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South Dakota

Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse & the Badlands With Your Family

Program No. 4752RJ
Enjoy a classic American adventure with your family as you visit the epic monuments of the Black Hills, ride horses, dig for fossils, pan for gold, look for buffalo and much more!
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Start
National ParksFamily ProgramsNature & EnvironmentAges 8 – 18
Length
6 days
Rating (4.88)
Activity Level
Starts at
2,199 / ADULT
1,299 / CHILD

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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 )
2 expert-led lectures
9 expert-led field trips
6 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 110 miles throughout the day, approximately 3 hours riding time plus stops. Walking about 1/2 mile; dirt path, mountain meadows, pine-covered forests.
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 Custer State Park. The park covers more than 71,000 acres full of mountains, plains, forests, and wildlife — one of the Top 10 places for wildlife in the world! We’ll stop first at the Visitor Center and explore interactive exhibits to learn about the Park’s history, mysteries, landscapes, and wildlife. We’ll then hop back on the motorcoach and ride along Wildlife Loop Road to look for wild bison (buffalo), burros, prairie dogs, elk, white tail deer, and more.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch we'll travel to Custer City to one of the largest mountain carvings in progress. This monumental project uses the image of Crazy Horse — legendary Lakota warrior and leader — to symbolize the culture, traditions, and living heritage of North American Indians. Work started in 1948 and when it’s finished, the Crazy Horse Memorial will be the largest mountain carving in the world. We’ll visit the Memorial to learn all about it and explore the Native American Educational & Cultural center there. We’ll have breathtaking views of the carving and surrounding landscape, see pictures of Native Americans from long ago, and an exhibit carved out of rock that tells the story of the bison (buffalo) and how important they were. We’ll take part in a hands-on art activity led by museum educators, then return to the Lodge.
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 55 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time. Walking about 1/2 mile indoors and out and standing; groomed paths some stairs.
Breakfast:
At the Lodge.
Morning:
Mount Rushmore National Monument is much more than four gigantic faces carved out of stone. The sculptor who made it, 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 with 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 Louisiana Purchase. Lincoln led the country through the Civil War and saved the Union. 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. We’ll coach a short distance to see Mount Rushmore from a different angle- on the top of a ridge about two miles away. We’ll ride up on chairlifts (like ski lifts) for amazing panoramic views. Once at the top, we have the opportunity to ride the Alpine Slide on a speed-controlled sled, back down the hill. If the sled and slide aren't of interest, feel free to catch the chairlift back down. We’ll then return to the Lodge.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
The Black Hills was 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 have the opportunity to learn from experts the tricks and techniques old-time prospectors used to pan for gold in the waters flowing through the Black Hills. We’ll then return to the Lodge.
Dinner:
At the Lodge.
Evening:
We’ll gather around a 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. We’ll then coach a short distance back to Mount Rushmore and attend the Lighting Ceremony, a patriotic event in the open-air auditorium.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 200 miles round-trip, approximately 4 hours total riding time plus stops. Walking about 1/2 mile; boardwalks, groomed paths. Getting on/off horses; riding approximately 1 hour; long pants and boots or tennis shoes required for horseback riding; helmets supplied.
Breakfast:
At the Lodge.
Morning:
We’ll set out via motorcoach with our Group Leader for a field trip to Badlands National Park. It’s an incredible place with beautiful and weird looking buttes, pinnacles, and spires. But 69 million years ago, everything was covered by an inland sea where dinosaurs roamed along the shore. Millions of years later, there were animals such as ancient camels, dogs, horses, rhinos, and saber-toothed cats. They’re long gone, but we’ll stop at different locations in the park to explore and see what’s there today. We’ll then ride on to the town of Wall. The main attraction is 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.
Lunch:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like in Wall. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon:
We'll make our return trip back to the Lodge where you'll have time to dress in your best cowboy and cowgirl attire for our fun-filled afternoon and evening horseback and wagon ride. After changing we'll board the motorcoach and travel a short distance where we'll saddle up and ride horses to our Chuckwagon Dinner Show destination. If horseback riding isn't for you, there will be a room for you on a horse-drawn wagon.
Dinner:
Chuckwagon Dinner Show. After the dinner show, we'll all board a tractor-drawn wagon back to the location of our motorcoach and travel a short distance back to the Lodge.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 105 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking during field trips, standing up to 1 hour at a time. Bring a swimsuit and towel for the swimming activity.
Breakfast:
At the Lodge.
Morning:
We’ll ride out to the famous Mammoth Site just outside the city of Hot Springs. This site is here today thanks to a trick of nature more than 26,000 years ago. An ancient sinkhole collapsed and spring water flowing up from the bottom made a watering hole. It attracted mammoths, Ice Age camels, coyotes, giant short-faced bears, llamas, and wolves. Some of them fell in and couldn't get out due to the steep and slippery incline. After perishing, the sinkhole eventually filled in with sediment preserving the skeletons as fossils. The site was discovered in 1974 when a construction company was excavating for a housing project. They found the bones then turned the site over to scientists. It’s now a laboratory, research facility, museum and working paleontological dig site. We’ll go behind the scenes with one of the collectors and curators to learn more 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, it’s Evans Plunge in Hot Springs where we’ll spend the afternoon enjoying the world’s largest indoor, natural warm spring, rejuvenating, mineral water pool. It’s fed by an enormous thermal spring producing 5,000 gallons per minute! Native Lakota and Cheyenne people knew these waters and used them for centuries before settlers arrived. In 1890, a man named Fred Evans built the first structure over what became known as Evans Plunge. It was soon famous as people came here to swim and soak in the crystal-clear waters that stay at a temperature of 87°F. There are water slides, rings, and lifeguards are 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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