Badlands & Minuteman Missile Tour: Private Limo or Bus

See the Badlands loop, a Cold War missile silo and America's most famous roadside stop in one morning and afternoon.

A 7+ hour guided tour from Rapid City travels through Badlands North Park on the scenic 30-mile loop, stops at the Minuteman Missile Historic Site to view the Delta-09 silo, and visits Wall Drug Store. You choose between a Lincoln limousine for up to 7 guests or a Ford Turtle Top executive bus for up to 14, and pick lunch at a local cowboy restaurant or a gourmet picnic in the park. National park entry, bottled water, charcuterie, and optional beer or wine are included. A live English-speaking guide leads the tour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Badlands and Historic Sites

• Drive from Rapid City to Badlands
• Stop at overlooks and pull-outs
• Walk Badlands boardwalk trail
• Visit Ben Reifel Visitor Center
• Explore Fossil Exhibit Trail
• View Sage Creek Wilderness overlook
• Tour Minuteman Missile Historic Site
• Visit Cold War museum exhibits
• Explore Wall Drug Store
• Return to Rapid City

The Experience

Badlands North Park is the centerpiece: the tour follows the scenic 30-mile loop road through the North Unit, stopping at overlooks and pull-outs to see the dramatic spires and badlands formations. You'll have chances to spot bison and bighorn sheep along the way, and the guide stops at the best vantage points so you can explore on foot and photograph the landscape. The Ben Reifel Visitor Center and the Fossil Exhibit Trail (a fully accessible boardwalk with tactile fossil replicas) are built into the route, and a ¼-mile boardwalk through "the Door" offers a panoramic view of the Badlands Wall.

The Minuteman Missile Historic Site is a short stop that shifts the day's focus to Cold War history. The Delta-09 silo, a 12-foot-diameter, 80-foot-deep reinforced concrete structure, once held a 1.2-megaton nuclear warhead as part of 150 missiles spread across western South Dakota. Tours stay above ground for safety. You'll see the unarmed missile inside the silo through a glass roof, plus support structures like antennas and motion sensors. A small museum covers the "Duck and Cover" era. The site is closed Sundays and Mondays from October to April.

Wall Drug Store is a roadside institution that started with free ice water and grew into a stop for more than 2 million visitors a year. You'll have time to explore the store, grab a 5-cent coffee, and see why the Husteads' roadside signs became legendary. For lunch, you choose between a gourmet picnic among the Badlands scenery or a meal at the Wagon Wheel Restaurant, where local bison burgers and country fried steak are the draws. Bottled water and charcuterie come with the tour. Beer and wine are available on request.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Rapid City.
• a live English-speaking guide.
• all national park entry and site fees.
• bottled water and charcuterie.
• your choice of a gourmet picnic or lunch at the Wagon Wheel Restaurant.
• complimentary beer or wine upon request.

Days and timesDaily · 08:00, 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30

AgesAges 18+ · 11 to 17 years · 5 to 10 years · 1 to 4 years — Free

Meeting point and pickupPickup optional · ends where it starts45 pickup points to choose from.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Black Hills Open-Top-Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the Lincoln limousine if your group is seven or fewer and you want an intimate, luxury ride. Pick the Ford Turtle Top bus if you're traveling with a larger party and prefer more legroom and easier boarding. Both vehicles are wheelchair accessible and operate in all weather, so the choice comes down to group size and how you want to travel.

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Top questions

Can children come?

11 to 17 years; 5 to 10 years; 1 to 4 years, free.

What's the difference between the Lincoln limousine and the Ford Turtle Top bus for this tour?

The Lincoln MKT 6-door limousine seats up to 7 guests in a sleek, compact vehicle. The Ford Turtle Top Executive Bus accommodates up to 14 and offers more space for larger groups or families traveling together.

Does the tour stop at the Minuteman Missile silo itself, or just view it from outside?

Tours at the Minuteman Missile Historic Site stay above ground for safety reasons. You see the Delta-09 silo through a glass roof fitted over the opening, view the unarmed missile inside, and explore the support structures and small museum on the surface.

Can I walk around Badlands North Park, or do we stay in the vehicle the whole time?

The tour stops at overlooks and pull-outs along the 30-mile loop so you can get out, explore on foot and take photos. The guide chooses the best vantage points, and accessible boardwalks like the Fossil Exhibit Trail and "the Door" are part of the route.

What happens if I want to pick lunch at the restaurant instead of the picnic?

You choose your lunch option when you book: either a gourmet picnic in the park or a meal at the Wagon Wheel Restaurant, where local bison burgers and country fried steak are specialties. The choice is yours to make at checkout.

Is the tour running if I visit on a Sunday or Monday?

The Minuteman Missile Historic Site is closed Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays from October to April, so the tour does not operate on those days during that period. Outside those months, the site is open daily and the tour runs as scheduled.