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A large group of families waves from a layered rock formation in the South Dakota Badlands during a guided family adventure.
South Dakota

Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse & the Badlands With Your Family

Program No. 4752RJ
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Itinerary
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. Read More.
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
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
13 meals ( 5B, 3L, 5D )
3 expert-led lectures
9 expert-led field trips
7 hands-on experiences
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Lodge check-in from 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
At the time of check-in, collect your Road Scholar Welcome Packet from the front desk. In the packet, you will find information regarding program details, including the location of orientation. During orientation, you will meet your Group Leader and fellow Scholars. The program orientation will begin at 4:30 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. They will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. There may be some light paperwork at the end of the orientation session. If you don’t arrive in time for orientation, please refer to your welcome packet on how to locate the Group Leader and get caught up on any information you may have missed. This is a Road Scholar Grandparent program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren at all times. Minors are never to be left unsupervised. All talks and field trips will be led by local experts and expert Group Leaders. Transportation will be via motorcoach, requiring going up/down a few steps when getting on/off, unless specified otherwise. Periods in the daily 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.
Dinner:
At the Lodge.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 100 miles throughout the day, approximately 2.5 hours riding time plus stops. Walking about 1/2 mile; dirt path, mountain meadows, pine-covered forests. Getting on/off horses; riding approximately 1 hour; long pants and boots or tennis shoes required for horseback riding; helmets supplied. Getting on and off wagons.
Breakfast:
At the Lodge.
Morning:
We’ll board a motorcoach and kick off our Black Hills learning adventure on a field trip with our Group Leader to one of the largest mountain carvings in progress, Crazy Horse Memorial. This monumental project uses the image of Crazy Horse, a legendary Lakota warrior and leader, to symbolize the culture, traditions, and living heritage of North American Indians. Work started in 1948, and when finished, Crazy Horse Memorial will be the largest mountain carving in the world. We’ll visit the Memorial to learn all about the carving and explore the Native American Educational & Cultural Center, where we’ll see and learn about specific artifacts, crafted tools, unique art techniques, and how important the earth and its animals were to the survival of Native populations. After our exploration, onsite educators will lead us in a hands-on art activity. After our exploration of Crazy Horse, we'll load back onto the coach and depart for Custer State Park.
Lunch:
At the historic Game Lodge in Custer State Park.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we’ll explore Custer State Park via the Wildlife Loop Road. The park covers more than 71,000 acres of mountains, plains, and forests with an abundance of flora and fauna. Custer State Park houses a large bison herd, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, begging burros, and a plethora of other woodland and prairie critters. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for these majestic creatures as we traverse the park. At the end of the Wildlife Loop, we’ll saddle up for an hour-long, wrangler-led trail ride, where we’ll experience a unique off-road view of Custer State Park while on horseback.
Dinner:
We'll partake in a scenic hayride to a beautiful mountain meadow for an old-fashioned chuck wagon dinner and cowboy music show. After the dinner show, we'll ride the coach back to the lodge.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 8 miles, approximately 15 minutes of riding time. Walking about 1/2 mile outdoors and out on groomed and ungroomed paths, some stairs, and standing.
Breakfast:
At the Lodge.
Morning:
This morning, we'll coach a short distance to Mount Rushmore. This National Monument is much more than four gigantic faces carved out of stone. The sculptor and creator, Gutzon Borglum — a Danish-American — intended it to be not just a memorial to four of our greatest Presidents, but a “shrine of democracy.” Why these four? Washington led the army during the Revolutionary War against Great Britain and later became the first President of the United States. Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and doubled the size of the country with the Louisiana Purchase. Lincoln led the country through the Civil War and saved the Union. And, Roosevelt developed the “Square Deal” that promoted the conservation movement, controlled corporations, and protected consumers. Abroad, he made the Panama Canal happen and won the Nobel Peace Prize for settling a war between Russia and China. While at Mount Rushmore, we'll partake in a group leader-led exploration of Mount Rushmore's history, creation, and patriotic representation. We'll visit the museum and take an interpretive 1/2-mile walk, for those who can do stairs, to the Sculptor's Studio. Next, we'll coach a short distance to the President's Alpine Slide for a panoramic view of Mount Rushmore. We’ll ride chairlifts to the top and then ride the Alpine Slide back down on a speed-controlled sled. The slide is fun for all ages, but if the slide isn't of interest, you're welcome to ride the chairlift back down.
