All South Dakota Tours & Excursions in 2026

The Badlands Loop Road offers a unique journey through one of North America's most dramatic landscapes. This self-guided driving tour spans 31 miles of jagged ridges and rich history, narrated seamlessly via GPS. Key highlights include ancient fossil beds, sacred Lakota lands, and stunning overlooks like Panorama Point and Big Badlands Overlook. With no set schedule, you can explore at your own pace and discover hidden stories along the way. - 31-mile scenic drive with GPS-triggered narration - Explore the rich history of the Badlands and Lakota culture - Stop at iconic viewpoints and wildlife spotting areas - Flexible timing—spend 1 to 3 hours based on your stops

Our very unique, immersive adventures are the only ones of their kind. We, unlike other companies, provide your very own remote, interactive, live host to assist and encourage you along through your phone. We are an Austin, TX-based global custom event design company offering scavenger hunts and other events in 300+ cities in North America and beyond. Our specially hand-crafted adventures are equal parts tour, creative challenge, detective hunt, and social experiment! Guests get to discover in an alternate reality our favorite hidden gems off the beaten trail and creatively interpret fun art, history, and culture clues - for points! They get to enjoy fame and glory while appearing on our website’s international leaderboard, no matter what their score. They get to essentially race other teams in other cities, even if they don’t have competitors who have signed up in their city that day. Get ready to discover unusual oddities, laugh out loud, and make the experience your own!

Discover the landmarks of South Dakota during this full-day excursion from Rapid City. Alongside a private guide, visit the iconic Mouth Rushmore, where you can enjoy a hike, as well as the Crazy Horse Memorial. You also visit Custer State Park where you have the opportunity to examine the flora and fauna of the area such as bison, antelope, elk, and bighorn sheep.

At Fly Badlands, we take your Badlands experience to new heights—literally. Unlike ground-based tours, our aerial adventures offer a unique and unmatched perspective of the region's dramatic geology and vast prairies. From the sky, you’ll witness the full scale and grandeur of the Badlands' rugged beauty—something you simply can’t grasp from the ground. Our flights are personalized and intimate, led by experienced local pilots who are passionate about the area’s natural history and striking formations. You won’t be packed into a bus or jostling for a photo spot—we ensure every seat is a window seat, and every guest enjoys uninterrupted views. Whether you're looking to capture stunning photographs, celebrate a special occasion, or just want a one-of-a-kind adventure, Fly Badlands delivers an unforgettable, bucket-list-worthy experience that stands above the rest.

Explore Custer State Park on an all-day, small-group Jeep tour. After a convenient pickup from your Rapid City hotel, cruise scenic Iron Mountain Road and marvel at hundreds of bison on a 19-mile safari.  Ascend Mt. Coolidge and get amazing views of Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills. You won't have to bring food with you as a picnic lunch is included in the tour price.

Unlike traditional ground-based tours, this scenic flight offers a bird’s-eye view of South Dakota’s striking landscapes—something you simply can’t experience from a car or a trail. From the air, you’ll see the full scale and dramatic contrast between the rolling prairie of Buffalo Gap National Grassland and the jagged cliffs of Badlands National Park. ✈️ Exclusive Access – Cover more ground than any vehicle or hike can, including remote areas not visible from roads or overlooks. Incredible Photo Opportunities – Capture stunning aerial shots of layered rock formations, winding rivers, and wildlife. Wildlife Spotting – Spot bison herds, prairie dogs, and more from a unique, non-intrusive vantage point. Personal Experience – Led by a local pilot who shares stories, highlights, and insider knowledge throughout the flight. This isn’t just a tour—it’s an aerial adventure designed for travelers who want something unforgettable, immersive, and off the beaten path.

Step into the shoes of a newly-minted detective, tasked by Commander Mahoney to solve a gripping case murder on the streets of Sioux Falls. Throughout this crime-solving audio adventure, visit each of the 10 mapped locations. You'll have the option to explore the downtown area using the Walking Map or follow a Driving Map on the city's outskirts. Once you choose, the exact starting point will be revealed. *See images for route. Park or stop at each location, listen to the audio story, and put your detective skills to the test by gathering clues and piecing together the evidence. Finally, make your deductions and issue an arrest warrant. Your overall detective skills will be evaluated, culminating in a Case Performance Score to measure your sleuthing prowess. This game is suitable for solo detectives, dynamic duos, or groups of mystery enthusiasts, offering an immersive audio tale filled with intrigue.

