Tour the Spirit of the American West

The Spirit of the American West tour starts and ends in Rapid City, SD. Home to around 75,000 people, this vibrant and growing city offers stunning views and unique attractions like the City of Presidents walking tour and so much more! Take time before and after your tour to check out great spots like The Journey Museum & Learning Center, relax by the fountains at Main Street Square or grab a beer at Hay Camp Brewing. During this tour you’ll get to experience Downtown Rapid City’s popular Summer Nights! On Thursday nights during the summer a portion of the downtown district closes to become a street party for visitors and locals. Enjoy free live music, a cold beverage and a variety of different food vendors. 

Getting there is part of the experience! The Paha Sapa, which is Lakota for Black Hills, are abundant with Native American culture and natural beauty. Enjoy the beautiful drive surrounded by exposed granite and towering ponderosa pines on your way to epic tour stops.

Completed on October 31st in 1941, this mountain carving features four presidential faces and is recognized across the globe. A visit to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln will include educational ranger talks explaining the carving of the mountain, history on the sculptor Gutzon Borglum and more.

View the world's largest mountain carving in progress! In 1948, carver Korczak Ziolkowski accepted Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear’s invitation to carve this Indian memorial in the Black Hills. His family still continues progress on this mountain carving to this day. Tour the campus during your visit to see The Indian Museum of North American®, The Native American Educational and Cultural Center®and the Korczak’s Home and Studio.

Enjoy a ride on the 1880 Train through the Black Hills! The Black Hills Central Railroad is the oldest continuously operating tour railroad in the nation. Throughout the season, they operate three steam and two diesel engines. This train tour takes you back and forth between Hill City and Keystone and is a two-hour narrated tour.

Custer State Park is one of the largest state parks in the nation and the first in South Dakota. Covering 71,000 acres this park is full of stunning, one-of-a-kind mountain lakes, granite spires, rolling prairies and gorgeous mountain landscapes. Custer State Park is also known for the wildlife that call it home like Mountain Goats, North American Bison and the famous begging burros. Included in your tour is the Buffalo Jeep Safari Tour that takes you off the road and right into the herd!

Find landscape that feels like one found on Mars. At Badlands National Park, enjoy a scenic drive through this brilliant display of eroded buttes, pinnacles and mixed-grass prairie while looking out for wildlife such as bison, big horn sheep and antelope. 

Welcome to the wild west. This town was created during the Black Hills Gold Rush of 1874. People moved from all over in hopes of finding gold in the hills including outlaws, gamblers and more. Today you will find a historic town filled with history, casinos, shops and pubs. 

Cross the Wyoming border to find the mysterious Devils Tower National Monument. A notorious climb for rock climbers, visitors can also enjoy a walk around the base or learn the about the Native American legends explaining this unique formation.