing Witness: Devils Tower National Monument, A History
Black Elk Speaks
This book gives the reader a good background of the Northern Plains Indian Culture and Religion.
The Carving of Mount Rushmore
This work tells the story of the spectacular artistic and engineering project of carving the American presidents' portraits on Mount Rushmore. It describes how it was conceived and carried out. The author was brought up in sight of Mount Rushmore and witnessed the work in progress.
Roadside History of Yellowstone National Park
The "Roadside History' series charts a course to the present through carefully selected and thoroughly researched stories relating what we see today with what happened before. Through vivid anecdotes, old photographs, and maps, the "Roadside History" guides provide entertaining insight into the states and/or regions they describe. The history of Yellowstone Park is rich with tales of the diverse people who have visited this natural wonderland along with a "road log" approach that helps place modern travelers in the past.
History of Grand Teton National Park
The story of the people and culture that first shaped Jackson Hole is encompassed in this great guide. From American Indians to the first person to climb the Grand Teton, this guide has essentials you'll enjoy knowing. With historic photos and correlating map, you can't go wrong if you want to know about people and places in Grand Teton and Jackson Hole. Beautiful photos by nature photographer Henry Holdsworth.
Year
- 2025
Date and Direction
- Jun 01 - Jun 10 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Jun 08 - Jun 17 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Jun 15 - Jun 24 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Jun 22 - Jul 01 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Jul 10 - Jul 19 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Jul 13 - Jul 22 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Aug 12 - Aug 21 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Aug 17 - Aug 26 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole Valley Wyoming)
- Aug 24 - Sep 02 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Aug 31 - Sep 09 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole Valley Wyoming)
- Sep 04 - Sep 13 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Sep 07 - Sep 16 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Sep 09 - Sep 18 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Sep 11 - Sep 20 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Aug 17 - Aug 26, 2025 Itinerary Differences: This date is a one-way itinerary beginning in Rapid City, SD and ending in Jackson, WY: includes highlights such as Sanford Underground Research Facility, Historic Deadwood, Heart Mountain Japanese Internment WWII site, Cowboy Music Show, and an additional day in Yellowstone National Park. This itinerary reduces driving distance by 500 miles.
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Select trip year and date
- 2025
- Jun 01 - Jun 10 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Jun 08 - Jun 17 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Jun 15 - Jun 24 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Jun 22 - Jul 01 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Jul 10 - Jul 19 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Jul 13 - Jul 22 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Aug 12 - Aug 21 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Aug 17 - Aug 26 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole Valley Wyoming)
- Aug 24 - Sep 02 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Aug 31 - Sep 09 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole Valley Wyoming)
- Sep 04 - Sep 13 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Sep 07 - Sep 16 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Sep 09 - Sep 18 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Sep 11 - Sep 20 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
Aug 17 - Aug 26, 2025 Itinerary Differences: This date is a one-way itinerary beginning in Rapid City, SD and ending in Jackson, WY: includes highlights such as Sanford Underground Research Facility, Historic Deadwood, Heart Mountain Japanese Internment WWII site, Cowboy Music Show, and an additional day in Yellowstone National Park. This itinerary reduces driving distance by 500 miles.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
10 days
9 nights
What's Included
22 meals (
9B, 7L, 6D
)
6 expert-led lectures
19 expert-led field trips
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
9 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Rapid City, South Dakota
Meals:
D
Stay:
Doubletree by Hilton Rapid City Downtown Convention Center
Activity Note
Please bring your nametag/lanyard (sent previously by RS to your mailing address on file). If you have a National Park Pass, please bring the card with you to Orientation.
Afternoon:
5 p.m. Program Check in and Orientation followed by dinner. After you check in to the hotel and have your room assignment, join us in the designated hotel meeting room for registration and orientation. If you arrive late, please ask for your Road Scholar schedule at the hotel front desk.
Dinner:
At our designated hotel meeting/dining room, following orientation.
Evening:
Orientation. In our private meeting/dining room, the Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar On The Road (OTR) program. OTR journeys take participants to multiple study sites within a region number of overnight stays. Lectures, talks, discussions, field trips, and on-board commentary enhance the program theme. Some journeys involve great distances and may take hours, others are much shorter. Long or short, On the Road journeys are learning experiences that make the most of our time together. There will be numerous opportunities for self-directed exploration to see and do what interests each of us most. Participants are responsible for carrying their luggage to/from the motorcoach. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
Rock Talk, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer Park
Location:
Rapid City, South Dakota
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Doubletree by Hilton Rapid City Downtown Convention Center
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach with several steps up/down; driving approximately 4 hours. Walking up to 2 miles; sidewalks, mostly even ground, slight inclines, boardwalks, 425 steps on elective 1/2 mile Presidential Trail at Mount Rushmore.
Breakfast:
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.
Morning:
We will be joined at the hotel by a local geologist who will give us a "rock talk" lecture on areas we will explore. Next, we will board a motorcoach for our field trip to iconic sites. At the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the majestic 60-foot faces of four U.S. presidents gaze out over South Dakota's Black Hills. Recognized worldwide, they stand as a symbol of American democracy. This national treasure tells the story of the United States' rich history, rugged determination, and lasting achievement. From the Grandview Terrace, the views of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln are spectacular. We'll learn why these four presidents were selected, see how the mountain was carved, and learn about sculptor Gutzon Borglum and the workers who brought Mount Rushmore to life. There will be opportunities to walk the half-mile Presidential Trail that loops along the base of the mountain and to learn more about history and see videos at the Information Center. We will continue to ride through the Black Hills to the Crazy Horse Memorial, where a fifth granite face has emerged in the Black Hills. In 1939, Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear invited sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski to carve an Indian memorial in the Black Hills. Though Korczak died in 1982, the sculptor's family continues the nonprofit project where the colossal mountain carving is now in progress. Crazy Horse is the largest sculptural undertaking ever, on a scale with the Egyptian pyramids. When completed, it will tower 563 feet high and 641 feet long. We'll also have an expert-led exploration of the complex with some time to have a look around on our own.
