Bus Tour of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills
Description
Join us on a journey through the breathtaking landscapes and historic landmarks of Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills. Our Sightseeing Bus Tour Only package is designed for those who wish to explore the area’s stunning scenery and rich history without the additional meal package. Mount Rushmore Tours is the longest operating local family owned and operated tour company in the Black Hills. Founded in 1973 and since 2023 second generation owned and operated, we are widely regarded as the local experts in the bus tours for Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your tour starts at Fort Hays Chuckwagon by checking into the Fort Hays Headquarters Building between 7:45-8am to get your printed tickets with your assigned Bus for the day.
The bus departs at 9am and heads for Mount Rushmore! You will have a little over an hour to look around at your own convenience and enjoy the sites and beauty that you came to South Dakota for. We stop here first because Mount Rushmore is at it's best in the morning sun. Gutzon Borglum carved this mountain facing east towards the morning sun and intended it to be viewed this way.
After leaving Mount Rushmore we will travel along the Iron Mountain Road. A beautiful 17 mile road of breath taking scenery featuring 3 one lane tunnels that perfectly frame Mount Rushmore.
We stop for lunch inside Custer State Park at the Game Lodge and previous summer White House for president Calvin Coolidge. Try the Buffalo Stew, it's the best you will ever find!
After lunch we depart for the Needles Hwy. This 14 mile scenic drive is sure to leave you breathless and awe struck at amazing beauty of the Black Hills. Sit back and enjoy the ride and watch the crowd gather around when we drive the bus through the Needles Eye Tunnel. With only inches to spare on each side of the bus you can relish in the fact that you are not the one driving.
Take a rest stop and coffee break at the beautiful Sylvan Lake. This is among the crown jewels of Custer State Park and the beauty within it.
We spend about an hour at Crazy Horse Memorial. You are on your own to spend this time enjoying this piece of history in the making. Upon completion it will be the largest mountain carving in the world! Truly a piece of awe inspiring history being worked on every day.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Service animals allowed
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(412)
Absolutely a must if you are wanting to experience the area without worrying about having to drive it all yourself. The bus had big clear windows for picture taking and they made many stops along the way to get the best views. Our driver Dan had great knowledge of the area and provided some great history while being entertaining as well. Overall a fantastic experience!
Dan can spin a yarn like nobody else and his knack for wranglin' them tunnels and twisty trails is unmatched! He's also got the scoop on the finest places to snap a shot of them gorgeous sights! Thanks for lettin' us guide ya 'round for the day! Lookin' forward to seein' ya agin on yer next jaunt to the hills!
This bus tour covered all of the areas that were of interest to us. Our bus driver, Ken, was phenomenal. He was the best of the best! I would highly recommend this tour to anyone.
Yup, we reckon! Ken's one heck of a fella! His drivin' and yarn-spinnin' skills are off the charts! He's got the lowdown on all the best watering holes! Much obliged for spendin' the day with us! Don’t be a stranger now!
Great tour. Guide was exceptional and a very good driver.
Much obliged fer spendin' the day with us! Y'all come back real soon, ya hear?
From start to finish was a great tour. Beautiful boss, great and entertaining driver. We learned a lot we saw a lot that we never would’ve been able to do on our own. They gave us just the right amount of time to see Mount Rushmore, crazy horse, and Sylvan Lake. The lunch stop was good and everything was timed very well. I highly recommend this Tour.
Much obliged fer spendin' the day with us! Our drivers sure know the best sights fer makin' them memories! Hope to see ya again on yer next adventure!
The trip was very informative & we saw lots of sights. Our driver pointed out things to us. We enjoyed it.
We's mighty glad to hear ya had a good day! Our cowpokes know all 'bout them best sights! Havin' ya hang out with us is a true pleasure! Swing by again on yer next adventure to the hills!
The driver was quite confused with the microphone and which button to push for what he wanted to play…information, music etc. he was more interested in telling his own stories instead of information for the tour. Then he’d start to say something and forget what it was. However the worst was his use of the bus air brake during the playing of a song while going through the switchbacks. He would use the brake to jerk the bus and not a couple of times but through the entire song and all the way down the hill. Two women behind said they were getting sick…it was awful!!! He was trying to make it a joke, but hardly funny! Then going through the tight tunnel he jerked the brake hard again to try and scare us…again not funny. Not a good experience at all
We are extremely sorry your day with us was not up to our usual performance. We will look into what was happening that day and take necessary steps to improve. We appreciate the feedback and hope that you will give us a chance to redeem ourselves in the future.
The tour Guide Billy was excellent. Very informative. We never would have all the things we saw without taking this tour.
Billy's a real whiz at spinnin' yarns and makin' sure ya see the most jaw-droppin' views ‘round here! Much obliged for ridin' with us, and we sure hope ya swing by for your next escapade!
The tour guy, Dan, was fantastic. Very knowledgeable, great driver for those types of turns, narrow tunnels & really funny. I loved the music he played after lunch
Dan's a legend behind the reins 'round here, and he spins tales better'n a campfire story you can't quit! Much obliged for ridin' with us, and we're hopin' to see your face when you next wander this way!
It was a good bus tour. My whole family enjoyed it
Much obliged for ridin' along and makin' memories with the kin! Glad to hear you had yourself a fine day!
Our tour guide Billy was great! The additional anecdotal information he provided was excellent. We had ample time to explore all the stops on the tour…we didn’t feel rushed. The reason I gave it 4 stars was because the check in time recommended was almost an hour before the bus came at 8:50. There was very little to see or do at Fort Hayes if you didn’t want to buy breakfast there. The lunch stop buffet was very good but it should be mentioned that you can bring a picnic lunch if you choose not to have the buffet. This would be much more economical for a family. Kudos again to Billy and his excellent driving skills. I recommend this tour but the arrival time and lunch option needs to be fixed.
Much obliged for lettin' us steer the rig! Billy’s a top-notch hand, whether he’s steerin' through twists and turns spinnin' yarns, or greetin' ya at the stop with a tune to start the mornin'! We reckon we show up a mite early, but we gotta make sure our drivers are plumb ready and every soul is accounted for so nobody gets lost in the brush. Small coolers and packs are welcome if they tuck neat by your seat, so feel free to bring your grub and sarsaparilla. Sorry that info wasn't easier to find. Mighty glad y'all had a fine day overall, and we hope you ride by and say howdy next time you're driftin' through the Black Hills!