A puzzle adventure through Falls Park. Solve six clues, walk a mile, and see the park like nobody else does. Six stops. Six clues hidden in the architecture and landmarks. Each one you crack unlocks the next. Part scavenger hunt, part brain teaser, all in one of the most photogenic parks in the Midwest. You'll spot details everyone else walks right past and piece together stories hiding in this park for over a century. The kind of stuff that makes someone say "wait, seriously?" At each stop, play a short audio clip that adds personality to what you just found. Want to go deeper? Snap a photo and run it through the built-in AI analyzer to enhance the experience. No tour guide. No schedule. Buy once, show up whenever, bring the whole crew. Everything runs on your phone — no app needed. Hints are built in so you're never stuck. Unlock Local Intel: the best spots to eat, drink, and explore, picked by people who actually live here.

Discover Mount Rushmore National Memorial with an app-based, self-guided audio tour that brings its history, stories, and larger-than-life sculptures to life. There’s no in-person guide—your phone is your guide as you explore the memorial and learn about its four presidents, construction, artistry, and history. Learn about the incredible artistry and engineering behind this monumental achievement, as well as the legends and lore surrounding it. Perfect for families, history buffs, and curious travelers, our audio tour adds a delightful twist to your visit. Simply download, plug in your headphones, and embark on a memorable adventure through Mount Rushmore! "Download the Shaka Guide app to access the purchased tours"

3Quest Challenge of Sioux Falls is a great way to see the city in a fun way! You'll use an app on your phone to submit photos of items you find around the city. The items will be given to you in riddle form. Get points for finding the items, as well as completing fun challenges as well! The items and challenges will be arranged in 3 different quests. Complete the quests, in order, to finish 3Quest Challenge! Try setting a time limit of 2 hours for yourself to make the game even more intense and see if you can do all 3 quests in the given time! During the game, you'll have a remote guide that will chat with you during the game in case you need anything! Let's see if you can do all 3 quests in Sioux Falls today!

What makes this Badlands and Wall Drug Store tour unique is the depth of knowledge and storytelling it offers. It's not just a scenic drive, but a fully narrated experience that brings the Badlands and prairie areas to life with abundant information and captivating stories. This ensures a richer and more engaging experience compared to self-guided tours or those with less historical and cultural context, especially since it spans a substantial 7-8 hours.

There’s nothing “bad” about touring the Badlands with a guide who’ll drive you to the national park, teach you the history of the area, and make sure you don’t miss any of the best spots for photos. The tour is a highly curated route that takes you to places you’d otherwise miss. From scenic overlooks to the famous Wall Drug Store, and even to the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, where you’ll get to experience ‘duck and cover drills,’ it’s good fun in the Badlands.

Walk around Sioux Falls while completing the Operation City Quest scavenger hunt! Use an app to find a list of objects around the city in any order you choose and perform fun challenges for points. Collect points and take a look at your score compared to others across the country. All of our scavenger hunts have a remote host via chat to help along the way. Come out and explore with us in Sioux Falls.

This tour allows you to experience the rare and exquisite beauty the Black Hills has to offer. This is a guided tour, and the guide will share the incredible history of the area.

Capture your unique story with a professional photography session in the Beautiful Black Hills! This experience offers a stunning backdrop of one of America's most iconic landmarks, Mount Rushmore. Other local favorites are: Pactola & Sylvan Lakes, Spearfish Canyon, Buzzards Roost hiking trails, and the Badlands. Allowing for memorable portraits of families, couples, seniors, and even your pets. Whether you're celebrating a milestone or simply want to create lasting memories, this session will leave you with exquisite photographs to cherish forever.