Lunch:
Lunch at the historic Custer State Game Lodge
Afternoon:
For our next field trip, we'll ride to the Mammoth Site Museum in Hot Springs and explore with a museum expert. This 36,000 square foot site is a one-of-a-kind "in situ" (in the original place) Ice Age museum containing the largest concentration of Columbian and Woolly Mammoths found in their primary context in the world. We will get a close up view of the 26,000-year-old sinkhole where mammoths, bears, mountain lions, and wolves once walked. The Exhibit Hall features fascinating exhibits including a full-sized Columbian mammoth replica, a walk-in bone shelter, and skeletons of now-extinct carnivores such as a giant short-faced bear. We'll also get a glimpse of scientific work being conducted in the state of the art lab. The Mammoth Site has been featured on the CBS and NBC evening newscasts, the Discovery Channel, the Today Show, BBC Television programs, and in many magazines including National Geographic. The site has co-hosted international symposiums and conferences, as well as published scientific Quaternary research books. En route back to the hotel, we'll take a scenic drive through a portion of Custer State Park that covers 71,000 acres, making it one of the largest state parks in the nation. We'll be on the lookout for some of the wildlife that may be resident here such as bison, pronghorn antelope, mule and whitetail deer, burros, coyotes, wild turkeys, elk, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, and golden eagles. Our Group Leader will provide commentary as we ride.
Dinner:
Enjoy a group dinner at the hotel in our private dining room.
Evening:
At leisure. You might like to use the fitness center, take a dip in the indoor swimming pool, soak in the hot tub, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, or just relax.
Day
3
Minuteman Missile, Badlands & Visitors Center, Wall Drug
Location:
Rapid City, South Dakota
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Doubletree by Hilton Rapid City Downtown Convention Center
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach with several steps up/down; driving approximately 3 hours. Walking approximately 2+ miles; sidewalks, boardwalks, overlooks, mostly even ground, slight inclines.
Breakfast:
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.
Morning:
We will board our motorcoach for our first field trip of the day to the Visitor Center at the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. With our Group Leader, we'll learn about the Intercontinental Ballistics system and the role it played in the Cold War — the period of geopolitical rivalry between the U.S. and the Soviet Union that lasted for decades. Moving on, we'll ride into Badlands National Park. The scenic drive through Badlands National Park is a mixture of rugged natural beauty, striking multicolored geologic deposits, and one of the world's richest fossil beds. Some ancient mammals found within the Park include rhino, horse, saber-toothed cat, and pig-like creatures. The Lakota Indians knew the place as "mako sica" while early French trappers called the area "les mauvaises terres a traverser"; both mean "bad lands." Architect Frank Lloyd Wright said this: "I've been about the world a lot, and pretty much over our own country, but I was totally unprepared for that revelation called the Dakota Bad Lands...What I saw gave me an indescribable sense of mysterious elsewhere-a distant architecture, ethereal..., an endless supernatural world more spiritual than earth but created out of it." We will make several stops along the way at points of interest.
Lunch:
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will continue to journey through the beautiful Badlands National Park. We'll then visit Wall Drug Store, which became famous during the Depression for its free ice water, a tradition that continues to this day. We'll have some time to view the extensive Western Art collection that includes actual brands of local ranchers embedded in the wooden walls.
Dinner:
Choose from several area restaurants in Rapid City and enjoy local cuisine while supporting small businesses, or dine at the hotel restaurant. Enjoy a short walk downtown, UBER or LYFT or check with the hotel for availability of their limited complimentary shuttle. for transportation.
Evening:
Enjoy your evening out with a stroll and people watching, explore the "City of Presidents" in downtown Rapid City or just relax and the hotel and prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Day
4
Sanford Research Facility, Deadwood, Devil's Tower
Location:
Sheridan WY
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Hampton Inn & Suites Sheridan WY
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving approximately 5 hours including stops. Walking approximately 2 miles; paved path, one steep incline at Devils Tower followed by several gentle inclines.
Breakfast:
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.
Morning:
We'll check out of the hotel early morning, board our motorcoach, and depart Rapid City on our way to Deadwood/Lead, SD where we will visit the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) and here from a local expert about America’s underground science laboratory—the deepest in the United States at 4,850 feet, and among the deepest in the world.SURF is indelibly linked to the history of the Homestake Mine, which operated from 1876 until 2001 at this site. While gold mining created wealth and jobs in the Black Hills for over a century, SURF has shifted the focus of the mine from profit to scientific discovery. We also recognize the culture significance of the land and work includes outreach and relationship building with South Dakota’s nine Tribes. We will also enjoy commentary and learn about Deadwood. The discovery of gold in the southern Black Hills in 1874 set off one of the great gold rushes in America. In 1876, miners moved into the northern Black Hills. That’s where they came across a gulch full of dead trees and a creek full of gold and Deadwood was born. Practically overnight, the tiny gold camp boomed into a town that played by its own rules that attracted outlaws, gamblers and gunslingers along with the gold seekers.
Lunch:
Enjoy a box lunch picnic style
Afternoon:
Continuing our drive we'll cross into Wyoming and reach Devils Tower National Monument. The National Park Service website states: "The Tower is an astounding geologic feature that protrudes out of the prairie surrounding the Black Hills. It is considered sacred by Northern Plains Indians and indigenous people." About 60 million years ago, molten magma was forced into sedimentary rocks above it and cooled underground. As it cooled, it contracted and fractured into columns. President Theodore Roosevelt designated Devils Tower as America's first national monument in 1906. It was a key feature in the 1977 movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." We'll take a walk around the base of Devils Tower on a paved path with medium to steep incline the first 1/8 of a mile, followed by a combination of flat and gentle inclines the rest of the 1.6-mile paved trail.
Dinner:
We will enjoy dinner at a local restaurant
Evening:
Prepare for check out and transfer in the morning.
Day
5
Big Horn Mts., Heart Mt. Internment Camp, Cowboy Music Show
Location:
Cody, WY
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Holiday Inn Buffalo Bill Village Cody
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach with several steps up/down; driving approximately 3-4 hours not including stops. Walking short distances.
Breakfast:
In the hotel hospitality room, enjoy a self-serve breakfast.
