From Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore, you’ll love this taste of the wild west!
Recently I booked this trip for some clients who were so excited to get to go on this guided, pre-packaged U.S. trip called Cowboy Country. It’s such a fun trip idea for enjoying the wild west, from Yellowstone to Mount Rushmore!
On this trip, you travel in a comfortable motorcoach with a guide all along the way, making frequent stops for snacks, bathroom breaks, and seeing great sites. Hotels are included; your luggage is handled for you, both delivered to your room when arriving at the hotel, and pickup outside your room when departing.
There are so many great things about traveling this way:
· you have an on-site guide with TONS of background knowledge, stories, and anecdotes shared along the way
· you don’t have to pick out your travel route; everything is done for you
· you don’t have to put miles on your own vehicle (and nobody in your family has to be the designated driver while everyone else sleeps or does whatever they want!)
· you can do whatever you want while riding along (see the previous point)
· there are stops all along the way so you don’t get burned out from riding along
· all breakfasts and some dinners are included
· SO MANY activities are all part of one great package!
The Cowboy Country tour itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Today is arrival day. Your tour manager will be in the hotel lobby most of the day, waiting for your arrival and available to give directions and information.
Day 2: Jackson Hole
Wind through Grand Teton National Park, home to the youngest peaks in the Rockies. Keep your camera handy; there are plenty of opportunities to take photos.
Arrive at Jackson Home Ranch Welcome Center for lunch, followed by fun in town. This might include shopping, visiting the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, or just relaxing in the town square. Make sure to take a picture under the Antler Arches in Old Town!
Later that evening, get your first taste of the Old West at your welcome chuckwagon dinner, where a ride in a covered wagon takes you past the Cache Creek Canyon for a night of Western hospitality.
Day 3: Yellowstone National Park and Cody, Wyoming
Visit Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first national park. Famous for its geysers, hot springs and incredible wildlife including free-ranging herds of buffalo. Yellowstone
Lives up to its reputation. No visit to the park would be complete without seeing its most renowned attraction: Old Faithful. Travel over the Sylvan Pass and see Yellowstone Lake on the way to Cody, your home for the evening.
Day 4: Museums in Cody, through the Bighorn Mountains, and into Sheridan, Wyoming
This morning, spend time at the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center, a museum dedicated to preserving the stories of the WWII Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated.
Afterwards, visit the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, a tribute to one of the most well-known figures of the Old West. This afternoon, make your way through the Bighorn Mountains and stop towards the top for pie. Cross through the territory of the Great Sioux Nation before turning in for the night in Sheridan.
Day 5: Sheridan into Historic Deadwood and Rapid City, South Dakota
Stop in Deadwood, a rambling Western town and a National Historic Landmark. Recreations of turn of the century street lamps light the way through the restored architecture.
A local guide introduces you to the history of the city, where gold, gambling and gunpowder were once the order of the day. Visit Mount Moriah Cemetery, final resting place of Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and other figures from the Wild West. Continue on to Kevin Costner’s Tatanka: “Story of the Bison.” This interpretive center features large, awe-inspiring sculptures depicting the relationship of bison to the Lakota Native Americans. Your day ends in Rapid city.
Day 6: Explore the Black Hills
Travel to Custer State Park and search for a herd of over 1,000 roaming bison. Your guide will fill you in on the park’s wildlife history and facts.
Next, prepare to be amazed by the Crazy Horse Memorial, the world's largest mountain sculpture still in progress. The memorial includes the Indian Museum of North America, Native American Cultural Center, the sculptor's studio, an orientation center and theaters. Many Native American artists and craftspeople practice their art at the memorial and are on hand to discuss the influence their culture has on their work. You’ll see mountain carving as well.
Later, see the amazing Mount Rushmore, one of the country’s most famous landmarks.
Day 7: Rapid City to Badlands National Park and Wall, South Dakota
Visit rugged Badlands National Park. Upon arrival at the visitor center, view its informative exhibits and displays and watch a film that introduces you to the area. Follow the Badlands Loop Road, a wonder of rock formations and vibrant colors caused by mineral deposits.
Head into Wall, South Dakota for lunch. Stop at Wall Drug, a classic store from 1936, where there is time for browsing. Get that last-minute souvenir or even a free bumper sticker from the cash register.
This evening, a Lakota Native American will join you before your farewell dinner to discuss his dedication to his community and the Native American way of life, past and present.
Day 8: Tour ends. Fly home from Rapid City airport
The restaurant is open for your final breakfast. Pack your bags and say goodbye to the wonderful memories and friends you’ve experienced!
When is this tour available?
This trip begins in May and ends mid-October, with one departure per week. Some dates are already sold out in 2022, and others are selling quickly.
What are the requirements to travel?
To take this trip, you’re required to either be fully vaccinated, or have gotten a negative Covid test result within 72 hours of traveling. You also need to fill out a pre-travel health form.
How do I book?
Let me know what date(s) you’re interested in, and I’ll check on the availability and cost. Then, we’ll work out the details of your flights and transportation at the beginning and end of your trip, and whether you’re interested in including the insurance. You’ll pay a deposit to secure your trip, and you’re all set. Super easy!
Sometimes we’re so focused on exploring the world that we forget about this amazing corner of world that we live in, our own beautiful United States! If this trip sounds like just what you’re looking for, let me know and I’ll help you make it happen.