You won’t need to summon Mr. Sandman on this tour through the American West. This national parks vacation is what dreams are made of. With overnight stays in the West’s legendary lodges, you’ll saw logs within the forested wonder of the nation’s most alluring landscapes. Enjoy two nights within the timber and stone beauty of the State Game Lodge at Custer State Park, two nights under the roofs of the cozy lodges of Yellowstone National Park, and two nights swathed in the rugged elegance of Jackson Lake Lodge. Additional dream sights through South Dakota and Wyoming include Mount Rushmore, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Grand Teton National Park. After visiting the Old West towns of Deadwood and Cody – and spotting the buffalo, moose, elk, and other area locals – you’ll have no reason to count sheep on this classic lodges and national parks tour.
Welcome to Rapid City, gateway to the Black Hills. At 6:30 pm, meet your traveling companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.
After breakfast, enjoy an orientation tour of Rapid City, then visit BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK to see some of the most spectacular scenery in the region. Afterward, there’s time to explore Wall Drug, known for its quirky roadside signs and free water. Later this afternoon, travel into the backcountry and enjoy a BUFFALO SAFARI and CHUCKWAGON COOKOUT.
SPECIAL FEATURE: We stay overnight at the historic State Game Lodge in Custer State Park. This gracious stone and wood lodge is set in a beautiful mountain valley, surrounded by a ponderosa pine forest. Built in 1920 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the lodge served as the “Summer White House” for President Calvin Coolidge and was visited by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
This morning, we travel to Hot Springs to visit the world’s largest MAMMOTH SITE, where scientists are currently excavating remains of mammoths that were trapped and died in the pond more than 26,000 years ago. After a short tour, you’ll have time to stroll the sidewalks of the dig area and see the paleontology laboratory. Next, visit CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL, built in honor of the fearless Sioux Indian chief whose fame is derived from the Battle of Little Bighorn. The remainder of the day is yours to relax in Custer State Park. Perhaps try some fly-fishing, mountain biking, or take a nature walk.
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
Today, visit one of the world’s largest stone monuments: MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL. At Mount Rushmore, the solid granite faces of four presidents loom more than a thousand feet overhead. We then continue on a guided tour of the Old West town of DEADWOOD, where Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane marked their place in history.
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
This morning, drive across the grassy plains of Wyoming and soak in the expansive blue skies. Enjoy lunch at an authentic WESTERN RANCH with free time to enjoy a variety of activities. Next, we cross the Bighorn Mountains via Shell Creek Canyon to Buffalo Bill’s Wild West town of Cody, Wyoming.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Enjoy a leisurely visit to the BUFFALO BILL CENTER OF THE WEST, a fascinating tribute to frontier America. Later, depart for YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, America’s first national park, where wild animals roam freely in vast meadows and forest.
SPECIAL FEATURE: Enjoy two nights inside Yellowstone National Park. Each lodge has its own unique setting and atmosphere. Lodges featured are the Old Faithful Inn, Old Faithful Snow Lodge, Lake Yellowstone Hotel, Canyon Lodge, and Grant Village. Specific lodges will be confirmed in your documents.
NOTE: The routing and areas visited within Yellowstone are subject to favorable weather and/or road conditions. When conditions are unfavourable, the routing may be adjusted accordingly.
Meals included: Breakfast
Today, you will see the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone with its Upper and Lower Falls. Watch for herds of bison in Hayden Valley, and view many of Yellowstone’s geothermal sites, including Old Faithful Geyser.
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
This morning, tour GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK. The jagged Tetons form a perfect backdrop behind Jenny and Jackson Lakes. Next up: the Western town of Jackson. The rest of the day is free to explore on your own. You may choose to see a shootout in Town Square, shop for souvenirs, or relax with a cold drink at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar.
Meals included: Breakfast
Today is at your leisure to explore on your own or perhaps take an optional float trip down the Snake River.
Meals included: Breakfast
Follow the Snake River and lovely Star Valley en route to Utah. Wind along the shores of beautiful Bear Lake before climbing through the Wasatch Mountains and on to the Great Salt Lake Basin and Salt Lake City. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner hosted by your Tour Director.
Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
After a leisurely breakfast, bid farewell to newfound friends as your tour comes to an end.
Meals included: Breakfast