Lunch:
At the Lodge.
Afternoon:
The Black Hills were a major draw and hot spot for those seeking to strike it rich during the Gold Rush of the late 1800’s. The Black Hills proved to be a mineral-rich territory, bringing prospectors from all over. This afternoon, get your hands wet as you learn from experts how to pan for gold using the same methods, tricks, and techniques old-time prospectors used to pan for gold in the Black Hills. After mining for riches, we'll return to the Lodge.
Dinner:
At the Lodge.
Evening:
We’ll coach a short distance back to Mount Rushmore and attend the Lighting Ceremony - a patriotic live program presented in the outdoor auditorium.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 140 miles round-trip, approximately 3.5 hours total riding time plus stops. Walking about 1 mile on boardwalks and groomed paths.
Breakfast:
At the Lodge.
Morning:
We’ll set out via motorcoach with our Group Leader for an expert-led interpretive field trip through Badlands National Park. Named Mako Sica, "bad lands," by the Lakota, the park showcases a place with immeasurable beauty, stark landscapes, buttes, pinnacles, and towering spires. But 69 million years ago, the Badlands looked very different. A vast inland sea covered this region and housed numerous exotic sea creatures while dinosaurs and other Cretaceous animals roamed along its shores. Millions of years later, animals such as ancient camels, dogs, horses, rhinos, and saber-toothed cats inhabited and roamed through this land. And while these creatures are long gone, their fossilized remains, found throughout the Badlands, help piece together the story of their existence, life cycles, and ultimate demise. We'll make several stops throughout the park to explore and learn about the vast sediment deposits, fossils, and erosion. We’ll then coach to the nearby town of Wall.
Lunch:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like in the town of Wall, just outside of Badlands National Park. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. The main attraction in Wall is the Wall Drug Store, known around the world as a highlight of roadside America. Starting in 1931, it became famous for giving away free ice water to thirsty travelers. Today, it houses an extensive world-class collection of Western art.
Afternoon:
We'll make our return trip back to the Lodge, and gather around the campfire with our Group Leader for a hands-on lesson about how Native Americans utilized all parts of a bison. We’ll also take this opportunity to roast marshmallows, make S’mores, and share stories around the campfire.
Dinner:
At the Lodge.
Evening:
We’ll be joined by a local expert who will captivate us with stories and dances that are representative of local Indigenous peoples.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 110 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking indoors during field trips, standing up to 1 hour at a time. Bring a swimsuit and a towel for the swimming activity.
Breakfast:
At the Lodge.
Morning:
We’ll coach to the neighboring town of Hot Springs, which houses the famous Mammoth Site. More than 140,000 years ago, a porous limestone cavern collapsed and was filled with natural spring water, creating a steep-sided pond. The pond attracted numerous animals, including Columbian and Woolly mammoths, Ice Age camels, coyotes, giant short-faced bears, llamas, and wolves. As the animals drank from the shores, some of them fell in and couldn't get out due to the steep and slippery incline, and perished. The sinkhole eventually filled in with sediment, preserving the skeletons as fossils. The site was discovered in 1974 during excavations for a housing project. The site was turned over to scientists, where it is now an active laboratory, research facility, museum, and working paleontological dig site. We’ll have the opportunity to learn more from one of the curators about some of the discoveries and see some of the mammoth fossils. Kids will get to become Junior Paleontologists as we help dig for signs of prehistoric life.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Next, we'll swim at Evans Plunge in Hot Springs, where we’ll spend the afternoon enjoying the world’s largest indoor, natural warm spring and rejuvenating mineral pool. The Springs are fed by an enormous thermal spring producing 5,000 gallons per minute! Native Lakota and Cheyenne people used these therapeutic springs for centuries before settlers arrived in the late 1800's. Today, the Plunge includes water slides, swing rings, and an outdoor pool. Lifeguards will be on duty. Remember to pack a towel from home for this fun-filled activity, as hotel towels are not permitted off property.
Dinner:
At the Lodge. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning
Activity Note
Hotel check-out 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At the Lodge. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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