Morning:
We'll check out of the hotel early morning, board our motorcoach, and depart Sheridan on our way to Cody, Wyoming, founded in 1901 by Colonel William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody. Continuing our drive, we'll cross the Big Horn Mountains and wind our way through beautiful countryside before arriving in Cody, Wyoming. The Bighorn Mountains and the Bighorn National Forest in north-central Wyoming have been explored by some of America's most famous pioneers, including Jim Bridger and Buffalo Bill Cody. It is land held sacred by the Cheyenne, Crow, Sioux, Arapaho, and Eastern Cheyenne Indians — a land of much spilled blood where Native Americans fought some of their most desperate battles with the U.S. military.
Lunch:
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Cody, WY
Afternoon:
We will visit Heart Mountain Interpretive Center and learn about the works to preserve what remains of the World War II Japanese American confinement site in Park County, Wyoming, and to tell the stories of the more than 14,000 people unjustly incarcerated at the site. In August of 2011, the Foundation opened the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center, a world-class museum dedicated to teaching this story to future generations. Following our visit to Heart Mountain, we will make our way to the Dan Miller Cowboy Music Revue – where we will enjoy a live show of authentic cowboy music in the heart of downtown Cody, Wyoming! After the show, we will check into our hotel.
Dinner:
Dinner on your own, choose from a variety of local restaurants, a meal voucher will be provided. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. You might like to watch the free Cody Gunfight performance in front of Buffalo Bill's historic Irma Hotel, attend the Cody Nite Rodeo, or just experience Main Street's sights and sounds that harken back to the Old West.
Day
6
Buffalo Bill Museum & Dam, Yellowstone National Park
Location:
West Yellowstone
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Clubhouse Inn
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach with several steps up/down; driving approximately 4 hours with stops throughout the day. Self-paced walking up approximately 2-3 miles; level surfaces, boardwalks, some inclines, up to 30 steps in places.
Breakfast:
Breakfast in hotel hospitality room
Morning:
We will board the motorcoach and ride to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West for a self-directed exploration. The museum was founded in 1917 to preserve the legacy and vision of Col. William F. Cody. The BBHC is the oldest and most comprehensive museum of the West with collections containing more than 34,977 artifacts, 20,000 books, and 260,000 photo archives. The Center consists of the Harold McCracken Research Library, dedicated in 1980, and five separate museums: The Whitney Western Art Museum, established in 1958 and dedicated in 1959; the Buffalo Bill Museum, established in 1927, dedicated in 1969; the Plains Indian Museum, 1969; Cody Firearms Museum, dedicated in 1976; the Draper Museum of Natural History, dedicated in 2002. Next, we'll make a short stop at the Buffalo Bill Dam and Visitor Center where a local expert will give us a talk. It was originally called the Shoshone Dam. Drilling to find bedrock for the foundation began in the spring of 1904. More than 82,900 cubic yards of concrete were used to build the dam, and seven men were killed during construction. When completed in 1910, it was the tallest dam in the world with a final cost of $929,658. The dam is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has been documented by the Bureau of Reclamation, and included in the National Park Service's Historic American Engineering Survey. Moving on to Yellowstone National Park, we'll enter via the East Entrance.
Lunch:
We will stop at Buffalo Bill Cody's old hunting lodge, now known as Pahaska Tepee, and enjoy a sack lunch.
Afternoon:
We will continue driving along the Yellowstone River to Hayden Valley: a favorite place to watch for animals such as bison, elk, deer, once-in-a-while bear, and birds such as osprey, eagles, Canada Geese, and pelicans. We'll also look for thermal features such as mud pots and steamy "dragon" springs as well as colors of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with its spectacular Upper and Lower waterfalls. Yellowstone National Park is known for the most geysers in the world. About 2 million years ago, huge volcanic eruptions occurred here and the park's present central portion collapsed, forming a 30-by-45 mile caldera, or basin. The magmatic heat powering those eruptions still today powers the park's geysers, hot springs, fumaroles, and mud pots, all of which we will have opportunities to see. Waterfalls at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone highlight the boundaries of lava flows and thermal areas. One 19th century visitor, Nathaniel Lanford, wrote: "As I took in the scene, I realized my own littleness, my helplessness, my dread exposure to destruction, my inability to cope with or even comprehend the mighty architecture of nature." We expect to check in to the hotel late afternoon.
Dinner:
Dinner at a local restaurant
Evening:
At leisure. Enjoy the rest of your evening strolling West Yellowstone or just relaxing at the hotel.
Day
7
Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces &Travertines, Visitors Center
Location:
West Yellowstone
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Clubhouse Inn
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving approximately 3 hours. Walking up to 3 miles; sidewalks, paved areas. Extent and duration of free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
Breakfast in hotel hospitality room
Morning:
Travel to the North Unit of Yellowstone National Park and explore the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces. It was created over thousands of years as hot water from the spring cooled and deposited calcium carbonate (over two tons flow into Mammoth each day. Because of the huge amount of geothermal vents, travertine flourishes.Although these springs lie outside the caldera boundary, their energy has been attributed to the same magmatic system that fuels other Yellowstone geothermal areas. Walk on boardwalks above the steaming hydrothermal features and view the vibrant travertine terraces.
Lunch:
Lunch at a restaurant in Yellowstone National Park
Afternoon:
Learn about Fort Yellowstone which was built to help Yellowstone's first superintendents struggled with poaching, vandalism, squatting and other problems. In 1886, US Army soldiers marched into Mammoth Hot Springs at the request of the Secretary of the Interior and took charge of Yellowstone. Soldiers oversaw Fort Yellowstone's construction—sturdy red-roofed buildings still in use today as the Albright Visitor Center, offices, and employee housing. Visit the Albright Visitors Center, this historic structure was built by the United States Army in 1909 as bachelor officers' quarters for the cavalry troops who protected the park before the creation of the National Park Service.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. There are numerous dining choices in walking distance of the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Enjoy the rest of your evening strolling West Yellowstone, see a show at the IMAX, check out the Wolf and Grizzly Discovery Center or just relax at the hotel. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning
Day
8
Yellowstone Park, Fountain Paint Pots, Old Faithful Geyser
Location:
Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole Valley Wyoming
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Jackson Lake Lodge
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach with several steps up/down several times throughout the day; driving approximately 3-4 hours. Walking from approximately 1/4 mile to 1 mile at several sites; sidewalks, boardwalks, and indoors.