Zombie Scavengers in Sioux Falls will help prove you can survive a zombie apocalypse! Use an app to find a list of items needed to survive. Find them in any order you'd like and get points for each found survival item. Get points also by doing crazy zombie themed tasks. Survey the area and figure out how to get the most points in order to survive the apocalypse. Should you have any questions along the way, a remote host will chat with you throughout the game. Prove to the world you can survive an apocalypse in Sioux Falls today!

Buy your tickets in advance to the Cosmos Mystery Area to guarantee your admission, even on sold-out days. With tickets in hand, you can breeze by the ticket-purchase line and get started exploring right away. Embark on a 30-minute tour that showcases the family-friendly displays and activities focused on the intersection of science, mystery, and comedy.

We would pick you up from your Rapid City hotel at 6:30-6:45 pm in 7 or 12 passenger van depending on if we have others going. It is a 45 minute drive to Mt Rushmore. You would have half an hour to get to the amphitheater to get a seat for the program that starts at 8:00 pm. There is a 10 minute Ranger Talk about some topic about the 4 presidents. After the talk is a 20 minute video about the growth of the country in relation to the 4 presidents. At 8:30 pm, the Star Spangled Banner is sung and the lights go on the faces. Veterans and military are invited to the stage to help retire the flag and be honored. It is about a 45 minute program. We do have blankets for you in your vans if it is a chilly night. But, plan on bringing a jacket as it cools off once the sun goes down. We would get you back to Rapid City around 9:45 pm.

This tour offers a unique opportunity to experience the awe-inspiring presence of Devils Tower, a geological marvel unlike any other. Unlike typical mountain peaks, Devils Tower is a towering butte, possibly formed from a laccolith – a mass of cooled, solidified magma. This means you'll be witnessing a rare formation of igneous rock carved by the relentless forces of nature. Standing a staggering 1,267 feet above the Belle Fourche River, and 867 feet from summit to base, the sheer scale of Devils Tower is breathtaking. You'll be immersed in the rugged beauty of the Bear Lodge Ranger District within the Black Hills, far from the hustle and bustle, near the charming towns of Hulett and Sundance, Wyoming. This tour isn't just about seeing a rock formation; it's about experiencing the power of geological history and the grandeur of the American West.

What makes this tour unique is its immersive journey through Custer State Park's Wildlife Loop, offering a chance to witness the majestic buffalo herds, especially enchanting in springtime with the adorable newborn calves. Beyond the buffalo, you'll encounter a diverse array of wildlife, from graceful antelope and deer to playful prairie dogs and the charming begging burros, all set against the backdrop of breathtaking scenery. The 7-8 hour narrated experience provides an in-depth understanding of the park's ecosystem and its inhabitants, making it more than just a sightseeing tour, but an educational and unforgettable wildlife adventure.

Don't bother renting a car or planning a thing with this private tour to three celebrated South Dakota monuments: Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the Crazy Horse Memorial, and Custer State Park. After a hassle-free pickup from your hotel, your personal guide transports you to these three landmarks. You visit each attraction—with entry fees included—and learn more as you go with the help of your guide's expert commentary.

Explore one of South Dakota’s incredible national parks and other highlights with this day tour from Rapid City to Badlands National Park. Your private guide will share their expertise about the region’s history, geology, and more as you drive through the beautiful park, possibly spotting wildlife like buffalo. You’ll have lunch a local restaurant of your choice, stop at famous roadside store/attraction Wall Drugs, the ghost town of Scenic, and the Minuteman Missile Site.

Immerse yourself in the history of the Middle Border Region of the United States with this admission ticket to the Dakota Discovery Museum. With four art galleries, a historical gallery, and a historical village, there’s more than enough to keep you busy for an entire day. See artwork by Harvey Dunn and Oscar Howe, and then stop by a 1-room schoolhouse that opened in 1885. Plus, since the museum is open morning until evening, you can make your way through it at your own pace.

Make exploring the Black Hills’ many sights effortless with this private half-day tour. Picked up from your Rapid City hotel by your personal driver/guide, you’ll wander amongst giant Presidents—Mount Rushmore, that is—traverse the spectacular Needles Highway, gaze upon Sylvan Lake, witness the wildlife of Custer State Park, and more. With no worries about driving, navigation, or parking, you’ll be free to relax, take pictures, and enjoy the view.