Badlands Private Van Tour Standard
Rapid City
Explore Badlands' rugged beauty, diverse wildlife, and historic sites. Visit Ben Reifel Center, Wall Drug Store, and Minuteman National Historic Site.
Duration: 7 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Delta-09 Missile Silo - Our first stop is the Delta-09 silo located in the Badlands.

“Minuteman-land is eerie. On the surface, no weapon is visible. But beneath the empty prairies and forested hills the gyroscopes are eternally spinning; these are the master navigators of jam-proof guidance systems, each ready to steer holocaustal destruction to a pre-selected target.”
~ John Hubbell, “The Missile That Closed The Gap,” Readers’ Digest, October 1962.

  • Minuteman Missile National Historic Site - Before entering the park, we visit the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. Here are exhibits from the Cold War of the 50’s and 60’s. If you can remember those days, it will bring back the chilling ‘duck and cover’ drills that school children practiced.
  • Door Trail - The Door Trail is a popular trail that provides spectacular views of rugged badlands geology.

The park features many trails that are ADA accessible via boardwalks. The Door Trail is wheelchair-accessible ¼ mile boardwalk that leads through a break in the Badlands Wall known as “the Door” to a panoramic view of the Badlands. From here the maintained trail ends.

Open-Top-Tours offers handicap van tours here at no additional cost.

  • Ben Reifel Visitor Center - Ben Reifel Visitor Center is the main North Unit facility of the park. You can stop and talk with rangers, explore the museum and check out the Fossil Preparation Lab exhibits. Also available is the Badlands Natural History Association bookstore.
  • Fossil Exhibit Trail - The Fossil Exhibit Trail is a fully accessible boardwalk featuring fossil replicas and exhibits of extinct creatures that once lived in the area. The exhibits are tactile, so you are free to touch them.
  • Pinnacles Overlook - The Pinnacles is considered the best of the many overlooks. It has sweeping views and faces South, the view displays the expanse of the Sage Creek Wilderness area. On clear days, the Black Hills are visible on the horizon. Bison might be visible in the distance, in the valley below or the upper prairie to the northwest. This overlook is also a popular spot for Bighorn sheep. This is also a lambing area for Bighorn sheep in the spring, so it’s not unusual to see lambs frolicing on the rocky slopes of the Badlands.
  • Roberts Prairie Dog Town - The last stop in the Badlands National Park. This stop provides a perfect view of the largest prairie-dog town in the accessible areas of Badlands. Other than the mounds of dirt where the prairie dogs have made their homes, the first thing you will likely notice is the high-pitched squeaks and noises coming from the Prairie dogs. They have one of the most develop means of communication . . . especially when in danger.

*Prairie dogs are cute, but they can also carry the plague so keep your distance and view from afar!

  • Wall Drug - The final stop will be at the Wall Drug Store, a unique tourist attraction that offers shopping for anything you may think of. Here you can get Free Ice Water and 5-cent coffee. Try the homemade ice-cream or grab some of the excellent doughnuts to go.
What's Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Local guide
  • National Park fees
  • Bottled water
  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
  • Lunch
  • Snacks
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Standard Badlands

The serrated spires, weather-beaten buttes and cavernous gorges of the North Unit of the Badlands National Park offer unique scenery. It’s home to a diverse variety of wildlife; prairie dogs, coyote, deer, bighorn sheep and antelope.

We will stop at the Ben Reifel Center (museum), the famous Wall Drug Store (famous old tourist trap that is worth the stop) and visit the new Minuteman National Historic Site. Remember “Duck and Cover.”

  • Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
  • A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Location
Rapid City
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Select Date and Tickets
minimum 2 guests
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up to 8 guests
2 Adult
June 2024
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