Breakfast:
Breakfast in hotel hospitality room
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, we will board a motorcoach and drive from West Yellowstone to Old Faithful area along the Gibbon and Firehole Rivers to the Fountain Paint pots. With our Group Leader, we will follow the boardwalk to observe several types of thermal features including mud pots, hot springs, geysers, fumaroles, steam vents, and bacteria mat — all within one half-mile. We'll then ride to Old Faithful, the world's best-known geyser. Its eruptions vary at intervals from 40 to 126 minutes. Park Rangers will be available during our self-directed exploration. There are many boardwalks to explore the geyser basin around Old Faithful. During your self-directed exploration, you might like to visit the Old Faithful Visitor Education Center and see exhibits on hydrothermal features, life in extreme environments, and the Greater Yellowstone region's volcanic geology. The center has information and maps regarding Ranger programs, Ranger led walks, and talks. Field trips: 1
Lunch:
Lunch in Yellowstone National Park
Afternoon:
Continuing our self-directed exploration, you might like to hear some of the Ranger presentations and/or walk through the Historic Old Faithful Inn on your own and hear from a hotel expert. Built during the winter of 1903-04, the Inn was designed by Robert Reamer and is a designated National Historic Landmark. It is a masterpiece of rustic architecture reflecting the chaos of nature. The building is a rustic log and wood-frame structure with gigantic proportions. The lobby features a 65-foot ceiling, a massive rhyolite fireplace, and railings made of contorted Lodgepole pine. Mid to late afternoon, we will reboard our motorcoach and ride through the south gate to Grand Teton National Park along the Rockefeller Parkway that connects Yellowstone and Grand Teton at the heart of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. The late conservationist and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr. made significant contributions to several national parks including Grand Teton, Acadia, Great Smoky Mountains, and Virgin Islands. We expect to check in to the lodge late afternoon.
Dinner:
On your own to explore dining choices at Jackson Lake Lodge.
Evening:
At leisure. Check the lobby information board for special evening presentations or activities.
Day
9
Grand Tetons Scenic Drive, Visitors Center, Town of Jackson
Location:
Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole Valley Wyoming
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Jackson Lake Lodge
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving approximately 2 hours. Walking up to 1 mile; sidewalks, paved areas. Extent and duration of free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
Enjoy breakfast at the historic Jackson Lake Lodge
Morning:
We will board a motorcoach and travel along the scenic loop road of the Tetons. As we ride, there will be opportunities to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the mountains at several picture stops and Jenny Lake. We'll then arrive at Craig Thomas Visitor Discovery Center for a self-directed overview of the history, culture and geology of the Tetons. Next, we'll ride to the town of Jackson.
Lunch:
On your own to have what you like in the town of Jackson. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon:
We expect to return to the lodge by approximately 2:30 p.m. The remainder of the afternoon is free to go for a walk and watch for animals and birds, take in the majestic view of the Teton Mountains, or just relax. Grand Teton National Park is located in northwestern Wyoming and comprises more than 310,000 acres of unique landscapes rich with breathtaking lakes, majestic mountains, alpine terrain, and extraordinary wildlife. The infamous Jackson Hole sits at the foothills of the Tetons Mountain range and is a popular destination for millions of visitors each year with its Western character and small town charm.
Dinner:
Dinner at private hotel dining room. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure tomorrow.
Day
10
Program Concludes
Location:
Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole Valley Wyoming
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out 11am
Breakfast:
Enjoy breakfast at the historic Jackson Lake Lodge or arrange for a grab and go breakfast.
Please select a day to update the map
Map details are not available for this location.
MEALS
22 Meals
9 Breakfasts
7 Lunches
6 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Aug 17, 2025 - Aug 26, 2025
- Jun 01, 2025 - Jun 10, 2025 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Jun 08, 2025 - Jun 17, 2025 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Jun 15, 2025 - Jun 24, 2025 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Jun 22, 2025 - Jul 01, 2025 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Jul 10, 2025 - Jul 19, 2025 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Jul 13, 2025 - Jul 22, 2025 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Aug 12, 2025 - Aug 21, 2025 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Aug 17, 2025 - Aug 26, 2025 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole Valley Wyoming)
- Aug 24, 2025 - Sep 02, 2025 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Aug 31, 2025 - Sep 09, 2025 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole Valley Wyoming)
- Sep 04, 2025 - Sep 13, 2025 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Sep 07, 2025 - Sep 16, 2025 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Sep 09, 2025 - Sep 18, 2025 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
- Sep 11, 2025 - Sep 20, 2025 (Rapid City, South Dakota to Rapid City, South Dakota)
Participant Reviews
Based on 102 Reviews
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Jackie Rosen was a great leader and guide and our driver Hans was great tyoo.
— Review left September 30, 2024
Oh my gosh, I highly recommend this On the Road program. The logistics of planning a trip like this on my own was formidable. All I had to do was book my airfare out to South Dakota and everything else was handled by Road Scholar. (They would have done that too, if I wanted!). Though it was educational, it was not stuffy and very down to earth. The stunning sites we visited were on my bucket list for years. I'm so happy we finally did it. We chose the "small" group of under 24 and were very happy with that choice. The bus was new and comfortable with bathroom facility! Everyone bonded and joked on the bus, making this trip so pleasant.
— Review left September 27, 2024
Our 9 day adventure to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons exceeded our expectations. I would highly recommend Road Scholar tours to anyone that wants to sit back and let others handle the driving, accommodations, and site level education.
— Review left September 23, 2024
This trip was eye-opening. Yellowstone NP is so much more than Old Faithful, grizzly bears, and bison; the South Dakota Badlands, an area I would never have thought of visiting, were stunning; the Tetons were even more grand than the photos and descriptions, especially catching the first morning light on the peaks.
— Review left September 21, 2024
Wonderful trip: educational, enlightening and fun! At the airport on the way home we met some other travelers who had taken a similar, shorter trip. After describing ours they wished they had taken the longer Road Scholar trip.
