South Dakota/Wyoming
On the Road: Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons
Program No. 20297RJ
Explore iconic monuments and national parks of South Dakota and Wyoming. From Mount Rushmore to Old Faithful, from the Mammoth Site to Little Bighorn Battlefield — it’s a big adventure!
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10 days
9 nights
20 meals
8B 6L 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
5
Buffalo Bill Museum & Dam, Yellowstone National Park
West Yellowstone
6
Yellowstone Park, Fountain Paint Pots, Old Faithful Geyser
Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole Valley Wyoming
7
Grand Teton National Park, Free Time
Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole Valley Wyoming
8
Yellowstone NP, Heart Mountain Internment Camp, Billings. MT
Billings, Montana
9
Battle of the Little Big Horn Natl' Monument, Devils Tower
Rapid City, South Dakota
10
Program Concludes
Rapid City, South Dakota
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. If not specified as a small group date, departures will have up to 38 participants.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Paul Reed
Paul Reed has always had a heart for the Old West, which began as a toddler camping in the National Parks with his father. Serving in the military, his passion for aviation and travel was realized, and he has traveled extensively throughout the years, soaking in as much history and adventure as possible and discovering new places through food, local culture, and adventure. Paul enjoys sharing the beauty of the American West, its people and culture, and the place he calls home.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Paul Reed
View biography
Paul Reed has always had a heart for the Old West, which began as a toddler camping in the National Parks with his father. Serving in the military, his passion for aviation and travel was realized, and he has traveled extensively throughout the years, soaking in as much history and adventure as possible and discovering new places through food, local culture, and adventure. Paul enjoys sharing the beauty of the American West, its people and culture, and the place he calls home.
Joseph Mican
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Joseph Mican is a veteran group leader who also does seasonal work for the National Science Foundation at one of America’s three Antarctic research bases. His master's degree is in music history, and he wrote his thesis on the music in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" which was filmed at Devils Tower, Wyoming. Joseph loves the National Parks of the West and has enjoyed leading RS "On the Road" throughout South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana for the past several years.
Theresa Reed
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Theresa Reed, born in North Dakota and raised in South Dakota, has always had a love of the American West and its people. Through her previous career in the airline industry, her passion for travel was ignited by exploring and experiencing other cultures through the local history, food, and people. Whether traveling as a career or in her free time, she is delighted to share local insight, stories, and the vast beauty of the area while fostering the true spirit of the American West.
Jackie Rosen
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Jackie Rosen was an “Army brat” who grew up all over, including three years in France and Belgium. From her parents, she learned the joy of meeting new people and learning about them and where they lived. After college, she worked in the Federal government for 10 years, then vacationed in Cody and Jackson, Wyoming, and the national forests and parks in between. She moved to Cody, just 50 miles from Yellowstone’s east gate. Thirty-four years later, Jackie delights in sharing her knowledge and experiences.
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
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.
Standing Witness: Devils Tower National Monument, A History
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.
Black Elk Speaks
This book gives the reader a good background of the Northern Plains Indian Culture and Religion.
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.