— Review left September 21, 2024
I hope the visit to the Japanese internment camp can be added to the program as it was informative and spectacular.
— Review left September 18, 2024
This is a tour I highly recommend to everyone. The places visited were spectacular and the tour directors did an excellent job in running the trip and handling any problems that arose. The overnight accommodations were clean and more than adequate as were the meals and transportation. This tour is a great value.
— Review left September 15, 2024
An amazing trip that had been on my bucket list for several years. I loved every aspect of the tour and met lovely people.
— Review left September 15, 2024
If you are wondering if this program is for you, don’t be afraid to take a chance. Feedback from participants at our final dinner meeting was unanimous that this was a wonderful experience and very informative and educational. My wife and I both enjoyed this trip immensely.
— Review left September 14, 2024
A friend recommended road scholar. We had a wonderful trip and plan to look for Road Scholar in the future.
— Review left September 1, 2024
You will see a part of the United States that you cannot imagine its natural beauty. Pictures cannot adequately portray the wonderful visa of America.
— Review left August 23, 2024
My recent trip to Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, Custer State Park, Yellowstone, the Tetons and more exceeded my expetations in every way.
Absolutely amazing. Learned something new about each location.
— Review left August 23, 2024
Road Scholar provides a well planned itinerary, enhancing the experience with excellent leaders and instructors and safe travel.
— Review left August 5, 2024
Excelent trip that exceeded my expectations. I would highly recomend Road Scholar.
— Review left August 3, 2024
Pros: All the sites were on my bucket list. Great bus driver and tour guide. Tour guide was also very accommodating for special needs. Optional trip to Jackson Hole is worth going, no extra charge. Small group with very freindly down to earth people.
Cons: For the price per person of the trip, the lodging, expect for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, was "maybe" a 3 star, one of these hotels was right beside a Hilton Garden Inn which what would have been expected on this tour. Examples:
1. Not enought time at Mt. Rushmore. Being one of the main sites on the tour we really didn't have time to explore the area sufficiently before we had to be back on the bus.
2. Most of the food included in the price was sub par compared to other tour companies at the same price paid. One "dining exprience" was going to the Chicken Ranch, a place were there is sliced pizza buffet, chicken and a childs game room, box wine and bottled beer. It was more like a Ci Ci's Pizza Palor. There were very nice restaurants in town that would have been a much better choice.
3. We would stop for bathroom breaks with a small visitor's center that we had way too much time to "browse" around. This time could have been used to arrive at our hotel for the evening a little earlier to give us more time to prepare and relax a little before dinner.
— Review left July 27, 2024
A fantastic trip where I saw many interesting and beautiful sights and made new friends. The leader and coach driver were brilliant and went far beyond their brief to make the trip both interesting and enjoyable for us all.
— Review left June 24, 2024
Excellent program. Somewhat strenous for old people 60 and above.
— Review left June 20, 2024
The Rhode Scholar tour was an excellent experience, educational and perfect size of group.
It met all my expectations and more.
— Review left June 13, 2024
Pronghorns, bison and bears Oh My! Also Mule deer , mountain sheep and moose. We saw all of these and more! Good mix of small museums in Casper and DuBoise and terrific Cody Museum. Lots of mileage but our terrific tour guide Jackie and wonderful bus driver, Hans kept us entertained with relevant videos. Grand Tetons magnificent and our cozy cabins were great for sitting outside. The Big Sky country was all that and more.
— Review left June 13, 2024
For anyone considering this program, it is exceptional and well worth the cost! It’s a first class way to see the US. In one of the hotels, a manager told us they can always tell the Road Scholar tours - people are pleasant and very respectful. I give the program and this tour 5 stars!
— Review left June 10, 2024
What a wonderful trip. Saw so much more than the overview. Jackie was an incrediable leader. Jackson Lake Lodge was a disappointment as we were in old cabins behind a berm. Cabins had no tv, no microwave or frig. Jackson Hole was a fast stop but the country was beautiful! Highly recommend this trip.
— Review left March 8, 2024
Wonderful trip to a beautiful part of the country. Hit all the "hot spots" we were hoping to see. Very knowledgeable tour guide, Jackie and driver Patty. Both of them made the trip a pleasure, as well as the other 22 passengers. The whole trip ran so smoothly!
— Review left October 6, 2023
Absolutely wonderful tri
— Review left October 2, 2023
Our second RS trip. In a word...spectacular. I could not even think of planning to do this trip on our own. Selecting the most scenic places to go, the times to leave and arrive, avoiding crowds, booking accommodations and choosing restaurants, great museums at the national, state and local level, riding in the comfort of a spacious modern cruise bus (safe and knowledgable driver included), watching great travel DVD's on the bus, a friendly, caring , knowledgeable, extremely organized, and respectful and enjoyable travel companions from all parts of the country and overseas. One of the most beautiful parts of the country .
— Review left September 26, 2023
This is an excellent tour, full of beautiful scenery and wonderful places to visit. We had a wonderful tour leader, Jackie, who enhanced the program every day. If you are interested in this region, this may well be the tour for you!!
— Review left September 25, 2023
My second RS travel program. GREAT, trip of a lifetime if you want to see one of the most beautiful and historic areas of the USA.
— Review left September 24, 2023
Pack light. Lots of 1 night stays. Wonderful program seeing so much more than I expected.
— Review left September 22, 2023
This trip was amazing! Our tour guide, Joseph Mican , was exceptional! His obvious joy in what he does is apparent throughout the trip. Thank you, Joseph!!
As for the scenery-beyond description! This trip is a wonderful way to see a beautiful part of our country! Well organized, informative, packed full. Great places to stay, good food.
— Review left September 21, 2023
This was a truly outstanding trip! Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Yellowstone, and the Grand Tetons are utterly spectacular! Ample opportunity to see bison, elk, pronghorn, etc. The tour leader was outstanding; knowledgeable, organized, and efficient, with an always- cheerful demeanor. Accommodations and food were good to very good. I highly recommend this tour, especially in the small group.
— Review left September 19, 2023
This trip was wonderful and surpassed my expectations for all of the amazing things I would see. It was well worth it to see this integral part of the USA! Very informative and enjoyable!
— Review left September 19, 2023
This program was a delight from start to finish. It exceeded expectations!
— Review left September 16, 2023
This program was outstanding. The pace was perfect, allowing us to see many interesting places. The knowledge we received about each location was presented in a light-hearted manner. The guide was knowledgeable, personable and a little funny. Bus was clean and comfortable. Overall a wonderful tour.
— Review left September 16, 2023
A thorough and somewhat tiring comprehensive view of Rushmore, Yellowstone, the Badlands and Grand Teton. A wonderful learning experience in a unique part of the United States.
— Review left September 13, 2023
Our bus driver Mic was outstanding. He went way beyond what was expected from a bus driver. Very friendly and helpful. When we could not get shuttles to the airport he organized a shuttle using the bus. Outstanding human being. A huge asset to Road Scholar.
— Review left September 9, 2023
When the bus pulled over and we saw the Grand Teton mountains, I turned to our tour guide and asked him, "Is this real"? We saw some amazingly beautiful National Parks and other monuments and places of interest on this tour! The people were fun and easy going, just having a grand time like we did!
— Review left September 4, 2023
To us, my husband and me...The trip was amazing, humbling, breathtaking... we experienced beauty that makes one feel simultaneously insignificant yet proud to be even just a grain of sand in this wondrous universe that Our God has created . We thank our guide Joseph Mican who help bring this wonderful realization.
— Review left September 1, 2023
Very interesting trip and I learned a lot about geology.
— Review left August 31, 2023
Well worth your time and money. We had a great time and saw some beautiful country.
— Review left August 28, 2023
Well organized, senior friendly, comfortable, informative and thoroughly enjoyed the trip.
— Review left August 24, 2023
The ten day Road Scholar trip with Paul Reed is amazing. It includes the Black Hills, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Yellowstone (three entrances), the Badlands, Jackson, Jackson Hole, Grand Tetons and Cody, Wyoming. It also includes the Devils Tower. You can really check off a number of great places on your bucket list. Biggest surprise was Cody, Wyoming. Buffalo Bill should be proud.
— Review left August 24, 2023
Road Scholar is the correct name for this program.
— Review left August 24, 2023
I really enjoyed this program and had an excellent time. I highly recommend this trip.
— Review left August 23, 2023
of the now 8 Road Scholar trips I've done, this is the first time I've rated so many "10s". thanks to Jackie and all her expertise.
— Review left July 23, 2023
The best trip. The scenery, activities and education are beyond expectations.
— Review left July 22, 2023
This was my first trip with Road Scholars and I am hooked. Extremely well organized, well paced and excellent, knowledgeable tour guides. The grand Tetons are must. The accommodations and meals were good. Did I mention that the tour guides, Teressa and Paul, were terrific. The trip was worth every penny. I have several friends who are planning this tour for next year.
— Review left July 8, 2023
This is a great overview of a place I used to think of as "fly-over states". This experience has changed that mindset. There is so much beauty, history, and culture in SD, WY, and MT. Very happy to have learned more about the areas and the people who live there and the history behind a wonderful part of the USA.
— Review left July 2, 2023
No one should miss the sites we saw in S. Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana! Mt. Rushmore is awesome and inspiring--Americans of all ages should visit. The Westward Movement of our country is written in these three states as well as the geologic history dating back billions of years. If anyone doubts this, they must go on this trip!
— Review left June 27, 2023
This is great way to see an amazing group of National Parks: Badlands, Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. There are also some real terrific surprises like Custer State Park, Mammoth Site and the Cody Center of the West. The bus rides are long to cover all this territory but our guide Paul kept us entertained. I did not find this tour too physically strenuous either.
— Review left June 23, 2023
Take this trip! It is well-organized, full of terrific experiences, enhanced by the quality of the docents and tour leaders and provided everything that I’d hoped for (and more) in this bucket list itinerary. Well worth the price.
— Review left June 23, 2023
A comprehensive, interesting trip to many places you may have only known about but never visited. You will probably find some great places that you did not even know existed and they may become the highlight of your visit. A very well paced and informative trip.
— Review left June 23, 2023
Educational and fun! Thank you!
— Review left June 19, 2023
On the Road: Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons………..it called our names, exactly what we wanted to see. What we didn’t expect was that a trip could be all that and a whole lot more. We are not disabled or simple of mind, yet, and in fact, are smart enough to know we didn’t have the will or desire to plan such a trip…enter Road Scholar. A few prayers to the Good Lord and we found ourselves flying to Minnesota/St. Paul with a change to Rapid City, South Dakota, where it would all begin. Every day of the trip more amazing than the last. God Bless America.
— Review left June 9, 2023
Paul & Theresa Reed were great Group Leaders and helped make my first Road Scholar trip (Yellowstone, Grand Tetons & Mount Rushmore) very memorable.
— Review left October 26, 2022
This trip receives a ONE STAR RATING regardless as to what is displayed.
Recently returned from my first Road Scholar trip where over 60% of my fellow delightful travelers tested positive for COVID on or shortly after their return home.
Road Scholar and their program provider, Paul Reed Travel Journeys, appeared to cut costs to increase profits.
We bused over the Wyoming border into Montana to go to a cheap hotel. Another facility had smelly rooms and hallway. Even though the Road Scholar clients are a vulnerable population, still another hotel had no elevator.
Several of the restaurant/cafe/box lunch choices offered were one step above junk food.
A bright spot our bus driver, Allen, was a skillful driver as well as knowledgeable about the area.
Midway through the trip our group leader , who was doing the job of two to three people, became noticeably sick, coughing profusely, appearing week and generally run down. He was not replaced!
We were continually hurried to 'stay on schedule ' only to wait because another Road Scholar bus was ahead of us.
The magnificence of nature , human art work, wild life and farm animals, stood on their own since the logistics and choices of Road Scholar were shameful. Travelers beware!
— Review left October 5, 2022
We had a wonderful experience, checked a few items off the bucket list, and came away with a vastly enhanced understanding of the areas we traveled through--geology, wildlife, glorious landscapes, local history and politics, quality museums and artwork, Native American culture, and so much more.
— Review left October 2, 2022
Although I would recommend seeing the national parks and other sites that we went to on this trip, and I was happy to have a good group of fellow Road Scholar participants on this tour, I hesitate to recommend the tour company that Road Scholar contracted with to lead this tour. Compared with other Road Scholar trips I've been on, this tour seemed to scrimp on some things. As one example, several of the meals were excluded on this trip, and in some towns it was difficult to find a restaurant that was still open and didn't have a long wait time by the time we were able to seek dinner. I heard several people in the group complain about the quality of food in the restaurants we did go to as a group. Our group leader seemed to be in over his head at times and could have used a helper instead of trying to do everything himself. He contradicted himself a lot and at times he was condescending and even insulting. I see that another reviewer stated, "I strongly suggest anyone with a cold, sniffles or cough should be required to mask up...." I suggest that this should apply to the group leader also. When at least two-thirds of our group ended up testing positive for COVID upon returning home, the tour company and group leader didn't seem to want to hear about it and expressed no interest in trying to learn from our experience to try to prevent it from happening to future tour groups. This was my ninth Road Scholar trip; it was not among the best-led trips.
Addendum: I did NOT rate this five stars, but that is what is showing!
— Review left October 2, 2022
This was a wonderful trip. Jackie was amazing and outstanding. She is totally organized, full of helpful energy and always there for you. Floyd was by far the best bus driver that I have ever had and I’ve done a lot of travel in my 75 years. I highly recommend this trip and have already done so with my friends and acquaintances. I really look forward to my next trip with Road Scholar. They are the only organization that I will use for future trips.
— Review left September 29, 2022
This trip was my first Road Scholar experience and it was amazing. I learned a lot, met some great people, and plan on taking other Road Scholar trips in the future. This was well worth the price.
— Review left September 29, 2022
Great lectures, outstanding leader, very interesting places to visit in two beautiful states, national parks and memorial, state parks, interesting sites. We saw live grizzly bears from the top of Lunch Tree Hill at Grand Teton!
— Review left September 25, 2022
I was very surprised that the Rapid City area had so many cool things to see and explore close by. Overall excellent trip.
— Review left September 23, 2022
It was an interesting program.
— Review left September 22, 2022
The On the Road program to Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands, Yellowstone, and the Grand Tetons is a MUST see! The providers/guides were simply extraordinary, the sites fabulous and educational, the food was fantastic, and the little details were all checked.
— Review left September 19, 2022
This ten-day program should earn you at least three credits in liberal studies: geology, archaeology,field biology, U.S.history,indigenous culture, art, and even music. We learned all of that and more. At the end of the day you'll sleep well.
— Review left September 19, 2022
This program was wonderful in that included not just Mt Rushmore, Yellowstone, and the Grand Tetons, as stated in the title, but also Devils Tower in Wyoming and Jackson, WY. I learned so much about this part of the country that I had never been to before. My learning was enhanced not only by going to these special places, but also to a variety of museums and an experienced lecturer, tour leader, and step-on guide.
— Review left September 13, 2022
My first trip with Road Scholars was so much more than I anticipated! Every detail was taken care of in advance by our Program Director to ensure the best possible experience. I can't wait to plan my next Road Scholar adventure!
— Review left September 2, 2022
This was my first trip to SD, Wyoming, and Montana. What an adventure,. Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, The Grand Tetons, the vistas, the plains, it was wonderful. Our tour guide, Jackie Rosen, was excellent., so knowledgeable, talented and personal. This was one great tour, one great leader, and a bus driver who got to learn along with us as well as directions for where he needed to turn by Jackie her self!!!
— Review left September 2, 2022
The tour to Yellowstone/ Grand Tetons/ Rushmore was our first experience with The Road Scholar Tours program. We where not disappointed! I appreciate that one can choice the level of activity/ roughness we could do, thereby insuring our safety and still meet our expectations. Inspirational sites, beauty and lots of education experiences present. We are already planning our second trip for 2023 !!
— Review left August 31, 2022
This is definitely an ON THE GO program there is a lot of walking and lots of bus time however, that allows the participants to see large parts of the states included
— Review left August 30, 2022
Trip was excellent as was docent. I strongly suggest anyone with a cold, sniffles or cough should be required to mask up and move to the rear of the bus.
— Review left August 26, 2022
Many of our Group members were able to check several items off their bucket list, as well as states that they may have never visited before. This trip provides an opportunity to experience many of the great wonders that our country has to offer.
— Review left August 24, 2022
I have traveled to many places but not with Road Scholar. My experience with them was excellent. The program is well planed and you will not get bored. If you like meeting new people you will not be disappointed. The tour guide's will make the trip worthwhile.
— Review left August 24, 2022
For those interested in the educational portion of the sights you see, Road Scholar provides a wonderful experience during their trips. This was our first trip with them, but it won't be the last.
— Review left August 24, 2022
My recent Road Scholar trip was fabulous! From the tour director to hotel staff, everyone was exceptionally knowledgeable and accommodating. I just don't know how so much beautiful scenery and knowledge can be absorbed in 10 days. But we did it! And with so many new friends!
— Review left July 24, 2022
On the Road: Mount Rushmore, Badlands, Yellowstone, Tetons is an exceptional RS program. Paul Reed, the tour leader, made all these magnificent natural beauties even more enjoyable through his organizational skills and innovative guidance! I can't say enough good about this experience.
— Review left June 30, 2022
This experience is a geological feast! It takes scholars from the dry craggy Badlands to the geysers and colorful hot springs of Yellowstone, to the magnificent meadows and mountains of the Grand Tetons and ends at the monolithic Devil's Tower. Each one is a breathtaking experience!
— Review left June 19, 2022
This trip was totally awesome. We learned so much about how the area was formed and saw even more than we expected.
— Review left June 11, 2022
The Road Scholar tour which I took was more informative and educational on the sites we visited than I expected. I really enjoyed learning this way.
— Review left June 10, 2022
This was a trip of a lifetime. It was so well organized and executed that I was able to relax and enjoy the experience. The scenery, stories and educational information were outstanding. I highly recommend this trip and our leader Paul Reed.
— Review left September 29, 2021
5 stars!! Well run. When in the bus we had videos of the area we were going to and this helped us to be ready to appreciate all the beauty of our country. Paul Reed worked double overtime to be sure we could see and be part of our total program. Rob our bus driver took great care to be sure we enjoyed our time and he enjoyed driving for RS.
— Review left September 21, 2021
This program exceeded my expectations in all areas. The educational aspects coupled perfectly with the "hands-on" viewing experiences offered on a daily basis. And then add in an outstanding group of fellow learners, a near-perfect 9 days of exciting learning and viewing was created. I highly recommend this adventure!
— Review left September 20, 2021
A great trip, with fun people. The sites on this trip were 9n our bucket list.
— Review left September 19, 2021
i would highly recommend this tour, while i enjoyed visiting Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, we also visited the mammoth site, Buffalo Bill Center of the west, National Bighorn sheep center and Devil's tower.. Very interesting learning experience
— Review left September 17, 2021
WONDERFUL GROUP WONDERFUL LEADER WONDERFUL BUS DRIVER I SAID IT ALL I WOULD RECOMMEND ROAD SCHOLAR TO EVERYONE I KNOW.
— Review left September 15, 2021
Fantastic trip, well organized, covered a lot of history, being on the road. Excellent tour director, ( Janice Parks) well versed, kept the group engaged in topics and places of interest. Would highly recommend this tour, just be aware of the altitude in certain areas to pace yourself and bring layers of clothing as it was much cooler in higher elevations.
Rate it a 5 *
— Review left September 14, 2021
This was an amazing trip! Road Scholar staff went above and beyond every step of the way!
— Review left September 12, 2021
If you have never been to Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and Mount Rushmore, sign up for this program. You will not be disappointed.
— Review left September 12, 2021
Road Scholar is an adventure tour, depending on different physical capabilities where the adventurer is advancing on many levels, depending on the tour.
— Review left September 12, 2021
Another fantastic and educational trip from Road Scholar! What first caught my attention on attending this trip was to visit Mt Rushmore and Yellowstone. Saw those to sites and so much more. Museums and parks that I didn't even know existed. Each landscape was more spectacular than expected.
Our leaders Pat & Paul kept everything on tract and had so much information to share with us. A few days we had many hours on the bus but it was broken up in small increments with stop breaks and always additional info from Pat & Paul. Besides them, our bus driver Mick was the best - both his driving skills and personality.
I would highly recommend this trip. On this page I'm not seeing where to rate it with 5 stars but I certainly would. Maybe I'll have the ability later.
— Review left September 5, 2021
Yet another Road Scholar program that I would enthusiastically recommend to others! This one was packed with places on my bucket list and added some I never realized were out there! Be aware that only the small group goes to the Badlands though. Yellowstone and the Tetons are most definitely worth another visit! The guides Paul and Theresa were fabulous, kind, and did their best to make this a wonderful experience!
— Review left September 4, 2021
This was an excellent trip. Covers a lot of ground visiting several national parks and monuments with many additional stops like the Crazy Horse monument, a Mammoth dig site and Cody museum. Well worth it!
— Review left September 3, 2021
This was my first trip with RS and it was spectacular.
The trip director Janice was amazing. So fun and pleasant and full of history and information related to every segment of the journey. Our longer segments of bus travel were broken up with additional stops to unique visitor centers, museums and local cafes every day. She was always one step ahead in preparing for each day. Excellent preparation and execution.
We also had two different local guides Candy and Mike give additional information from a local standpoint as we drove through the Badlands and then through the area of Cody Wyoming to the Buffalo Bill Dam.
Our bus driver Tom not only transported us safely, he was always smiling and happy to provide greetings and to offer water at each stop. He and Janice worked great together to keep the trip interesting while staying on schedule.
An amazing trip through the northwestern Unites States!
— Review left August 30, 2021
Great programme, exactly as described. As with all Road Scholar trips, it's an educational experience and a very enjoyable one. We had not been to South Dakota or Wyoming until this trip; the vistas are truly breathtaking. We traveled more than 1,600 miles on this adventure and I highly recommend it.
— Review left August 29, 2021
I did not receive email the whole time because my device had a problem. I didn't miss it a bit.
— Review left August 26, 2021
Trip shows a lot about the National Parks and out west.
— Review left August 26, 2021
Whatever destination you may be looking for, you can't miss by participating in a Road Scholar program. While "going it alone" may have some benefits in terms of flexibility, from my point of view, I'd never attempt something on my own, which otherwise, wouldn't be immensely magnified by the pros administering R S programs. Expenses are reasonable. Their website is easily accessible and understandable.
— Review left August 25, 2021
Program exceeded expectations in every way. Sites visited were amazing. Paul and Theresa were probably the best leaders of any I've ever experienced.
— Review left August 25, 2021
This trip is BEST for people who have never traveled to all the wonderful places that we did. They will receive an excellent dosage of so many places and events, which is helpful if they want to return and look deeper to learn more about what they saw.
— Review left September 6, 2019
This was a very educational and beautiful trip. The Grand Tetons are especially beautiful and a place to go to for a relaxing time. The length of the trip was just right. Our tour directors were fabulous and saw to all our needs. I highly recommend this trip.
— Review left July 3, 2019
This is a wonderful tour, and I would recommend it for it’s broad scope of locations visited, and great in-depth information included at each venue.
— Review left June 30, 2019
On our Yellowstone/Grand Tetons trip, I felt like I was traveling inside a postcard. Just spectacular! This trip was perfect from all aspects and it certainly exceeded my expectations :)
— Review left June 21, 2019
This was a wonderful experience. The information was excellent and the group leaders were remarkable. Everyone on the trip seemed to get a lot out of it.
— Review left June 18, 2019
We’ve been on six RS trip to date and this, like the others, was excellent. We covered a lot of ground, sometimes the bus rides were long, but stories and history taught along the way made the experience a pleasant one. Plus we got to see the wide open landscape which was beautiful. Our host, Jennifer, is second to none. Here is video we made of the entire experience. Posted on YouTube https://youtu.be/UKQ-nGYgDyE.
— Review left June 15, 2019
